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

Compared to pre-pandemic prices, ground beef is up 35%, chips are up 45%, bread is up 57% and a 12-ounce can of soda is up 66%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tracks trends on common grocery store items.

WRAL Investigates: 'Greedflation' and other drivers behind inflation at the grocery store

A look at inflation at the grocery store

The Great Grapes Wine Arts and Food Festival is April 20 at Koka Booth Amphitheatre.

Tickets for the <a href="http://www.uncorkthefun.com/cary-north-carolina/site-info" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10th annual Great Grapes Wine, Arts and Food Festival</a> go on sale Friday.

The event, planned April 20 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at <a href="https://www.wral.com/Cary/Music/Attractions/Koka-Booth-Amphitheatre/4872689/">Koka Booth Amphitheatre,</a> will feature hundreds of wines for sampling, live music, crafts and a children's activity area. Chefs will also be giving hands-on food and wine pairings.

Bring a blanket and lawn chairs and enjoy the day. It will be April so the weather will hopefully be beautiful! 

"Grape Expectations" examines the economic success story that is the North Carolina wine industry. Meet the pioneers of the industry, learn how the industry is generating revenue, examine the sustainability of the industry's growth and explore the wide variety of wineries and vineyards that span our state from the mountains to the coast.

Grape Expectations

New this year, there will be VIP admission tickets for $35 in advance or $40 day of the show. The ticket will get you a souvenir wine glass and express access to specialty pavilions and tastings (pavilions to include cheese, salt and spice, grilling, wine aroma and olive oil), unlimited samples, all performances and cooking demonstrations.

Regular adult admission tickets, which are $25 in advance and $30 day of, also include a souvenir wine glass and unlimited samples, but not express access to the specialty pavilions.  

Designated driver tickets, which only include admission to the event, are $20 in advance and the day of the show. Children 12 and under get in for free. 

Tickets go on sale at noon on Friday and can be purchased at the Booth Amphitheatre box office, through <a href="http://www.uncorkthefun.com/cary-north-carolina/site-info" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Etix</a> or by phone at 800-514-3849.

Booth box office hours are Tuesday- Friday noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Great Grapes tickets on sale Friday

wine

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

Level 1 severe risk: Damaging winds and hail possible Friday⛈️

Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday 

Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defense unit in southern Syria, causing material damage, state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement as saying Friday.

The Latest | Israel targets air defense system in Syria, state news agency says

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A local Hip-Hop artist and UNC-Chapel Hill educator died, the North Carolina Arts Council announced Thursday on Facebook.

NC Hip-Hop icon Kevin "Rowdy" Rowsey dies

Kevin "Rowdy" Rowsey

Firefighters said when they arrived here just after midnight, the side of the home was engulfed in flames.

Fire forces 11 people out of home in Durham

11 people escape house fire in Durham

WASHINGTON (AP) — One woman miscarried in the restroom lobby of a Texas emergency room as front desk staff refused to admit her. Another woman learned that her fetus had no heartbeat at a Florida hospital, the day after a security guard turned her away from the facility. And in North Carolina, a woman gave birth in a car after an emergency room couldn't offer an ultrasound. The baby later died.

Emergency rooms refused to treat pregnant women, leaving one to miscarry in a lobby restroom

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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

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

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



Glenwood South staple Armadillo Grill closes

Videos

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.

NC State beats UNC with walk-off homer in game one of weekend series

NC State at UNC

USA Basketball studied every men's basketball game it has played for about two decades and a clear trend eventually appeared. When the defense isn't good enough, the Americans tend to get themselves into trouble.

USA Basketball announces its men's team for the Paris Olympics

Pelicans_Warriors_Basketball_28998

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

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The Carolina Hurricanes will open the NHL playoffs against the New York Islanders. The Hurricanes defeated the Islanders 4-2 in the first round last season.