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Michelle Mackonochie - familiar to WRAL viewers after five years as part of the morning news team - will anchor the 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. newscasts with Dan Haggerty, and the 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts with Gerald Owens. 

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What it really means to be an organ and bone marrow donor

Stay up to date with WRAL’s NC State basketball news and reporting coverage

NC State basketball News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

NC State basketball Coverage

Transferring to UNC's rival during the off-season was the story for Ven-Allen. Now we are getting close to the season, and he is ready to kick off his senior season. 

Yeah, I mean, it's, it's something that's immeasurable just the love and support that, you know, I, I get from the community from from Messi State, and just knowing that it's, it's, it's a great fan base and just knowing that they're very, very excited, you know, about the basketball season. So that's something that I, I'm looking forward to extremely and I just can't. I. How authentic and transparency is, you know, you know the type of coach I have gonna say what you wanna hear, you know, just throw some things that is gonna make it sound good and then once you know things come shut, like things come, you know, real, then it's like completely opposite and thrown out of, you know, blindness and so I just think that he's just, he's just being really straight up with you, you know, from the front and uh that's something I really, really admire. What are some of the tough things he's told you that maybe he didn't wanna hear if he needed to. Um, it wasn't really tough. Like he, he admired me great as a character and as a player, you know, he was just some really good things about me, and I really appreciate him for that, but he's really just wants me to be more of a vocal leader, you know, he knows I'm a guy that kind of lead by example, lead by my actions and things that my voice carries a lot, you know, to the guys really can be helpful, so that's something he wants me to do and that's something that I, I. What did you take away from Coach Bray and I'm guessing very funny personality and then I'm sure the NBA background of Stackhouse was a different experience. I like to learn from different personalities, I guess. Yeah, I mean, it just says a lot about like coaching styles and how they were able to be successful on their own. You know, he's very strict, whether it's very loose, and like you know Mike Gray like he he was the guy that just loves to have his players, you know, put a smile on his players' face, make them enjoy the moment and not be so serious, you know. Obvious there's times where they're locking lock in, but also times where like you know this is a game where guys that want to compete, be entertained, and also enjoy it. For him to install that in us was really good and also from Jerry Stackhouse, you know, very intense guy, just knowing that he loves to compete, doesn't like losing. That's something that he installed in us early on something that he emphasized each and every day, you know, he wants us to play with with force, with aggressive, and just that chip on our shoulder. Jerry talked to Hubert before you signed the UNC. I'm, I'm not too sure yet. Bray and Wade and I, I believe he is. I think he, he's, uh, from, from my experience I think he's just more passionate. I mean, I haven't seen Will Wade actually. I haven't played for him yet, but it just seems to me that Rick Davis is more passionate, you know, just showing a lot of emotions on the court, even just in coaching like at the end of coach, like in the end of practice, like he'll be dressed in sweat and like he wouldn't do nothing, you know, obviously like physically just kind of just showing that he's just really, really into the game. So that's something that I see. with the coaches and like I said about you know Will Wade, I think he's just very transparent, authentic, and also I think he also shows that emotion and that you know passion just based off you know, his actions when you, uh, you know, Coach Wade's been talking about freeing you from the coin land and I went back and I watched Florida at Vanderbilt, and I don't know how much you remember from that game, but you were launching, you know, and what was it like when you think back like you put a. Numbers on the floor that won the national title a year later. Yeah, that is something that is really opening to me as a coach just knowing that he's seen me done it before he studied me in my game, not just from last year but just from the years before that and even in high school, he was able to contact my high school coach and have conversations with him and just to know what type of player I am just so he can get to learn more about me and that's something that I really really appreciate him for and. That's something to where he thinks that's something I can do and continue to work on just to be able to free me up and also free up the offense. What do you think you didn't always get the show. I think just how well I am you know I think I'm you know a guy that can just impact winning so many different ways and just be able to, whether that's playmaking, whether that's scoring the ball, whether that's on defense, you know, I think I can do it all. So I like to go from that with showing something that you want to evolve in a Wolfpack jersey. Also, will the Crimson before he joined here. You're coming from UNC. Every game is the same, but you look at some of these atmospheres along the way. I'll say so. You know, I think I, I want to show people what they missed and you know it's the real me, you know, I think I haven't been able to match my my full potential since I got except when I went to Vanderbilt, but I believe I'm ready to do that. And then maybe just uh. Uh, tenor of practice, right, maybe the, the, the tone of your team and you guys have a lot of new pieces chemistry wise. I know we have it in there, but what are you saying that you think will own well on the court for a team that is jelling on the fly? Yeah, just, you know, the, the team and just the debt that we have. I think a lot of guys can bring a lot to the table and not just, you know, scoring the basketball, but to be able to to communicate, to be able to fly around, show some energy and effort just to be able to help and. Winning and I think just us being connected and knowing what what's at stake and what we want to accomplish is something that we, we all, you know, look forward to sign up for. And then lastly for me I think what's it like for his personality intriguing, I just think how how passionate he is and how authentic he is, you know, I think that he's very transparent with his players and coaches and doesn't tell you he tells you what you need to hear, you know, in order for you to be the player that you want to become and also the man that you wanna become and um. That's something that you, you had those tough and open up conversations with him and you know he's gonna tell you what it is but it's all out of love, you know, so that's something that I appreciate him for that and that's something that really need to play for you. Specifically when you play against UNC this year, what kind of things do you think they missed in your game? Uh, just, uh, a guy that can do it all, you know, I think, uh, they had some pieces to where they're really focused on on those than myself and you know not just credit. guys who are really good and who deserve that. I just think that when I'm here at NC State, I believe that can see a lot more in me and be able to maximize it, but just your experiences in this game, you can use that in a leadership role. So you plan to be a leader for my experience and be more of a vocal leader. I think I've shown that a lot based on my actions, but I believe my voice can also carry a lot more and to bring along. Just from, you know, guys who's been a guy who's been through this and to know what he's getting into just to to be able to share that with them so that we're all prepared for it. You know, Coach Wade, it seems like he's got a lot of energy. Have you noticed that and that kind of rub off on you guys when you're out there working? Yeah, I mean, I think we have a lot of guys, you know, I think this this team, this program shows a lot of energy from Coach Wade to assistant coaches, Coach Chambers, Coach Howard, you know, Hamilton down to the players. De Daen, you know, Jer, myself, uh, just showing that type of leadership and just knowing that we, we all have a voice that matters and that carries importantance us and so that's something that we all just want to bring to the, to, you know, to each and every day we practicing games, scrimmages no matter what it is. I was just sure you probably wouldn't anticipate that um we actually just went out the case that it may be you know. It's I saw you posted on the right. There you go. And as far as how, what have you seen from practice and you know I think a lot of people kind of similar to you where they say, oh, he's undersized, he's not, you know, that type of player, what have you seen from him to get the thought process that.

