Columbus
ABC11 Eyewitness News
NC Board of Elections to allow the Constitution Party on the 2024 November ballot
After rejecting requests of three third parties to be on the November ballot, state leaders decided to allow one of the parties to be in the race.The North Carolina Board of Elections made the decision Tuesday afternoon, less than a month after denying the request.That means the Constitution Party will be on the ballot this fall.The national chairman of the party tells ABC11 Eyewitness News that he is extremely grateful that the Board of Elections "decided to do the right thing" and certify the party for the ballot.Last month the Democratic majority of the State Board of Elections said they'd...
NC governor signs 12 bills into law, vetoes 1 and leaves one to become law without signature
North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law on Monday nearly all the bills that remained on his desk from the pile that the Republican-dominated General Assembly sent him before this year's work session ended. But he vetoed another measure and will let the legislature's annual "regulatory reform" measure become law without his signature.Cooper signed 12 pieces of legislation. Those measures in part locate $68 million to replace expired federal child care center grants for the next six months, ensure anticipated teacher raises for this school year are carried out and resume the automatic removal of criminal charges that...
Judge upholds decision to switch to Aetna for North Carolina worker health insurance
In a legal fight involving two health insurance companies seeking to manage North Carolina's public employee benefits plan, a judge ruled Monday that the plan's board acted properly when it switched to Aetna and dropped longtime administrator Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.Contract costs - with health care claims included - exceed $3 billion annually.Blue Cross has administered the State Health Plan for over 40 years. The administrator handles health care expenses for several hundred thousand state employees, teachers, their family members and retirees, ensuring claims are paid and building out a provider network. After a bid process,...
Sports bar hosts watch party for 'The Bachelorette' as Raleigh man vies for love
A sports bar in Raleigh was filled to the brim Monday night - but not for a sporting event.People flocked to Woody's @ City Market to watch the new season of 'The Bachelorette.'"The vibe is always kind of like a sports bar, so it's kind of fun to see, like the girls kind of take it over and kind of make it like our sports bar," Amelia told ABC11.There wasn't an open seat in the house as Jenn Tran started her journey for love on the reality show's new season.It all started last year when one of their managers saw...
Feels-like temperatures could hit 109 degrees Wednesday, heat advisory in effect: First Alert Day
First Alert Day on Wednesday with the temperature in the mid-90s, the feels-like temperature is expected to be up to 107 degrees.The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.A few popup thunderstorms could fire up in the afternoon.Raleigh recorded its hottest day on record at 106 degrees on Friday, July 5. The feels-like on Friday also remained in triple-digits. The previous highest temperature recorded in Raleigh was 105 degrees. That happened in 1952, 1988, 2007 and 2012.Download the ABC11 App and get weather updates and breaking news 24/7Heat Safety People at risk on...
Private Booker T. Spicely remember at vigil in his honor decades after he was killed
A Durham community gathered Monday night to honor the life and memory of Booker T. Spicely.He was killed 80 years ago by a white bus driver in the Walltown neighborhood."It looks like we're still fighting some of the same battles," said Cynthia Mitchell, whose mother is Spicely's first cousin. "She said to me, 'Cynthia see this through.' So that's why I'm still hanging in."Private Spicely was serving at nearby Camp Butner and boarded a bus the night of July 8, 1944.When more white passengers boarded, the bus driver Herman Lee Council ordered him to sit farther to the back. Spicely...
Crosswalks coming to Murchison Road after deadly crashes in Fayetteville: 'I miss my son'
A grieving mother in Fayetteville is opening up about losing her son to a car crash on Murchison Road. It's happening just as state and city officials are now installing crosswalks and signs to make that road safer after the deadly crash."I miss my son. I don't get to see him. I don't get to hear him anymore. I don't get to hold him."Eva Gage says it's been two long years since she lost her 12-year-old son, Jacob, on Murchison Road near the Blue Street intersection. ABC11 spoke to Gage back in November 2022 after Jacob was hit by a...
