WRAL In-Depth with Dan Haggerty

Project 2025 outlines a massive overhaul of the federal government. Donald Trump and North Carolina Republicans are distancing themselves from the 922-page plan. Democrats in Raleigh are warning voters about it. Email your questions to Dan at [email protected].

WRAL anchor/reporter Dan Haggerty answers viewer questions about the presidential debate between Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican challenger Donald Trump.

Housing prices are sky high, especially in Wake County. If you've owned your home for 10 or 15 years, could you afford to buy it today at its current value? Dan looks salaries vs typical rent in this area. How much does it cost to live here? And what's one statistic that predicts a "danger zone" for regional homelessness?

Several viewers did not take kindly to the way Dan reported on the UNC fraternity members who restored the US flag. Send your comments to [email protected].

Dan Haggerty goes Iin depth on the flag at the center of Tuesday's pro-Palestinian protest at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dan Haggerty examines whether the social media TikTok will be better off being owned by an American company. A new measure gives the Beijing-based parent company ByteDance nine months to sell the company, with a possible additional three months if a sale is in progress. If it doesn't, TikTok will be banned. Send your questions to [email protected].

If you live in North Carolina, you deal with pollen. It's either a nuisance that triggers your allergies, or it's a messy mess you have to clean up...or both. But how has NC pollen changed over the years? Pollen season is longer than ever. NC hit an all time high pollen count last week. Those changes impact more than just runny noses. Send your questions to [email protected].

WRAL's Dan Haggerty goes in-depth on legal sports gambling. Does it change the way fans enjoy the game? And will it change the integrity of sports from athletes themselves? Send your questions to [email protected].

Do you have any idea how far a balloon can go? Well, it's pretty darn far, but the real issue is how bad balloon releases are for the environment. They're eaten by land and marine animals. Balloons are obviously not meant to be eaten.  Dan looks into the issues that come from balloon releases and how they stack up in the list of "most littered plastic items." Send your ideas, comments and questions to [email protected].  

What makes a political poll scientific...or not? Send your questions and comments to [email protected].

Dan received several emails about his report on the altered photo of the Princess of Wales. In this mail bag episode, he answers questions on which part of this story matters, and which part doesn't.

After the digitally altered photo of the Princess of Wales and her children was retracted by the AP and Reuters, Dan does in-depth on digital images and why we question their veracity.

This report first aired on WRAL Monday, March 4, the day before North Carolina's primary vote. Does the "wisdom of the crowd" influence voter behavior? Studies show poll results do have an impact, not just on voters but on candidates too. Send your questions to [email protected].

The overwhelming cost of living can be stressful, cause anxiety and make people feel helpless. It's major concern for many Americans, including those who live in North Carolina. The average American family is having fewer children, and the average cost of child care is around $9,200 per year (and many would argue that's on the low side).  Dan looks at how families today are feeling the pinch differently than previous generations. Send your questions to [email protected].

What are the rules around political advertising vs commercial advertising? Do the same rules apply to both? Dan answers in-box questions about political ads and who is responsible for the messages they deliver. Send your questions to [email protected]  

Dan answers questions from viewers curious about a current political ad that includes a clip from WRAL News. Did WRAL News know about it? No. Did WRAL News endorse a candidate? No. Is it legal to use clips from TV news in political ads? Yes, but the rules are complicated. Dan goes in-depth on political and issue ands and how freedom of speech works in this particular case.

The possibility of more powerful tropical storms due to climate change has led to the proposal of a sixth category of major hurricanes, according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Dan goes in depth on what that would mean, how many storms would be categorized as a cat 6.

Wilson County actually has its own municipal broadband provider, called Greenlight. For those who live elsewhere, other discount programs can help you get online. Send your questions to [email protected].

Dan Haggerty examines an online conspiracy that the NFL is rigging game for pop superstar Taylor Swift and President Joe Biden. Send your questions to Dan at [email protected].

98% of North Carolina has internet service available to them. That sounds like a lot, but it  leaves 200,000 people without internet access. And that 98% with access...only 71% are actually using it. Is high speed internet a basic need for everyone?

Hundreds of people are adamant that the Raleigh City Council adopt a ceasefire resolution about the war between Israel and Hamas. More than 200 people showed up Jan. 16 to the city council meeting and many of them spoke, causing the meeting to go until almost 11 p.m. What are the chances a resolution signed by Raleigh city council members has an actual impact on a war between two groups that have been, in some respects, at odds for thousands of years – rooted in religion and land rights?

From space-aged bourbon to the owner of Bojangles, here are some of the topics that had you reaching out to our own Dan Haggerty in 2023. Email your questions to [email protected].

Earlier this year, WRAL anchor/reporter Dan Haggerty looked into what kinds of properties you could buy after winning a $2 million lottery prize in North Carolina. Now he looks at what could happen to the real estate market when interest rates start to lower. Email your questions to [email protected].