From UNC to the Pack: Ven-Allen Lubin will play senior season in Raleigh

UNC transfer Ven-Allen Lubin speaks for NC State at the ACC Tip-Off 

NC State forward Darrion William speaks to the media at the ACC Tip-Off in Charlotte, North Carolina. William transfers to Raleigh from Texas Tech where he was a All-Big 12 First Team Selection. Averaged 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

You can be a strong player in the season this year. Yeah, I think he I think he's just more like similar to Terrence, more confident in the stuff he coach allows him to do, um, like being able to step out on the 3, being able to bring the ball up, uh, wants to just go score if we need them to, and he, he's the most unselfish person probably we have on the team. Uh, he doesn't really care about anything but winning, well, we're not playing, but winning drills and stuff like that. But no, I think he, he's been a great guy, you know. I knew he was coming when I was coming, uh, around the time we committed around the same time, and we kinda got, we got close. Uh, I know some, we got like on a personal level outside of basketball and I think he's just a great dude. Um, loves his fiance. He's probably the most morally right dude I've ever met. So it seems like Coach Wade just he brings it kind of a unique energy. How would you describe sort of his, his style. Um, shoot, authentic. I you can't like you have to come to a practice and kind of just listen to him yell, listen to him, listen to him how he coaches us like he just wants us to win it in the day. I think we're one of his favorite teams just by how he's acting, what I've heard past stories about him. I think he loves us as a team, so. Uh, but now, they push us every day to play as hard as we can. Uh, they want all of us to have the highest motor possible, and, uh, they want all of us to get our dreams, uh, whatever everybody dreams is, he wants us to reach that, and they all want us to reach that, so they hold us to that level and they don't let us slide. One of your dreams obviously to get to the NBA, you know, you went through that process. What did they tell you about, you know, your style of game and and how that translates to the NBA because you obviously do a lot of different things other than just score. Yeah, I think they, they told me just to. Stay versatile. I think that was the main thing and try to get my 3. percentage up from this past year, and I need to get my body in better shape, which I think was the main reason why I wanted to come back personally just to work on that. And I said, just stay versatile, you're going to be able to do a lot of things when you get to the level. Where are you at stand at this point? What's changed since last year, just eating better, with a good dietitian and our strength coaches are the best. The country I feel like and then we run a lot in practice so has there been any like weight loss or muscle mass out yeah I'm a lot healthier now. OK. And I had to ask you too because I saw it in practice, the the or the balloon popping like how frustrating is that to hear whenever, you know, if, if either you're responsible or anybody on your side is responsible for it, to know that you know that's gonna be, you know, seconds are gonna be added to the end of practice. Yeah, um, it's demoralizing because you know when you turn the ball over you're already mad and then you hear the balloon pop and you know like when we reach a certain amount we have to run for it so that's, that's the worst part of it, you know, and you might have to run defensively keep turning the ball over, but most days we have, we don't reach where we have to run for it, but the days we do that is. What are the rules for that? Uh, once we get over 10 to like 11 plus we have to run for everyone like 11, we run 1, 12 2. Do they get those at Dollar Tree? I don't know they have a whole stack of them in our in our little room. What's your mom think of the coach? She loves them. I mean, she, I think they talk every once in a while. Uh, she was comfortable with it when I was comfortable with it, so, uh, she tries to, she's come out probably twice, but they're gonna come out. My parents are gonna come out more when I get to see. Another thing about practice, I noticed just watching you guys on 3 point shots, you guys always point at each other. Is that something your coaching? Yeah yeah, uh, I think just like just saying good pass just no no like the other guy made a play for you. It's not just all about you like connect, connect with your teammates. I think that's the good part. Yeah, yeah, I figured. I is that or? Yeah, um, and we made the decision to transfer why NC State and why Coach? Uh, I think he was just real, he was just authentic and real with everything like he, he broke down everything from a, from a good and a bad standpoint of what I need to work on to get to the NBA, get to my next professional level, and he just, he didn't. He didn't say what I wanted to hear. He said what I needed to hear. I think a lot of coaches either said what I wanted to hear or they just start talking about money and Coach Wade, it was all about basketball and how I can fix my body and how I can get better and get to that next level. It is a very interesting, I guess personality if you will, um, it just doesn't, you know, bite his tone if there is somebody. on the team that kind of embraces that or kind of that kind of you see that some of that reflects in their game or when you are with them as far as the teammate on the court um who who who would that be? How does that kind of personality? Uh, I think it affects everybody because he allows everybody to be themselves. Uh, he doesn't try to control you in any type of way, but I think the person, uh, that's most like him is cute. It's quite Copeland, uh, he, he talks a lot and he's just a truly unique person in in himself. He's, uh, so he's just like coach who says whatever is on his mind, um, so they, you know, they were with each other last year, so I'm sure he feels even more open now with him. So yeah, forgive me for the two part question, is there a player on this team or players on this team in here that hey. Um, you had a, you know, relationship with Prior, um, to be with NC State A and B. Is there somebody that maybe you may have heard of before or whatever the case may be, but then of course your teammates may have now it's like I'm not sure I knew that he had this in his bag, but a little bit better than I thought he was. Uh, I never knew anybody on a relationship standpoint, but I knew who Terrence Arsenal was when I played against him. Uh, I. Trey Holloman was because I knew James Richardson on Michigan State, so I watched some of their games. Uh, I knew George Snail because we played them, played in Chief State two years ago, so I kind of knew who he was. I really, but other than that, um, no, I didn't, I didn't know anybody. It's my first time meeting everybody, and we all just kind of kicked up, but the one that surprised me the most, probably, probably Terrence just because at Houston he wasn't necessarily allowed to do a bunch of different stuff. You know they want more sophistic offense but uh I think yeah when it comes to I guess Trey, what are some of the things that just in terms of his game, the things that you think they're gonna help the team the most and maybe just perhaps some of those traits that you brought over with him from your state, uh, I think he's just a passed on defense. He's super fast, super quick. He he shoots. 3 way better I think way better than his percentages in practice he pursued it really well. I think he's just a leader and he's just he's he's all about winning, not really worried about his individual stats, uh, and he's, he's the probably the person that everybody on the team relates most to just because he's, he's pretty vocal just like you and just makes everybody laugh and makes the makes them lighten the mood. And then lastly I know you mentioned that you have a relationship with Jay as well with Magic. And so forth, um, just your overall thoughts on like you know here, um, NBA player and, or, uh, just maybe something about his particular game maybe not a lot of, you know, or rave about or, you know, he gets a lot of crap yeah I think I went to high school with Jay. He was a sophomore when I was a senior in high school, um, but I think he just, he comes from a great family, you know, Jackie and, uh, Jackie and Jason. To great fans. Jason still goes well whenever I go to Vegas. Jason ops over runs every once in a while, he still got it. It's kind of crazy, but, uh, I think he just comes from a good good, uh, good support system, and they lead him in the right way and he just continues to be himself, and I think that's the biggest thing, um, from high school to now he just, I can tell you just always stayed true to himself and I think like that culture that a lot of, a lot has been made over the past couple. last couple of days about you potentially being preseason player of the year in the conference, how do you think you stack up against some of the best I think you played in this conference, but I know you watch a lot of basketball, so what are your thoughts? I feel like I'm one of the best players in the country, not just in the ACC but um I mean preseason awards don't really, they mean something but they don't really mean anything like you still have to go out there and earn it. You're not gonna win any awards based on the preseason, so hopefully they give. that really doesn't we'll see who gets in. I appreciate you sharing that that perspective. Uh, you obviously come over from Texas Tech. um, you know, you're you're on the East Coast now, um, very different style between Lil Wade on the coastal. What, what are the main differences um what what things stick out the most to you, uh, what things in this process? I think, I think they're two coaches I think.

NC State's F Darrion Williams speaks at the ACC Tip-Off in Charlotte 

NC State's Darrion Williams at ACC-Tip-Off

It is year 1 for Will Wade as the head coach for NC State. With a talented transfer portal class, Will Wade hopes to turn the Raleigh program in year 1. 

