Shortages of teachers, infrastructure and technology workers will hamper schools’ ability to provide the best education, facilities and tools to children, Wake County Public School System Superintendent Robert Taylor said Thursday. Pay increases will help, he said, but a full reversal of the trends could take years and a much bigger effort than incremental raises.

 Wake superintendent: Teacher shortage trend could take years to reverse

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

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

A Make-A-Wish teen was surprised with his very own pirate-themed treehouse Friday at his Modesto home.

<b>MODESTO, CA</b> — A Make-A-Wish teen was surprised with his very own pirate-themed treehouse Friday at his Modesto home.

Conner Reed was all smiles as he walked the plank, rather walked toward his brand new treehouse thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The 14-year-old's parents say this has been his dream for years.

Reed had been battling a genetic kidney disease, which required him to undergo dialysis multiple times a week.

But three years ago he received a kidney transplant.

His family is blown away by this surprise and they say they cannot wait to pay it forward.

Make-A-Wish Builds Pirate-Themed Treehouse for Modesto Teen

The Storm Prediction Center has the Triangle under a Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday.

Level 1 risk: Severe storms, damaging winds possible Friday ⛈️

Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday 

A person was pulled from Harris Lake on Friday, and a water rescue and search is underway for a second boater.

Man missing at Harris Lake after boat crashes into cement pole; 1 boater rescued 

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

Durham police found a man shot at a shopping center along Miami Boulevard on Friday morning. The man died at the hospital.

Man dies in shooting at Durham shopping center on Miami Boulevard

Subway restaurant at The Village Shopping Center

A new North Carolina poll shows former President Donald Trump maintaining a slight lead over President Joe Biden ahead of a November rematch. The gubernatorial race remains within the margin of error.

New poll shows Trump with slight lead in NC, Robinson and Stein battling it out

Joe Biden, Donald Trump, candidates for president 2024

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

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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 Drawing

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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 first game of baseball series

NC State at UNC

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

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

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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

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.