We’re also looking into a gas leak in Durham, a downtown Raleigh institution being one of several businesses closing, and two shootings in one week near the American Tobacco Campus. Watch WRAL-TV at 7 and search for these and other stories on WRAL.com.

On WRAL at 7: Strong winds, heavy rain, and hail possible ⛈️ We’re timing out when the biggest storm threats could fire up

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

Consumer Reports surveyed more than 2,000 members who shared their experiences with pet insurance.

Is pet insurance worth the bark? Survey reveals middling results

Pet insurance

Here are the top drug store deals forth e week. You'll find FREE Zyrtec at all 3 stores as well as very good buys on  Xtra laundry detergent, Oral-B toothbrushes, Pepsi and more!

This weekend has been quite busy with the Southern Women’s Show so the drug store deals list is going to be abbreviated. These are the top deals for the week. You can find a longer more detailed list of the deals at CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid from Erika at iheartcvs.com.

Please share any other good deals you find at the drug stores this week.

Hershey’s or Mars chocolate bars, .99 - .99 coupon from in-store coupon kiosk = FREE!

Zyrtec, 5 count, $6 - $6 coupon from 4/28 SS = FREE!

Oral-B Cross-Action or Pulsar toothbrushes

Coupon: $3/1 coupon from 3/31 PG (expires 4/30)

Total after both the coupon and the reward = FREE!

Dawn, 9 oz, .99 - .25 and .50 coupons from 3/31 PG (expires 4/30) = .49 and up

CVS diapers, training pants, jumbo pack, $4.99 - $1 Extrabucks reward = $4.99

Walgreens top deals 4/28

Balance Rewards deal valid Sunday and Monday only: 50 Balance Reward points per $1 spent on purchases of $25 or more. See ad for more details.

Colgate Max White or Fresh toothbrush, Colgate Total Advanced, Kids, Max Clean, Fresh or White toothpaste

Coupon: $1 coupon for Total Advanced toothpaste from 4/14 SS, .50 coupons from 4/28 SS

Scope, 25 – 33 oz, $2.99 - $1 Register Rewards AND $1 coupon from 4/28 PG = .99

Speed Stick or Lady Speed Stick, 2 for $4 – BOGO coupon from 4/28 D SS - $1 each

Xtra laundry detergent, 30 loads, 2 for $3 – very good deal

Prescription transfer coupon in ad: Get a $25 +UP reward when you transfer a prescription to Rite Aid.

Coupon: $1 coupon from www.cleareyes.com AND use the $1 Video Values store coupon from riteaid.com

Total after both coupons and reward = FREE!

Mars or Hershey’s candy bars, single, .69 - $1 coupon when you buy both Hershey’s Air Delight and Milk chocolate bars = .19 each

Xtra laundry detergent, 2 for $6 - $2 reward when you buy 2 = $2 each

Drug store deals 4/28

More than 4,300 North Carolinians died from overdoses in 2022. That trend continues going up, devastating entire communities.

2022 data: 12 people a day died from drug overdoses in North Carolina 

Woman shows faces of those who died from overdoses in NC

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

The Durham Fire Department responded to a gas leak involving a propane tank Thursday afternoon.

Gas leak prompts evacuations in Durham on Angier Avenue 

Domestic violence cases have spiked since the COVID-19 pandemic, with 17 homicides related to domestic violence already reported in North Carolina this year. In 2022, 72 homicides were connected to domestic violence in the state.

Mom of 3 shot in Harnett County as NC's domestic violence deaths rise

Heather Pritt

The Storm Prediction Center has our southern counties under a Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday.

Level 1 severe threat: Strong winds and hail possible Friday 

Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday 

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

After 22 years in business, Armadillo Grill on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh has closed.



Glenwood South staple Armadillo Grill closes

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

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Videos

NCAA athletes will be immediately eligible to play no matter how many times they transfer -- as long as they meet academic requirements -- after the association fast-tracked legislation Wednesday to fall in line with a recent court order.

NCAA allows transfers to be immediately eligible, no matter how many times they've switched schools

Transfer_Rule_Lawsuit_40318

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler is running on fumes after an exhausting Masters victory just four days ago. He hit a shank from a bunker. He nearly lost his mind from mud on his golf ball. And he still managed a 2-under 69 at the RBC Heritage on Thursday.

Scheffler wiped out from Masters and opens with a 69 at Hilton Head. He trails Poston by 6 shots

RBC_Heritage_Golf_93540

If the Panthers want to start winning again, they're going to need a good -- maybe even great -- draft class. Here's an in-depth look on who Carolina should be targeting and when.

Gerber: The perfect Panthers NFL Draft gameplan

Panthers introduce rookie QB Bryce Young

Over the course of her career, Ashley Twichell has pushed through situations that might have otherwise been the end of it, including a recurring shoulder injury and the COVID pandemic.

Triangle-based Olympic swimmer finds new balance while embarking on motherhood journey

Ashley Twichell

After the death of a Harnett County teenager, the softball community in Eastern North Carolina remembers her through stickers and fighting the stigma around mental health.