WPTF Afternoon News

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.Jon Champion talks with Dr. Zach Feuer, Assistant Professor of Urologic Oncology at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and William Moore, Men’s Health Program Manager at the Center, about prostate cancer, screening, risk factors, and who is disproportionately affected by this disease.

In Chapel Hill, the annual 9/11 stair climb at Kenan Stadium will be held Friday morning. Participants will climb 2,071 stairs, representing the height of the World Trade Center towers, as a tribute to the 2,977 lives lost on 9/11 and to the firefighters, police officers, military members, first responders, and civilians who demonstrated extraordinary courage and selflessness that day. Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Klekowski joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the annual march.

The K9 Comeback Project works to connect specially selected rescue dogs with individuals who may benefit from the support and companionship of a trained dog, including veterans, active-duty service members and first responders. Kristin Maher, the Executive Director of the K9 Comeback Project, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss some animals available for adoption.

This week, the North Carolina Aquariums celebrate their official 50th anniversary, marking five decades of connecting generations of visitors with North Carolina’s extraordinary aquatic life and environments. Larry Warner, with the NC Aquarium at Roanoke Island, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the milestone and what they have to offer.

With vaccines preventing 3.5 to 5 million deaths per year worldwide, according to the WHO, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its report on the States that Vaccine the Most in 2026. Chip Lupo of WalletHub joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the study.

Twenty-five years after escaping the World Trade Center just minutes before the towers collapsed, Mike Dempsey, who now lives in North Carolina, is working to educate future generations about the September 11 attacks and support those affected by them. Dempsey joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss surviving 9/11 and how he moved forward.

State officials marked National 988 Day by expanding efforts to connect North Carolinians with mental health support, unveiling new signs at state-owned parking facilities throughout Raleigh to promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Amy Brundle, from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, North Carolina, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the expanded access to care.

As North Carolina's population ages, more families are stepping into the role of caregiver for aging parents, spouses and loved ones. The “Duke Caregiver Community Event” aims to provide North Carolinians with resources to support. Nicole Clagett, Duke University’s Director of Community Development and Caregiver Support, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the event.

On Tuesday, the Wake County Board of Elections hosted a tour for advocacy group RightCount North Carolina, including former Gov. Pat McCrory and former Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison, as part of an effort to increase transparency and public confidence in elections. McCrory joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss security for this year’s elections.

UNC head football coach Bill Belichick held his first media availability since football general manager Michael Lombardi resigned amid an expanding investigation into the Tar Heels' football program. It puts Belichick’s future as UNC football coach in question, even after a win over TCU to start the season. David Glenn of the North Carolina Sports Network joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the situation.

The Soccer Tournament delivered a record-setting fourth year in Cary. It generating an estimated $16.2 million in direct economic impact, a 10% increase over 2025. Scott Dupree, with the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the economic impact of the event.

This Friday marks 25 years after 9/11. With the war in Iran raging on, how safe is America? David Schanzer, from the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the aftermath of 9/11 25 years later.

A Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial in the case of Lindsay Clancy, after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict following seven days of deliberations. Longtime Orange County Judge Carl Fox believes the mistrial was the right move. Fox joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss why.

Twenty-five years after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the community is invited to come together in remembrance, reflection, and unity through the power of music. On Thursday, the Choral Society of Durham and the Durham Symphony Orchestra will present a free performance of Mozart's Requiem at the Durham Armory. Rodney Wynkoop, the conductor for the Choral Society, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the performance

The 17th Annual African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County returns to downtown Raleigh this Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 5 - 6) bringing two days of culture, community, music , art , food, family activities and entertainment to Fayetteville Street. Gayle Hurd talked with AACF Executive Director Pam Smith about the event and it's almost 20 year legacy.

How much longer could we live — and more importantly, how much longer could we stay healthy?Jon Champion talks with journalist and author D.T. Max about the science and possibilities surrounding aging. From extending our “healthspan” to potentially slowing or reversing some aspects of aging, the conversation raises some fascinating questions about how we may live in the future.D.T. Max’s story appears in the September issue of National Geographic magazine and is also available on natgeo.com.

The Carolina Hurricanes will have its regular season games available on Amazon Prime this season. The Hurricanes Hockey Network, which was announced on Tuesday, will be available for streaming direct-to-consumer as a subscription for fans. The cost will be $19.95 monthly or $99.95 annually. Mike Maniscalco, the Hurricanes play-by-play man, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the new deal

The end of baseball season is around the corner. The Durham Bulls will play its final homestand of the season next week. But there’s still plenty of activity slated for this fall and winter at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Mike Birling, the Vice President of CBC Sports, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss what’s ahead in the offseason.