Challenges for the plays, yeah, I mean, look, I think it's it's a great change. I think anything that's gives the coaches a little bit more more jurisdiction over a few things I think is good and so we certainly spent time as a staff talking about it and how to best challenge and how to best use. Our time how to best use our challenges, and so, um, you know, we're, uh, uh, you know, we're uh we're excited to see how it goes, but I think it'll be, I think it'll be a good process. I think we've got a good process in places like you get some camaraderie with the team. I think our communication gets better, um, you know, just, just build some bonds. I mean, look, we're at a place there's no cell phone service, um. You're in a cabin with everybody else, so you're in close quarters and just think there's some um some bonds that can be built over that time that you can't do, you can't do elsewhere. Well, there's an unprecedented influx of international flavor in this season where there's more than 20 former overseas roads. is this a trend that's going to? I think so. I mean, look at the new rules. I mean, you couldn't give a guy a donut. Now you can go pay their buyout, um, so I mean, you know, I, I think that, I think that, uh, certainly the schools you're familiar with Virginia's got some really good ones. Virginia Tech's got a great one. Um, you know, and so I think that look, it's just opened up a new market and those kids, you know, before, one, a lot of those kids didn't necessarily want to come over here because you couldn't make, couldn't make money or you couldn't make as much money as you were making over there. Two, you had the amateurism issues. I mean, now everybody knows when you signed that you played professionally for your, you know, you had to play professionally to, uh, you know, to play for your national team you play for your national team, you automatically get a year of. you know, so you know, everybody, everybody can get a year everybody can get a year now that's a pro over there. So I think it's opened up new markets and and um look, when you've got a lot of schools like ours are that are academically oriented, a lot of times those international kids are pretty good students, they're really good students. You can get them in school, they appreciate they're very appreciative of the opportunity to be here. I think they have a level of appreciation of the opportunity to be in the United States, opportunity. Be in college that maybe some of our Americans don't always have, um, so I think that they're they're um they're really good ads for most teams and I don't see the trend stopping as long as the rules and everything. You know, stays as they are. How different is the international game to the game? How quickly do you anticipates being able to adjust? Yeah, I think they'll adjust, and I think it's harder to adjust from the college game to the international game. I was over at a Euro Cup game last month. I mean, if you, I was sitting on the floor at the floor seats. I mean if you look at the physicality in that game, I mean, Valentunis was playing who was in the NBA and he's playing as high school kids. I mean if you look at the physicality in that game, there's not 10 high school kids that could play in that game, much like maybe 5 that could play and make an impact. And then, you know, so I, I think that and there's, you know, there was former ACC players in the game. There's a former SEC player in the game. I mean. You know, those guys, I think, have a harder time adjusting to the international game that the internationals do to, to the American people. you got two trades that are really successful and um, what was it about those two guys that made. And and target them the way that you did and also um what have you seen from them early on that maybe you maybe you have or have not surprised. I think winnings, that's a I think winning is a habit, you know, we have 6 guys on our team that won NCA tournament games last year. Terrence obviously played in the national championship. Trey played in the Elite Eight. Darian, who's here with us, played in the Elite Eight, and so I think I think Terrence is a disrupter offensively, his offensive games better than he's been able to show, and I think he's going to be able to show that. Uh, for us and, and Trey somebody that was a captain of Michigan State, and he's a leader and he's tough, you know, get in your face, he's gritty, grimy, kind of like we like it, and so I think he's somebody that brings an edge to our team and is somebody that our fans are gonna like and probably the rest of the league won't like so much. Is there is there a particular guy on this team, producers in my own personal opinion very, um, it's just interesting. Personality in the way that you kind of get um you're not afraid to, you know, you don't bite your tongue and you say how you feel. Is there someone on this team that is kind of embraced and just kind of have a very similar personality and mentality? Yeah, I mean, I think we got a lot of guys like that. I think Holloman's like that. I think Copeland's like that. I think those two are, those two are, are, are, are for sure like that, and you know it's what you wanna want. I mean as a coach, you recruit guys that fit your personality. You know, sometimes you gotta ask yourself in recruiting, you know, would I rather play against this guy twice a year or be with this guy every day. You want to take the guys you're gonna be with every day and you let loose the ones you don't worry about playing against twice a year. And so I think that, uh, you know, I think Copeland and Holloman for sure have that have that, uh, have that edge to them that I like. You didn't have a lot of time between when the league announced it was pivoting from 20 to 18 years. To then reset your non-communist, what are the games that you ended up adding because of that decision? What, what was your thinking that went into that? Yeah, I think, I think the league did a great job going from 20 to 18 games. It was a very smart move. Now we had a little bit of a heads up that it was heading that way, um, so it wasn't like when it got announced that was official, but we had a pretty good heads up that it was heading towards, towards 18 games. We added the, the Greensboro. Um, I felt like what really changed for us is it wasn't anticipating our two.

Will Wade leads NC State's MBB at the ACC Tip-Off in Charlotte

Will Wade in Year 1 at NC State 

WRAL Investigative Sports Reporter Brian Murphy has been keeping in touch with coach Chambers all day long -- texting back and forth.

