2011-2014 Producer/Editor Comcast SportsNet in Washington, D.C.

2014-2017 Multimedia Journalist in South Bend, Ind.

My ultimate goal is to help people without a voice be heard and to not exploit trauma. This is the basis of everything I do ... we have an opportunity to get real answers from people in power to enact real change for people around North Carolina. Additionally, trauma is inherently going to be covered in the news but I strive to make sure our news coverage helps in their healing journey and does not do further harm.

<h2>Hobbies, interests, community involvement:</h2>

I'm a big sports fan (Philadelphia all around) and love to get out and explore the culture of new areas. I'm new to RDU, so please send any and all recommendations my way for a good meal, brewery, cocktail etc.!

My wife and I have a 12-year-old Corgi named Franklin. We also have family in the area that we’re ecstatic to be closer to!

<h2>Likes best about North Carolina:</h2>

It feels like every town has a smattering of unique and interesting things to do. If you drive 20 to 30 minutes outside of your area, you’ll find something new.

Making a backwards, halfcourt shot on live TV with the Harlem Globetrotters, helping the widow of a police officer navigate death benefits, meeting a man convicted of murder as a 15-year-old and seeing how he turned his life around.

Shaun Gallagher

WRAL's Shaun Gallagher checks in with some UNC-Chapel Hill students having fun in the snowy weather.

THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING. ALL RIGHT. THAT STARTING THAT SOUNDS GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GRANT THAT, YOU KNOW, SEAN GALLAGHER IS THE EPITOME OF LAYERS. HE IS ON FRANKLIN STREET IN CHAPEL HILL WHERE THE SNOW HAS BEEN FALLING. >> QUITE THE QUITE HEAVILY, SEAN. >> YEAH, GERALD, I'M TRYING TO DIET. I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT THESE LAYERS OR ANYTHING OTHER THAN SOMETHING TO KEEP ME WARM. BUT WE'VE GOT THE TOOLS OUT TODAY. WE BROUGHT THE U.S. THE TEMPERATURE GUN HERE JUST TO SHOW YOU THE GROUND TEMPERATURE HERE ON FRANKLIN STREET, 11 AND A HALF DEGREES. SO THAT JUST SHOWS HOW COLD IT'S BEEN FOR THE LAST WEEK OR SO, MAKING IT REALLY EASY FOR THE SNOW TO FALL. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE BROUGHT THE RULER OUT TO MEASURE VERTICALLY HONESTLY BETTER MEASURE IT THIS WAY. THERE'S NOT A TON AS FAR AS ACCUMULATION IS, BUT IT IS LAYING ON THE GROUND THAT CAN BE KIND OF ICY AND EVEN MORE SLICK. I'VE BEEN KIND OF USING THE COMPARISON OF LIKE IF YOU'RE PLAYING SHUFFLEBOARD, YOU PUT THAT SAW DUST DOWN AND IT JUST MAKES A POP FLY. THE SAME GOES HERE. SO IF YOU HAVE TO BE OUT, MAKE SURE YOU'RE GOING SLOW, GIVING YOURSELF SPACE AND ALL ALWAYS SLOWING DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. BUT WE ARE HERE ON USC'S CAMPUS WHERE YOU KNOW THAT IT'S THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE LEAST RESPONSIBILITIES HERE, COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THEY ARE MAKING THE VERY BEST OF THIS ENJOYING IT WHILE THEY CAN. >> THEY JUST HAVE IT FOR YOU BUSINESS. A PHRASE WEATHER IS LOOKING BEAUTIFUL SPOT. WE BLESSED TO BE ALIVE AND SEE THIS AMAZING IS A GREAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEVER REALLY SEE SNOW LIKE THIS IN NORTH CAROLINA. YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS EYES. LAST WEEK. IT WAS STRAIGHT EYES FOR NOW. WE HAVE SOME SNOW TO HAVE FUN. >> IT COULD BE LIKE HE'S NOW. >> I TRY TO BE LIKE A CANDIDATE WHO GOT THIS HAT ON LOOKING LIKE A GOOFBALL, BUT TRYING TO BRING YOU AS MUCH COVERAGE AS WE CAN HERE ON THE SIDEWALK THAT WE'VE SEEN KIND OF THOSE BRUSH CLOUDS THAT WILL SCRAPE ALL THIS UP. THEY WENT BY ABOUT 15 MINUTES AGO CLEARING A COMPLETELY, BUT YOU CAN SEE SNOW ALREADY ACCUMULATING HERE AGAIN. SO JUST SHOWS YOU HOW QUICKLY THINGS CAN CHANGE OUT HERE. LIVE IN CHAPEL HILL. SHAUN GALLAGHER, WRAL NEWS, ONE OF THE HOTBEDS FOR SNOW.

