Inside WRAL

Is there a better way to clean Jordan Lake?

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:09:11 -0400

I recently celebrated my 34th anniversary with Capitol Broadcasting Company. Friends, colleagues and viewers marked the occasion by asking me what stood out as my most rewarding assignment over those years. The answer came quickly - serving as one of the country's first environmental news reporters on television.

Longtime WRAL staffer is 'Spectacular' Man of the Year

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:40:00 -0400

WRAL producer/director Clarence Williams is among 24 men nominated by Durham-based Spectacular Magazine for the publication's Man of the Year award. An online voting process will determine eight winners in six categories, and they will be announced during a banquet June 13.

WRAL raises $100,000 for Oklahoma disaster relief

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:49:52 -0400

It started as an interesting idea and resulted in $100,000 for the people of Oklahoma who lost everything in the devastating May tornadoes.

Before the story airs: Raleigh's invisible homeless children

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:40:20 -0400

Think about the challenges many of us face every day. We worry about our jobs and making enough for our family's needs. We stress about our children getting a good education, staying healthy and finding good friends. We struggle to find balance between work, play, and family.

Before the story airs: What's hiding on your old phones?

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:23:11 -0400

What would your first thought be if you LOST your cellphone? Mine would be panic ... because of all the contacts, pictures and texts on there. I'm sure you have personal information you'd never want anyone to see.

WRAL, Fayetteville Observer join forces

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:19:45 -0400

WRAL and The Fayetteville Observer have joined forces and are now working from the same newsroom to cover the city of Fayetteville, the military and surrounding counties.

Before the story airs: How to negotiate like a pro

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:12:09 -0400

Most people assume I LIKE to negotiate. But anyone who knows me, knows I am much better at negotiating for other people than I am for myself! Why is it so many of us absolutely dread the thought of negotiating?

So long, Sally

Sun, 12 May 2013 00:12:37 -0400

WRAL bids adieu to television producer Sally Smith, who is leaving after six years. Smith joined WRAL TV as a news production assistant after graduation from North Carolina State University in 2007.

Reporter makes appearance on 'The Daily Show'

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:37:00 -0400

WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie made an appearance on "The Daily Show" Thursday night for a report she filed on May 3.

Before the story airs: A domestic violence survivor's story

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:06:40 -0400

When I first met Christie Adams, she looked more like a college student than a grown woman. She was petite, wearing a sweatshirt and jeans, reading on the couch. But as I looked around the room at the mementos she had saved from her 3-year-old son Jesse - T-shirts, a blanket, stuffed animals, photos - I realized that she was wise beyond her years. Christie has lived through every parent's nightmare - the loss of a child.

WRAL staffer nominated for magazine's man of the year

Fri, 10 May 2013 17:19:08 -0400

Before the story airs: 'No child should have a bucket list'

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:17:56 -0400

One afternoon during a frustrating day, I stepped out of a WRAL-TV satellite truck to get some fresh air. We were preparing for a live shot from the Old Well on the Carolina campus. A good friend of mine was jogging by, saw me and stopped.

Before the story airs: WRAL investigates illegal immigrant tax fraud

Wed, 01 May 2013 08:33:37 -0400

Billions of dollars in fraud - it gets your attention. When it applies to taxpayer money, it makes you mad.

Before the story airs: A cancer cluster in Wake County?

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:26:11 -0400

As a reporter, I am naturally curious. I came across this story by chance, but then again, does anything really happen by chance?

Before the story airs: 'One unfortunate coincidence?'

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:16:52 -0400

As a news organization, WRAL covers crime every day. Our goal is to not only educate the public, but also find justice. Months ago, we received a viewer tip that was hard to believe - three deaths, two counties, years apart. Yet, there were stunning connections.

Meteorologist to speak at NC State graduation

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:32:26 -0400

WRAL meteorologist and executive producer Nate Johnson will be the keynote speaker at North Carolina State University's computer science department graduation ceremony on May 10.

Kelcey Carlson safe after Boston Marathon explosion

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:02:30 -0400

WRAL anchor Kelcey Carlson ran the Boston Marathon today and, thankfully, is safe following the explosions that left numerous people dead and injured.

Longtime WRAL director dies after short illness

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:58:26 -0400

We lost a member of the WRAL family on Saturday. Director/producer Chris Bolanz, who had been with WRAL for 17 years, died after a short-term illness.

WRAL meteorologists join weather experts to discuss severe weather safety

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:46:46 -0400

Four WRAL meteorologists joined weather experts from around the Triangle on Thursday to work on better coordination for handling severe and wintry weather.

Couple names newborn goats 'Greg' and 'Fishel'

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 17:07:10 -0500

A viewer wrote to us on our WRAL Facebook page today and shared the cutest picture of two newborn goats, or "kids" as they're called. Guess what they're named? Greg and Fishel. Check out the sweet story below:

Crew member sings 'Ain't No Sunshine'

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 09:55:13 -0500

Broadcast technician Raymond Farrar made a surprise appearance on WRAL's Morning News today and stole the show by soulfully singing "Ain't No Sunshine."

Brian Shrader celebrates his Feb. 14 birthday

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:01:24 -0500

WRAL reporter Brian Shrader is given a specially decorated birthday cake during the Feb. 14 morning broadcast.