>> US MOVE THIS COUNTRY. >> APPROPRIATE. YES. ONE LAST THING TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT. HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING THE NC STATE ASSISTANT COACH WHO'S BEEN STUCK IN LINE ALL DAY AT THE DMV. HE'S BEEN TWEETING ABOUT IT SINCE 07:00AM. THIS IS BRANDON CHAMBERS. YEAH. HE FOLLOWED WILL WAITED TO NC STATE TO COACH THE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM. MOVING TO A NEW STATE MEANS WHAT YOU GOT TO GET A NEW LICENSE. AND THIS WAS BRANDON'S VIEW THIS MORNING AT THE DMV AT 07:00AM. HE ACTUALLY SAYS HE GOT THERE AT 05:45AM. WRAL. INVESTIGATORS, SPORTS REPORTER BRIAN MURPHY HAS BEEN KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH COACH CHAMBERS ALL DAY LONG. THEY'VE BEEN TEXTING BACK AND FORTH. THEY EVENTUALLY JUMPED ON A ZOOM CALL. SO WE ASKED HER FOR ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION. I GUESS YOU COULD CONSIDER THIS OF MANY. MURPH STIR. >> KAREN TRAVERS TWEETING ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO BECAUSE HE TRIED TO GO TO THE DMV AT THE END OF LAST WEEK AND COULDN'T GET IT. AND SOMETHING AGAIN THIS MORNING EARLY IN THE MORNING. I SAW A TWEET FROM THAT INDICATED HE WAS IN LINE AT THE DMV, BUT THE LINE WAS ALREADY WRAPPED AROUND THE BUILDING. AND SO JUST KIND OF STARTED FOLLOWING HIS TWEETS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE DAY EVENTUALLY STARTED TEXTING WITH THE MONEY, SAYS AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE. THERE'S NOTHING THAT YOU CAN REALLY DO. YOU'RE JUST. >> HERE. SO IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT? HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT. YOU KNOW, WE JOKE A LITTLE YOU KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE INSIDE ARE GREAT. >> LIKE I SAID, THAT PEOPLE OUTSIDE IN LINE WERE GREAT AND LIFE'S TOO SHORT, TOO. >> TO GET ALL BENT OUT OF SHAPE. >> THAT'S A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AT THE DMV. I WILL SAY 70 WORKED OUT OF THE END FOR FOR THE COACH. HE POSTED AROUND ONE O-CLOCK MORALE WAS LOW, BROUGHT IN SOME REINFORCEMENTS. DONUTS TURNED THE TIDE FOR THE REST OF THE TEAM AND DMV WORKERS SAID ABOUT 2 O'CLOCK CHAMBERS. FINALLY GOT WHAT HE CAME FOR AFTER 8 HOURS. HE GOT TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. WHO KNOWS HOW MANY DOUGHNUTS WERE CONSUMED AT THAT POINT. BUT CASE CLOSED. WELL, THE WORLD ON, YOU KNOW, I GOT TO SAY CLEARLY, COACH CHAMBERS DIDN'T WATCH OUR INSTALLMENT OF 07:00PM HACKS DURING INDEP A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. THERE ARE BETTER WAYS THEN GETTING IN LINE AT 5.45? SO HERE IS A QUICK REFRESHER. >> EVERY DAY JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT IS WHEN THOSE NEW APPOINTMENTS FOR THE NEW 90 DAY OUT DRAW. SO THAT THAT IS TRUE. NOW, TECHNICALLY THE MORNING HOURS ARE FOR APPOINTMENTS ONLY SO EVEN IF YOU SHOW UP AT LIKE 05:00AM IF THEY DON'T GET ME, NO SHOWS YOU'RE GOING TO END UP WAITING IN THAT LINE UNTIL NOON BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THEY ACTIVATE THE WALK IN SYSTEM, MEANING. >> THERE'S NOT MUCH BENEFIT TO WAITING IN LINE BEFORE THAT. >> THERE YOU GO. NOW, YOU KNOW, COACH HOURS TOO LATE, THE DMV IN NORTH CAROLINA IS LIKE THE WORST. WELCOME PARTY TO A STATE YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE. HE WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE. WE NEED TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE YET. TRIED NAVIGATING THE ONLINE SYSTEM AND THEN TRY TO NAVIGATE IN THE IN PERSON. I MEAN, BY THE END OF IT, YES,

