Medicaid expansion means North Carolina's working poor can go to the doctor for free. It also means billions in new federal funding for hospitals.

After 14 years, billions to flow as 600,000 qualify for Medicaid insurance in NC

More than half a million North Carolinians now qualify for Medicaid 

Medicaid expansion takes effect Dec. 1 in North Carolina, and 5 On Your Side is helping answer your questions about the change. 

Call Dec. 5 to get answers about Medicaid in NC

Medicaid expansion in North Carolina will begin Dec. 1, 2023

Arrival times could take longer for mail you use a stamp to send, as well as packages and magazines.


<b>RALEIGH, N.C.</b> — Arrival times could take longer for mail you use a stamp to send, as well as packages and magazines.

The new changes will go into effect at United States Postal Service offices starting Friday, Oct. 1.

Service that’s been a 1 to 3 day guarantee could now take five days.

5 On Your Side helped a woman receive answers about missing mail. 

>> >>> WOULDN'T YOU HATE TO HAVE MAIL MISSING MORE THAN A MONTH? A CARY WOMAN CONTACTED FIVE ON YOUR SIDE'S MONICA LALIBERTE FOR HELP WITH SOMETHING SHE MAILED  AND IT GOT LOST AND SHE COULDN'T GET A CLEAR ACTION FROM THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. >> Reporter: WE HAVE HEARD FROM PLENTY OF YOU CONCERNED ABOUT POSTAL DELAYS SO YOU CAN PROBABLY RELATE TO THIS WOMAN'S FRUSTRATION. YOU MAY REMEMBER THE BACKLOG OF DELIVERIES WE REPORTED ON LAST WINTER. A SPOKESMAN WITH THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE SAYS CURRENTLY, ALL OPERATIONS ARE NORMAL. A WOMAN WHO SENT MAIL OUT OF THIS LOCATION IN CARY DISAGREES. >> Reporter: DROP SOMETHING IN THE MAIL, YOU EXPECT IT TO ARRIVE AT ITS DESTINATION. >> IT IS JUST SAYING IN- TRANSIT. IT NEVER CHANGED SINCE THEY ONE. >> Reporter: DENISE MOSTLY CONTACTED FIVE ON YOUR SIDE AFTER HITTING DEAD ENDS WITH THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE ABOUT VERY IMPORTANT MAIL NOW MISSING. >> TWO LETTERS  THAT COULD CHANGE MY LIFE. >> Reporter: SHE SENT THE DOCUMENTS CERTIFIED MAIL MARCH 12 FROM THE CARY POST OFFICE TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE IN RALEIGH  JUST 13 MILES AWAY. THE TRACKING STATUS SHOWS IT ARRIVED AT A POSTAL SERVICE DISTRIBUTION CENTER THE NEXT DAY. THE LAST UPDATE IS MARCH 17 AND HAS NOT CHANGED. >> I HAVE MADE SEVERAL CALLS AND INQUIRIES. THE RESPONSES I HAVE SO FAR IS THAT THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. IT IS IN THE PROCESSING CENTER. IT NEVER HAS REACHED RALEIGH FROM CARY. >> Reporter: SHE SAYS HER BRANCH SUPERVISOR OFFERED TO LOOK INTO IT BUT AFTER 48 HOURS WITH NO UPDATE, SHE CALLED BACK AND THEY SAID THE CASE WAS CLOSED. >> UNBELIEVABLE. IF IT IS NOT RESOLVED, HOW CAN YOU DEEM IT CLOSED? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. >> Reporter: FIVE ON YOUR SIDE REACHED OUT TO THE USPS. THE SPOKESMAN TOLD US THEY MADE EVERY EFFORT TO DELIVER THE MAIL SAFELY AND SECURELY AND WILL CONDUCT A SEARCH OF THE AREA OF THE FACILITY WHERE THE LAST SCAN TOOK PLACE. ALMOST 2 WEEKS AFTER OUR FIRST INQUIRY AND WITHOUT ANY UPDATE FROM THE POSTAL SERVICE, SHE WAS SURPRISED TO CHECK HER MAIL AND FIND AN ACCEPTABLE ENVELOPE FROM SOCIAL SECURITY WITH HER DOCUMENTS SAYING THEY WERE RECEIVED AND RECORDED. IT'S USPS TRACKING SERVICE REMAINS IN-TRANSIT AND ARRIVING LATE. SHE IS GRATEFUL THE DOCUMENTS WERE LOCATED BUT NOT SURE ABOUT THE FUTURE. >> I WILL NOT USE THE POSTAL SERVICE FOR THIS. IT IS TOO IMPORTANT. >> Reporter: WE FOLLOWED UP ABOUT THE DELAY AND WILL REFER BACK TO THE ORIGINAL EMAIL THAT ALL OPERATIONS ARE NORMAL. IF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS TO SHARE

