Recent changes at WRAL & CBS 17, including new anchors and reporters
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- WRAL added three reporters in January with experience outside North Carolina.
- Megan Cloherty joined as senior reporter and anchor, focusing on investigative work.
- Alex Littlehales and Caroline Yaffa cover enterprise stories and state government.
New reporters, anchors and program hosts have appeared on WRAL and CBS 17 recently.
The station’s new additions, who all previously had broadcasting roles outside North Carolina, began their work at the Triangle station in January.
Here’s a refresher on some of the newest faces at WRAL and CBS 17.
Senior reporter and anchor joins WRAL
In early January, Megan Cloherty started as a senior reporter and anchor at WRAL.
With more than two decades of experience in journalism, Cloherty has previously worked at stations including KOAA in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and WTOP News in the Washington, D.C. area.
Since joining WRAL, she has been doing investigative work — such as reporting on contaminated water in Knightdale — and covering the U.S. Senate race.
New ‘5 On Your Side’ reporter
Alex Littlehales, who most recently worked at 13News Now in Norfolk, Virginia, is the newest enterprise reporter and member of WRAL’s “5 On Your Side” team.
His first day at the Triangle station was Tuesday, Jan. 20.
So far, Littlehales has reported on news including a decrease of opioid overdoses and fentanyl deaths in North Carolina, and how to protect yourself from romance scams.
New WRAL government reporter
Caroline Yaffa, who also started at WRAL Monday, Jan. 5, is the station’s new state government reporter.
A UNC alumna, Yaffa worked as a multimedia journalist at WSPA 7News in South Carolina before returning to the Triangle.
Her recent work for WRAL includes reporting on federal disaster mitigation reimbursements intended for North Carolina towns and a big jobs announcement from Amazon.
Changes at WRAL & CBS 17
WRAL, owned by Capitol Broadcasting Co., also recently promoted Lora Lavigne, who has been at the station since 2020.
Previously a weekend anchor and multimedia journalist, Lavigne started her new role as weekday morning anchor, stepping into Michelle Mackonochie’s former role. Mackonochie now anchors WRAL’s evening newscasts.
Lavigne’s promotion was announced in early January.
CBS 17 also made a change. Brea Hollingsworth officially joined Trent Gilbreath as co-host of “My Carolina,” the station’s locally produced lifestyle show, on Monday, Feb. 2.