NC State assistant basketball coach waits at DMV for eight hours

Brandon Chambers, an NC State assistant basketball coach, got to the Cary DMV location at 5:45 a.m. Tuesday. The early arrival did little good as he was 28th in line to start the day.

YOUR PHONE. THAT APP IS FREE >> LONG LINES AT THE DMV CONTINUE TO BLAKE PLAGUE THE STATE. EVEN LOCAL COLLEGE COACHES SHARING THEIR FRUSTRATION AND THAT INCLUDES NC STATE'S ASSISTANT BASKETBALL COACH BRANDON CHAMBERS WHO DOCUMENTED HIS ENTIRE EXPERIENCE ON X TODAY FROM 06:00AM UNTIL 02:00PM WRAL. CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF LAURA LESLIE HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK TO CHAMBERS AFTER THAT 8. OUR WAYS. >> WHEN NC STATE ASSISTANT COACH BRANDON CHAMBERS GOT HERE AT 5.45. THIS MORNING. THIS IS WHERE HE WAS NUMBER 28 IN LINE. IT TOOK MORE THAN 2 HOURS JUST TO WORK ITS WAY AROUND THE BUILDING AND GET ONTO THE VIRTUAL WAITING LIST. HE AND STATE LEADERS IN BOTH PARTIES ALL AGREE THE DMV IS IN DISARRAY. NC STATE ASSISTANT MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH BRANDON CHAMBERS JUST MOVED HERE FROM LOUISIANA IS TRYING TO GET AS NORTH CAROLINA LICENSE LAST WEEK. >> I WENT TO 3 DIFFERENT DMVS AND THEY WERE ALL FULL. AND THE THE IRONY AND KIND OF CATCH. 22 AND EVERYTHING IS THAT YOU HAVE TO SWITCH OVER YOUR STUFF. WHAT? YOU CAN'T GET AN APPOINTMENT. HE THOUGHT 05:45AM WOULD BE EARLY ENOUGH TO GET THERE. I WAS 20TH IN LINE. YEAH, IT WAS. >> I THOUGHT WHEN I PULLED UP, I WAS LIKE THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO WAY CHAMBERS POSTED HUMOROUS UPDATES ON SOCIAL MEDIA ALL DAY. EVEN BUY DOUGHNUTS FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE DMV STAFF. WE'RE GOING TO BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON. >> THERE'S NO ENJOYMENT OUT OF THIS. YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT AS WELL. I HAVE SOME FUN. AND AND THE AGAIN, THAT'S WHY ABOUT THE DOUGHNUTS MEAN WHO DOESN'T LIKE A DOUGHNUT? >> THE DYSFUNCTION AT THE DMV IS NOW OFFICIALLY A BIPARTISAN ISSUE. DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR JOSH STEIN SAYS HE AGREES WITH MOST OF THE AUDIT RELEASED MONDAY BY REPUBLICAN STATE AUDITOR DAVE BULLOCK SAYING THE DMV IS UNDERSTAFFED, UNDERFUNDED AND OVERWORKED. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE. >> WE ALSO NEED TO IMPROVE OUR POLICIES. THE AUDITOR IDENTIFIED SOME SOLUTIONS. WE'VE ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTING MANY OF THOSE ON OUR. HOW DO YOU THINK WE GOT HERE? I THINK WE'RE FAST GROWING STATE LIKE THE 3RD FASTEST GROWING STATE AND THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE TONS OF PEOPLE ON A DAILY BASIS. THERE HASN'T BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE END OF THE FOLKS AND I LONGTIME CHAMBERS AGREES ON THE NEED FOR MORE STAFF. >> HE SAID THE PEOPLE HERE WERE DOING THE BEST THEY COULD WITH THE RESOURCES THEY HAD. THERE JUST WEREN'T ENOUGH OF THEM THAT YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO DO THROUGH FOR PEOPLE'S JOBS AT ONCE. AND THAT'S THAT'S TOUGH