In a statement of social media, Supreme Court Justice Phil Berger Jr. said he will not run for re-election as an associate justice in 2028. Berger released a statement that left the door open for other future options. Former North Carolina Associate Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss Berger’s announcement

UNC-Chapel Hill officials have released a statement after a man charged into a classroom yelling racial slurs and making threats. It happened Monday night inside Greenlaw Hall. Students say their safety was at risk after a man walked into the room, where nearly 100 students had gathered for an event hosted by Black student organizations on campus. Makhi Nash was in the building. He joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss what happened.

Meta’s $18 billion settlement could mean hundreds of millions of dollars for North Carolina and programs supporting kids. But will that money actually reach the children who need it?Jon Champion talks with Elizabeth Gaines, leader of FUND IRL and a leading youth advocate, about the settlement, the lessons of the tobacco settlement, and how North Carolina can make sure this money is invested in the future of its children.

The Carolina Hurricanes relentless run to the 2026 Stanley Cup proved to be a huge economic boon for Wake County. The total economic impact of the march to the Cup, including 10 home games at the Lenovo Center, was $48.1 million, according to Visit Raleigh. Loren Gold, the Executive Vice President of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how profitable the run was for Raleigh.

On Wednesday, Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls discussed the proposed Workforce Forward Bond, a $149.1 million bond referendum that would support workforce training capacity, public safety and health sciences education, skilled trades expansion, and critical campus modernization projects across Wake County. Dr. Ralls went into detail about the bond with Jeff Hamlin

Duke University has received a $24 million award from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Office to develop the foundational science required to engineer and build systems to counter unmanned aerial attacks. Dr. Miroslav Pajic, the director of the center, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss why the center has been created.

Sunrise Movement, a social and justice organization at UNC-Chapel Hill, has organized a demonstration outside the G20 summit in Chapel Hill. On Wednesday, they marched from the Old Well to the sidewalk outside of the Carolina Inn, holding their banners and signs with their demands high. Izzy Lynn, a correspondent with the Sunrise Movement, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss their demonstration.

The Veolia Pickleball National Championships are underway at Cary Tennis Park, bringing top-ranked professional players and thousands of expected spectators to the town for the first of four major tournaments on the PPA Tour. Brian Clark, Chief Tour Officer for the Professional Pickleball Association, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the event

World leaders, policy makers and technology executives are all in Chapel Hill. The town is hosting a G-20 event focused on innovation that will include discussions on the future of artificial intelligence. It happens as towns and cities across the Triangle are holding meetings to discuss whether data center construction should move forward. Former Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the conference.

A new month will bring a new heat wave. Tuesday begins several days in a row with highs in the upper 90s and heat index values well over 100 degrees. With high pressure overhead, we’ll also only see limited rain chances to help provide any relief. Wes Hohenstein, a meteorologist with CBS17 in Raleigh, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the hot opening week of September.

Get ready for a weekend focused on health, well-being, and connection at the upcoming Monumental Experience Wellness Weekend, scheduled for September 4 through September 6 in Raleigh. Charlie Williams, CEO of Monumental Lifestyle, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss this weekend’s event.

With an estimated 1,094,000 North Carolinians and 488,000 South Carolinians traveling 50 miles or more from home for one last vacation of the summer – a 5% increase from last year – AAA Carolinas is reminding everyone to be safe on the roads. Tiffany Wright, a spokesperson with AAA Carolinas, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss travel for the Labor Day weekend

Howard Baum, who for more than 50 years has been the Wolfpack’s official in-game broadcast statistician, has died, his family confirmed Thursday. He was 92. Tim Peeler joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss Howard Baum’s keen eye during N.C. State games that helped their broadcasts sound so sharp

As Labor Day approaches, law enforcement agencies and traffic safety professionals across North Carolina are reminding drivers to celebrate responsibly and plan for a safe ride home. Lindsay Poe, from the N.C. Department of Transportation, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the “Booze It and Lose It” campaign.

The country is awaiting a verdict in the high-profile case of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children. As attention remains focused on the case, medical experts say postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious condition that differs from the more common postpartum depression. Josh McConkey, a former Medical Director for Air Forcfe Pararescue combat search and rescue teams, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss postpartum psychosis.

