Professional experience:

Will Doran has been a reporter in North Carolina for over a decade, winning multiple NC Press Association awards for reporting on state government and politics. He joined WRAL in 2023 after working for the Sanford Herald and the Raleigh News & Observer.

If you’re not holding powerful people accountable, you’re doing it wrong.

Hobbies, interests, community involvement:

I love to play music (guitar, drums and piano) and am always down for a game of tennis or pickup basketball.

My wife and I have a son and a Plott hound: The official state dog!

Favorite books, movies, podcasts, videogames:

Terry Pratchett and N.K. Jemisin are two of my favorite authors right now, with very different styles. My favorite video game has to be Morrowind, back on the original XBOX.

Likes best about North Carolina:

Whether you’re a skier, a surfer, a hunter, a fisher, an art lover, a craft beer snob or just someone who likes to eat good barbecue, you can find it all within a few hours of your front door.

Most memorable assignments:

I’ve investigated some of the state’s most powerful people over allegations of corruption, and I’ve written about an escaped emu on the run in the suburbs, and also just about everything in between.

Will Doran

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Newly-approved congressional maps will make many of North Carolina's 2026 races more uncompetitive, largely thanks to redistricting. WRAL's Ashley Rowe dives into political gerrymandering, how it will impact elections this year, and how we got here. 

