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Large alligator blocks road in southeastern North Carolina
A 12-foot alligator caused a traffic problem in Boiling Springs Lakes, North Carolina.That's a town in Brunswick County, south of Wilmington. At around 1 a.m. police started getting calls from drivers about a large gator in the middle of the road.Multiple drivers report the gator lunged at their vehicle.Police called for backup and when firefighters arrived the group worked together to get the gator to move.The way they got the gator to move was to spray water out of the firetruck. Eventually, the gator decided to walk back to it's habitat.SEE ALSO | Rip currents, sharks and now an alligator scare along North Carolina beachesSEE ALSO | Shark bites 14-year-old boy at North Topsail Beach in North CarolinaAn ordinary day at the beach quickly turned terrifying for 14-year-olds Blayne Brown and McKinley Gore.
2-year-old Durham girl dies week after being shot during night of gun violence
A two-year-old girl who was shot a week ago during a night of gun violence in Durham has died.According to Durham police, the toddler was among one of three people who were shot in the 1400 block of East Cornwallis Road on Thursday, June 20.A woman and her boyfriend were found at the same address with gunshots and both had non-life-threatening injuries, police say.Witnesses said they heard multiple gunshots at the time of the shooting.In a video obtained by ABC11 loud gunshots could be heard before a car raced by, followed closely by another vehicle that shots were being fired from.A teenage mother, her two-year-old daughter and her boyfriend were injured in the crossfire on Thursday evening.DPD confirmed that six people were shot within eight hours that Thursday night into Friday morning.The shooting happened on East Cornwallis Road.Anyone with any information is asked to call Investigator M. Judy at (919) 560-4440 extension 29252. You can also call CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200 or online at www.durhamcrimestoppers.org.ABC11 is tracking crime and safety across Durham and in your neighborhood*Video is from the previous story*
Wake County special education teacher arrested on assault charges from 2022
A special education teacher in Wake County stands accused of assaulting students.The Wake County District Attorney's Office charged James Rencher III with 12 counts of assault on an individual with a disability.Wake County Sheriff's Office said it received a report from Wake County Public School System about possible assaults on two special education students at East Wake High School back in 2022.After a thorough investigation, the district attorney believed there was enough evidence to charge Rencher in the case.Investigators said Rencher once kicked a yoga ball out from underneath a student sitting on the ball. That student fell to the...
NC women arrested, accused of stealing thousands of dollars in baseball bats
Three women accused of stealing bats from the company D-BAT were apprehended by Asheville police on June 23 near its Asheville store."Officers responded, and one of the employees of D-BAT was pursuing three women who had stolen high-end baseball bats from the baseball training facility," Asheville Police Senior Officer Kermit Smith told ABC affiliate WLOS. "The employee pursued them all the way to the Ascot Point Circle, where they hid in the bushes. Officers located them."At 2:23 p.m. Asheville officers responded to a report of three females accused of stealing bats from D-BAT at 1262 Hendersonville Road. Asheville police said...
Duke's Flagg, Rutgers' freshman duo headline list of potential 2025 NBA lottery prospects
A year after Victor Wembanyama ended a 16-season run of college players going No. 1 overall in the NBA draft, fellow French teen Zaccharie Risacher made it two in a row Wednesday night.A college prospect could be back on top next summer.Incoming Duke freshman Cooper Flagg joins a touted Rutgers rookie duo as possible headliners for next summer's draft, though multiple top international prospects are in the mix, too.Here's an early list of potential lottery prospects for 2025:1. Cooper Flagg, DukeThe 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward is the nation's top-ranked recruit who picked Duke over UConn in October after reclassifying from the...
Challenges await new Canes General Manager Eric Tulsky
Eric Tulsky has always trusted his process of sorting through all kinds of data to solve problems.It never mattered whether he was working with fluorescent nanoparticles, solar energy or on improving the energy capacity of a car battery.Or the complexities of hockey, for that matter.It's been roughly a decade since he shifted from science to fully dive into the sport he loved by taking a job with the Carolina Hurricanes. And that's brought him here: working as the new general manager for a perennial playoff team, one still trying to break through toward winning a Stanley Cup while facing a...