WRAL anchor/reporter Dan Haggerty examines whether Raleigh police will add AEDs to its vehicles after the death of Darryl Williams. He also explores how authorities are searching for a Honda Odyssey involved in the December 2022 Moore County substation attacks. Email your questions to [email protected].

Taylor Swift was named Time's Person of the Year for 2023. This pick is unconventional, as she is the first artist to receive the award. Email your questions to [email protected].

Programs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and in Charlotte use modern slang to communicate a timeless message: Drugs can kill. Send your questions to [email protected]

A WRAL News viewer emailed to ask about how a murder suspect was able to post $250,000 bond before he allegedly shot two Robeson County deputies. Dan goes in-depth on cash bail and how it works.  Send your questions to [email protected]

As you budget for Christmas, how much should you spend on a gift for your kid's teacher - and does a bigger, better gift, give your kid a leg up over a family that doesn't have the money?

This is the weekend most of America sets its clocks back by one hour. If you hate doing this, you're not the only one. A new poll shows two-thirds of North Carolinians are right there with you. Send your questions to [email protected].

Here's a look at what people do with their remains after they die. It includes green burials, water cremation and human composting. Send your questions to [email protected]

WRAL anchor/reporter Dan Haggerty looks into what kinds of properties you could buy after winning a $2 million lottery prize in North Carolina. Send your questions to [email protected]

Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy professor Bruce Jentleson explained the significance of religion in Hamas' attack on Israel. Send your questions to [email protected].

WRAL anchor/reporter Dan Haggerty looks at possible solutions to make downtown Raleigh safer, including hot-spot policing, improving street lighting, hiring private security and installing more security cameras. Send your questions to [email protected]

Dan Haggerty goes in depth on a change to public records archives in the state budget crafted by NC Republicans.

WRAL anchor/reporter Dan Haggerty examines what North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore said after Wednesday's lockdown on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus. Send your questions to [email protected]

How do national headlines affect NC? Dan Haggerty goes In Depth on three topics to see how they translate to North Carolina. He looks at the national poverty rate, the Auto Workers Union dispute and a national government shutdown. Send your questions to [email protected].

The inbox got plenty of messages this week on topics that ranged from a youth curfew to aging politicians. Send your questions to [email protected]

As Fayetteville discusses a youth curfew ordinance, Dan Haggerty goes in-depth to see if they work, if the police have enough resources to enforce them, and if they are legal. Send your questions to [email protected].

The Wall Street Journal just released a new poll about how Joe Biden's age might affect his electability, and found "Biden's age may be a growing problem for his reelection." According to the poll, most Americans think he's too old. Joe Biden is 80 years old. He'll be 81 in November and would be 86 by the end of a second term if he wins reelection. He's already the oldest president in U.S. history. Send your questions to [email protected].

The 118th United States Congress is the third oldest since the first Congress was convened in 1789. The oldest Congress was the 117th, which just concluded its term. This means that the elected leaders of our country are older than they have ever been. Some of them are very old. Send your questions to [email protected].

The Fayetteville City Council will discuss whether to implement curfews for young people during a Tuesday work session. Anyone younger than the age of 18 would be banned from public places from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. on weekends, and from midnight to 5 a.m. on weekdays. Send your questions to [email protected].

WRAL anchor/reporter Dan Haggerty goes in depth on why so many trees fell Tuesday in North Carolina. Sned your questions to [email protected].

A developer wants to build a helipad at a new $1 billion development in North Hills. Some nearby residents are concerned about the noise the helicopters would create. WRAL's Dan Haggerty examines whether people would want to live next to a helicopter that takes off and lands several times per day. Send your questions to [email protected].

So "day care" is an outdated term. Dan Haggerty goes In Depth to find out why. Send your questions to [email protected].

After looking at the salary and bonus of UNC's System President, Dan goes In-Depth on the rising cost of college including the specifc cost of tuition at UNC Chapel Hill.

UNC System Peter Hans received a $475,000 bonus on top of his $425,000 salary. The board justified the money by saying, basically, that Hans is knocking it out of the park. It's also important to note Hans' predecessors made a much larger base salary.   Send your questions to [email protected]  

WRAL anchor/reporter Dan Haggerty responded to several emails asking about red flag laws in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois.

Dan Haggerty goes into depth, answering questions about how Duke Energy handles the load of all those air conditioners running to keep people cool. Send your questions to [email protected].

Would you pay $75,000 for a bottle of whiskey that aged while orbiting the earth in space? North Carolina lawmakers are considering legislation that would provide a tax break for the space bourbon. Will the space whiskey taste different? Dan Haggerty shares the science.

What does the U.S. Supreme Court's decision mean moving forward now that the high court has ruled that affirmative action in college admissions is unconstitutional? Dan looks at how we got to this decision. Send your questions to [email protected].