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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear on North Carolina ballots in November
The North Carolina State Board of Elections decided Tuesday to recognize We The People Party on November's ballot but voted against Justice For All Party.There was a 4 to 1 vote in favor of We the People led by Robert F Kennedy Jr., whereas the board voted 4 to 1 against Justice For All led by Cornel West.This decision comes after the Board of Elections agreed to allow the conservative Constitution Party on the ballot last week.Last month, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee launched a probe into the Board of Elections. This followed the board's Democratic majority initially voted...
Wake County property tax bills are out amid continued growth
If you live in Wake County, you might be one of the 53% who saw an increase in your property values when they came out in January.Despite Wake County lowering the tax rate, many with increased valuations will still pay more in property taxes for 2024.You can now check and see exactly how much your bill has changed by clicking here.Some of the areas that are seeing the biggest increase are in fast-growing parts of Wake County such as Wendell and Knightdale."Towns like Wendell specifically are growing at a crazy rate. So, that has to come with the appropriate infrastructure...
Triangle delegates react to Vance VP pick, Robinson speech
ABC11 heard for the first time from local Republican delegates in Milwaukee this week about former President Donald Trump's announcement Monday that J.D. Vance will be his pick for vice president -- and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's appearance and speech at the Republican National Convention.On Monday, Triangle delegates described the mood in Milwaukee as re-energized."After the incident on Saturday, I think we're even stronger and more solidified toward making sure that we get a victory in November," said Alan Swain, a Raleigh resident and candidate for US Congress.Swain said he believes Trump's tabbing of Vance, a senator from Ohio, as...
Vice President Kamala Harris touts economy, women's rights, military support while in NC
As more high-ranking Democrats entertain the idea of Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris gave a rousing speech during a return trip to North Carolina."Do we believe in freedom? Do we believe in opportunity? Do we believe in the promise of America? And are we ready to fight for it?" Harris said to an enthusiastic crowd inside the gymnasium at Westover High School in Fayetteville.The Vice President made the case that Biden and herself get another four years in the White House. She touted the record of the Biden administration on the economy, protecting...
NC farmer losing crop because of unsafe levels of chemicals in water
The drinking water for more than 2.5 million North Carolinians is affected by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) -- commonly known as forever chemicals.Those chemicals have been linked to health problems -- including an increased risk of cancer.More of their effect is being seen in North Carolina.A farmer in New Hanover County said his produce has been left to rot after his water source was linked to PFAS.The area is one of 47 drinking-water systems with concerning levels of PFAS.The source of the contamination can be traced to the chemical company Chemours."We had contamination, total PFAS level is between 50...
Driver challenges the $9,000 increase in property tax value on car and wins in Durham Co.
New details in a Troubleshooter investigation into the drastic increase in the property tax value on a Durham woman's car. Instead of just paying the higher rate, she took her fight to the county.Shirley Davis got to plead her case to the Durham County Board of Equalization and Review. She's fighting her 2024 tax bill for her 2018 Honda.She questioned, "How could it jump up $9,000 within one year?"In 2023, the tax value on Davis's car was $8,000, in 2024 it's now more than $17,000. Davis appealed to Durham County Tax Administration, which lowered her property tax value to...
Train ridership on the rise in North Carolina
Train ridership is on the rise in North Carolina.The additional routes added to NC by Train rail service have attracted new passengers.Rail service is up 20% for the first half of this year with more than 342,000 thousand customers."Demand for North Carolina's train routes continues to boom as people look for fast, affordable ways to travel our beautiful state," said Gov. Roy Cooper. "Every month this year has set records and made clear that by continuing to invest in passenger rail we can unlock new markets and strengthen communities across our state."Officials said each month this year has been a record-breaking month.Part of the success has been attributed to the addition of a fifth round-trip train frequency between Raleigh and Charlotte in July 2023 as well as recent special event trains providing service to new locations.For example, the Open Express ran from Raleigh to the 2024 U.S. Open in Pinehurst. The trains ran for four days between June 13-16 and took more than 2,500 golf fans to the event.Find out more about NC By Train here.
Changes coming to security at North Carolina campaign rallies: 'Heighten level of preparedness'
State law enforcement agencies are on high alert following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. With North Carolina being a swing state, heightened security measures will be in place for future political visits.Those security measures are not a concern for Richard Barber."It's terrible, but I don't think it will deter anyone from going to rallies," Barber said. "Seems like it's a tragedy to bring everybody together, sad to say."Kelvin Allen is a President Biden supporter. He is worried that undecided voters will now have more empathy for President Trump at the ballot box. He plans to continue attending...