Ashley Rowe

Allyson Lorick

Joseph Ochoa

On The Record: Gerrymandering and 2026 elections in NC

No major action is expected at the state legislature until after the March primary elections. But when lawmakers do return to session, a flurry of activity could soon follow with votes on billions of dollars in state funding, new policy changes and more.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. >> WELL, LOOK, YOU KNOW, THE DRILL HERE AT 7 O'CLOCK YOU ASK, WE ANSWER. AND THAT BRINGS US TO TODAY'S GOOD QUESTION, CRAIG ROAD AND SAID I MET YOU AT THE STATE FAIR THIS YEAR ON DAY ONE AND TOLD YOU HOW MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR REPORTING ON MATTERS. IT ACTUALLY MEANS SOMETHING TO ME. AND THEN HE FOLLOWED UP WITH A QUESTION. WHY HAS THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA NOT PASSED A BUDGET YET? SO, CRAIG, GREAT TO MEET YOU. THANKS FOR THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER MIGHT SURPRISE YOU. WE'VE GOT SOME INSIGHT FROM WRAL, STATE GOVERNMENT REPORTER WILL DOOR. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL SO WE'VE HEARD FROM THIS VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHY THE BUDGET HASN'T PASSED AND HEARD FROM SEVERAL VIEWERS WITH THE SAME QUESTION. WHAT IS THE STICKING POINT? >> WELL, THEN THE DETAILS ARE COMPLICATED. BUT THE ANSWER REALLY IS SIMPLE. IT'S TAX POLICY. AND WHAT IT IS. REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE JUST DISAGREE ON WHERE WE SHOULD GO WITH INCOME TAXES IN THE STATE AND BECAUSE THEY CAN'T REACH AN AGREEMENT ON THAT, THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH ANYTHING ELSE INVOLVING STATE BUDGET. WE ARE THE LAST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE A FINALIZED BUDGET. I DO THINK THAT SOME PEOPLE GET CONFUSED, THOUGH, BECAUSE THEY THINK OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET AND IF SOMETHING ISN'T PASSED THERE WE GO INTO THIS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND THAT HAS A LOT OF PRESSURE TO GET SOMETHING DONE. WE DON'T HAVE THAT SAME PRESSURE. NORTH CAROLINA. THESE KEEP OPERATING ON THE OLD. BUT YOU HAVE SELECTED THE RUNNER NOW. BUT THERE IS PRESSURE BEING FELT BY A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY OF SOME FOLKS WHO ARE FRIENDS OF MINE WHO ARE TEACHERS AND THEY WANT TO KNOW ANSWERS ABOUT. ARE THEY GETTING A PAY RAISE? WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE? ONE OF THE THINGS ARE BEING HELD UP RIGHT NOW. >> YES, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS IS MEDICAID. MEDICAID IS ON TRACK TO RUN OUT OF MONEY BY SOMETIME IN MARCH OR APRIL AND AGAIN WITH PEOPLE NOT HAVING RAISES EITHER. THAT IS A HUGE PRESSURE ON HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF NORTH CAROLINIANS ACTUALLY HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THAT ISSUE. >> OUR TEACHERS ARE AMONG THE LOWEST PAID TEACHERS IN THIS COUNTRY. OUR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS 49TH LOWEST PAID STATE HIGHWAY PATROL 49TH LOWEST, PAID ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS ARE NOT ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED FOR THE VALUE THEY PROVIDE TO. ALL OF US SHOW. GOVERNOR STEIN WANTS THEM TO GET BACK TO WORK. >> WHERE ARE THEY THAT WHAT? WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR GETTING BACK TO WORK? WELL, THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO COME BACK FOR A FEW MONTHS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL OUT CAMPAIGNING RIGHT NOW. WE'VE GOT PRIMARY ELECTIONS HAPPENING. A LOT OF OUR STATE LAWMAKERS ARE INVOLVED IN PRIMARIES OR THEY'RE HITTING THE ROAD FOR THEIR FRIENDS WHO HAVE PRIMARIES AND SO THEY JUST ALL REALLY NOT IN SESSION RIGHT NOW. SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HEAR THAT AND SAY, WELL, THAT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT. SO INSTEAD OF DOING THE JOB, THEY'RE ELECTED TO DO THEIR BUSY LOOKING TO GET ELECTED AND KEEP THE JOB THAT MIGHT SOUND CYNICAL. BUT IT IS KIND OF WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. YES, AND YOU KNOW, ONE SILVER LINING TO THAT IS THAT THEY'RE OUT THERE TALKING TO VOTERS AND THEIR IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND SO HERE'S A CHANCE THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN THE PRIMARY TO TALK TO YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES SAY, HEY, I WANT TO DO DID THIS WITH THE BUDGET. I DON'T WANT YOU TO DO THIS WITH THE BUDGET SO WE COULD SEE THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING OVER THE NEXT MONTHS AT THE PRIMARIES IN MARCH IS ALL WE CAN WAIT TILL AFTER THEN BEFORE WE SEE ANYTHING HAPPEN WITH THE BUDGET, I WOULD BE SHOCKED IF THEY DO ANYTHING WITH THE BUDGET OR REALLY ANYTHING AT ALL THAT THE LEGISLATURE UNTIL LATE MARCH EARLY APRIL, ONCE THIS PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE OVER. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANKS. WE LOVE GETTING ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS HERE AT 7 O'CLOCK. YOUR VOICE HAS A PLACE IN THIS NEWSCAST. SO PLEASE KEEP SENDING THEM AN EMAIL US AT 07:00PM. >> AT WRAL DOT COM AND BY THE WAY, ARE INTO CAPITAL TEAM IS WORKING ON KIND OF A DEEP DIVE ON ALL THINGS. STATE BUDGET-RELATED THAT'S GOING TO PUBLISH THIS SUNDAY. SO LOOK

Mark Bergin

Dan Haggerty

Why doesn't North Carolina have a budget?

North Carolina Legislative building off Salisbury Street. Photo taken May 22, 2021. 

Gov. Josh Stein is calling on state lawmakers to focus more on treating people with mental health issues that pose a risk to the public. Stein's comments come days after Zoe Welsh, a long-time science teacher at the private Ravenscroft School, was killed in her home. Ryan Camacho, who is charged in her death, had a history of mental health challenges, according to court records.

