WPTF Morning News

Lisa Price speaks with David Horn, vice president of operations and strategic partnerships for Invest Greenville, and R.V. Hite, former journalist with the Sanford Herald, about their personal experiences during the April 16, 2011 tornado outbreak, the deadliest in North Carolina since 1984. National Weather Service meteorologist Nick Petro also explains the atmospheric conditions that produced the supercell tornadoes and how warning systems have improved in the 15 years since.

Mitch Kokai, senior political analyst with the John Locke Foundation, joins Tony to discuss the emerging candidates to replace Phil Berger as Senate president pro tem following his primary loss, including Senate Majority Leader Michael Lee, Sen. Ralph Hise and Sen. Todd Johnson. Kokai also weighs in on growing pressure in the General Assembly to address rising property taxes and what reform efforts could mean for local governments across North Carolina.

Dr. David Carmouche, executive vice president and chief clinical transformation officer at Lumeris, joins Lisa Price to discuss the looming primary care physician shortage that could leave the U.S. short as many as 86,000 doctors by 2036 and how AI tools are helping to give doctors more time with patients in overloaded primary care settings.

Chase Pellegrini de Paur, staff writer for Indy Week and The Assembly, joins Lisa Price to discuss his latest reporting on Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation activity in Durham and what it means for the community.

Aneesh Raman, chief economic opportunity officer at LinkedIn and co-author of the New York Times bestseller "Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI," joins Lisa Price to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming the workplace, what skills will matter most for workers entering the workforce in 2026, and practical steps anyone can take to stay competitive in the age of AI.

Jill Schlesinger of JillOnMoney.com joins Lisa Price to discuss why 80% of Gen Z and 75% of millennials feel financially behind and why younger workers are increasingly turning to crypto and online gambling to build wealth. Schlesinger explains why traditional financial advice about homeownership and retirement saving does not always apply to younger generations and offers a more flexible framework for thinking about retirement in today's economy.

U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, D-N.C., joins Tony to discuss a $2 million funding announcement to relocate the Triangle Mobility Hub closer to Research Triangle Park, improving bus connections across the region and easing access to Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Ross also weighs in on Democratic efforts to invoke the War Powers Act in response to President Trump's military campaign against Iran and what she expects when Congress returns from recess.

Dan Glazer, a driver-distraction engineer with General Motors, joins the WPTF Morning Show to discuss new federal data showing more than 3,200 deaths and over 315,000 injuries tied to distracted driving. Glazer says cell phones are only part of the problem, with long glances away from the road, rubbernecking and rummaging inside vehicles sharply increasing crash risk. He outlines proposed hands-free legislation in North Carolina and offers practical steps for drivers to prepare before they start the car, limit distractions and maintain situational awareness behind the wheel.

Chris Edwards joins the WPTF Morning Show to break down the Wilson Warbirds’ first season in their new home, spotlighting young prospects and the excitement around next week’s sold‑out home opener at Wilson Ballpark. He also talks about Wilson’s long baseball history and the fan experience downtown. Edwards shares impressions from a recent trip to Augusta National and offers early thoughts on Masters contenders.

April Woods from the Town of Garner outlines new downtown streetscape improvements, added parking and outdoor gathering areas, efforts to boost walkability, and the town’s ongoing transportation survey as officials update Garner’s long‑range transportation plan.

Bob Luddy, founder and president of CaptiveAire Systems and one of North Carolina's most prominent conservative businessmen, joins Tony to discuss a letter he sent to state senators opposing the expansion of casino gambling in North Carolina. Luddy argues that gambling offers false hope as an economic development tool, draws parallels to the failures of Atlantic City, and says the state would be better served by investing in vocational and skills-based education for young people.

CBS News correspondent Peter King looks back at the Artemis II crew’s record‑setting trip around the moon, reflecting on the surprise prerecorded message from the late Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell, the mission’s emotional echoes of Apollo 8, and the human details from long days of photography to makeshift curtains in the capsule that are defining this new era of lunar exploration.

CBS News correspondent Olivia Rinaldi joins Tony Rigsbee to discuss the escalating standoff with Iran as President Trump's latest deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approaches at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Rinaldi explains what the president has threatened to strike if Iran does not comply, why Iran appears unwilling to negotiate, and what to expect from an upcoming White House meeting between President Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

King says Artemis II is performing as expected as the crew travels beyond Apollo-era distances, testing the Orion spacecraft. He discusses minor technical issues, a planned communication blackout on the moon’s far side and the mission’s goal of capturing thousands of lunar images for future missions.

Aviation analyst Jay Ratliff joins Lisa Price to discuss a passenger who gave birth aboard a Caribbean Airlines flight on final approach into New York's Kennedy Airport and what airline policies exist to prevent medical emergencies in the air. Ratliff also breaks down a $304,000 FAA fine proposed against Southwest Airlines for failing to follow required drug and alcohol testing protocols for more than a dozen employees.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins joins Lisa Price to discuss the 148th White House Easter Egg Roll and the role North Carolina agriculture played in this year's event, from egg farming to the many products the state contributes to America's food supply.

Jill Schlesinger of JillOnMoney.com joins Lisa Price to mark her 18th anniversary at CBS News by revisiting the financial advice she gave during the Great Recession and examining how it holds up today. Schlesinger walks through her five core principles, explains why staying the course beats reacting to market swings, and breaks down key financial terms, including recession, bull and bear markets, bonds, and the Federal Reserve.

Samuel Bestvater, senior data scientist on the Data Labs team at Pew Research Center, joins Lisa Price to discuss new Pew Research Center findings on religious radio in America, including the fact that more than 4,000 religious radio stations now operate across the country and that nearly all U.S. adults live within range of at least one.

Shikha Narula, managing director of consumer and small business product strategy at Bank of America, joins Lisa Price to discuss practical ways Americans can start meeting their savings goals with small steps as America Saves Week gets underway April 6-10.

Robert Gordon, senior vice president of policy, research and international at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, joins Lisa Price to discuss how consumers can keep their insurance coverage affordable in today's volatile economy and the reforms North Carolina is making to help lower insurance costs.