Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Jessica Jones

Jessica Jones covers both the legislature in Raleigh and politics across the state. Before her current assignment, Jessica was given the responsibility to open up WUNC's first Greensboro Bureau at the Triad Stage in 2009. She's a seasoned public radio reporter who's covered everything from education to immigration, and she's a regular contributor to NPR's news programs. Jessica started her career in journalism in Egypt, where she freelanced for international print and radio outlets. After stints in Washington, D.C. with Voice of America and NPR, Jessica joined the staff of WUNC in 1999. She is a graduate of Yale University.

Jessica left WUNC in August 2015.

  • After the conservative administration was forced out, Pedro Sánchez formed a cabinet with a record number of women, opened ports to refugees and even tweeted in Catalan.
  • Syrian composer Malek Jandali's parents were beaten after he criticized the Assad regime in a performance abroad. Now Jandali is asking American and European audiences to donate to Syrians in need.
  • Duke University is known for its basketball. But this year, Duke's fans are cheering for their football team, which has won the most games in its history. Lead by the national coach of the year, the Blue Devils are headed the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
  • Nationally, there is an increase in cities responding to visible poverty including homelessness by criminalizing it. In recent years, municipalities from Seattle to Tampa have cracked down on the homeless and groups that help them. Now, Raleigh, N.C., is trying to find middle ground between the homeless and business owners.
  • In North Carolina, NAACP leaders are planning a seventh week of protests at the state legislature. The demonstrations have grown in size and number of arrests every week since they started back in April. Protest organizers oppose the social, economic and voting policies of the Republican-led General Assembly, and they want lawmakers to take notice. But it's not clear whether legislators will change their policies as a result of the protests.
  • In North Carolina Tuesday, voters approved a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships. North Carolina becomes the 30th state to pass a measure outlawing same-sex marriage.
  • Lawmakers in North Carolina have passed a bill that would repeal the state's "Racial Justice Act." That act allows death row inmates to use statistical evidence of racial bias to challenge their sentences. But since the state passed the measure in 2009, all but three of North Carolina's death row inmates have filed appeals. Now some lawmakers say it's time to revamp the law.
  • Defense attorneys in Durham, N.C., say DNA testing proves their clients did not sexually assault a woman hired to perform at a party hosted by members of the Duke lacrosse team. But a prosecutor says the investigation isn't over. Jessica Jones of North Carolina Public Radio reports.