N.C. State Student Researcher Kenneth Geisert discusses why the tile-horned Prionus beetle larva is a major threat to blueberry crops across NC

Spokesperson for Wake County Animal Center Meagan Frost discusses center calling for help as shelter reaches capacity

The Wake County Animal Center is full, with more animals arriving every day and fewer spaces available for pets in need. Meagan Frost of the Wake County Animal Center joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the latest developments.

American international rugby union player Dom Besag discusses the World Rugby Nations Cup that is coming to Cary next week

The World Rugby Nations Cup is coming to Cary next Saturday. Dominic Besag is an American international rugby union player who plays as a center. A Danville, California native, Besag was educated at De La Salle High School and has played rugby from a young age. Besag joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss preparations for the Nations Cup.

UNC-Kenan Flagler Business School Professor Gerald Cohen discusses North Carolina being named CNBC's No. 2 Top State for Business

CNBC has ranked North Carolina #2 in its Top States for Business rankings. Carolina is home to one of the country's most active university innovation ecosystems. 682 active UNC startups — 537 of which are headquartered in North Carolina — have created more than 131,000 jobs worldwide and over 14,000 jobs in the state in the 2025 fiscal year. Gerald Cohen, a professor at the UNC-Chapel Hill Kenan Flagler Business School, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the rankings.

Catawba College Political Science Professor Michael Bitzer discusses a new Catawba College Survey that shows that most North Carolinians expect political violence before the 2026 election

A new Catawba College-YouGov poll finds that North Carolinians expressed broad concern about political violence, yet most remain confident elections will occur as scheduled and say they would reject candidates who violate principles of democracy and elections. Michael Bitzer, Catawba College Political Science Professor, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the survey results.

NCDMV Communications Manager Marty Homan on the DMV Wait Times

If you've ever planned a trip to the DMV, you've probably heard the phrase "pack your patience." But the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles says drivers may not need quite as much patience these days, as wait times continue to improve at licensing offices across the state. Marty Homan joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss what's behind the shorter waits and the steps the agency is taking to improve customer service.