Franklin County man wins $1 million on lottery second-chance drawing
How's this for a deal? You get a check for $35,000 every year for the next 20 years.That's the case for a Franklin County man after fortune smiled on him in a North Carolina lottery drawing.Chris Franks, of Youngsville, won the $10 million Spectacular Second Chance drawing on July 3.Franks had the option of taking a lump sum of $600,000 or receiving $50,000 for the next 20 years.He chose the yearly payments, which after federal and state tax withholdings, left $35,753.He took home his first payment earlier this month.Franks beat more than 1.9 million entries.Players get a second chance with their $10 Million Spectacular tickets by scanning the tickets into their lottery accounts where they are automatically entered into the drawing. Franks won the prize in the second of four $10 Million Spectacular Second Chance drawings. The next drawing is March 5.
NC delegate impressed by security at Republican National Convention: 'It's all locked down'
A North Carolina GOP leader said about 300 people from the state went to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention; 50 people from Wake County alone.Delegate Donna Williams and her guest told ABC11 that security was extremely tight at the convention. The convention started just days after the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump."It's all locked down," Williams said."Police are everywhere," said Western Wake Republican Club President Sandy Fortenberry. "Security is very good around here."SEE ALSO | 'Loner' and 'nice': Complex portrait of gunman in Trump assassination attempt emergesThe Secret Service coordinator for the RNC said the agency made...
2024 MLB Draft: UNC's Vance Honeycutt selected by Orioles in first round
UNC-Chapel Hill junior Vance Honeycutt was picked 22nd overall Sunday by the Baltimore Orioles in the first round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft.In 2024, the Salisbury native helped lead UNC to the College World Series for the first time since 2018.Here are some of this season's stats: Finished the season with a career-best .318 batting average, 70 RBIsPosted third-highest single-season slugging percentage .714 in UNC program history Tied for the ACC lead in home runs with a program record of 28, led the league in runs (88)Named First Team All-America in 2024 by four organizations Named to the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove TeamBecame first 60-70 Power 5 conference player in NCAA history (65 home runs, 76 stolen bases)The MBL draft continues Monday and ends Tuesday.Other UNC first-round picks:2020: Aaron Sabato, #27 (Minnesota Twins)2019: Michael Busch, #31 (Los Angeles Dodgers)2017: J.B. Bukauskas, #15 (Houston Astros); Logan Warmoth, #22 (Toronto Blue Jays); Brian Miller, #36 (Miami Marlins)2013: Colin Moran, #6 (Miami Marlins)2011: Levi Michael, #30 (Minnesota Twins)2010: Matt Harvey, #7 (New York Mets)2009: Dustin Ackley, #2 (Seattle Mariners); Alex White, #15 (Cleveland Indians)
Town of Clayton hires new Fire Marshal
The Town of Clayton announced Monday it had hired Michael Tatum as its new Fire Marshal.Tatum has more than 14 years of experience in the field. He most recently served as an assistant fire marshal in Cary.The Town of Clayton said its hiring process included 18 candidates from across the country."Michael excelled in every aspect, demonstrating remarkable technical expertise, forward-thinking, and exceptional interpersonal skills," Fire Chief David Ranes said. "We are confident that Michael will be a valuable asset to our team and the Clayton community."The position opened up June 1 when Tony Atkinson retired. He was the first full-time hire for Clayton Fire Department back in 1994.As for Tatum, he is scheduled to begin his new job on July 22."I am deeply honored to join the Clayton Fire Department as the new Fire Marshal," Tatum said. "I look forward to building upon the strong foundation laid by Tony Atkinson and working with the dedicated team here to ensure the safety and well-being of our community. Together, we will continue to uphold the highest standards of fire safety and emergency response."
NC Democratic Party office vandalized after Trump assassination attempt, officials say
A North Carolina Democratic Party office in Carteret County was vandalized Saturday night.Officials said someone threw rocks and a concrete planter through the window of the office in downtown Morehead City.This comes after the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania Saturday. It left one spectator and the suspected gunman dead.One of the bullets struck Trump's right ear, and the Secret Service agent escorted him off the stage.It is unclear if the vandalism is related to the assassination attempt.Police are investigating.SEE ALSO | North Carolina GOP leaders, political scholars weigh in on impacts of assassination attempt"This is one of those moments - we still don't know what the reverberations are gonna be - but that will absolutely go down in history as a key moment in American politics."