Construction of the Blue Ridge Road underpass delayed, business feels the impact
If NCDOT officials had their way, the Blue Ridge Road underpass would have been soon completed.But, due to complications with construction, it will be at least another year before the project is finished, according to NCDOT officials.It's a delay that has long caused frustration and inconvenience for nearby PFS Sales Company."it makes it tough for us," said employee Whitney Payne. "At one point during construction there was 86 dump trucks coming and going and picking up rocks and debris back and forth."The NCDOT said the delay in construction is due to an increase in labor and material shortages, the rerouting...
As reassignment plan rolls out, DPS expects growing pains for families: 'Every student will benefit'
Mason Scott is still adjusting to the idea that he won't be attending the same school as his best friend Henry under Growing Together, Durham Public Schools Reassignment Plan."I'm not happy I guess," said Scott.The 8-year-old is used to seeing Henry every day in class and that is about to change as he enters third grade."He will still get to see him sometimes," said Mason's mother, Jokyra Scott.This family is among the many impacted by the Growing Together plan. DPS said about 1,000 students will be reassigned as a result. Some of those changes will happen in two weeks...
Abnormally dry conditions in central NC impacting crops, sunflowers at Dix Park
The Sunflower Field at Dix Park will look different this year to the thousands of people to stop by.The flowers are much shorter than in years past, thanks to the lack of rain.The recent drought has severely impacted sunflower production -- and other crops as well.Jesse Petit grows several fruits and vegetables at his 30-acre farm in Benson."I've been in it probably 12, 13, 14 years and I've never seen this dry," said Petit.He says corn, cantaloupe and watermelon have been impacted the most by the drought.The Triangle did some rain this past weekend, but much of the state still abnormally dry."We've got a lot of very small ears (of corn)," said Petit. "You can't sell it. People want perfect."He has been buying for drip line piping to provide extra water. Petit estimates he has spent $3,000-$4,000 extra in that water to save what he could,"It gets discouraging at some times, but you just have to keep having faith and that it's going to come together," said Petit. "We'll just keep pushing."
Even after Apple delays project, demand, prices for Wake County homes remains high
Data from Triangle MLS shows that sky-high demand for real estate in Cary, Apex and Morrisville is fueling stubbornly-high home prices, even after Apple's announcement in June that their plans for an RTP campus would be delayed by 4 years.Data for June 2024 showed a tick-up in the median home sale price for Cary, Apex and Morrisville combined, up to $720,000. The month before the Apple Campus announcement was first made in 2021, the median sale price for the three towns was $470,000."We're seeing the market continue to grow," said Hilary Kennedy, owner of Live Oaks Realty. There's a lot...
Patients will get critical care closer to home as WakeMed North is opening new ICU
James Williams and his wife were at the emergency department at WakeMed North Hospital, where typically, it can be busy, with some patients having to move to the main campus in Raleigh for critical care because there wasn't an ICU at the hospital.But that all changes on Tuesday, when a new, nine-bed intensive care unit will be open to patients at WakeMed North."It would be very accessible for me to get help right here instead of going way over there to the other hospital," Williams said.The new ICU is opening as the only one in Northern Wake County, where there's...
Jill Biden returns to North Carolina to rally veterans, military families
Monday morning, President Biden shared a letter to Democrats on X, vowing to remain in the race, writing in part: "I wouldn't be running again if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024."Hours later, the First Lady addressed her husband's campaign."For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he's all in," said Dr. Biden, as the crowd began to chant "four more years."Dr. Biden's visit to North Carolina comes as a growing number of Democrats have publicly expressed reservations on the President's electability, with...
Car crashes into Raleigh WakeMed Urgent Care shattering window, driver charged
A car had to be removed from a WakeMed Urgent Care on Fayetteville Road.Chopper 11 showed the car being towed away and a glass window was completely broken.Garner police say the driver went off the road and went into an unoccupied classroom and only had minor injuries.The driver has now been charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision.Earlier in the day an SUV crashed into a bar in Smithfield.This happened at Plan B Bar on West Market Street.That driver was taken to a hospital.ALSO SEE | Pickup slams into Fayetteville home after driver loses control in curve
Driver injured after crashing SUV into Smithfield bar
A car crashed into a bar in Smithfield on Monday.This happened at Plan B Bar on West Market Street. Chopper 11 is over the scene, showing the damage on the side of the building.The driver was taken to a hospital. Investigators could not confirm the condition of the driver.There is no word of other injuries.
