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

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 

According to a recent Edmunds used vehicle report, demand for used cars is dropping and so are their values as the new-car market rebounds from pandemic-induced shortages. T 

Edmunds: Trade or sell your car? What's best might surprise you

Behind_the_Wheel_Trade_or_Sell_Your_Car_96070

How bad is the pollen in your neighborhood?   Please describe.  Everyone is talking about it.   I laughed as my son insisted on washing his car Sunday afternoon.  I just about choked as I walked into the woods with my dog Rufus last night.  The pollen was suffocating.  I'm really looking forward to my lawn mowing chores this afternoon!

Kelcey Carlson said she could see massive swirls of yellow over the Triangle as she flew in from Indianapolis where she covered the Final Four. 

During WRAL's Morning News we were wondering out loud about how bad the pollen will be at the Masters Golf Tournament beginning today with Tiger Woods returning to the game for the first time since November.

My buddy from radio days Walt Howard, who grew up in Augusta,  was watching us and sent me the following description of pollen at the Masters: 

<em>You've seen the course is loaded with huge pines, & they're prolific!   There will be times during the tournament, when the wind is up, you'll see those yellow/green dust storms rolling through the fairways!  After a day on the course, you can actually feel  the pollen in your teeth, crunching like grit!</em><br />

Thanks, Walt.  The person with the best description of the pollen problem wins two tickets to the Lorica and Concert Singers of Cary show a week from Saturday, April 17th,  at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cary..

Pollen Explosion

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

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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.