NC State coach makes best of hours-long wait at DMV

NC State men's basketball assistant coach Brandon Chambers

NC State men's basketball assistant coach Brandon Chambers chronicled his long day at the DMV on social media, just one day after an audit highlighted multiple problems at the division.

'Thanks for the donuts': NCDOT responds to NC State coach's long day at DMV 

Centennial Authority Chairman Philip Isley, NC State Athletic Director Boo Corrigan and Hurricanes Holding Chief Executive Officer Brian Fork will answer media members' questions about the renovation process at the Lenovo Center.

Let everybody know we have a fantastic design team. We have a fantastic construction team. We have incredible partners with NC State and Galle Force Holdings. We are really excited about what's getting ready to come. Looking forward to any questions y'all may have. Please let me know who, uh who you're asking the question for and uh go ahead. Perfect Yeah, Brian Murphy of WRAL, and can you give us any update on the status of it? I mean, we've seen big things like the view bar and the bunker suits. So those things gonna be ready is is the project on schedule to be ready for the start of basketball and hockey season. They're certainly under underway right now. Our intention is to have them ready as, as, as fast as they can, but you know, we're, we're moving forward uh with a lot of significant construction right now. And we expect that the fans will be able to enjoy these for the next season. Chip, yeah, Chip out there just to follow up on that question asked every project on time on budget, always, always. You know, we're, we're doing a lot of work right now to make sure that we use all of the public financing that we're getting to get this done. The expectation of the community is we're gonna have this renovation be first class. We're all moving toward that right now. We fully expect with the professionals that we have on on on hand. In addition to the partnership that we have with NC State Galle Force, the Centennial Authority, that we're going to have the best product we can possibly have for the money that we've been allocated. I would, I would just add to that there's a lot of time spent. Making sure about the timing, making sure about the budget, and it's repetitive in nature, right? A lot of times it's All right, where are we? What are we doing in that type of thing, but it, it's constantly on top of our mind. The thing that I'll add is this is different than a renovation or a renovation is different than a new build, so new build get the building up. Get the CEO, open the doors, turn the lights on day one. That's ready. We've got different discrete projects going on all over the building that take different amounts of time to get finished. So the 300 level, we're working on the view bar. We're working on a really large marketplace right behind it. That's on the timeline, heavy construction going on right now on that. We're also gonna do a full refresh of the whole. 300 level concourse that will take throughout the entire season to get done and we'll do it quad by quad by quad. There'll be some construction walls and temporary areas that fans can walk through as we move through just like I've been out there for the concerts the last few weeks. Brian, uh, in terms of the bunker suites and the other premium spaces in phase one. Have you guys sold those yet? Where are you in terms of sort of activating? We have 6 bunker suites that are in the construction plans. 4 of those have already been sold. There's another 2 that are out there and we really haven't even started marketing. We were able to just kind of start selling them without getting any kind of marketing effort underway. So as we get closer to the season, we anticipate we'll start that marketing campaign and presumably sell this out. Who have you taken this out to to your fans as well and what's been the level of excitement or interest in in some of these new products? Yeah, a lot of excitement, you know, when we got here, the court side Club was probably smaller than this room when it started, and then we were able to expand it, uh, in the last couple of years, but there's a lot of excitement around that, you know, and the opportunity to be there, be a part of a bigger space, and, you know, it's an opportunity for us to bring former players back. Into that area and kind of just continue to build um on the program. Hi, Kirk, WRAL. I'm curious about uh how these renovations fit into a larger plan to kind of redevelop the space around the center. So the external development is different from the arena renovation project is a publicly funded project. The external development is privately funded through Gale Force. That will not start until sometime after this football season based on the terms of our development agreement, but there's constant coordination between the two projects. What should we be doing within the renovation from a fan-facing standpoint that matches better. To where certain things will be in the development, where will the new uh synergies of parking be after the new development is put in place? How do we pair those up with the entrances to the arena? So it's, it's being coordinated on a daily basis between the two of them to fit together. One of the questions that we've got is, you know, the, the bunker suits are great, but what about the average fan? Are there some things that they will see right away when they come to a game, to a basketball game, to a hockey game, to a concert that you know they won't have to pay a premium. Yeah, I think early on in the process we want to look at this from 3 different buckets, right? First is operational. What do we need to do to make this building as efficient? As we can, whether it's hockey games or concerts or basketball games, so there's an operational bucket. The second bucket is a general fan to, to make sure that we're doing enough to enhance it, whether it's the concourses. Concession stands, entry, parking, everything around that, and then third buckets of premium. So there's no discussions really that we have that don't include all three of those buckets as opposed to we're going to do 70% of this is going to be around premium. That's not really what we're looking to do. We want to make sure that anyone that comes to this building, whether it's a concert and how they move in, or the general fan or those people that are a part. Of the premium or having an enhanced experience. I think the view bar is a part of that 300 level. That's gonna be an immediate amenity that anyone that comes up on the 300 level is gonna see but wow, this is great. They didn't forget about me. I think that's what we're really looking for. Can you go a little bit more in depth on the new bar? a lot of open space and see the ball. If, if you, if you travel around the nation now and you look at the new, uh, fancy arenas that are getting built, there's a lot more focus on the networking aspect. A lot of people your age like to mingle maybe the not