WRAL Daily Download

On Monday morning, we heard from UNC football head coach Bill Belichick for the first time since the resignation of general manager Michael Lombardi.  Lombardi’s resignation came in moments before WRAL reported new details about the scope of the investigation, a probe that was launched shortly after he was placed on administrative leave in July.  People familiar with the investigation told WRAL that outside lawyers hired to conduct the inquiry are asking people close to the program about whether son and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick used drugs at university facilities and whether he gave drugs to at least one player. Investigators are also asking about whether at least one member of UNC’s recruiting staff has a sexual relationship with at least one player, the people said, adding that investigators are also asking about similar possible relationships between recruiting staff and assistant coaches.   Listen into our coverage of the day's events and where UNC goes from here.  

Voting is underway in North Carolina, as the 2026 midterm elections started here Friday. North Carolina is the first state in the country to begin voting, although most voters are still unlikely to cast their ballots for another month or more. The online portal that overseas and military voters can use opened at midnight. And as the day went on, officials in all 100 counties also began mailing out ballots to people stateside who have already requested to vote by mail. As that was all happening, the State Board of Elections also met Friday morning to approve some last-minute changes to the rules for mail-in voting. For the most part, the new changes will require a stricter interpretation of state law, making it more likely that people’s ballots will be thrown out over technicalities that state officials previously let slide. WRAL's Louis Fernandez and Will Doran sat down and spoke through where voting by mail stands for this year's midterm elections both locally and nationally on this week's On the Record.

University of North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi, the highest-paid general manager in college football, resigned Thursday after a tumultuous tenure in Chapel Hill working alongside Bill Belichick, the university said. But the investigation is still ongoing, and lawyers hired by the university are now focused on behaviors by defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, people familiar with the investigation tell WRAL. WRAL's Dan Haggerty, Pat Welter and Brian Murphy talk through the WRAL investigation, what we've learned and what questions are still left to answer.

What is a maternity care desert? How many of them are in North Carolina? WRAL Health Reporter Grace Hayba and WRAL News+ Anchor Elizabeth Holmes speak about how one North Carolina university is using doulas to do life-saving maternity care in rural communities. 

Students in the capital used to go to school at either a Raleigh city school or a Wake County school. 50 years ago this year, the two school districts merged into one. Now, we know it as the Wake County Public School system. But it didn’t happen overnight – in fact, it took years. WRAL's Destinee Patterson and Emily Walkenhorst sit down with former superintendent Bill McNeal. He was a teacher during the time of the merger and would eventually lead the largest school district in the state. 

A Wake County family is raising questions about the state's cemetery oversight after someone else's remains were buried in a plot they bought burial rights for more than a decade ago. WRAL's Alex Littlehales found out it's not the first time there's been a situation like this at that cemetery.

North Carolina election officials say things are "business as usual" as they plan to send mail-in ballots out next week. But there's been legal back-and-forth at the state and federal level. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran speaks with WRAL News+ Anchor Elizabeth Holmes about what voters need to know.

Foodborne illness outbreaks have some shoppers eyeing hydroponic lettuce, but is is safer? WRAL Climate Change reporter Liz McLaughlin spoke with farmers and shoppers who are making the change. 

NASA Astronaut Christina Koch returned to her alma mater, NC State, this week for the first time since her trip to the moon. WRAL Meteorologists Elizabeth Gardner and Aimee Wilmoth were there for the event and shares there favorite parts of the visit.

NASA astronaut Christina Koch visited North Carolina State University, her alma mater, on Monday for a "welcome home"-style event. Koch, who became the first woman to leave low Earth orbit and the first woman to travel to and around the moon, spoke at a sold-out event in her honor titled "Around the Moon and Pack Again" on NC State's Centennial Campus. On today's episode of the WRAL Daily Download, we reflect on the Artemis II mission involving Koch.  From the archive: Four astronauts--including a woman from North Carolina--are set to take off for the Moon on Wednesday aboard Artemis II. Nasa Ambassador Tony Rice is at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to cover the first Moon mission in 53 years. WRAL's Louis Fernandez spoke to him about this historic mission.

