PetSmart’s local veterinarian Dr. Irena Perdew shared tips on keeping your pet safe on the 4th of July

Executive Director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina Ardis Watkins discuss their reaction to a proposed pay increases in N.C. budget

A deal has been reached on the North Carolina state budget. The deal is expected to include income tax cuts, money for a new children’s hospital and pay raises for state employees, but do workers think the raises are enough? Ardis Watkins, Executive Director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the budget proposal.

Colisha Stanford with Step Up Ministry Raleigh

There has been an increase in people in Wake County facing poverty, homelessness, unemployment, incarceration histories and other major setbacks. Step Up Ministry in Raleigh is working to help people stabilize, find work, build confidence and create a stronger future for themselves and their families by providing employment, life skills , mentorship and long term support. Gayle Hurd talked about their work and the challenges many in Wake county face, with Colisha Stanford the CEO of Step Up Ministry

Amy Sayle at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center discusses the Full Strawberry Moon set to appear on Monday night

Look to the southeastern sky Monday evening and you’ll see June’s full moon rising just after sunset. Astronomically, the Moon reaches its full phase at 7:56 p.m. on June 29, but it will appear full throughout the night. The June full moon is also known as the strawberry moon, but don't expect a pink or red Moon. Amy Sayle, from the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC-Chapel Hill, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss what to expect from the Strawberry Moon.

Dr. Andy Bobyarchick of the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences at UNC Charlotte discusses the continued efforts of Venezuelans search more earthquake ruins as aftershock rattles rescuers in disaster zone

With the window for finding survivors shrinking fast, Venezuelans combed through more ruins of buildings toppled by last week’s devastating back-to-back earthquakes Meanwhile, a 4.6 magnitude aftershock rumbled through the disaster zone in the northern state of La Guaira. Dr. Andy Bobyarchick, with the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences at UNC Charlotte, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss earthquakes.

Writer for the Assembly Bryan Anderson discusses a NC budget deal being reached with lawmakers aiming to vote this week on a spending plan

North Carolina lawmakers — who spent the weekend deliberating over proposals in a long-awaited state budget — have reached a budget deal and aim to vote on the spending plan this week. Bryan Anderson, writer for the Assembly, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss details about the long-awaited budget.