AROUND THIS TIME. GIVE HIM A CALL, HEIDI KIRK, WRAL NEWS LIVE IN FAYETTEVILLE. HEIDI, THANK YOU. THE MURDER OF A RALLY TEACHER HAS BROUGHT UP SO MANY MEMORIES OF A CASE OVER THE SUMMER. >> OR WOMAN WAS STABBED BY A MAN ON A CHARLOTTE LIGHT RAIL IN BOTH CASES. THE SUSPECTS, A HOMELESS MAN WITH A LONG RAP SHEET AND A HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS. STATE LEADERS CHANGED STATE LAW BECAUSE OF WHAT WE SAW IN CHARLOTTE WRAL'S ACTUALLY ROLL OR FROM LAWMAKERS TODAY. IF THIS RALLY CASE COULD LEAD ASHLEY TO ANOTHER CHANGE. THAT AND THIS STORY IS STRIKING A NERVE WITH LAWMAKERS AND WITH GOVERNOR JOSH STEIN, RNC CAPITAL TEAM HAS BEEN PRESSING ALL OF THEM ABOUT WHAT CHANGES IN THE SYSTEM NEED TO BE MADE. >> GOVERNOR JOSH STEIN AGAIN SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THE DEATH OF RAVENSCROFT TEACHER, ZOE WELSH AND THE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HER RYAN CAMACHO. THERE'S A LOT MORE WE CAN DO. I HAD IDEAS THAT THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT INCORPORATE INTO A RING AS LONG. I HOPE THAT THEY DO. ARENAS LAW WENT INTO EFFECT IN DECEMBER. THEY MAKES CHANGES TO PRE-TRIAL RELEASE CONDITIONS FOR CERTAIN CASES. THE TEACHER'S MURDER RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT GOES FAR ENOUGH TO TACKLE MENTAL ILLNESS. GOVERNOR STEIN HAD A FEW COMPLAINTS WITH THE RAINES LAW. HIS MAIN COMPLAINT WAS THAT IT DIDN'T REALLY DO MUCH TO PREVENT CRIME AND TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES SAID GOVERNMENT REPORTER WILL DOOR AND SPOKE WITH REPRESENTATIVE JOHN TORBETT A TOP STATE REPUBLICAN ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE MOVING FORWARD LOOKING AND THE GROUP TAKING CARE OF DIFFERENTLY SHOULD BE ON THE STREET. YOU THINK THAT'S GOING COME UP AND JOIN. 26 HERE LOOKS ABSOLUTELY DO SOMETHING. SOMETHING POSITIVE COME DOWN TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL MILLAGE NOTICED. WE HAVE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE AARON A TOP STATE BUDGET WRITER ALSO COMMITTING TO DO MORE TO CHANGE POLICY THAT WILL HOPEFULLY SAVE LIVES. IS THE STATE. >> FUNDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ENOUGH RIGHT NOW? NO, I THINK WE NEED TO DO BETTER. >> NOW, REMEMBER, THE STATE STILL HAS NOT PASSED A BUDGET. THE GOVERNOR HAS ABOUT 200 MILLION DOLLARS IN INITIATIVES TO TACKLE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IN PUBLIC SAFETY. NORTH CAROLINA IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE COUNTRY

NC teacher's killing renews call for state mental health funding, policy

Zoe Welsh

A new change to the United States Postal Service rules has some people concerned about the potential repercussions, including mail-in voting.

