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In Apex and Cary, thousands gather for Fourth of July festivities: 'Just great to see'
Fourth of July festivities were held all across the region Thursday, including in Apex and Cary.Apex held its Olde Fashioned Fourth of July and Cary held an event at the Koka Booth Amphitheater.Many came to the free events, bringing chairs and coolers to hear music and be entertained.Children decked out their bicycles and scooters in red, white and blue."It's just such a good feeling, being around everyone. Everyone's having a good time, and the kids love it," Danika Santiago said in Apex.ALSO SEE | EnoFest attendees, vendors enjoy event despite triple-digits feels-like temperaturesFirefighters broke out the fire hoses and started misting the crowd to provide relief from the sizzling heat.Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert said about 10,000 people came together on Salem Street."If you can look around and see the excitement on the faces of kids and adults and everyone is just here together, enjoying the moment, celebrating the birthday of America," Gilbert said. "And it's just great to see as a mayor."Back in Cary, an ice-cream-eating contest was held, and the North Carolina Symphony played leading up to the fireworks show.ALSO SEE | Raleigh 4th of July Fireworks at Dix Park: What to know and how to watch
25 people across Triangle became U.S. citizens, voting top of mind: 'Make my voice heard'
Vishesh Nayyar was born and raised in India, but he celebrated Independence Day by becoming a U.S. citizen. He has called this country home for 21 years and is most excited about being able to vote."I'd like to be able to vote and make my voice be heard," said Nayyar. "Your vote and the leadership you put in place has an impact on society and therefore, eventually your family."This presidential election will be special because he and his wife Maya Nayyar will head to the polls together."He follows politics closely. It will be really special to participate in that...
EnoFest attendees, vendors enjoy event despite triple-digits feels-like temperatures
From the pounding of the drums to the grace of melodic dancing, the processional Thursday afternoon through EnoFest represented all the beloved gathering has to offer."We come every year for the July 4th celebration, and we really enjoy it," said Janna Joyner.The Eno River Association has presented the Festival of the Eno since 1980, drawing in large crowds from across the area."It's a very calm atmosphere. I'm a therapist, so I greatly value opportunities where I can actually be calm as well. My daughter loves to come out here and listen to the music and watch the dancers and likes...
1 shot, 1 in custody following shooting in East Raleigh
One man was shot and another taken into custody at a mobile home park in Raleigh.The shooting happened jut before 1 p.m. on July 4th on Bodie Island Lane near the Neuse River in East Raleigh.Police have not identified either of the men involved in this case or released any details about why the shooting happened.Hours after the shooting another call brought police back to the same area. This happened because a fist fight broke out among two people.Raleigh Police Department hasn't released any details about that altercation either.
Searches underway for missing swimmers at NC beaches
A search for a missing swimmer is underway at Kure Beach.An eyewitness shared video with ABC11 as the search took place on the North Carolina coast.The video showed a Coast Guard vessel on the water.Lifeguards cleared the ocean during that search for a 22-year-old man who disappeared about noon Thursday. He disappeared near the 100 Block of Atlantic Ave, close to the Kure Beach Pier, WWAY reported.Carolina Beach Police, the Coast Guard and other agencies were helping with the search, which continued into the evening.ABC11 has also learned that a water rescue was happening at North Topsail Beach, where crews...
Record-tying heat on July 4th ends with rain dampening Raleigh fireworks fun
Raleigh 4th of July Fireworks returned to Dix Park for a third consecutive year and had quite a bit of weather to contend with.The gates opened on time after heat in the afternoon tied the record for hottest July 4 ever recorded. Temperatures reached 101 degrees, which tied the record set in 2012.Highs just in from @NWS and we've tied the record for the hottest July 4th from 2012. #yuck #ncwx pic.twitter.com/KIDXIcg94Kβ πΏπ€π£β‘ππππ¬ππ£π£ππ ππ§ (@BigweatherABC11) July 4, 2024 But the weather was not finished acting up.Shortly after 9 p.m., a rain storm pushed through downtown Raleigh. The rain caused a bit of...
From hurricanes to extreme heat, weather a theme ahead of July 4th
Extreme weather conditions are affecting everyone. From Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean to triple-digit 'feels-like' temperatures here at home.Hurricane Beryl hit Jamaica on Wednesday afternoon as a Category 4 hurricane. At last report, the death toll is at least six in the CaribbeanWhile they experience the storm, EMS staffers are preparing for the effects of intense heat during Thursday's Fourth of July celebration at Dix Park.Sophia Cranston is an English teacher in central North Carolina but her roots are deep in Jamaica."We are a small country but we are resilient people," Cranston said.Her loved ones back home are in...