Fire broke out at crematorium in Fayetteville; cause of fire unknown
Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire at a funeral home Thursday night in Fayetteville.Around 8:30 p.m., flames were shooting out of the Rogers & Breece Crematorium on North Street.Firefighters were on the scene for hours, trying to put out the blaze.Fayetteville Fire Department's Fire Investigative Team is leading the investigation.
Juvenile arrested in connection to Food Lion shooting in Goldsboro
An arrest was made Thursday night in connection to a shooting at a Food Lion in Goldsboro earlier this month.According to police, 18-year-old Javon Langston of Goldsboro was shot near the entrance of the grocery store. He later died from his injuries.Authorities said a preliminary investigation found that Langston was involved in an argument with another man before the shooting.A petition was later secured for one count of murder on a juvenile suspect.Just before 7 p.m. on Thursday, Goldsboro Police Department's Emergency Response Team, Investigations, Patrol, K9, and NCSBI arrested the 17-year-old male in the 300 block of Myers Avenue.The...
Outer Banks becoming graveyard for homes collapsing due to erosion caused by stronger storms
The Outer Banks are a special place unique to North Carolina, but they are becoming more of a graveyard for homes that were built too close to ever impeding waters of the Atlantic.Sand that once provided a foundation for those homes is being washed away due to erosion that has accelerated due to stronger storms in a changing climate."Well back then there was a very wide beach and a double dune line, and it's like oh this is great but you know the storms over time have taken their toll," said Scott Sirrine who built a home in Rodanthe.Just in...
Man arrested after stealing and crashing Amazon delivery truck in Charlotte
A man was arrested Thursday morning after leading authorities on a chase in a stolen Amazon truck in Charlotte.ABC affiliate WSOC reported the incident began around 11:30 p.m. on South Tryon Street near Pressley Road in southwest Charlotte. Officers had been following a stolen pick-up truck after it ran a traffic stop and sped away.Both the driver and passenger eventually jumped out of the vehicle and ran.The passenger -- identified as 26-year-old Michael Watts -- was found hiding in a nearby dumpster. He had several warrants in Mecklenburg and Gaston counties.According to the Charlotte Police Department, the driver -- identified as 28-year-old Devin Mitchell -- then stole an unoccupied Amazon truck while the worker was making deliveries.Mitchell drove it to Gaston County before crashing it. He tried to escape but was caught a short time later.SEE ALSO | NC woman faces death penalty; police say she murdered adopted children Blake and London Deven
NC lawmakers passes nearly $68M in funding for childcare centers, authorize teacher pay raises
Childcare funding and increased teacher pay have been two of the biggest issues this legislative session.Our newsgathering partners the News and Observer reported that Republicans in both chambers agreed to pass standalone bills that allocate $67.5 million in funding for childcare centers through the end of the year, as well as formally authorize pay raises for teachers and other school employees.The pay raises were initially approved in last year's two-year budget but required additional language to take effect. The raises ranged from 3.6% to 10.8% over two years based on experience.The two bills have been sent to Gov. Roy Cooper's...
Wasp stings foster puppies at Raleigh home, turns into social media push for pet adoption
A Raleigh woman is once again lighting up social media with a story about her animals.Jean Mosher previously got attention online for her TikTok famous dog Jaqweenie. He had a unique mouth deformity and chronicling his journey garnered lots of followers.Now, Mosher has a post on Instagram that has more than 27 million views; on TikTok it has more than 8 million.The post is all about a group of foster puppies named Clouds, Seven Sundays and Big Boss.The trio of siblings got stung by a wasp, causing their faces to swell.Mosher took to social media to document the event. She hopes the attention will raise people's interest in the importance of adoption.Clouds, Seven Sundays and Big Boss are all recovering, and they are available for adoption.Anyone interested in adopting these puppies or others should go to HopeAnimals.org. Clouds and his siblings wont be listed on the site until July 3, but you can submit a generic application ahead of then.
