Friday is now a WRAL Weather Alert Day. Parts of Hoke, Cumberland and Sampson counties are under a level 2 risk for storms Friday afternoon and evening. The biggest threat will be damaging winds and heavy rain, but an isolated tornado can’t be ruled out in our southern counties. The storms are expected to impact these areas from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

🚨WRAL Weather Alert Day🚨 Risk upgraded to Level 2 for southern counties, damaging winds & isolated tornadoes possible Friday

Officials are encouraging residents to take steps to prepare for extreme weather ahead of hurricane season. New data shows flood and wind risk is changing in the state.

Inland homes at risk for high winds, flooding during hurricane season. Here's what you can do now.

Holly Springs shed damage

More than a dozen former employees say understaffing at Brynn Marr Hospital contributes to what they describe as a dangerous place for patients and employees. Hospital officials say allegations of violence, sexual assaults, overmedication and lack of mental health therapy are unfounded.

Former employees say short-staffed NC psych hospital rife with violence, abuse

Brynn Marr Hospital

A military judge granted part of a defense request in the case of a Fort Bragg soldier charged in a 1985 triple slaying.

<b>FORT BRAGG, N.C.</b> — A military judge granted part of a defense request in the case of a Fort Bragg soldier charged in a 1985 triple slaying.

Master Sgt. Timothy B. Hennis, 51, is charged with three counts of premeditated murder in the deaths of Kathryn Eastburn, 31, and her daughters, 3-year-old Erin and 5-year-old Kara.

His attorneys asked Col. Patrick Parrish Wednesday for more money to pay experts for consultation on the case. Parrish awarded the defense about three-quarters of the $9,500 requested. It will fund 10 additional hours of consultation with one expert and 25 hours with another.<br />

Hennis, who was stationed at Fort Bragg at the time of the murders, was convicted in state court and sentenced to die in 1986. The North Carolina Supreme Court granted him a retrial after hearing arguments that prosecutors had overused graphic crime scene photos to inflame the jury in his original trial. A second jury acquitted him in 1989.

Hennis retired from the Army in 2004 but was ordered back to active so he could be tried in military court after an investigator with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office uncovered new DNA evidence.

Hennis gets more funds for defense

Kathryn Eastburn and daughters

Friday is now a WRAL Weather Alert Day, with an upgraded risk for severe storms in our southern counties.


🚨WRAL Weather Alert Day🚨 Risk upgraded to Level 2 for southern counties, damaging winds & isolated tornadoes possible

Severe risk for Friday 

Around 5 a.m., WRAL's Kelsey Coffey heard police say, "Come out and put your hands up." Coffey heard about 10 popping sounds. 

Man hurt in shooting at north Raleigh apartment complex, police heard telling someone to come out with hands up

One man hurt in north Raleigh shooting, police remain on scene

Durham police said the shooting happened at The Village at Auburn Apartments on Woodcroft Parkway.

8 shot in 3 days in Durham: Two shot at Durham apartment complex, 4th shooting this week

Woman, man shot at Durham apartment complex

The Carolina Hurricanes try to turn the tides against the New York Rangers in Game 3 at PNC Arena. The Canes are down 2-0 to the Rangers.

Hurricanes fall in overtime to the Rangers, trail 3-0 in the series

Hurricanes_Rangers_Hockey_22564

The state has a budget surplus of more than $1 billion for the fiscal year that begins on July 1.

Top North Carolina lawmaker considering sending money back to taxpayers

NC Senate leader Phil Berger weighs in on inflation's role in budget proposal

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Get the latest WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast whenever you need it, including the DUALDoppler5000 and the 7-Day Forecast.

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Nightly N.C. Education Lottery drawings during the 11 p.m. News.

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are held at 3 p.m. daily. They can be seen as live or on-demand video.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

Carolina Hurricanes players and Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour talk about Game 3 on Thursday night against the New York Rangers. 

Canes players, coach talk about Game 3 against New York Rangers

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Dozens of people showed up on Douglas Street in Wilson on Thursday morning for a groundbreaking ceremony for the Carolina Mudcats' new Wilson stadium.

Wilson breaks ground on new Mudcats baseball stadium

The Charlotte Hornets have named Charles Lee as their next head coach. The 39-year-old Lee joins the Hornets after serving as the Boston Celtics top assistant coach.

Charlotte Hornets hire Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee to be their next head coach

Hornets Coach Basketball

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- The New York Rangers erased an early deficit to take momentum, only to squander their own lead late with a huge postseason road victory only minutes away.

Hennis gets more funds for defense

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Military court holds hearing in 1985 slayings

Army holds hearing for soldier charged in 1985 murders

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