Wake County cooling centers reopen amid heat advisory across central NC
With another day of dangerous heat, Wake County is reopening its cooling centers.A heat advisory is in effect Monday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The feels-like temperatures are expected to reach 104 to 111 degrees.Here's a list of places to take a break from the soaring temperatures:Wake County Public Libraries locations, calling ahead or checking online to see their hours is recommendedRaleigh: Wake County Health & Human Services, 220 Swinburne St.Raleigh: Wake County Health & Human Services Center at Departure, 5809 Departure DriveZebulon: Eastern Regional Center, 1002 Dogwood DriveWake Forest: Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave.Fuquay-Varina: Southern Regional...
Triangle law enforcement react to former President Trump attempted assassination
The day after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, the law enforcement community in the Triangle began to react to the Secret Service security response.The attempt wounded Trump, another bystander, and left another man dead. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot and killed by Secret Service counter snipers."It's a very stressful thing," said law enforcement expert Dr. Roy Taylor. "That's why normally (big events) have a year planning cycle. But being this is a campaign season, the Secret Service doesn't get a lot of time. They may have a week or two notice that they're going...
North Carolina GOP leaders, political scholars weigh in on impacts of assassination attempt
As the shockwaves of Sunday's assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump reverberate around the country -- and North Carolina -- local Republican Party leaders and political scholars are weighing in on how it may impact the 2024 Elections."I think he's going to use this for his benefit. Will Republicans take advantage of that? That's the big question I think," said Steve Bergstrom, former Chair of the Wake County GOP.Bergstrom said he believes Trump's supporters will be galvanized by the images that circulated in the wake of the attempted assassination, and that both Trump's response -- and the response of...
People in Raleigh react to attempted assassination of Former President Donald Trump
As people in the Capital City went about their Sundays, the weight of Saturday's attack on former President Donald Trump loomed heavily.Most people ABC11 asked to give comments on camera weren't comfortable doing so amid heightened political division. Those who were comfortable speaking all agreed on one thing - they hope this is a unifying moment for our country."Pretty shocked, it's very tough to see on live television. What went on -- it's very disturbing," one person told ABC11."I just hope that the president can recover, and hopefully this will bring about some change, especially in the US," another said."I...
Mother arrested after leaving 9-month-old, 3-year-old unattended to take boyfriend to work; police
A mother was arrested after police said she left her two small children unattended at her Roanoke Rapids home.According to the Roanoke Rapids Police Department, an officer responded to a report of a 3-year-old who was walking through the parking lot of a residential complex on East Littleton Road at around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. When the officer arrived they found that the child was left unattended from a neighboring residence.Police said the mother, 22-year-old Jessenia Grace Brown of Roanoke Rapids, said she had left the child to take her boyfriend to work near Halifax, and thought she had locked the door. The officer then went to Brown's home where police said a 9-month-old was found alone in a crib in a back bedroom.ALSO SEE: Habitat's latest home welcomes a striving Durham mother and her sonBrown was taken into custody and is being charged with two counts of child abuse. She is being held in the Halifax County Detention Center without bond due to the Pretrial Integrity Act of 2023.Police said Halifax DSS took custody of both of the children who were placed in a safe environment.
Dangerously hot weather continues, storms possible: First Alert Day
The heat wave continues as it prompts another heat advisory on Tuesday.It is in effect from noon to 8 p.m. in several areas across central North Carolina. The highs will be in the mid-90s to around 100, and there is a storm risk in the afternoon.Record Heat in Raleigh Monday, Raleigh experienced its hottest July 15 on record.Download the ABC11 App and get weather updates and breaking news 24/7The previous high of 99 degrees was set back in 1997. The temperature at Raleigh-Durham International Airport reached triple digits Monday afternoon. This comes 10 days after Raleigh experienced its hottest day...
Former counterintelligence coordinator for political events breaks down security details
ABC11 Eyewitness News spoke to a law enforcement expert about the Trump rally incident.Former President Donald Trump says he was shot in the ear after a gunman opened fire towards the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday -- a harrowing incident that left one spectator dead, two others critically injured and sparked chaos at the event.Roy Taylor has decades of experience in law enforcement, military and coordinating counterintelligence for political events like presidential inauguration.He says the Secret Service scopes out and creates a security plan in advance for each event. ABC News said the shooter was outside...
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