Critics of early-voting plans adopted this year by North Carolina Republicans are accusing GOP leaders of discrimination, alleging that they’re eliminating sites and days preferred by Black voters. The allegations framed tense debate among state and local elections officials during a meeting Thursday. The 2026 midterm elections will be the first major general election since Republicans took control of the state’s election administration. In all 100 North Carolina counties, as well as at the state level, Republicans now control a majority on the boards of election that decide administrative issues such as where to put early-voting sites, when to open those sites and more. Republican appointees have three seats on those county boards. Democratic appointees have two. The political flip followed passage of a law after the 2024 elections that took election administration power from the Democratic governor and gave it to the Republican state auditor. In 80 counties, the 2026 early-voting plans passed with unanimous and bipartisan agreement. But in 20 counties, there were fights over proposals — many of which eliminate some voting on Sundays, which data shows is disproportionately used by Black voters.

Wake County public schools have been experiencing issues with their HVAC in a third of schools. WRAL Investigates dove into other records and found that many schools are struggling with widespread infrastructure issues from air conditioning to bathrooms, forcing teachers and PTAs to cover the cost. WRAL’s Destinee Patterson and Emily Walkenhorst have more.  

WRAL News brought together law enforcement and community leaders on Wednesday for an open discussion about youth violence, what’s driving it and what we can do as a community to break the cycle.    Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce and Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe were among the group we brought together for a one-hour discussion. Here’s the first half of that conversation. For the entire hour, head to the WRAL YouTube page.  

Several Rocky Mount city staff members and council members are attending a power utility conference at a four-star Virginia resort as the city faces financial strain and rising utility bills. WRAL reporter Alex Littlehales spoke with Rocky Mount's Energy Resources Director, Bradley Walters, who acknowledged the optics of the situation at the conference's opening day.

The college football season is just around the corner. WRAL Sports anchors Pat Welter and Chris Lea explain how NC State, UNC and Duke's seasons are looking.

Election results across the country are showing positive signs for Democrats. Since President Donald Trump started his second term, special elections to fill vacant Congressional seats have yielded tepid Republican turnout. Democrats have flipped more than two dozen GOP-held legislative seats. And in North Carolina, Democrats last year won almost every single municipal seat up for election in Wake County. That raises the question: Can the Democrats harness that momentum to gain control of at least one chamber of the GOP-run North Carolina General Assembly? And, if not, will they be able to muster enough power to affect policy? WRAL state capitol reporter Paul Specht and Louis Fernandez speak through what races will make the different and impact the balance of power come November.

Durham has a new top cop. Stephanie Mardis will be the city's new police chief, starting in early September. She's focused on reducing violence, improving staffing, and building trust. WRAL's Monica Casey spoke with Mardis in a one-on-one interview. 

A 4-year-old Johnston County boy is dead, and his family believes Child Protective Services should have done more to protect him. WRAL reviewed records to learn what happened to Jack Gibson. His mother, Amber Gibson, is now facing child abuse and drug charges. Although family members say caseworkers visited her home at least four times earlier this year, Gibson's three children were not removed until July 1. WRAL’s Megan Cloherty and Rennee Chou talk through what we know.  

Lynn Council died Sunday at 93 years old. Council survived an attempted hanging by two Wake County deputies who were trying to corece a confession from him. Council survived the ordeal, but kept the emotional and physical scars of the experience. He shared his story with WRAL's Gerald Owens in 2019. Seven years later, Gerald reflects on Council's passing.

Wake County teachers earn less on average than their peers in comparable southeastern metropolitan areas, a WRAL News data analysis shows. That’s despite a recent state budget that drastically boosted early career teacher pay and provided more modest pay increases for more experienced teachers.  WRAL’s Destinee Patterson and Emily Walkenhorst talk through the salary gap and how this impacts your kids. Here’s their conversation.  