Today on Weekend Gardener, Mike Raley and Rufus Edmisten host the 2-hour show with guest Gerald Adams, retired head gardener of the Governor’s Mansion, to discuss a plethora of topics related to the garden.

Today on Weekend Gardener, Mike Raley and Rufus Edmisten host the 2-hour show with guest Gerald Adams, retired head gardener of the Governor’s Mansion, to discuss a plethora of topics related to the garden.

Rocky Horror fans are mourning Tim Curry after his passing at the age of 80. The beloved character actor created a gallery of, loony villains for stage and screen. Curry gained fame as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” an iconic role that became a cultural touchstone. He also played the smug concierge in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.” Hayes Permar, owner of Rialto Theater in Raleigh, shows “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” often. He joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss Curry’s legacy.

The Raleigh Convention Center officially has a new name. The 16-year-old building will now be called the Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center after a ceremony on Thursday morning. The change comes as part of a 15-year naming rights agreement that places the bank's name on the downtown Raleigh venue. Kerry Painter, executive director of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the changes.

The trade fight between the U.S. and Canada is escalating, and the impact could eventually reach North Carolina consumers. Canada announced Tuesday that it will impose tariffs of up to 50% on roughly $20 billion worth of American goods, with the new tariffs set to take effect September 8. Gerald Cohen, Economics Professor at UNC-Chapel Hill Kenan Flagler Business School, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the potential impact of the trade fight

The death of Dolly Parton has saddened millions of fans around the world. It’s also leading people to remember her immense presence in the entertainment world, particularly her humble beginnings in east Tennessee. Abby Leigh, a midday personality on country music station WQDR, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss her memories of Dolly.

As the world mourns the loss of Dolly Parton, folks can see Dolly's first recorded single on display in Wilson Library at UNC-Chapel Hill. The record is on display on the second floor of Wilson Library as part of the An Alphabet of Treasures: Special Collections from A to Z exhibit. Steven Weiss, curator of the Southern Folklife Coalition at UNC, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the display

U.S. Sen. Darline Graham has won the Republican nomination to replace her late brother Lindsey Graham on South Carolina’s general election ballot. Darline Graham defeated U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman in Tuesday’s special Republican primary runoff, two weeks after they were the top two finishers in a 10-way primary. Chris Cooper, Western Carolina University Political Science Professor, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the results.

The Triangle is surrounded by nature — forests and trails filled with turtles, snakes, and frogs — but sometimes those animals can end up in harm’s way. That’s where NC State’s Turtle Rescue Team comes in. Katerina Slaughter, co-President of N.C. State’s Turtle Rescue Team, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss that the team does to help turtles.

As millions of families head back to school and return to daily commutes, carpools and after-school activities, many drivers may be putting those extra miles on vehicles already overdue for maintenance. Em Nguyen, a spokesperson for CarFax, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the results of the study.

Durham Technical Community College recently began the fall semester. Health care is a growing industry, and hands-on lab-focused education is helping prepare graduates to enter the workforce. J.B. Buxton, the President of Durham Tech, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the growth around the school as a new semester begins.

Indeed’s 2026 Best U.S. Cities to Work list is out. Durham ranked #22 on the overall list. Matt Berndt, a spokesperson for Indeed, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the results of the survey.

A new High Point University poll is painting a different picture of North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, showing a smaller gap between Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley than other recent polls. The HPU poll shows Cooper leading Whatley 50% to 45% among likely voters, with just 10 weeks until Election Day.

A partial lunar eclipse will dazzle space lovers Thursday night into early Friday morning. The show will begin at 10:33 p.m. local time with the partial eclipse slowly casting a growing shadow on the moon. Amy Sayle, of the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in Chapel Hill, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the eclipse.

The search to replace Chuck Edwards in the Republican primary for North Carolina’s 4th Congressional district continues. Bryan Anderson, writer for the Assembly, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how name recognition will go a long way towards determining a new candidate.

After waiting for 13 months, members of an Alamance County church worshiped together after a storm left their place of worship underwater. For the first time since July 2025, congregants of Saxapahaw United Methodist Church in Graham gathered for services on Sunday. Reverend Mandy Sayers, the pastor at Saxapahaw United Methodist Church, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss their fight to rebuild their place of worship.

As students return to campus, Innovate Carolina is launching a fall AI workshop series to help students, researchers, professionals and community members build practical AI skills and better understand how AI is changing the workplace. Sheryl Waddell, Director of Innovation Hubs at Innovate Carolina, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the workshop on Tuesday.