ALSO HAS SEASONAL VISITOR RESTRICTIONS. THEY ARE IN EFFECT RIGHT NOW. A NEW CHANGE TO U.S.. POSTAL SERVICE RULES HAS PEOPLE NATIONWIDE CONCERN ABOUT THE POTENTIAL REPERCUSSIONS. ONE WORRY MAIL-IN VOTING WRL STATE GOVERNMENT REPORTER WILL DOEREN JOINS US NOW. WILL YOU DUG INTO WHAT THESE CHANGES MEAN FOR NORTH CAROLINA? >> THAT'S RIGHT, RENEE. AND THERE WILL BE IMPORTANT REPERCUSSIONS FOR VOTING BUT ALSO FOR MAKING SURE THAT YOU CAN PROVE PROVE THAT YOU MAILED YOUR BILLS OR YOUR TAXES ON TIME. WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THE POST OFFICE IS CHANGING WHEN IT POST MARKS THE MALE UP UNTIL NOW, WHEN YOU MAIL SOMETHING USUALLY GETS POSTMARKED THAT SAME DAY. BUT NOW AND NOT POST MARKING YOUR MAIL UNTIL IT GETS PROCESSED FOR DELIVERY. THAT COULD BE A DELAY OF MULTIPLE DAYS. AND SO FOR TIME, SENSITIVE MAILINGS, THIS COULD REALLY HAVE SOME THIS CHANGE COULD REALLY HAVE SOME SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS FOR PEOPLE, INCLUDING. >> IN ELECTIONS. YES, EXACTLY. IN SOME STATES IT COULD ACTUALLY MEAN THAT PEOPLE'S MAIL IN BALLOTS WON'T BE COUNTED BECAUSE THE POST MARKET >> WILL NO LONGER THE ACCURATE THAT ACTUALLY WON'T BE THE CASE HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, THOUGH, STATE LAW ALREADY REQUIRES ANY BALLOTS THAT ARRIVE AFTER ELECTION DAY TO BE THROWN IN THE TRASH. NO MATTER WHEN THEY'RE POSTMARKED. THERE COULD STILL BE OTHER IMPACTS ON VOTING IF PEOPLE ARE MAILING INFORMS TO REGISTER TO VOTE, TO CHANGE THEIR ADDRESS, TO REQUEST A MAIL-IN BALLOT. THEY WILL BE AFFECTED. I SPOKE TO A VOTING RIGHTS ATTORNEY FOR THE SOUTHERN COALITION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE HIS GROUP IS CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE WAITING UNTIL THE DEADLINE COULD BE DENIED. >> IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT. THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE PROCESSED ANYMORE. UNDER THE NEW HOST MICROBE, IT'S THE POSTMARK WILL NOT REFLECT THAT. IT WAS MAILED ON TIME. >> WELL, WE HAVE A BIG ELECTION COMING UP THIS YEAR, BUT IT'S NOT JUST VOTING THAT THIS CHANGE WOULD AFFECT RIGHT? >> WE MAY NOT JUST VOTING THIS AFFECTS ANYTHING YOU PUT IN THE MAIL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BY A CERTAIN DEADLINE. SO IF YOU'RE MAILING A COLLEGE APPLICATION THIS SPRING OR DOING YOUR TAXES BY MAIL OR EVEN JUST PAYING YOUR DAY-TO-DAY BILLS, YOU ARE GOING TO NEED TO KEEP THIS CHANGE MINDS. DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE DEADLINE TO MAIL SOMETHING ANYMORE. GET IT DONE. AT LEAST A FEW DAYS IN ADVANCE. MAYBE A WEEK TO BE SAFE. >> MORE INCENTIVE HERE NOW TO NOT PROCRASTINATE, BIG CHANGES COMING DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL

USPS changes to mail postmarks could make people miss deadlines

An updated version of the city's noise ordinance took effect on Thursday, impacting people in the Glenwood South community. WRAL News looks at how this differs from the noise rules the city has tried in the past.

