Hoke County is under alert.

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

Did you win the Exxon gift card? Read on to find out!  I also listed a number of the frugal and fun vacation and staycation ideas you posted. 

And the winner of the $10 Exxon gas gift card is.....

Congratulations!  I will send you an e-mail in just a bit to get your mailing address.

Thanks to all who entered.  You offered a bunch of great ideas for frugal summer fun! 

<strong>Some of the great frugal vacation ideas you posted included:</strong>

Day trips to the NC Zoo in Asheboro, various NC beaches and aquariums, Mt Airy, Carolina Beach State Park

Staying with friends and family out of town

Using military and Veteran discounts (and thank you for your service!)

Camping at the beach and mountains, state parks, Hanging Rock State Park

Going to local free/close to free venues like parks, library, free bowling with passes, Lowes and Home Depot monthly events for kids, $1 and free movies, community pool, museums

Splitting cost of vacation home rentals with family and friends

Using Groupon and other deals sites for reduced cost vacations and activities

Raven Rock State Park in Lillington with picnic lunch

Falls of the Neuse State Park with picnic lunch

Using gift cards from sites like Swagbucks, ibotta, SavingStar, credit card rewards to pay for gas, hotels and restaurants

"Used the website airbnb.com to find a room for rent ($50/night) near Kill Devil Hills in late March. We then spent the weekend on the beach, at Jockey's Ridge State Park, the Wright Memorial, and Currituck Lighthouse."  -  Nanny113<br />

<h2>To Enter the Giveaway (this giveaway is now over - thanks to all who entered)</h2>

To enter the giveaway for a $10 Exxon Mobil gas gift card, fill out the short form below AND leave a comment in the Comments section sharing a frugal vacation or day trip you plan to take this summer or one you have taken in the past.

I will randomly pick the winner on Tuesday, June 3 at 11:00 am and will post the winning username on the blog soon after 11:00 am.

If the form below is not visible on your mobile device, you will need to enter from a computer.

Faye Prosser

Winner of the $10 Exxon gift card giveaway!

Exxon Gift Card 

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 full jury of 12 people and six alternates was seated Friday in Donald Trump’s hush money case, setting the stage for opening statements next week in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president.

Full jury of 12 people and 6 alternates is seated in Trump's hush money trial in New York

Trump_Hush_Money_52535

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

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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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

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

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 Streaming

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

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

Game 1 is Saturday night in Raleigh. Game 2 is Monday at PNC Arena.

Make your plans: Complete Hurricanes-Islanders first-round schedule

Capitals_Hurricanes_Hockey_58513

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.

A North Carolina softball family is honoring one of their own, focusing on suicide prevention

Helmet stickers honoring Aubrey Horne

Brandon Butterworth picked up his first hit of the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to beat No. 11 North Carolina.

Winner of the $10 Exxon gift card giveaway!

LuvinCam

To Enter the Giveaway (this giveaway is now over - thanks to all who entered)

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