Chris Shipman

Ryan Bisesi

Chapel Hill sees a shot of afternoon snow

UNC-CH students in the snow

Gov. Josh Stein has declared a state of emergency for North Carolina in anticipation of a winter storm expected this weekend.


COUNTY ALSO ON A TWO-HOUR DELAY FOR TOMORROW, FAMILIES HAVING TO MAKE SO MANY ADJUSTMENTS THIS WEEKEND, BACK-TO-BACK WEEKENDS OF EMERGENCY OPERATIONS ARE PUSHING CREWS TO THE MAX. >> IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS, SOME PLACES COULD START SEEING SNOW. AND THAT IS WHY CREWS ARE RUSHING TO BRINE THE ROADS BEFORE IT STARTS FALLING WRAL. SEAN GALLAGHER JOINS US NOW LIVE SHOT ON THE GOVERNOR'S ALREADY DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY AHEAD OF THE STORM. >> I ACTUALLY LIKE YOU SAID THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS. BUT THESE ARE JUST THE STEPS LEADING UP TO A STORM LIKE THIS. WHILE CREWS ARE REALLY PREPARING FOR THE WORST ON HIGHWAYS LIKE THIS, BUT HOPING FOR THE BEST. >> DOT CREWS ARE SCRAPING TOGETHER WHAT ENERGY THEY HAVE LEFT RUN RAGGED FOR THE LAST WEEK. BUT THEIR COMMITMENT PAID OFF. THERE WERE NO TRAFFIC DEATHS RELATED TO THE WEATHER LAST WEEK, BUT IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THEIR HARD WORK TO CLEAR THE ROADS. WHAT A NEW CHALLENGE LIES AHEAD WITH THIS WEEKEND'S STORM. WE WILL WAIT UNTIL ALL THE SNOW FORCED TO FALL BEFORE WE START RESPONDING TO THAT. >> STORM TIRED AND EXHAUSTED. THEY'RE READYING UP FOR ROUND 2 WITH WINTER WEATHER AHEAD. THEY ARE WORKING THEIR TAILS OFF. >> 90 HOURS LAST WEEK, 100 HOURS LAST WEEK AND THEY'RE READY TO SADDLE UP AND DO IT AGAIN. HOW MANY TIMES CAN FILL IT UP? >> KEEP IT AT 23% RATION. YOUR GOVERNOR JOSH STEIN VISITED THIS DOT SALT LOCATION, GAINING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT OPERATIONS AND SHARING GRATITUDE. PLUS, SOME OPTIMISM ABOUT WHAT'S AHEAD. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE SNOW, NOT ICE THIS TIME. THAT'S A GOOD THING. >> BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO HAVE REAL IMPACTS ON OUR LIVES. IMPACTS LIKE THE POSSIBILITY OF POWER OUTAGES. BUT LAST WEEK'S ICE POSED A GREATER RISK. WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS WITH THIS STORM. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE WILL NOT BE POWER OUTAGES. THERE CERTAINLY CERTAINLY ALMOST SURELY WILL BE POWER OUTAGES. >> BUT IT WILL BE IN THE ENTIRETY OF A REGIONAL BEING MORE SPECIFIC LOCATIONS. IT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY HE MADE THIS DECISION RIGHT NOW. I'VE JUST DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THIS STORM. SEPARATE FROM THE ONE THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK. >> THAT STATE OF EMERGENCY WILL HELP MOBILIZE THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAMS WITHIN THE STATE. BUT IT ALSO HELPS PREPARE US TO RECEIVE FEDERAL AID. SHOULD WE NEED IT? BUT HERE'S HOPING IT'S NOT THAT

Mark Bergin

Keith Baker

Gov. Josh Stein declares state of emergency ahead of winter storm

Gov. Josh Stein spoke with reporters on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026.