North Carolina Republicans plan to replace U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards on the ballot as soon as next week following the incumbent’s decision Wednesday to end his reelection campaign, party leaders said Wednesday. Edwards on Wednesday withdrew from the race for his 11th Congressional District seat — an announcement that came two days after the U.S. House Ethics Committee recommended he be sanctioned after releasing a report that alleged he harassed two aides.  WRAL state government reporter Paul Specht and Louis Fernandez speak through what led to this decision and how North Carolina republicans move forward.

Scott Mason introduces us to a family rescuing their ancestral home in Wilson County. He also visits the Ol' Moose store in Edgecombe County.

NC lawmakers agree that legal hemp products have been too widely available. But they can't agree on how to limit them, leaving gummies, beverages and other edibles easy to purchase for all ages. WRAL State Capitol Reporters Will Doran and Carolina Yaffa break down the debate.

The number of new Cyclospora infections is going down in North Carolina. The state has seen more than 800 cases so far this year. WRAL health reporter Grace Hayba talks through where things are trending and what experts say you need to know about the current state of cyclospora.

5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur speaks with WRAL News+ Anchor Elizabeth Holmes about how you can save up to $300 on back-to-school necessities for college students, plus secret student discounts and what's worth getting second-hand.

University of North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi was placed on administrative leave on Monday morning. Now an investigation is underway due to "concerns behind allegations" that led to Lombardi being put on leave. We've heard this week from university leaders, including chancellor Lee Roberts and athletics director Steve Newmark. In this week's edition of On the Record, WRAL sports investigative reporter Brian Murphy sits down with Louis Fernandez to discuss what we've learned, how this impacts the university, the football team and Bill Belichick, and how this could all end.

From famine to feast: July saw record-setting rain, but did it do enough for our state-wide drought? WRAL Meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner and News+ Anchor Elizabeth Holmes talk about the recent drought monitor findings. 

50 years ago, one Triangle company changed how the world uses data. WRAL presents a special look at SAS's impact on the Triangle and beyond. Cristin Severance spoke exclusively with co-founder Dr. Jim Goodnight.

Elizabeth "Liz" Waddell from Cary was reported missing last week while vacationing in Grenada. Police said she was not seen returning from the water after going for a swim near her rental. WRAL's Shaun Gallegher breaks down the timeline investigators are piecing together from surveillance video.

UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi has been placed on paid leave, the University announced on Monday morning. What does this mean for the program going into head coach Bill Belichick's second year? WRAL Sports Investigative reporter Brian Murphy talks through the situation.

Half of North Carolina’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives owns stocks, and some are potentially making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on those trades, a review of public records shows. This review comes as the US House of Representatives passes a bill that would ban the future purchasing of stocks, but there’s a lot more to this potential new law than a headline would tell you. WRAL State government reporter Will Doran talks through where NC representatives stand and where this issue goes from here.

WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth explains the weather conditions -- high wind, heat, ice, snow, severe storms -- that prompt us to warn that weather could be dangerous and call it a WRAL Weather Alert Day. The start of July 2026 brought an unprecedented seven days in a row, for various reasons. And the conditions proved the alert was necessary. Here's why.

Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason tells the story of a Durham man honoring his grandma with every pitcher of sweet tea he sells. He also introduces us to a Pinetops family with a special motivation to selling their produce.

The City of Rocky Mount has resumed shutting off utilities and charging late fees after months of exceptions due to a utility billing issue that lead to back bills. A recent state audit found the city did not double-bill customers. Instead, auditors said the city was trying to correct billing delays and eliminate a gap between meter-reading dates and billing dates created by the city by mistake. WRAL's Heidi Kirk explains.

It could soon be easier for North Carolina elections officials to throw out people’s ballots during the 2026 midterm elections and beyond, under new rules approved Thursday by the State Board of Elections. The new changes, backed by the Republican majority on the State Board of Elections and opposed by the board's Democratic minority, make it easier for elections officials to reject people’s excuses for not having required voter identification. They'd also make it easier to kick people out of polling places, in addition to other changes. WRAL state government reporter Will Doran and Louis Fernandez talk through this topic.

