Name: WRAL investigative, climate journalists explore damage caused by massive amounts of toxic chemicals dumped into the Cape Fear River
Uploaded: 2023-08-22T13:12:54-0400
Duration: 298208
Description: WRAL Investigative Documentary Reporter Cristin Severance co-reported on forever chemicals in NC water with Liz McLaughlin, WRAL's reporter covering climate change impacts and environmental issues.

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WRAL Investigative Documentary Reporter Cristin Severance co-reported on forever chemicals in NC water with Liz McLaughlin, WRAL's reporter covering climate change impacts and environmental issues.

REGIONS. OFFICIALS IN PAKISTAN HAVE ORDERED ALL PRIVATE CHEERLESS TO BE INSPECTED FOR SAFETY. >> THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA ARE FORCED TO USE CONTAMINATED WATER EVERY DAY. TOXIC CHEMICALS WERE DUMPED INTO THEIR WATER SUPPLY BY A PLANT IN FAYETTEVILLE. IT'S THE SUBJECT OF OUR LATEST WRAL DOCUMENT DOCUMENTARY PREMIERING TOMORROW NIGHT. WRAL, INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTARY REPORTER KRISTEN SEVERANCE WORKED WITH WRAL, ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER LIZ MCLAUGHLIN TO TELL THIS COMPLEX STORY. IT. KRISTEN, TALK TO LIZ ABOUT HOW THE CONTAMINATION HAPPENED AND THEY FIGHT FOR ANSWERS. >> JOINING ME NOW IS LIZ MCLAUGHLIN, WRAL, CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER. LIZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH ME ABOUT THIS. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN STUDYING FOREVER CHEMICALS. YOU'VE BEEN REPORTING ON FOREVER CHEMICALS FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. YOU KNOW, WHY ARE YOU SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT? >> IT JUST ALL STARTED WITH KNOCKING ON DOORS IN THE FAYETTEVILLE AREA NEAR THE COME WARS, CHEMICAL PLANT FORMALLY DUPONT WHERE THESE FOREVER CHEMICALS HAVE BEEN POLLUTED FOR DECADES. AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT I TALKED TO HAD A STORY AND OFTEN HEARTBREAKING. ONE, INCLUDING A WOMAN WHO WAS PREGNANT AND DRINKING CONTAMINATED WATER IN AMERICA IN OUR OWN STATE DRINKING WATER THAT HAS BEEN LINKED TO BIRTH DEFECTS TO CANCER, TO A HOST OF HEALTH PROBLEMS. AND EVERY DAY WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS CLASS OF CHEMICALS CALLED FOREVER CHEMICALS BECAUSE THEY STAY IN THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE HUMAN BODY WITHOUT DEGRADING LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HOW FAR THIS CHEMICAL CAN. THE CONTAMINATION HAS GONE, WHICH IS 90 MILES FROM THE PLANT ALL THE WAY TO WILMINGTON. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE IN THIS PLANTS BACKYARD. 99.9% OF HUMANS HAVE THIS IN THEIR BLOOD. THAT IS UBIQUITOUS. IT'S IN PRODUCTS WE ALL USE EVERY DAY. IT'S JUST SHOCKING. AND MORRIS HAS NEVER DENIED. THEY WERE THE ONES THAT DID THIS DUMPING. RIGHT IN 18 WATERPROOF, CLOTHING IT TO MAKE UP ITS IN FAST FOOD WRAPPERS. I MEAN, IT'S REALLY EVERYWHERE. IT'S EVERYWHERE. AND I KNOW YOU JUST JUMP IN ON THIS. BUT WHAT HAS REALLY STOOD OUT TO YOU PRODUCING THIS DOCUMENTARY? YOU KNOW, I THINK THE FACT THAT >> IT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS CONTAMINATION 5 YEARS AGO AND IT'S STILL HAPPENING. YOU KNOW, MEETING PEOPLE, YOU AND I WHEN WE WENT TO FAYETTEVILLE AND WE SAT DOWN FACE TO FACE WITH ALL OF THESE PEOPLE AND WE SAID, YOU KNOW, HOW IS THIS IMPACTING YOU? ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE WE INTERVIEWED KERRY ATKINS SAID I HAVE CANCER. MY DOGS HAVE CANCER. YOU KNOW, KELLY ARTHUR SAID MY DAUGHTER HAD CANCER AND THERE ACROSS THE STREET NEIGHBOR HAD THE SAME CANCER AND THESE HEALTH STUDIES ARE LINKED TO CANCER AND BIRTH DEFECTS. AND THEN WHEN YOU TALK TO THE PEOPLE IMPACTED BY IT, IT'S REALLY HEARTBREAKING. IT REALLY STAYS WITH YOU. AND IT'S OVERWHELMING. THE SCOPE OF THIS JUST REALLY IS HARD TO UNDERSTATE. IT REALLY IS. YOU KNOW IT. WE PUT SO MUCH INTO THE DOCUMENTARY. YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK PEOPLE GET A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF KIND OF WHAT IT IS AND WHAT HAPPENED. WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE WALK AWAY WITH AFTER WATCHING IT? I REALLY HOPE YOU CAN CUT THROUGH SOME OF THE NOISE SURROUNDING THIS AND SOMETHING HARD TO PUT INTO A SHORT PIECE IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY. DIG IN AND >> AND CUT THROUGH SOME OF THE CONFUSION. I MEAN, THIS CHEMISTRY, IT'S COMPLICATED. THE LITIGATION, THE REGULATIONS SURROUNDING THIS IS VERY COMPLEX. AND SO TO BE ABLE TO DIG INTO IT A LITTLE BIT. I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE REALLY SURPRISED HOW INTERESTING THIS IS. AND AND ANCHORED THERE'S A LOT OF BIG QUESTIONS HERE. HOW DO BIG POLLUTERS KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS? WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE HERE? WHY DOES OUR SYSTEM VALUE PROVING SOMETHING IS DANGEROUS TO TAKE IT OFF THE MARKET BEFORE PROVING IT'S SAFE BEFORE PUTTING ON THERE. THERE'S A LOT OF BIG QUESTIONS AND I THINK AS MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE INTERVIEWED SAY IN THIS DOCUMENTARY, THIS IS A HUGE CRISIS OF OUR TIME. WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO WITH IT, HOW TO CLEAN IT UP. WHO SHOULD PAY FOR IT? AND WE ADDRESS A LOT OF THAT IN THE DOCUMENTARY, RIGHT? AND EVERYONE SHOULD CARE ABOUT IT BECAUSE >> IT'S IN ALL OF US, RIGHT? IT'S IT REALLY IMPACTS ALL OF US. NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND THIS PLANT. IF YOU TRY TOMORROW TO SEARCH, TAKE P FAST OUT OF YOUR LIFE, IT WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF FROM TOILET PAPER TO DENTAL FLOSS TO YOGA MATS HAS THE STUFF IN THERE. IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE BEEN SUCH INCREDIBLE PARTNER I CANNOT IMAGINE A BETTER EXPERT OR SOMEONE TO PARTNER WITH THEM FOR THIS DOCUMENTARY, SUCH A GREAT COAL PRODUCER IN COURT PORTER. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. LESS SO FUN TO DIG IN. AND REALLY IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT DOCUMENTARY, HAS GOT TO WATCH IT. YES, HOPE WATCHES FOREVER CHEMICALS AND LEARNS A WE WILL BE SURE TO KEEP FOLLOWING UP ON THIS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT STORY. >> AND YOU CAN WATCH FOREVER CHEMICALS. NORTH CAROLINA'S TOXIC TAP WATER TOMORROW AT 7.30, ON WRAL OR ON WRAL DOT

