WPTF Morning News

It has been an active week on Jones Street as the General Assembly has voted to override House Bill 10 which is a bill that address the so-called Opportunity Scholarships but also Wednesday, lawmakers tackled a bill that would take $252 million out of the state's rainy day fund for Hurricane Helene victims. Also this week the Senate took up a bill that take some of the powers away from Governor-Elect Josh Stein, Attorney General-Elect Jeff Jackson and the newly elected Superintendent of Public Schools, Mo Green. With Chris Edwards to discuss this further is Former North Carolina Governor, Pat McCrory.

There is new data that shows a significant shortage of healthcare workers across North Carolina and now experts are trying to find ways to address the problem to help those in our state who are in need of coverage. With Chris Edwards to discuss more is Andy MacCracken, Director of the North Carolina Center on the Workforce for Health.

As we get into the Holiday Months, we wanted to start to highlight local businesses throughout the triangle and what they are doing for our communities to help encourage you to shop local this holiday season, in particular with Small Business Saturday coming up in just a couple of weeks. Chris Edwards continues to talk to small business owners this morning with Rachel Stewart, Owner Elite Core Studio.

As we get into the Holiday Months, we wanted to start to highlight local businesses throughout the triangle and what they are doing for our communities to help encourage you to shop local this holiday season, in particular with Small Business Saturday coming up in just a couple of weeks. Chris Edwards speaks with Jill Donovan with Donovan's Dish and other local businesses.

The North Carolina Tar Heels coming off an impressive win over Wake Forest last week and hit the road on Saturday up to Chestnut Hill to take on Boston College. You can hear the game beginning at 10 AM on WPTF and don't forget about Hubert Davis and his #10 Tar Heels in action tomorrow morning at 12:30 AM taking on Hawai'i. With Chris Edwards to break all of this down is the Voice of the Tar Heels, Jones Angell.

As we get into the holiday season there are so many ways to give back to those in need and put a smile on someone's face - that's exactly what our colleague Madison is doing at our sister station 96.1 BBB for the Methodist Home for Children. Madison joins Chris Edwards to talk more about the work she is doing?

A busy week on Jones Street as lawmakers tackled a number of issues this week in the General Assembly, one of them was the veto override of House Bill 10 which now clears the way for $463 million to eliminate the the state's private school voucher wait list but also compels local sheriffs to comply with US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. With Chris Edwards to discuss this further is Rachel Brady who has long been a proponent of the Opportunity Scholarships.

Big things are happening in the Bull City as Durham host the 4th annual high school basketball invitational at Hillside High School, highlighting the Triangle's young basketball talent along with teams from across the state and into Virginia. With Chris Edwards to talk more about this is Kaila'Shea Menendez, Director of the Durham Sports Commission and Dr. Ingrid Wicker McCree, Durham Sports Commission Board of Directors Chair.

There are many organizations that use the month of November to highlight the need for awareness for cancers that impact men's health - you might have heard it call Movember or No-Shave-November or perhaps another catchy name. With Chris Edwards to chat about some of the cancers that are of biggest concern to men is Dr. Dan George with the Duke Cancer Institute.

We are a couple of weeks post election day and a number of incumbents won their bid for reelection, that includes in Raleigh where the City Council will have some familiar faces once again in leadership. With Chris Edwards to talk about what is on the horizon for the City Council following reelection is Jonathan Melton, Raleigh City Council Member and Mayor Pro-Tem.

It was a busy day on Jones Street on Tuesday as the General Assembly was back in session taking up a number of items which included the House voting 72-44 to override Governor Roy Cooper's veto on House Bill 10 - that vote now goes to the senate today. With Chris Edwards to discuss that veto override as well as other topics of note from what is happening at the General Assembly is Buncombe County Senator Julie Mayfield.

The race for the North Carolina Supreme Court remains too close to call and as that race between Judge Allison Riggs and Judge Jefferson Griffin continues to play out with a recount expected. With us now to discuss this race and what impacts it will have on the high court is retired North Carolina State Supreme Court Justice, Bob Orr.

The 80th Raleigh Christmas Parade is this Saturday in downtown Raleigh and serves as the unofficial kick-off for the holiday season for many. The parade which is the largest parade between Washington DC and Atlanta is a partnership between the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association and Shop Local Raleigh, and will Atlanta will again light up the faces of so many in the triangle. With Chris Edwards to discuss this more is Jennifer Martin Executive Director of Shop Local Raleigh.

As we get into the Holiday Months, we wanted to start to highlight local businesses throughout the triangle and what they are doing for our communities to help encourage you to shop local this holiday season, in particular with Small Business Saturday coming up in just a couple of weeks. Chris Edwards continues our series this morning with Master Neshat Mirzaei, Co-Owner, Program Director and Instructor at Elite Fire Taekwondo, Inc.

We are three weeks post election day and one race remains too close to call meanwhile from a national perspective, President-Elect Donald Trump continues to nominate individuals for his cabinet. With Chris Edwards to break all of this down is David McLennan.

A Raleigh based non-profit called Made4Me works with families and schools to create personalized adaptations of furniture and accessories for individuals with special medical needs free of charge. With Chris Edwards executive director of Made4Me Mike Gianakos.

News out of college football last night at the Charlotte 49ers parted ways with their head coach Biff Poggi after two seasons as the Charlotte head coach, the team posted a 3-7 record thus far. This comes just days after The Assembly wrote a lengthy piece about Poggi and his program. With Chris Edwards to talk about the program and the dismissal is Carroll Walton a writer at the Assembly.

Countless learning moments happen in classrooms all around the state. Place-based learning via field trips offers a hands-on, experiential approach that extends learning beyond the classroom alone. The Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund will help ensure students from all regions of the state have the opportunity to engage in memorable educational experiences while cultivating a deeper understanding and appreciation of North Carolina’s rich history, culture, arts, science, and natural resources. With Chris Edwards to talk more in-depth about the Learning Happens Here Fund is Christie Norris, Director of Education for the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler was elected to serve another term by the voters in our state during the election three weeks ago. The Commissioner is kind enough to join Chris Edwards this morning to discuss his reelection and biggest action items for his term ahead.

Each year, half a million adults are diagnosed with late-stage cancer. Innovative technologies that could detect more cancers in earlier, more treatable stages, offer new hope to reduce the immense burden of cancer. With Chris Edwards to discuss more is Jody Hoyos, Chief Executive Officer of the Prevent Cancer Foundation.