>> ONE SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS. THIS IS WRAL. >> WE ARE THE FIRST DAY OF 2026 AND STARTING TODAY, BUSINESSES AROUND RALEIGH WILL HAVE TO KEEP IT DOWN. A NEW NOISE ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT OVERNIGHT. WRAL'S CARLY HAYNES IS LIVE ALONG GLENWOOD SOUTH TO EXPLAIN HOW IT WORKS. CARLOS. >> WHAT RALLY AS MAYOR SAID THAT ROUGHLY 15,000 PEOPLE LIVE IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH. SO CITY COUNCIL WAS TASKED WITH MAKING THE SOCIAL DISTRICT VOTES LIVELY AND LIVABLE. >> RULES. I MEAN, I'M RIGHT NEXT TO IT, SIR. WHATEVER HAPPENS ALL ME. WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE CENTRAL IS CAMERON. CAROLINE HAS LIVED BY GLENN WOOD SOUTH FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. IT'S NOT QUIET. IT'S EXPECTED WHEN HE MOVED DOWN HERE. RALLY WANTS TO BRING THE NOISE DOWN A NOTCH STARTING OVERNIGHT, THE CITY BEGAN ENFORCING DECIBEL LIMITS FOR COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES, VARYING BY LOCATION. TIME OF DAY AND DAY OF THE WEEK. LINWOOD SOUTH IS ALLOWED TO GET A BIT LOUDER THAN OTHER PARTS OF DOWNTOWN. >> THE GOAL AVOID NOISE THAT FLOW TENDS TO ANNOY JUST OR POOR FRIGHTENED ITS CITIZENS. BUT BUSINESSES SAY THE CAP COULD HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR INCOME. >> IT DOESN'T JUST TURN DOWN THE MUSIC. IT TURNS DOWN OUR ABILITY TO PAY RENT, SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES AND KEEP PEOPLE EMPLOYED. HOW IS RALEIGH WORKING TO BRING NOISE DOWN? BUT ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS FROM BUSINESS OWNERS? I MEAN, IF BOSTON CAN DO THIS RALLY CAN DO THIS AND I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT THIS NEW ORDINANCE IS GOING TO FIND THAT RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN ALLOWING THAT VIBRANT NIGHTLIFE SCENE. >> BUT ALSO LETTING PEOPLE SLEEP. >> 3 VIOLATIONS AND BUSINESSES COULD GET A FINE. AND THE CITY COULD PROHIBIT THE USE OF OUTDOOR SPEAKERS FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. >> AND ANYBODY WHO HAS NOISE COMPLAINTS CAN SUBMIT THEM THROUGH THE ASKED RALEIGH PORTALS FROM THEIR RALEIGH. POLICE WILL HAVE NON SWORN STAFF GO TO THE LOCATION. CARLY HAYNES, WRAL, NEWS LIVE IN RALEIGH. >> ICARLY, THANK YOU. AND YOU KNOW, IT'S WORTH NOTING RALLY HAS BEEN WORKING ON NOISE, RULES AND CHANGES IN GLENWOOD SOUTH FOR YEARS FOR A LONG TIME. NOW WE HAVE STORIES IN OUR ARCHIVES GOING BACK TO 2009, SOME OF THE MORE RECENT CHANGES INCLUDED UPDATED. THEY PASSED IN 2024. CITY INCREASE THE FINE FOR FIRST OFFENSES FROM $100 TO $250. AND THIS IS STILL IN EFFECT. BUT THE CITY ALSO TRYING TO CREATE A NIGHTLIFE PERMIT NOT REQUIRE BUSINESSES TO PAY FEES. THIS DID NOT WORK OUT THAT WELL. A LOCAL BUSINESS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY IN A JUDGE RULED AGAINST THIS IDEA CALLING IT ILLEGAL AND

Carly Haynes

Josie Zimmer

Sydney Ross

New: Noise ordinance takes effect for Raleigh commercial businesses

This year marks the 67th annual lighting of the WRAL-TV tower in Raleigh, an annual tradition that has grown to include celebrations with towers at American Tobacco Campus in Durham and Rocky Mount Mills.


WRAL Tower Lighting: WRAL lights the towers in Raleigh, Durham and Rocky Mount

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. 

Will Doran

Recent Work

Watch · 23:36On The Record: Gerrymandering and 2026 elections in NC

Watch · 3:29Why doesn't North Carolina have a budget?

Watch · 2:01NC teacher's killing renews call for state mental health funding, policy

Watch · 2:26USPS changes to mail postmarks could make people miss deadlines

Watch · 2:34New: Noise ordinance takes effect for Raleigh commercial businesses