History Coverage

Building a Better Colonial Williamsburg

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Those who come to Colonial Williamsburg on a nostalgia trip will find some of what they are looking for.

Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times

'Weed Day:' Why is 420 associated with marijuana? Your questions answered

Where did the concept of 420 originate, and why is April 20 the day chosen for the national celebration?

Ancient Native American canoe brought to surface from beneath Lake Waccamaw

A piece of Native American history buried beneath Lake Waccamaw for hundreds of years was brought to the surface Wednesday.

WECT

Ancient Native American canoe brought to surface from beneath Lake Waccamaw

NC lawmakers debate bill to ban critical race theory

A bill to ban North Carolina schools from teaching about systemic racism or white privilege is headed for a vote on the state House floor after passing a key committee along party lines Tuesday. Republican state lawmakers passed a similar bill in 2021, but it was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

NC House committee debates bill that would ban schools from teaching about systemic racism or white privilege

A bill that would ban North Carolina schools from teaching about systemic racism or white privilege was scheduled to be heard Tuesday in the state House Education committee.

Bill limiting how race is taught in K-12 schools advances in NC House

A bill to ban North Carolina schools from teaching about systemic racism or white privilege is headed for a vote on the state House floor after passing a key committee along party lines Tuesday. Republican state lawmakers passed a similar bill in 2021, but it was vetoed by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

Bill limiting how race is taught in K-12 schools advances in NC House

Remains of Revolutionary War soldiers to make final return to Camden, procession plans announced

Today the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust is announcing burial plans for the remains of the fourteen soldiers excavated at the Revolutionary War battleground in Camden.

WIS

Remains of Revolutionary War soldiers to make final return to Camden, procession plans announced

WRAL Fayetteville bureau camera latest in long line of local news innovations

For decades, WRAL has had a news bureau in Fayetteville, covering the news of Fort Bragg, Cumberland County and the surrounding area.

35 years ago: WRAL News anchor Charlie Gaddy had phone conversation on live TV with man holding Robesonian newspaper staff hostage

On Feb. 1, 1988, long-time WRAL anchor Charlie Gaddy spoke over the phone on live TV with Eddie Hatcher, who was one of the men who held the Robesonian staff hostage.

35 years ago: WRAL News anchor had live TV conversation with man holding Lumberton newspaper staff hostage

On Feb. 1, 1988, Eddie Hatcher and Timothy Jacobs walked into the Robesonian newspaper office in Lumberton with sawed-off shotguns and chained the door closed behind them. The men wanted to bring national attention to what they saw as rampant corruption and racism in Robeson County.

WRAL Staff

35 years ago: WRAL News anchor had live TV conversation with man holding Lumberton newspaper staff hostage

35 years ago: WRAL news anchor had conversation on live TV with man who held newspaper staff hostage

On Feb. 1, 1988, Eddie Hatcher and Timothy Jacobs walked into the Robesonian newspaper office in Lumberton with sawed-off shotguns and chained the door closed behind them. The men wanted to bring national attention to what they saw as rampant corruption and racism in Robeson County. Long-time WRAL news anchor Charlie Gaddy had a phone conversation with Hatcher on live television.

First black woman justice on MI state supreme court

Kyra Jackson Bolden talks about what it means to make history on the Michigan state supreme court.

Tar Heel Traveler: Johnston County Register of Deeds Office preserves hundreds of thousands of historic records

The Johnston County Register of Deeds Office in Smithfield has land grants, real estate and miscellaneous contracts that provide records of the Civil War.

Rocky Mount pays tribute to Martin Luther King 'I have a dream speech' that happened in the city

Nine months before Martin Luther King Jr. famously marched on Washington, D.C. to address millions of people on the National Mall, he was invited by Pastor Dudley of Mt. Zion Baptist Church to speak in Rocky Mount.

Rocky Mount celebrates 60-year anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s first delivery of the 'I Have A Dream' speech

Nine months before Martin Luther King Jr. famously marched on Washington, D.C. to address millions of people on the National Mall, he was invited by Pastor Dudley of Mt. Zion Baptist Church to speak in Rocky Mount.

Keenan Willard, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

Rocky Mount celebrates 60-year anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s first delivery of the 'I Have A Dream' speech

Fact check: DeSantis says U.S. wasn't built on stolen land

In the only gubernatorial debate before the Nov. 8 election, Gov. Ron DeSantis said: "You have people that are teaching -- and actually his running mate has said this in the past -- that teaching the United States was built on stolen land. That is inappropriate for our schools; it's not true." PolitiFact checks his claim.

Yacob Reyes, PolitiFact reporter

Fact check: DeSantis says U.S. wasn't built on stolen land

Three North Carolina presidents memorialized in Hendersonville

U.S. Presidents Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson and James K. Polk are memorialized in Hendersonville.

The profession of NC writer Thomas Wolfe's father may have inspired his greatest work

Monday was Thomas Wolfe's birthday. The writer from Asheville had a talented father who sculpted tombstones. Today, several works of W.O. Wolfe are found at Green Hill Cemetery in Waynesville. One of his angels apparently inspired his son's famous book, "Look Homeward, Angel."