In Garner, residents express hope amid political divide on eve of July 4: 'No negativity today'
As hundreds flocked to Garner's Lake Benson Park on Wednesday to celebrate Independence Day one night early, everyone who spoke with ABC11 expressed a level of hope and optimism for the country's future.Amid heightening political division and concerns raised following last week's Presidential Debate, seen by most as a debacle for President Joe Biden, people in Garner took the opportunity to come together Wednesday and celebrate America's birthday, putting any political tension on hold for the night.As children played football and families laid out blankets to watch the fireworks, there was no evidence of division."At the end of the day,...
Possible murder mystery surrounds North Carolina town's founder: 'The Cary you didn't know'
It's one of the fastest-growing cities in the Triangle and the country, but Cary started as a small community with a strict founder.Cary isn't actually named after its founder Frank Page, who was a stern, religious family man who hated drinking hated gambling - He named Cary after a prominent temperance advocate, Samuel Fenton Cary because he wanted Cary to be a dry town when it was founded in 1871.That didn't happen, and as it turns out, the straight-laced founder of the town may have had more to his story, and one local historian says she was shocked by what...
1 year later, Akilah Davis' loc journey still inspires many on Crown Act Day: 'You embraced it'
As the movement to stop hair discrimination in the workplace known as National Crown Act Day continues, there are still many women who feel they can't show up as their authentic selves.That was once true for ABC11 Race and Culture Reporter Akilah Davis. She declared hair freedom day on Juneteenth of last year after being emotionally exhausted covering up her hair, but one year later she continues to inspire others."For years, the beauty standard has been that the straight hair is beautiful," said Toria Council. "Seeing your story inspired me to keep going with my journey when I had self-doubt."Council,...
An inside look at the explosive growth near Dix Park in the heart of downtown Raleigh
Hundreds of millions of dollars in new homes, and new retail stores -- essentially a brand-new neighborhood - are rising right next door to Raleigh's destination park.ABC11 got an inside look at the new boomtown south of the city's center.A big part of what's next and new south of downtown Raleigh is going up steps away from Dix Park."It fits what I call the center of what's next for Raleigh," said Stacey Buescher, Kane Realty's Managing Operations Director.Buescher led our tour through the Raleigh real estate giant's massive new investment that's soon to become the city's new southern gateway, complete...
Court records reveal new details about suspect killed in shootout with Fayetteville police officers
ABC11 has learned new details about the murder suspect killed in the hours-long standoff Tuesday at the Kings Cross Apartments in Fayetteville.On Wednesday, Fayetteville Police identified the man killed in that shootout as 33-year-old Shakoor Williams, who was wanted in connection with the Mother's Day murder of Willie Russell.ABC11 has been covering the Russell murder case since June after 30-year-old Markeith Rushing was arrested on first-degree murder charges in the killing. At the time, police said they were searching for a second suspect in that shooting.Also Wednesday, ABC11 spoke with Russell's younger brother, Nick -- who said in June that...
DNA test helps father and daughter unite after 64 years from thousands of miles away
'Never give up' is the message one North Carolina family is sharing after a DNA kit united a father and daughter 64 years later and a continent apart.New Bern resident David Jones told ABC11 affiliate WCTI he never knew he had a daughter. He said he raised two sons and recently learned about Jennette, who lives in Germany."I was really surprised," said Jones.He was stationed in Germany as a medical paratrooper during the late 1950s and said he spent the night with a woman in the Frankfurt area, and that was that. Unknown to him, that encounter, produced a child--...
'Cybersecurity incident' in Apex was attempted ransomware, Town says
A cybersecurity incident was blamed for knocking out some town systems in Apex.On Thursday, the Town of Apex said the incident, which was first detected Tuesday, was confirmed as an attempted ransomware act.The city specifically cited utility billing and building permits as services that were taken offline for the time being.On Tuesday morning Apex's IT department spotted problems pointing to what the city is calling a "cybersecurity incident." The town launched an investigation, reaching out to the North Carolina Joint Cybersecurity Task Force and federal law enforcement agencies.Apex wrote on its website that emergency plans in place allowed the town...
No, it wasn't a comet, it was SpaceX's Falcon 9 flying through the Triangle
A rocket that launched in Florida early Wednesday morning was seen in the sky over North Carolina.ABC11 viewers from around the Triangle shared videos they captured of the rocket streaking across the sky. Many of you asked-what was that?SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was seen in North Carolina after its early morning launch at Cape Canaveral.What was that?It was not a comet but a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.The liftoff happened at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station around 4:55 a.m. on Wednesday, July 3, according to SpaceX.The rocket was carrying 20 Starlink satellites, which include 13 with direct cell capabilities. These satellites act as cellphone towers in space, eliminating dead zones without phone modifications or special apps, the company said.Click on Space X to watch the launchThis marks the 67th Falcon 9 mission of 2024 already.Thank you for sharing your videos and photos with ABC11!WATCH | Mysterious objects found in North Carolina mountains were part of SpaceX spacecraftThe two mysterious objects were found 40 miles apart in the North Carolina mountains in late May.
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