Trolley Pub Raleigh makes accommodations due to intense heat
Trolley Pub Raleigh is making accommodations to deal with the heat.The popular pub on wheels travels through downtown Raleigh.With the recent heat wave, the company that runs the trolley told ABC11 it's now taking steps to help passengers stay cool during their drive--including carrying extra water bottles.ALSO SEE: Without AC in trucks, delivery drivers push through extremely hot days: 'Give us some water'"We want people to finish the tour and think about when they're coming back again. In conditions like this, we certainly don't want them saying wow they made me work harder than I thought it would be," Tom Griffin with Trolley Pub said. "We want people to dress comfortably, especially on hot days. Light colored and loose fitting clothing is key, wearing shoes that are comfortable."The trolley said it also plans to shorten its times between bars to allow more time for AC.
President Joe Biden responds to criticism of his debate performance during Raleigh campaign stop
President Joe Biden used his first campaign stop after his widely panned debate performance to try and reset the narrative."I know I'm not a young man -- state the obvious," Biden said as applause and support erupted from the crowd. "Folks, I don't walk as easy as I used to. I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth."Biden forcefully tried on Friday to quell Democratic anxieties over his unsteady showing in his debate with former President...
NC Courage GK Casey Murphy reflects on cracking Olympic roster, soccer's rise in the Triangle
A Triangle soccer star is shipping off to Paris to represent her country in the upcoming Olympic Games.Casey Murphy, goalie for the NWSL's North Carolina Courage, was one of just 18 players selected this week for the Olympic roster.Murphy is the club's all-time leader in wins with 30 and has been in goal for the Courage since 2021."I was nervous, and obviously once I got the call I made it, I was overwhelmed with joy and happiness," she said.Murphy told ABC11 it wasn't that long ago that she was a youth soccer player, reminiscing about her own trip to watch...
Authority overseeing Hurricanes' arena approves development plan for multi-use district around venue
PNC Arena authorities approved a development agreement to create a long-discussed mixed-use district around the arena that will include entertainment, retail, and office space, a music venue, apartments, and a hotel.The Carolina Hurricanes announced Thursday that the Centennial Authority officially approved and signed the lease extension for the Hurricanes to remain at PNC Arena at least through the 2043-44 season, which was first agreed to last summer.That jumpstarts a $300 million project to upgrade the 25-year-old home to the Hurricanes and the North Carolina State men's basketball team, set to begin in 2025."We are thrilled to begin the transformation of...
Republicans, Democrats in North Carolina looking forward to presidential debate between Biden, Trump
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will take the debate stage in Atlanta on Thursday night, as each plan to lay out their platforms in a pitch to voters."What happens with this debate has a real ability to shape the course of the election going forward and who wins," said Dr. Steven Greene, a Political Science Professor at NC State.Heading into the debate, 538 analyzes the race as a toss-up."People are talking about immigration. They're talking about the economy. They're talking about crime. They're talking about abortion," said Greene.Trump carried North Carolina in both 2016 and 2020, though...
Without AC in trucks, delivery drivers push through extremely hot days: 'Give us some water'
Mike Dewan has been a UPS driver for the last 18 years. He is also the Shop Steward for the local Teamsters union and says conditions can be dangerous for those working right now.Delivery drivers are picking up heavy packages and then dropping them off at homes without any real reprieve from the hot, humid weather."All of them right now are without AC," said Dewan.He believes there aren't any delivery trucks in the Triangle right now that have air conditioning. This made Dwan want to be part of efforts to push for change.Last summer, the Teamsters fought hard to get...
Durham man hopes to reach Myrtle Beach beachgoers who saved his life: 'I wish I could thank them'
It's been only a few weeks since Mike and Saundra Burton learned that angels don't just exist in heaven. Some live among us.During a weekend family vacation to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, they headed to the ocean with other relatives. Things took a swift turn while they were there.Saundra said she looked out at the water and saw her husband swimming one moment and then floating face down the next."I thought he was playing to get us closer to him so he could throw us in the water. When I continued to look I said something is not right," she...
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