Liz McLaughlin

Cristin Severance

WRAL investigative, climate journalists explore damage caused by massive amounts of toxic chemicals dumped into the Cape Fear River

WRAL investigative, climate journalists combine to explore damage caused by massive amounts of toxic chemicals dumped into the Cape Fear River

Cape Fear River,PFAS,climate change,environment,water quality

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WRAL Late News 

Get the latest WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast whenever you need it, including the DUALDoppler5000 and the 7-Day Forecast.

Hey there. I'm meteorologist, Brian Schrader in the Wrl Sevier Weather Center, whatever you have planned today, it is gonna be gorgeous to be outside, maybe a hurricanes watch party. You're gonna be doing some tailgating out at PNC arena this afternoon ahead of tonight's game. We're looking at highs in the mid seventies with a lot of sunshine, maybe a few clouds as we head into the evening hours, we do have a chance of seeing maybe a couple of light showers. I want to take a look at Futurecast, putting it into motion through the rest of the day. You can see those mostly sunny skies again, maybe a few clouds later this afternoon. And then as we head toward the dinner hour, this version of future cast has some showers perhaps moving in as early as seven or eight o'clock into our northern counties, maybe through the triangle around nine or 10 o'clock and lingering till midnight into the early morning hours of Sunday. So we can't rule out a light shower anytime from maybe six or seven pm into the overnight hours. Just want to keep that in mind if you have any plans to be outside later this evening, it will not amount, amount to very much, just something to keep in mind and be prepared for this all clears out of here overnight. And for tomorrow, it looks like an absolutely gorgeous Mother's Day with sunshine all day long. The humidity levels are gonna be really comfortable today. And again, tomorrow, highs tomorrow, right around 80 degrees and that humidity stays comfortable uh into Monday. And then by Tuesday it starts to get a little stickier around here. And with that extra moisture, we do have a chance of seeing some showers and thunderstorms. Those chances really start to build Monday night. Tuesday right now looks pretty wet with showers and storms. High temperatures in the mid seventies for Tuesday with all of that rain still have a chance of seeing some showers and storms lingering into Wednesday before a little bit of a lull in the precipitation. By Thursday, temperatures pretty close to normal as we head through the rest of the week. Normal. This time of year is about 80 degrees. We're not seeing any summer like heat. It's gonna feel pretty seasonable for this time of year.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Nightly N.C. Education Lottery drawings during the 11 p.m. News.

Good evening. I'm Gayle. Her, welcome to tonight's drawings for Friday May 10th, 2024. Well, let's get started tonight with our Carolina pick three. Our first winning number is a zero. Our second number is seven and our third number tonight is eight and our pick three. Fireball number is three. Joining me for tonight's drawing is our auditor from MC Connolly Jones L LP. Now let's move to the Carolina pick four. Good luck. Everyone who's that first winning pick four number. It's a one. Our second number four, third number tonight is two and our fourth number this evening is seven and our pick for fireball number is a three. Well, turning now to the Carolina cash five. If no one was the top prize tonight, tomorrow's top prize is estimated at $770,000. Good luck. Everyone is that first winning cash five number is 26. Our second number, it's 33 3rd number tonight. It's 22. Our fourth number is 39 and the final number in our cash five this evening is 17, the North Carolina education lottery has contributed over $10 billion education. Thanks to your support. Get your winning numbers right here every night in your exclusive station for the North Carolina Education lottery. Thanks for playing. Have a good night and a great weekend.

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Tuesday and Friday Mega Millions Drawing.

>> ACROSS AMERICA WITH MEGA JACKPOTS, IT'S MEGA MILLIONS. WHAT'S UP JOHN COHEN IS FRIDAY MAY 10TH AND TONIGHT'S MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT IS AN ESTIMATED A NEW TIES. 331 MILLION DOLLARS TO WIN THAT JACKPOT. YOU MISSED IT SEES 5 WHITE PLUS THAT GOLD MEGA BALL. NOW. LET'S SEE IF I CAN MAKE YOU A MILLIONAIRE TONIGHT. FIRST WINNING NUMBER TONIGHT IS 32. THAT'S FOLLOWED BY. 26. UP NEXT, WE HAVE 13 IN X NUMBER IS 22 IN YOUR FINAL WHITE BALL NUMBER FOR THIS FRIDAY EVENING. IS 65 NOW FOR THE MEGA BALL NUMBER. THAT IS 18 IN TONIGHT'S WINNING NUMBERS ARE 30 TO 26

Mega Millions Drawing

Interstate 40 West is closed Friday after a crash along the interstate near Garner.

Sky 5 flies over I-40 West crash near Garner

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are held at 3 p.m. daily. They can be seen as live or on-demand video.

Good afternoon. I'm Grace Holland. Welcome to this afternoon's drawings for Friday May 10th 2024. Let's get started with the Carolina pick three. The first pick three number is nine then one followed by two and your fireball is five. Joining me for this afternoon's drawing is our auditor for mcconnell and Jones L LP. Now let's move on to the Carolina pick for the first pick four. Number is nine followed by 95 three and your fireball is eight. The North Carolina Education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Thank you for your support. Get your winning numbers each day at 3 p.m. and again at 11:22 p.m.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour talks about facing a 3-0 series deficit against the New York Rangers and looks ahead to Game 4 on Saturday.