Freezing temperatures create hazardous conditions for local firefighters, who must navigate icy roads using specialized tire chains and battle freezing equipment and physical exhaustion.

ANSWER. IN THE MEANTIME, WE SHOULD HAVE OUR FIRST SNOW FALL MAP OUT TOMORROW. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, KAT. >> EMERGENCIES. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE COLD WEATHER. WE'VE SEEN A PAIR OF SIGNIFICANT FIRES IN THE PAST. 24 HOURS AND WAKE COUNTY FORCING FIREFIGHTERS OUT IN THESE FRIGID CONDITIONS. WRAL. SHAUN GALLAGHER JOINING US LIVE FROM ROLESVILLE. SEAN, THESE FREEZING TEMPERATURES JUST A ANOTHER ELEMENT OF THE THE RESPONSE AND THE DIFFICULTY SOMETIMES FIRST RESPONDERS FACE. >> YEAH, EXACTLY. DAN. OBVIOUSLY FIREFIGHTERS ARE PREPARING FOR COLD WEATHER LIKE THIS, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S EASY BY ANY MEANS. IT'S KIND OF LIKE A REAL LIFE GAME OF ROCK PAPER, SCISSORS. OBVIOUSLY WATER BEATS FIRE BUT COLD FREEZE AS WATER. SO WHEN THEY WERE AT THIS SCENE EARLIER THIS MORNING, IT MADE AN ALREADY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR FIREFIGHTERS EVEN MORE SO. >> FIGHTING FIRE TO ICE WHILE WE SEE TEMPERATURE PLAYS A FACTOR IN. >> THIS TIME OF YEAR FOR CALLS ROLESVILLE BATTALION CHIEF MIKE HODGSON EXPLAINED HOW CONDITIONS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR CREWS THIS MORNING. IT IS VERY, VERY SLICK AND IT CAN WEAR ON THAT. THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY COLD CHART. AND THAT'S A BIG FACTOR IN THAT. A SPECIALIST, TOMMY, THEIR SAFETY CONCERNS GO UP WHEN THE TEMPERATURES GO DOWN. WATER BEING SPRAYED FROM HOSE LINES AND GETS ON LADDERS TO GET SOME SIDEWALKS WHERE THEY'RE WORKING ON YOUR TRUCKS AND IT CAUSES THEM TO GET VERY SLICK. REALLY QUICK CALL TO SLIP HAZARDS. NORTHERN WAKE FIRE WAS ONE OF THE MANY DEPARTMENTS HELPING OUT IN ROLESVILLE THIS MORNING. >> ASSISTANT CHIEF LAKE RIGHTS AS THEY PROBABLY OUT THERE IN THE COLD AND THE HEAT. BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THIS IS A WALK IN THE PARK. >> IF YOUR FINGERS GET COLD, YOU START LOSING DEXTERITY WHERE YOU CAN JUST HOLD ONTO THINGS. IT IT IS CHALLENGING EVEN GETTING TO THE SCENE CAN BE A CHALLENGE WHEN THE ROADS ARE SLICK. >> WHAT THEY HAVE A TRICK UP THEIR SLEEVE RATHER UNDER THEIR ENGINES. >> AND ARE CROOKS ACTUALLY HAVE INSTANT CHAINS UP ON THEIR OWN? WE'LL TOUCH IS THE INSIDE OF THAT ARE. AND AS THE TIRE TURNS, IT THROWS THOSE CHAINS UP OWNER TO GET TRACTION. >> NOW THEY GO THROUGH HUNDREDS OF GALLONS OF WATER ARE DURING THE SCENARIOS AND THAT WATER HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE. USUALLY IT'S ONTO THE ROADWAYS LIKE YOU SEE HERE BEHIND ME AND ON COLD DAYS THAT CAN FREEZE OVER AND COULD CAUSE A LOT OF ISSUES FOR DRIVERS BACK AND FORTH. BUT FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DOT SO THEY GET THEM OUT HERE TO SALT AND SAND THOSE ROADS TO MAKE THEM AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE AFTER

Josie Zimmer

NC fire departments face challenging cold conditions

Since Tuesday, Jan. 27,  Wake County has had two significant fires.

