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Your child could be the next ABC11 Aspiring All-Star!Beginning Wednesday, June 19 after the 6 p.m. newscast, ABC11 invites parents to nominate their child (Kindergarten - 8th grade) to be highlighted as one of the best young athletes in central North Carolina. The chosen athlete will be featured on-air and on our ABC11 social pages.NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. See Official Rules for additional eligibility restrictions and complete details. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: WTVD Television, LLC.OFFICIAL RULES
Fort Liberty transitions to mostly solar power, clean energy in partnership with Duke Energy
Duke Energy and Fort Liberty say they're partnering to use clean energy and solar power at the installation and several other military bases in North and South Carolina. It's part of President Biden's plan to power the federal government entirely with clean electricity by 2030.Leaders from Fort Liberty, the Biden administration and Duke Energy are calling this a historic acquisition of carbon-free electricity in the Carolinas. Fort Liberty has installed a floating solar panel system, or array, with Duke Energy in the Big Muddy Lake at Camp Mackall. The Department of Defense says this self-contained system will provide Fort Liberty...
North Carolina's life sciences industry continues to grow, create high-paying jobs
North Carolina's life sciences industry continues to see rapid growth amidst a slate of high-profile jobs announcements."The industry has over 800 companies pulling 75,000 workers at an annual salary of $112,000," said Laura Gunter, President of the NC Life Sciences Organization.A report from the Brookings Institute found between 2020 and 2022, life sciences companies committed to invest over $9 billion and create 12,500 new jobs statewide.Recent announcements come from Eli Lilly, which is investing $450 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Research Triangle Park and Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, which is investing $1.2 billion with plans to create 680 jobs...
Nonprofit group targets swimming's racial disparity with Juneteenth program at Raleigh's Pullen Park
It's summer break for third grader Tanasha Yates and she's spending the start of it at Pullen Park's indoor pool with her mother, Nikya.Her mom told ABC11 it's a fun day, but she has concerns about letting her daughter out of sight."She cannot swim by herself. She can swim with a life jacket," Nikya said. "If she's with me, I will make sure she's by me so I can get to her instantly and make sure she's in life jackets and if possible, look into training."According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are health disparities in drownings....
Durham budget includes 'monumental' pay increases for police officers, firefighters
Durham employees are getting a pay bump after the City Council approved a $668 million spending plan Tuesday night, with sworn fire and police employees getting a significant increase."I'm glad to say that we're giving our employees a significant raise," Mayor Leonardo Williams said Tuesday.Firefighters will see a 17.65% adjustment and police officers will see adjustments up to 22.5%."It's pretty monumental for us," Durham Police Department's Peter Smith said.The new city budget comes as the police department looks to fill 137 positions, which is a quarter of the entire police force."Every unit in the department is short staffed right now,"...
Big Weather breaks down the essentials of his hurricane emergency kit
Do you have a weather emergency kit ready to go? Before hurricanes arrive, it's important to make sure you have an emergency kit properly stocked and easy to access.Here's what ABC11 Chief Meteorologist Don "Big Weather" Schwenneker has on his hurricane emergency kit essentials list:GENERAL SUPPLIESTO-Go Bag - Make an overnight bag so if you have to leave quickly, you are ready to go. In it put a change of clothes, bottle of water, flashlight, and important documents.ZIP-LOCK Bags - You can use these for all kinds of things. Put your important documents (check the Important Documents checklist...
As weather turns hotter, fan requests more than double from last year in Wake County
Wake County is experiencing a sharp rise in fan requests as the days heat up. There have been 160 requests so far this season which is more than double the amount from this time last year.Fans are being handed out for free under the Cool for Wake program.There are seven distribution sites to choose from in Wake and residents can pick the spot closest to where they live.Staff is doing outreach to the most vulnerable population."For children, for seniors, for people who are on certain different types of medications, they cannot regulate their body temperature as well as healthy adults,"...