<p>Ok. Rock Sebastian was mentioned, the ac Sebastian mentioned today, it seemed pretty spirited practice that everybody got some got out of their system. Yeah, I mean, that's the only way you can do. It. Certainly don't want to feel sorry for yourselves or anything that it's a new day and you got a new challenge tomorrow, put our best foot forward, you reconfigured the power play units a little bit in practice today is that I'm assuming it's more about execution than personnel at this point. Yeah, it always is. It always comes down to that. We had good players and maybe it was two units doesn't really, you know, scrambling the players around. I don't know how much that's gonna change. You gotta get a little more, um, dialed in on, on, uh, the execution part. You had tr check here for a couple of years. Is there anything that he's doing this series of surprises? No, we talked about him. Yeah. No, and we knew he was a good player so we got him and tried to keep him but didn't work out. I mean, business and, uh, you know, he's certainly been a huge factor how difficult is Canar to deal with. I mean, you know, obviously scored as many points in the head but he's been hardly the only guy that's, well, they got, they got that. I mean, like some real high talent. I mean, that's, that's, you know, you, you could tend to shut them down or try to for a little while but they just need a, a hair and all of a sudden they make you pay and that's, that's why they're elite, you know, um, among the other things that they do, but that's, that's the separator, you, your top on everything we ask for that, you know, below them. They, they're generating all the other ones are generating chances but the goal is high. Is there any concern with that aspect of it? Um, well, yeah, I mean, it's definitely concern. That's why we're in a hole we're in as well. But it's, it's, you know, like, what are you gonna do? You gotta, we know that one area we have to be better at and then the rest side we can't fault around it because it's just, you know, otherwise you have no chance. So we're, we're, you know, in a tough spot. We know that, but it's the old story boring where you gotta just worry about one game and see where it goes, what's missing on the power play that was there and the amateur series there, we'll see what's not. Yeah, I think we're just a little off on. Um, well, it's, listen, you gotta give them credit. I think that's the first thing you do. They're, they're doing their system really well and they're knowing when the pressure and what not, and we just haven't handled that the way we normally do. And I think that's really the beginning of it. Right. Obviously you guys have had a high shot volume for the first three games. Do you think just Durkin's finding more confidence through the more shots he sees? Is there any, you know, adjustment to make under? That's a question for him. I mean, you, you, you know, I think he's made a lot of quality saves too. I mean, I looked at him today and there's a couple that are well, world class, I mean, that and that's a couple that go the other way. That's the difference. I mean, you're not talking about it all you got, you gotta get better shots. I mean, he's been the difference and there's, there's no way around it and you got to give him credit and, you know, you can say we're not getting good enough shots, but you're making some good saves too. Have you made a decision yet on where you're going in that? No, no. Yeah. Right back to and we keep going power for all these reasons. Just do you, do you guys need to make quicker decisions with party, party? I mean, it's the right decision. It's not quicker. I mean, we were good all year. It's just right now we have, uh, you know, really? Yeah, I didn't love it again. The is in this series, I thought it was ok. But we, we hit a three game snag here and the wrong time of the year to hit it. What is that? Is that comfort in routine as a hockey player? You do the same things all season and then things get difficult like this. Do you, do you find some comfort in the routines that you have? Yeah, that's a good question. Um, I think you probably do, you know, um, something you can rely on something, you know, it's that they always, that next day mentality that we have in this league. And, um, and what's done is done, you gotta worry about the next thing that's on your plate. So, and I think that's, that's a good way to look at it. How do you balance desperation and what that means for your guys versus overdo it a bit. Yeah, I think the one thing that I, I love always about this group is that they, and you watch this fight. I mean, we pretty much always play that way. So it's not about, you know, I try to do too much or too long and I think they, they, they do what they always can and I'm assuming I'll do that again tomorrow. Consider the circumstances where you're happy with where your team work today. Very p yeah, very good. I mean, we, we all are grown here, man. We understand the situation but what you have to also approach it the right way and it's a great opportunity. We're still, we're still playing and uh you know, I think the focus is just on trying to find that to get that much better. All right. Thanks a lot. Thanks for the great.</p>

Brind'Amour: It's a new day and a new challenge

Sky 5 flies over a water main break on Common Oaks Drive at Capital Blvd in Raleigh.

WRAL investigative, climate journalists explore damage caused by massive amounts of toxic chemicals dumped into the Cape Fear River

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