Freezing temperatures and shifting soil are stressing the Triangle's aging infrastructure, leading to water main breaks across Raleigh and Cary.

DEFENSE WILL THEN HAVE THEIR CHANCE TO CALL THEIR WITNESSES AS USUAL. A PROBLEM FOR THE PIPES. WE HAVE SEEN A FEW WATER MAIN BREAKS ALREADY THIS WINTER FROM CHAPEL HILL TO RALLY CAUSING MAJOR DISRUPTIONS AND WATER SERVICE AS THE TEMPERATURE DROPS WERE ASKING UTILITY COMPANIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THIS. SEAN GALLAGHER IS LIVE IN CARY WHERE ONE PIPERS TWICE IN A MATTER OF HOURS, SEAN. YEAH, GERALD, YOU KNOW, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SEE THIS STORY IN THERE TO GO RIGHT TO MY MENTIONS. TELL ME NO DOGS, SEAN. IT'S COLD PIPES BURST. ONE. DON'T DO THAT TO YOU'RE NOT WRONG, BUT IT IS A LOT MORE COMPLEX THAN THAT. >> WE'VE SEEN HOLES IN THE GROUND LIKE THIS ALL ACROSS THE AREA THIS WINTER DISRUPTIONS FROM RALEIGH TO CHAPEL HILL AND OVERNIGHT HERE IN CARY. >> CREWS AND CARRIED THEM WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO RESTORE WATER SERVICE OFF OF NORTHWEST CARY PARKWAY AFTER THIS PIPE BURST. NOT ONCE BUT TWICE 120 HOMES IN THE AREA LOST THEIR WATER ON ONE OF THE COLDER DAYS OF THIS NEW YEAR. IS IT MORE CONCERNING WHEN YOU HAVE THESE VARIABLES LIKE WHETHER COME INTO PLAY? IT DEFINITELY IS MORE CONCERNING, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR OLDER PIPELINES, JAMIE REBELS IS THE UTILITIES DIRECTOR. HE SAYS THIS PIPE DIDN'T BURST BECAUSE OF THIS COLD SNAP PER SE. WE THINK THIS IS JUST AN OLDER PIPES ON OUR NETWORK. BUT THESE PARTS ARE JUST LIKE US. AFTER YEARS OF WEAR AND TEAR THE COLD AFFECTS THEM OR ANY LITTLE BIT OF MOVEMENT WITHIN THE SOIL WHERE THERE COULD BE DRY CONDITIONS. IT CAN BE COLD YOU KNOW, ANYTHING LIKE THAT OVER YEARS AND YEARS OF SERVICE CAN IMPACT THOSE PIPES OVER TIME. AND IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE AREA PIPES INSTALLED IN THE 70'S AND 80'S ARE REACHING THE END OF THEIR LIFE CYCLE. WE'LL FIGHT MATERIALS HAVE A 50 YEAR DESIGN LIFE. BUT THAT'S CHANGING HERE IN CARY REBELS TELLS ME THEY'RE INSTALLING THESE DUCTILE IRON PIPES WITH A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A CENTURY OR MORE. SO IT'S A VERY, VERY GOOD PIPE MATERIAL. AND THAT'S THAT IS THE STANDARD FOR WHICH WE BUILD OUR PIPES AND CARE. >> IT'S A BACK OUT HERE LIVE IN CARY. THEY'RE REPLACING THIS NOW, BUT THEY'RE NOT JUST WAITING FOR THE PROBLEM. THE POP UP IN ORDER TO FIX IT. THEY HAVE OVER 1100 MILES OF PIPE THAT THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN. AND THAT'S WHERE THEY HAVE A PROGRAM IN PLACE WHERE THEY'RE REPLACING OLDER PIPES LIKE THIS WITH NEWER PIPE. BEFORE THEY I BURST JUST SO THAT THEY CAN TRY TO AVOID THE KIND OF DISRUPTIONS THAT WE SAW

Sean Braswell

Several water mains burst across the Triangle during cold stretch

A file photo of a water main break in Raleigh along North Trail Drive.