necessarily being in the seat, you know, you, you see a lot of this with, with like beer hall type experiences, but there's a much more open. Open space where you can go to the rail and watch. You can still continue to see and talk to your friends. There'll be monitors around so you can still maintain whatever game or concert you're watching. But that seems to be the new general trend with respect to these, these new bills that we see all over the nation. So we, we think this is actually getting this up to a, to a place. It's certainly gonna be unique in North Carolina but it's also very, very. Uh, tried and true new amenity that these arenas are, are making right now. Have you guys decided how you'll take that? Will, will you need a seat, obviously, to get in the arena? Will you need a ticket to get in the view bar, or will that be separate? Can you just buy a view bar seat? It could be programmed for hockey games. I'll speak for hockey games. It could be programmed a little bit differently as we move through the year, but the intent is that that is really any fan in the entire building that has a ticket to get in currently can go to the 300 level, could walk the concourse at the 300 level, walk up to that bar, get something to eat, get a drink, go stand at the rail, and, and. Look into it and look at the ice. So the idea is that is for that is a premium amenity that is for any fan that can get into the building. Hey, uh, what kind of feedback have you been getting from your fans about the external plans? Any concerns there or just these last few months? Yeah, I mean, you know, Chip to be, you know, we, we have the best and worst problem in college, in college sports. We have unbelievable parking. And anything that changes is gonna change that. I think that's the single biggest issue is people are worried about the parking and where they are and where they've been, you know, we went through the same thing, um, when IPF was built, right? You know, it changed, right? So the one constant is changed in what it is, but I think they're excited about the opportunities to come out early to be a part of something to stay after a game and again be part of that, but until we actually see. What it is and how that does change, you know, I think that's the biggest fear of change. Corey Lala North State Journal. I'm just wondering, I, I know there was a lot of encouragement about how well the building has held up over the years. Now that you're actually ripping things out, or have you still been happy with how things have held up? Yes, I mean, it's, it's bomb proof, uh, truly we're, we, we, we've been doing a lot of work in what they call the rats lab, which is pretty technical. I didn't know what it meant myself, but it's, it's been built very substantially. That's what's made this renovation project so, uh, much easier is that. In addition to the building being well built, the, the authority well before me was putting the money in to make sure that the building systems were all running effectively, running efficiently, and so the amount of money that's been invested in the building in the 25 years of its lifetime so far really is allowing us to get to the next 20 to 25 years of an enhancement project. We're building that ultimately when it's probably when this day is done in 50 years or so. We've outlived many, many arenas that are built and and taken down within 15 years or so. So no outrageous surprises so far in what you've from my standpoint, no, uh, I mean, it's been, you know, we're, we've been, you know, the, the, the taxpayers should be very proud of how well the building was built and how well it's, it's, it's held up. Some of us have all this really closely, but many people are just kind of learning about this. Can you explain what might happen in the second phase and the 3rd phase? I know you have decided on projects for that, but this is gonna be a multi-year process, uh, to renovate this building. So it's, we're breaking the project up into really two phases. The first phase is under construction now that started early in the spring, then when hockey season ended, we were able to get in and really get aggressive with the demolition and areas where fans would be and where players would have been. The sec and that first phase is really the 300 level and the event level or the ice level. So you kind of start at the top of the bottom and work your way to the middle in a renovation. So we're currently in the design phase working together with our architects and construction team to piece together what phase two will look like, which would be built largely in the next two summers, but that's gonna include uh added seating and reconfigured seating in the lower bowl, refreshes to our. Suites, changes to the 100 level concourse and the suite level concourse, the club concourse to add new food and beverage amenities, new entrances, adding elevator or escalators in new areas to move people around the building more efficiently, and then a fair number of back of house operational changes that will really help us bring more concerts and other events like the NCAA tournament more often to the arena that, that these. Groups that look and evaluate arenas and where to place sites can, can see how efficiently that the building can work. Brian or Phillip at one point in the um. Plans, the, the three-phase plans, there was talk of an exterior re-skin. Is that still part of the plan or is that been put aside? At this point There's, it's still TDP. I mean, we're, we, we would like to have the re-skinning process that, that we all would envision to be in a brand new building, but we're still getting, we're, we're trying to figure out what that looks like architecturally how much that's gonna cost, but our, our hope is that we're gonna get something that will actually look very different than what is currently existing today. Most pressing question for us, where does the media work? There will be some temporary spaces for the next couple of years as we get to the end, but new media rooms is part of that long game plan. It's off site. Yeah it'll be it'll be a vast parking lot. The obviously you got, uh, the rezoning application went through the city and and all that, but have you been able to get the permits that you'll need to start construction as soon as the football season ends, which I assume Boo wants to be after the first round of the playoffs. Yeah, after the playoff game, we would be cleared to start construction. We, we don't have all the permits yet, but everything's on schedule. It's on the normal timeframe after the rezoning to start, uh, the first phases of the construction. OK, thanks everyone. Thank you. Appreciate your time. Thank you. Um, I'll be sending, I'll be posting on, uh, KingCR.com, the Broll photos that you'll be able to download Dropbox link. Um, if anyone can't find that, feel free to reach out to us. I'll make sure Annabelle has it too just in case, and, uh, thanks for coming. They cool out there. cool Yeah Yeah Yeah, like yeah.