Wake County approves $31.6 million for behavioral health services
Wake County commissioners approved a $31.6 million funding agreement with Alliance Health on Monday.The county said the move was aimed at addressing gaps in crisis services, criminal justice, housing, system access/coordination, and other key areas.The county also said it wants to ensure that more behavioral health services are readily available for those who need them."Investing in behavioral health services is crucial for the well-being of our community," said Wake County Commissioner Cheryl Stallings. "This funding and partnership with Alliance ensures that help is available for those who need it and it underscores our commitment to providing comprehensive and accessible health...
Raleigh council votes to again allow motorized vehicles in parades but with new safety regulations
Raleigh City Council unanimously approved new regulations to allow motorized vehicles back into parades.City staff have been working for the past year on new parade safety requirements, teaming up with public safety officials for some of the largest and most complex parades across the country.These new and enhanced requirements include:Parade organizers must screen entries by collecting a valid driver's license for the class of vehicle they wish to operate in the parade with no relevant moving violations., and evidence an operator is trained to safely operate a specialty float and the vehicle is appropriately rated to tow the assigned float.For...
Man shot by deputy enforcing eviction order after hourslong standoff in Raleigh, sheriff says
A tenant who refused to be evicted from a Raleigh apartment was shot by a deputy Tuesday afternoon.The shooting happened hours after deputies arrived at The Oaks Apartments on Water Oaks Drive around 10:45 a.m. The Wake County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) said deputies were there to serve an eviction order and the man refused to leave. He barricaded himself inside the apartment which started a standoff that went well into early evening hours.Investigators evacuated nearby apartments as a precaution.Officers surrounded the apartment complex and worked for nearly seven hours to get the man to come out.Around 5:30 p.m. deputies went...
Third small earthquake detected near Sparta, North Carolina: US Geological Survey
According to United States Geological Survey, three earthquakes were detected just miles away from the town of Sparta over the past two days.The first two earthquakes happened Tuesday morning. The first, a 2.3 magnitude quake, happened at 4:41 a.m.. The second, another 2.3 magnitude quake, happened about 30 minutes later.Then, on Wednesday the earth rumbled again. This earthquake registered a 2.1 magnitude.There have been 15 recorded earthquakes in North Carolina this year.SEE ALSO | 5.1 magnitude earthquake reported in Sparta, could be felt across parts of central North Carolina
NC House push for state employee, teacher raises in state budget
North Carolina House Republicans released a new spending plan Monday night, including new raises for state employees and teachers.The proposed plan would give state employees an additional 1% raise and raise the starting salary for teachers to $44,000 a year.According to our newsgathering partners at the News and Observer, those raises are on top of pay increases for teachers approved in last year's state budget. This is an average 4.4% raise.Other highlights include:Additional pay for teachers with master's degrees One-time 2% bonus for retired state employees $250 million for Opportunity Scholarships, the school voucher program $135 million for childcare centers News and Observer reported that the House proposal is unlikely to become law, as it comes in the middle of a standoff between Republican leaders in the House and Senate.The budget will go through committees on Tuesday, with votes Wednesday and Thursday.
Hearings begin for future of rock quarry near Umstead State Park: ' long and winding road'
The N.C. Office of Administrative Hearings will begin to hear a case on Tuesday regarding the future of the rock quarry adjacent to Umstead State Park.A permit issued back in 1981 that allowed the rock quarry to be built, included a sunset clause that stipulated it could operate for 50 years or until they essentially run out of rocks -- whichever is sooner. Once the time was up, they would donate the land back to the state, which could be used for the park.N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued several permits to the rocky quarry in the following decades...
Teenagers duck for cover in Wilson County as random bullets fly overhead
Jeysen can't help but replay the trauma."I never believed that stuff like that actually happens," said the 15-year-old, who didn't want his last name used. "I've heard of PTSD and stuff like that but that felt crazy."He was out for a walk late at night last week with his high school friend in the Wilson County town of Sims when they had to duck into a crop of soybeans for cover.We've both been really emotionally disturbed, and it's not right that this man was releasedInvestigators said someone started randomly firing in the teens' direction on Countryside Road. Jeysen pulled out...
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