Shortages of teachers, infrastructure and technology workers will hamper schools' ability to provide the best education, facilities and tools to children, Superintendent Robert Taylor said Thursday.

Higher employee pay will be key to running Wake schools smoothly, superintendent says

Wake County Public School System Superintendent Robert Taylor speaks to the League fo Women Voters of Wake County, April 18, 2024

More than 21% of North Carolina's four-year-olds enrolled in the state's pre-kindergarten programs during the 2022-2023 school year, up from the prior year but still below the state's pre-pandemic highs, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research.

North Carolina ranks 29th in public pre-K enrollment, new report shows

Durham County budget increases funding for pre-K students

Demand for gas is limited by higher prices, according to national survey. 

CAMARILLO, CALIF. — Those gas prices dipping below $3 at stations around the Triangle are no illusion. Prices are coming down just in time for the holidays.

The national average price for gasoline went down about 9 cents over the last three weeks, according to a survey released Sunday.

The average price of regular gasoline on Friday was $3 a gallon, mid-grade was $3.12, and premium was $3.24, oil industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said.

The nation's lowest price was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a gallon of regular cost $2.74 on average. The highest was in San Francisco at $3.42, according to the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 stations nationwide.

Gasoline price increases have been arrested by falling crude oil prices,&quot; survey editor Trilby Lundberg told Reuters.

&quot;On Dec. 7, the day we surveyed at the pumps, benchmark West Texas Intermediate closed at $88.28 a barrel. It had reached as high as $98.18 on Nov. 23.&quot;

Lundberg said that higher gasoline prices halted growth in gasoline demand, Reuters added.

&quot;And there is no shortage of either crude oil or gasoline,&quot; Lundberg explained to Reuters. &quot;OPEC's 'no change' stance at its latest meeting had very little effect.&quot;

Christmas Present for Drivers - Gas Price Down 9 Cents in Last 3 Weeks

gas prices 

The Storm Prediction Center has the Triangle under a Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday. Over the weekend, the Triangle will feel a cooldown due to an incoming cold front.

Level 1 risk brings possibility of severe storms ⛈️; cooldown coming this weekend

Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday 

One man was rescued and another died Friday at Harris Lake after a boat crashed into a cement pole, officials say.



Boater killed, another rescued from Harris Lake after boat crashes into cement pole

Person pulled from water at Harris Lake, search continues for other boaters

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York appeals court judge on Friday rejected a last-minute bid by Donald Trump to halt his hush money criminal trial over defense complaints that jury selection was unfairly rushed.

Appeals court judge rejects last-minute bid to halt Donald Trump's hush money trial

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The owner of Clyde Cooper's Barbecue is selling the space in downtown Raleigh, according to a real estate agent representing the restaurant.

Clyde Cooper's Barbecue selling downtown Raleigh space for $2.9 million

Clyde Cooper's Barbeque

A recent candidate for the Robeson County Board of Commissioners alleges that a sitting commissioner bought votes for an opponent. Lacy Cummings, who lost the election, made the allegations in Wake County court this week. 

Robeson County candidate alleges vote-buying scheme by commissioner

Voting in Raleigh

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

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

Gov. Roy Cooper joins United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to make a clean energy announcement.

Gov. Cooper makes clean energy announcement

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

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Videos

Mark Mitchell announced he has committed to the University of Missouri in a post to his Instagram post.

Former Duke forward Mark Mitchell commits to Missouri

uvaduke23

The Carolina Hurricanes are no stranger to playoff hockey. They're in the postseason for the sixth-straight season and are regarded as a Stanley Cup contender.

Chaotic Canes hope late-season surge continues into playoffs

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The No. 15 Tar Heels have now beat No. 25 Duke in 15 consecutive games. Both teams now prepare for the ACC championship next week.

Women's Lacrosse: North Carolina pulls away in the third quarter, beats Duke

Duke vs. UNC women's lacrosse

The U.S. Marine Corps said a Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit was killed during a training exercise in Carteret County.

Marine dies during training exercise in eastern NC

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