Leaders discuss planned renovations to the Lenovo Center in Raleigh

The NCAA wants to dismiss a case brought by some members of the 1983 NC State men's basketball team, who are seeking payment from the NCAA for its continued use of highlights from the team's title run.

'Cardiac Pack' fights for NIL money for NCAA use of 1983 highlights

From the Vault: '83 Cardiac Pack advance to the Final Four

On Wednesday, the NC State men's basketball team leaves for Phoenix as they prepare for their Final Four match-up. Fans will gather at the Dail Basketball Center to send the team off in style. 

MONTH-OLD CHILD WHO WAS INSIDE THE HOME IS SAFE THIS MORNING ON HURT. >> TODAY IS AN EXCITING DAY FOR THE WOLFPACK. THE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM IS LEAVING FOR PHOENIX THIS AFTERNOON AS THEY PREPARE FOR THEIR FINAL 4 MATCHUP FANS WILL GATHER AT THE DALE BASKETBALL CENTER TO SEND THE TEAM OFF IN STYLE. THAT'S WHERE WE FIND WRAL'S. LAURA LEVINE THIS MORNING. AND LAURA, THE WOMEN GOT A GREAT SENDOFF AND I'M SURE THE MEN WILL SEE THE SAME. >> RENEE, IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER EXCITING TIME HERE AT THE DALE BASKETBALL STUNNER. THIS IS WHERE THE WOLF PACK WILL BE MEETING BEFORE THEY HEAD OFF. AND OF COURSE, FANS ARE INVITED TO AS 10. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VIDEO. YOU CAN SEE LONG LINES OF FANS READY TO CHEER. THE TEAM ON THIS WAS YESTERDAY AT APPLEBEE'S HAS SPECIFICALLY THERE TO SEE THE 2 DEEJAYS DJ BURNS. INDEED, A HORN THAT WAS NEAR THE TRIANGLE TOWN CENTER. FANS LINED UP FOR PICTURES AND AUTOGRAPHS AND TURNED THE RESTAURANT INTO A SEA OF RED AND WHITE. WE SPOKE WITH SOME OF THEM WHO ARE ELATED TO SEE THE TEAM BEAT THE ODDS AND MAKE HISTORY. THEY'RE REALLY GOOD FOR BASKETBALL. REALLY GREAT COMMUNITY. YOU'RE REPRESENTING NORTH CAROLINA AT THIS POINT. >> NOT JUST RALLY BUT NORTH >> AND THOSE FANS ARE INVITED, OF COURSE, TO COME BACK OUT HERE AT THE DALLES BASKETBALL CENTER AT 12, 15 BEFORE THE TEAM HEADS TO PHOENIX TO PLAY PREVIEW ON SATURDAY. LAURA LEVINE, WRAL NEWS. WE'RE LIVE IN RALEIGH >> WRAL'S KASEY HANSEN PAT WELTER ARE TRAVELING TO PHOENIX. THEY'LL HAVE LIVE COVERAGE OF THE FINAL 4 STARTING TODAY. THE NC STATE MEN TAKE ON PURDUE SATURDAY. JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT FOR WHAT ACT PRIDE. WHY NOT US? WE'LL HAVE A LIVE REPORT IN DEPTH ANALYSIS AND HOW THIS MOMENT

NC State men's basketball team leaves Wednesday for Final Four, fans to gather for send-off celebration on campus

PNC Arena, the home of the Carolina Hurricanes and N.C. State's men's basketball team is getting a new roof as part of a budget approved by the Centennial Authority on Thursday.

Board approves new roof at PNC Arena. More improvements could be on their way

Score a FREE Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich offer for Triangle locations valid on Monday, March 1 when you load the offer on their app by midnight tonight, Feb. 28! 