Monica Laliberte

Richard Adkins

Jenn Sorber Smith

Sydney Franklin

5 On Your Side tracks down mail in transit' for a month 

Generic picture of USPS truck

Officials with the postal office said that mail traveling long distances will be affected, and said most customers won't see a difference in their local deliveries.

These new changes are a result of the post office's effort to rely less on planes to transport mail and more on trucks.

The postal office says it will work to keep costs at "reasonable levels" and help "keep postage rates affordable," as well as improve service reliability and increase efficiency.

The U.S. Postal Service promises that rain, snow or other inclement weather won't halt mail service, but it never says that packages will take the quickest route to their destination.

Amanda Lamb

Chad Flowers

Matthew Burns

Package goes on 1,700-mile odyssey for trip from Wendell to Pitt County

'This is nothing but waste,' Wake man says of lengthy route to deliver package

Bottom line: if a bill or card needs to arrive by a certain date, get it out earlier.

Maggie Brown

USPS says mail could take up to 5 days to deliver now

United States Postal Service dropbox in downtown Raleigh. Photo taken May 22, 2021. 

5 On Your Side,United States Postal Service,consumer,mail

A Fayetteville woman says she was raped by the person who delivered her groceries through Instacart late last month.

'Be careful: ' Woman says man delivering groceries through Instacart raped her in her home

WRAL reporter Carly Haynes interviews a woman who says she was sexually assaulted by a man delivering groceries through Instacart. 

The Wake County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting that occurred Friday night, leaving one person injured.

Shooting on Campsite Drive near Wendell sends one to hospital

Man hospitalized after Wake County shooting 

Get ready for a warm up this weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday will be mild, with highs in the upper 60s.

Warmer but unsettled start to December, showers 🌧️ throughout the weekend

Forecast for Saturday 

After almost a year since the Moore County substation attack, the FBI and sheriff's office are asking for the public's help following a new lead.

FBI: Minivan new clue in Moore County substation attack; $100,000 reward 

Moore County van

Police are seeking the individuals involved in breaking into several vehicles on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus Friday.

Surge in car break-ins on UNC-Chapel Hill campus raises concerns among students

Police search for suspects wanted for car breakins

Get the latest WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast whenever you need it, including the DUALDoppler5000 and the 7-Day Forecast.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Nightly N.C. Education Lottery drawings during the 11 p.m. News.

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Tuesday and Friday Mega Millions Drawing.

Mega Millions Drawing

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are held at 3 p.m. daily. They can be seen as live or on-demand video.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

The family of 15-year-old Delvin Ferrell, who was stabbed to death at Southeast Raleigh High School on Monday, is speaking live at a press conference. 

'Keep Delvin's name alive:' Family speaks out after 15-year-old killed in stabbing at Southeast Raleigh High School

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Here's a look at which bowl bids NC State, North Carolina and Duke could accept.

Which bowl game will NC State, North Carolina and Duke play in?

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NC State football coach Dave Doeren will collect at least $175,000 in performance bonuses after the Wolfpack's 9-3 season. The pool of money for assistant coaches will go up, too.

NC State's strong finish means more money for Doeren. And Wolfpack assistants, too.

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Interim head coach Chris Tabor expects Carolina to play "classy" when they take on Tampa Bay this Sunday. He also foresees big things for rookie quarterback Bryce Young.

Tabor takes over as Panthers get set to visit Bucs

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BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum insists he didn't lose swear or lose his temper. He still wound up watching the end of the game from Boston's locker room.

With Jayson Tatum ejected late in 3rd quarter, Celtics beat 76ers 125-119

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UNC women play No. 1 South Carolina close.

USPS says mail could take up to 5 days to deliver now

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