We’re also following the US Senate passing a potential ban on TikTok and the charges a 74-year-old man faces after a shooting on the Shaw University campus. Plus, where candidates for NC superintendent say school safety falls short and the improvements that can be made. Watch WRAL-TV at 11 p.m., and search for these and other stories on WRAL.com.

On WRAL at 11: Wet weather is just around the corner. The hours for rain tomorrow and a rumble of thunder

The "Dueling Dinosaurs" exhibit opening this weekend at Raleigh's North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will feature what's believed to be the most complete T. rex skeleton ever discovered.

'Dueling Dinosaurs:' One-of-a-kind dig, laboratory access at Raleigh science museum

DinoLab at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Athens Drive Magnet High School and Conn Magnet Elementary School won national awards Saturday at the Magnet Schools of America's annual conference.

Top two magnet schools in the US are in Wake County

Athens Drive High School

In August 2006, Gov. Mike Easley signed a law that established a lottery oversight committee. It is supposed to meet four times a year, but hasn't met yet.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Is the state of North Carolina breaking its own laws when it comes to the lottery?

In August 2006, Gov. Mike Easley signed a bill into law that established a lottery oversight committee. It is supposed to meet four times a year, but it hasn't met yet.

More than $300 million from lottery revenues last year went to North Carolina schools. One of the lottery oversight committee's functions is to make sure that money is used in the right way.

The committee, formed with nine members of the general public, is also supposed to monitor the overall operation of the lottery, meet quarterly and give lawmakers an annual report. But none of that has happened.

“We have a committee that's designed to oversee and that doesn't meet. That's a pretty big crack that it's fallen through,” said Chris Fitzsimon, executive director of government watchdog group NC Policy Watch.

All but two lawmakers voted in favor of creating the committee. And several told WRAL, they had no idea it was not meeting.

Easley said that does not mean the lottery is operating without a series of checks and balances.

“They are certainly getting plenty of oversight by the Legislature, and it's coming along pretty well,” he said.

Lottery director Tom Shaheen agrees.

“We have gone through two financial audits.We have gone through a security audit. We are at the tail end of a performance audit, and we're at the beginning of our second security audit, so there are numerous means to oversee what's going on at this lottery,”  Shaheen said.

Still, the political watchdog group said it is a matter of the law.

“The law requires that we have a committee made up of public citizens that make sure the lottery money is supposed to go and the lottery is run how it's supposed to be run,” Fitzsimon said.

A committee member with whom WRAL spoke with said the panel never met because it was never called to meet.

House Speaker Joe Hackney appointed a new co-chair to the committee Tuesday. WRAL was told there is a conference call scheduled, and the committee plans to meet as a whole some time late this month.

Erin Coleman

Pete James

Minnie Bridgers

Odds of Lottery Committee Meeting Are Longer Than Any Game's Chances

lottery

Students told WRAL News they heard multiple gunshots on the campus of Shaw University in downtown Raleigh on Tuesday.

74-year-old arrested, charged with shooting at man on Shaw University campus, police say

Kamal Rasool Abdal-Rafi

School safety is a top-of-mind issue for many people in North Carolina. We asked the two candidates for state schools superintendent how they plan to address the problem.  

State superintendent candidates weigh in on school safety 

Mo Green and Michele Morrow are running for North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction

Dozens of people are being forced to leave a homeless encampment on a strip of land along the Raleigh and Garner border, not far from the highway.

'Nowhere else to go:' Dozens forced out of homeless encampment along highway near Raleigh 

'Nowhere else to go:' Dozens living in encampment by Garner highway forced to move

We have one anomaly in the overall lovely spring weather this week. There is about a 50 percent chance for showers on Wednesday afternoon.

Light showers on the way Wednesday, record heat possible next week

At the bus stop, Wednesday, April 24

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok’s China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that’s expected to face legal challenges and disrupt the lives of content creators who rely on the short-form video app for income.

Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature

Congress_TikTok_26201

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

Tuesday and Friday Mega Millions Drawing.

Mega Millions Drawing

School safety is a key issue for many people in North Carolina, and the subject is top-of-mind as the state heads toward the November elections. WRAL's coverage of the 2024 election includes unedited livestreams of candidate appearances, full interviews and fact-checks of statements on issues voters tell us they care about most.

Republican state schools superintendent candidate Michele Morrow hosts campaign event on school safety

Videos

The Carolina Hurricanes scored 5 unanswered goals to steal Game 2 at home on Monday. What the win could mean for their ultimate goal this postseason, NFL Draft talk and more!

Canes magic, the Drake Maye debate and Uncle MJ in the sports moments of the week

Islanders_Hurricanes_Hockey_28911

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Alex Kirilloff hit a two-out, game-ending single after Byron Buxton led off the ninth inning with a tying homer, and the major league-worst Chicago White Sox fell to 3-20 with a 6-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

Buxton, Kirilloff help Twins rally past White Sox 6-5. MLB-worst Chicago falls to 3-20

White_Sox_Twins_Baseball_38477

DENVER (AP) — Brendan Rodgers hit a go-ahead grand slam in a five-run fourth inning, and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 7-4 on Tuesday night for just their second win in 10 games.

Rodgers' grand slam sparks Rockies over Padres 7-4 for 2nd win in 10 games

Padres_Rockies_Baseball_75377

CHICAGO (AP) — Mike Tauchman hit his first two homers of the season, and the Chicago Cubs took a five-run first-inning lead in a 7-2 win over Houston on Tuesday night that dropped the Astros 10 games under .500 for the first time since 2016.

Tauchman homers twice as Cubs win 7-2, drop Astros 10 games under .500 for first time since 2016

Astros_Cubs_Baseball_99568

NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Rizzo snapped a lengthy power drought with a two-run homer that capped a four-run first inning, and the New York Yankees held on for a 4-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.

Odds of Lottery Committee Meeting Are Longer Than Any Game's Chances

More On This

Appointees to Lottery Oversight Committee

Statute Establishing Lottery Oversight Committee

• Credits

Trending