Debra Morgan gets V-day singing surprise

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:56:35 -0500

WRAL anchor Debra Morgan was serenaded on Valentine's Day with a quartet of singers from the General Assembly Chorus.

Happy 17th birthday WRAL.com

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:02:51 -0500

WRAL.com is celebrating its 17th birthday today. In honor of the big day, let's look back at some of our most popular stories, slideshows and videos. But first, check out the changing looks of WRAL.com's homepage over the years.

Debra, Monica share wedding photos

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:25:44 -0500

If you missed Thursday's 5 On Your Side story about a dream wedding dress nearly lost in consignment, you missed a real treat. After the story, Monica Laliberte and Debra Morgan shared pictures of their weddings and beautiful dresses.

Greg Fishel pops button on air, seeks seamstress

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 08:53:49 -0500

WRAL chief meteorologist Greg Fishel was busy talking about pressure patterns and isobars during Friday night's 11 p.m. newscast when "pop" - a button flew off his suit jacket.

Laura Leslie: Participating in the Redesigning Democracy summit

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 22:30:56 -0500

As a reporter, I don't think I've ever seen such a toxic level of divisiveness in politics. People on both sides are profoundly unhappy and angry about the country's direction. Yet most seem to feel more powerless than ever to change it.

Photographer remembers NC State's 'most incredible season ever'

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 11:18:23 -0500

As another ACC basketball season is underway, I can't help but think about this being the 30th anniversary of N.C. State's most incredible season ever. Their national championship in 1983 ranks as one of the most improbable post season runs of all time. As both a long-time N.C. State fan and as a young news photographer working the night shift at the time, the Cardiac-Pack's NCAA Tournament championship left vivid memories for me.

Kelcey Carlson featured in Endurance Magazine

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 09:42:19 -0500

WRAL anchor Kelcey Carlson is featured on the cover of this month's Endurance Magazine. There's also a great two-page spread with pictures of Kelcey's family and an article about how she balances being a wife, mother, reporter, anchor and runner.

The greatest moonshine story never told

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:21:05 -0500

Let's face it, moonshine can be funny. Even if you've seen it a hundred times, Otis Campbell's voluntary incarceration at the Mayberry Jail is a guaranteed belly laugh. Every time Andy or Barney helps Otis into his cell and reads him a bedtime story, it cements North Carolina's colorful legacy as a big moonshine state. Moonshine is how NASCAR was born; souped up cars carrying gallons of whiskey and outfoxing the revenuers – then racing each other on homemade dirt tracks. Of course, moonshine stories accounted for many great films and countless country songs, mostly by Willie Nelson and George Jones.

Acorn attacks Amanda Lamb

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:59:35 -0500

WRAL reporter Amanda Lamb was standing outside the federal courthouse in Raleigh today when all of a sudden – BAM! – something sharp hit her on the head.

Reporters, photographers tweet photos of Sandy

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:14:19 -0400

WRAL reporters and photographers have been tweeting some great behind-the-scenes pictures from Hurricane Sandy. Here are just a few:

Reporter says goodbye Raleigh, hello Duke

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 22:33:54 -0400

We're saying goodbye today to WRAL reporter Erin Hartness, who has accepted a job at Duke University. She'll be the public relations manager for the Fuqua School of Business, which has satellite campuses around the world.

Photographer remembers Friday's friendly 'ambush' interview

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 14:50:28 -0400

UNC President emeritus William Friday's death came with many recollections of my meetings with him, especially when I was a young photographer.

My, how Raleigh and WRAL have changed

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:59:50 -0400

If you ever have an afternoon with no particular place to go and no particular thing to do, I have an idea – especially for that inner historian in many of you. Visit the NC Archives and History library in downtown Raleigh. Ask for a microfilm newspaper reel, pick a month and year from your childhood. You will experience an incredible rush of memories that you didn't even know you had.

Neil Armstrong and me

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:49:42 -0400

In the summer of '69, when Bryan Adams was playing his "first real six string" that he got "from the Five-and-Dime," Bob and Nola Armstrong and their kids were filled with ancestral pride. We were thinking about that Scottish knight of olde that rescued his King who had been knocked off his horse in battle. He was dubbed "Armstrong" due to his strength in lifting the king to his own saddle and speeding away from danger, or so goes the short story that came with the family crest. Another Armstrong from Ohio (I was born in Cleveland) named Neil could claim that same family story – and that's why we were so giddy.

Photographer's white-knuckle flight with Terry Sanford

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 10:20:42 -0400

As a photographer and later, as a reporter, I covered campaigns, news conferences and different events involving North Carolina's governors from Jim Hunt to Jim Martin, Jim Hunt again, Mike Easley and Beverly Perdue. I was the pool photographer on helicopter tours of hurricane damage on the coast and other communities with Governor Hunt and later Governor Easley.

Reporter says goodbye Raleigh, hello Clayton

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:32:04 -0400

We're saying goodbye this Friday to WRAL reporter Stacy Davis, who has accepted a job as the Town of Clayton's first-ever public information officer.

The real heart of Jerry West

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 09:19:20 -0400

This “Behind the scenes of WRAL TV” story – and a personal brush with fame – requires a bit of background which involves my youth while growing up in Raleigh.

A quick question for Andy Griffith

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:04:04 -0400

Rick Armstrong is a TV producer and photographer for WRAL's Health Team.