No emergency after Duke Energy nuclear plant sirens go off, Wake County officials say
Wake County reported emergency sirens went off at the Duke Energy Harris Nuclear Plant in southwest Raleigh Monday morning.There is no emergency, officials said, and the public needs no protective action.A Duke Energy spokesperson told ABC11 the plant is operating safely.According to the Chatham County Public Health Department's spokesperson, emergency management directors for the state, alongside Wake, Harnett, Lee, and Chatham counties, were notified about the siren alert. The system within the 10-mil emergency planning zone of Duke Energy's Shearon Harris Plant was activated at about 8 a.m.Sirens will be tested on Wednesday, as planned.Fisherman Steve Ellis, who was on the water nearby at the time of the sirens, said he got the alert on his phone. He never heard the actual alarms."I was gonna fish until it was over," he said. "I wasn't too worried 'cause you didn't see the flares."ABC11 is working to learn what triggered the alarm.
No emergency after Duke Energy nuclear plant sirens go off, Wake County officials say
Wake County reported emergency sirens went off at the Duke Energy Harris Nuclear Plant in southwest Raleigh Monday morning.There is no emergency, officials said, and the public needs no protective action.A Duke Energy spokesperson told ABC11 the plant is operating safely.According to the Chatham County Public Health Department's spokesperson, emergency management directors for the state, alongside Wake, Hartnett, Lee, and Chatham counties, were notified about the siren alert. The system within the 10-mil emergency planning zone of Duke Energy's Shearon Harris Plant was activated at about 8 a.m.Sirens will be tested on Wednesday, as planned.Fisherman Steve Ellis, who was on the water nearby at the time of the sirens, said he got the alert on his phone. He never heard the actual alarms."I was gonna fish until it was over," he said. "I wasn't too worried 'cause you didn't see the flares."ABC11 is working to learn what triggered the alarm.
Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Greensboro to campaign for Biden administration
Vice President Kamala Harris is coming to Greensboro this morning.This will be Harris' sixth trip to NC this year.She will be speaking at James B. Dudley High School.Other speaker include Governor Roy Cooper and Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan.The last time VP Harris was in Greensboro was in September.First lady Jill Biden made another campaign stop in the state with a visit to Wilmington on Monday.It all comes as the Biden campaign has gone all in on making a play for North Carolina in 2024 and the state may become even more important after a poor debate performance by the president against former president Donald Trump.
Recreational marijuana legal for tribal members in North Carolina
Recreational marijuana is now legal for Cherokee tribal members and other federally recognized tribe members in North Carolina.Sales began on July 4th at Great Smoky Cannabis Company within the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' land. This is located near Asheville.With about 14,000 members, the Eastern Band can pass rules permitting cannabis as a sovereign nation and federally recognized tribe.While many in the region say they support recreational sales, they worry people will buy it and take it outside tribal land. Marijuana remains illegal in the state.Republican U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd have raised concerns with federal and state...
Police chase starting in Fayetteville ends in crash; suspect arrested
A chase Sunday night between a pickup truck and deputies ended in a crash.It all started when the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office and Fayetteville police tried to stop a Dodge pickup, which was reported stolen, at 10:30 p.m. This happened in downtown Fayetteville on Grove Street and B Street, according to deputies.The pickup truck driver was later identified as Michael Brian Maness, 43 of Parkton.Maness led deputies through several city streets before getting onto I-95. The chase continued down NC Highway 24 into Sampson County.Investigators said Maness tried to make a U-turn, traveled off the road into a ditch and...
ABC11 Eyewitness News
19K+
Posts
440M+
Views
ABC11 Eyewitness News brings you breaking news, weather, exclusives and original programs from North Carolina.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.