North Carolina law enforcement agencies are now authorized to place cameras alongside state-maintained roads to track who is driving and where, due to a provision tucked into the new state budget that essentially enables a permanent, statewide surveillance program. Automatic license plate readers, or ALPRs, record the license plates of every vehicle driving by as well as the make, model and color of their vehicles. Then, using artificial intelligence, they cross-reference that information with various law enforcement databases. Hits might come back for stolen cars, criminal suspects, missing people or other reasons. WRAL state government reporter Will Doran and Louis Fernandez talk through what we know.

Some law enforcement officers resign whiel facing criminal charges, then go on to work for another department. WRAL's Megan Cloherty explains where the hiring process can break down, why some smaller towns end up hiring officers with troubling histories and what's being done to close the gaps.

Starting July 1, loan service providers started the process of reaching out to borrowers to start their 90-day deadline to switch from the SAVE repayment plan. But not everyone's deadline to switch will be the same. Enterprise Reporter Destinee Patterson speaks with Ashley Rowe about what borrowers need to know. 

Christina Serafino thought she had food poisoning when she woke up feeling sick on Father’s Day. Three weeks later, the Wake County woman learned she was battling Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that can cause weeks of severe gastrointestinal illness. WRAL's Grace Hayba talked to her about that experience.

If it feels like this summer has been especially brutal, you're not imagining it. While the lack of rainfall is an obvious part of North Carolina's ongoing drought, there's another side effect that many people don't realize. Drought conditions can make hot weather even hotter. WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell and Grace Holland explain.

Major healthcare changes are coming for hundreds of thousands of state employees, retirees and family members. Starting next year, State Health Plan premiums will go up, and a new provider system could change what members pay for care. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains the changes with WRAL News+ Anchor Elizabeth Holmes.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham died early Sunday morning. A medical examiner's office said a ruptured aorta is the cause of death. Before coming to WRAL, NC Capitol Reporter Caroline Yaffa covered Senator Graham extensively. She spoke with WRAL Executive Producer Scott Nagel about her experience covering the long-time Senator and his impact on South Carolinians.     

Recent storms have brought some relief to parts of North Carolina, but the state’s drought continues to worsen. Central North Carolina, the Triad and the coast still need 16 to 20 inches of rain over an extended period to see meaningful improvement. WRAL meteorologist Grant Skinner and WRAL anchor Ken Smith talk through the drought conditions and why we may not see relief until the fall.

Could your zip code be a high-target area for scams? Our 5 On Your Side team compiled data around the Triangle to see which areas are getting scammed the most and what the top scams are.

FEMA committed more than $11 million to North Carolina for Tropical Storm Chantal relief efforts but less than half of those funds have been distributed so far. Orange County, which had the most damage from the storm--is still waiting for its share of federal help. WRAL Investigates Destinee Patterson explains what federal data reveals about the wait for funding.

A new Consumer Reports investigation found concerning levels of certain additives and contaiminants in some widely-sold foods and drinks. WRAL 5 On Your Side's Alex Littlehales explains what the findings show.

After a year without a budget, North Carolina lawmakers pitch and pass a 600-page, $34 billion spending plan in just three days. WRAL's NC Capitol team explains the winners, losers, the weird bipartisan way the vote broke down and what is still to come before state employees see long-awaited raises.

Folarin Balogun picked up a controversial red card for the US men's national team in the 2-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina. WRAL's Dan Haggerty and Louis Fernandez talk through the penalty and explain why it wasn't a great call. Plus, how it will impact the US in the Round of 16 against Belgium on Monday.

North Carolina is about to experience a heat wave, causing triple-digit highs going into the Fourth of July weekend. So why should we be thinking about flooding now? WRAL Meteorologist Chris Michaels explains. 

North Carolina lawmakers have unveiled the largest budget proposal in state history. It includes tax cuts and raises for state employees. WRAL's Capitol Team breaks down everything you need to know.