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

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

It's that time of year when your child will be taking end-of-grade tests or EOGs. What are EOGs and how can you help them be better prepared?

End-of-grade tests: Everything you need to know about these annual exams

Student testing 

I am beginning to think that Rhode Island does not exist.  I know it is said to be a tiny state in New England.  Providence was a thriving metropolitan center.

However, we have heard from all of the United States this week in our Carolina Conversations contest except for Rhode Island.

Please, if you know of someone in Rhode Island and especially someone who has visited or lived in NC, please have them make a post on this blog or send me an email at bleslie@wral.com

Just a line or two will do.  You know, their impressions of North Carolina.

Today we heard from Montana, both Dakotas and beautiful Idaho but still not a peep from the Ocean State.

Please Rhode Island.  Makes our lives complete by knowledging that you do actually exist!

Rhode Island - Do You Really Exist?

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 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

JT International -- which makes and sells Winston, Camel and other cigarette brands -- plans to move its U.S. offices from New Jersey, bringing more than 100 jobs to Raleigh's North Hills area. 


Cigarette-maker moving U.S. headquarters to Raleigh 

One North Hills Tower 

WRAL-TV News Broadcasts: Watch each newscast live or watch the most recent newscast on demand.

WRAL Late News 

WRAL Noon News

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

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

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

Videos

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

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

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.

Artemi Panarin scores in overtime, Rangers beat Hurricanes 3-2 to take 3-0 series lead

Rangers_Hurricanes_Hockey_22876

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

At 1:18 a.m., police responded to a report of shots fired in the Sheetz parking lot on Cabela Drive. An officer confirmed that a car was hit by gunfire.