John Preyer has left the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Trustees. Preyer played a pivotal role in bringing football coach Bill Belichick to the school.

<p>APP ON YOUR TV OR STREAMING DEVICE. THE MAN WHO PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE HIRING OF BILL BELICHECK AT UNC IS LEAVING. &gt;&gt; UNC BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBER JOHN PRYOR WAS FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN THE WRAL DOCUMENTARY COACHING CAROLINA, THE BELICHECK WAY HE LEAVES WITH A YEAR LEFT ON HIS TERM ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WRAL'S SHAUN GALLAGHER IS LIVE RIGHT NOW IN CHAPEL HILL SHOT. HE'S WORKING ON THE STORY. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? &gt;&gt; AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO NAIL DOWN THE ANSWER TO THE BIGGEST QUESTION HERE. WHY NOW? AND THEN ALSO WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU AND SEE NOW, THIS IS THE STATEMENT HE SENT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ECHOED IN A RELEASE BY THE UNIVERSITY SAYING I'VE NEVER FELT BETTER ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY AND ITS LEADERSHIP. SO NOW IS THE TIME FOR ME TO GET BACK TO MY DAY JOB BUYERS TIME AS THE FORMER CHAIR AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WAS MARKED BY SEVERAL HIGH-PROFILE PROJECTS. BUT YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT PRIOR CENTER WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE BIGGEST ADDITION AT THE UNIVERSITY BILL BELICHECK A DECISION HE TALKED ABOUT AND WRAL'S DOCUMENTARY COACHING CAROLINA THE BELICHECK WAY. &gt;&gt; ABOUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IF I'M WRONG, SCREW YOU ALL. I I MEAN, I TRY. YEAH, RIGHT. I MEAN, I TEACH MY COLLEAGUE RESILIENCE OF TIKRIT. &gt;&gt; SO WHAT'S NEXT? THERE ARE 15 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 8 SELECTED BY UNC BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND 6 SUPPORTED BY THE NC GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BOTH OF WHICH LEAN HEAVILY REPUBLICAN. AND THAT'S SOMETHING GOVERNOR JOSH STEIN CALLED OUT EARLIER THIS MORNING. &gt;&gt; WE WOULD BE BETTER SERVED IF THESE WERE NOT PART OF THE ORGANS, BUT RATHER THEY REPRESENT A BROAD REPRESENTATION OF THE ENTIRETY OF THE STATE, WHICH INCLUDES. UNAFFILIATED VOTERS, WHICH INCLUDES DEMOCRATIC VOTERS, WHICH INCLUDES REPUBLICAN VOTERS, NOT EXCLUSIVELY ONE PARTY. &gt;&gt; AND WHILE THIS DECISION SEEMS ABRUPTA DOT WRAL, SPORTS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER BRIAN MURPHY SAYS HE'S KIND OF HAD AN INKLING THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. HE SAYS AFTER HIS TERM AS CHAIRMAN ENDED IN JULY PRIOR HAD KIND OF HINTED THAT HE WOULDN'T COMPLETE HIS FULL TERM ON THE BOARD, WHICH, AS YOU SAID, WAS SUPPOSED TO END IN 2027 IN CHAPEL HILL. SHAUN</p>

Jendaya Fleming

UNC Board of Trustee Member John Preyer resigns

A file photo of John Preyer.

Pledge right now to provide warm winter wear to children in the Triangle and eastern NC.

Coats for the Children: Donate today

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. 

Shaun Gallagher

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Recent Work

Watch · 1:49Chapel Hill sees a shot of afternoon snow

Watch · 2:17Gov. Josh Stein declares state of emergency ahead of winter storm

Watch · 2:18NC fire departments face challenging cold conditions

Watch · 2:17Several water mains burst across the Triangle during cold stretch

Watch · 2:18UNC Board of Trustee Member John Preyer resigns