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

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

<b>CHAPEL HILL</b> — Many employers have found they can use theterm "family friendly" to attract employees by offering ways to make lifeat work easier for parents of young children, or those caring for elderlyparents.

Now, organizers of a conference in Chapel Hill hope to showcompanies the strong benefits of that concept.

Nigel Alston is not a parent, but he spoke at the conference abouthis company's attitude toward its employees who are.

Affordable day care is one issue Integon Insurance Company in Winston-Salem is coping with. Alston says the company joined with SmartStart to help many employees afford day care.

Debra Torrence came to learn new strategies for helping more employersin Durham become family friendly.

Torrence says employers don't have to sacrifice profits byimplementing a family friendly policy. Flexible schedules and flexibleleave policies, she says, don't cost much, and they help employers in thelong run.

A 1990 census report shows half the work force is female and 80 percent of those with children in school now work. In addition, as many as 30percent of employees in the US care for elderly relatives.

"Family Friendly" Companies Appealing to Workers

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 

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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.