WRAL.com - Local News

Fireworks explosion ruled accidental; victims identified

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:54:17 -0400

Another victim of an Ocracoke Island fireworks explosion has died at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville. Three other people were killed in the accidental blast Saturday that was set off as a crew unloaded fireworks from a truck.

N.C. tax overhaul still alive in budget talks

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:39:50 -0400

The decade-long effort to overhaul North Carolina's tax system finally has some legs this year, but will they weaken if a budget stalemate drags on?

Man dies in Lillington house fire

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:42:01 -0400

A man died in an early-morning house fire at 12th and Killiegrey streets that one person escaped Sunday, said Lillington Police Chief Frankie Powers.

Teacher's aide facing new charges

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:18:55 -0400

The teacher's assistant charged with a sex offense is facing new charges, authorities said.

N.C. State student drowns in Jordan Lake

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:34:56 -0400

Stephen Patrick Russell, 23, an ice hockey player at North Carolina State University, drowned while swimming with friends at Jordan Lake late Saturday evening.

Cape Fear hospital worker tests positive for swine flu

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:55:31 -0400

A hospital spokeswoman says babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center won't receive antiviral drugs, although an employee has tested positive for swine flu.

Scotland Neck man, woman dead in murder-suicide

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:34:56 -0400

A Scotland Neck man shot and killed his 34-year-old wife before turning the gun on himself Saturday morning, according to the Halifax County Sheriff's Office.

Economy slashes church program for single parents

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:11:05 -0400

For the past 11 years, the Rev. Pebbles Lindsay-Lucas has joined hundreds of children and their single parents with local congregational faith teams for the Families First program. The faith teams offer the kind of support that you can only get from families — a ride, encouragement, someone to talk to in times of need. But now Families First has become a casualty of county budget cuts.

Church makes care packages for N.C. Guard soldiers

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:41:32 -0400

A church in the Cleveland community made care packages for deployed North Carolina National Guardsmen during its July 4th event. NASCAR and former Miss North Carolina helped out with the celebration.

Eastern N.C. residents form new Mini Cooper club

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:12:27 -0400

Taylor Woodson has driven some nice cars.

Tribe wants name change for Lumber River

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:49:37 -0400

The Lumbee Indian tribe want to change the name of the river that winds through its ancestral lands in North Carolina.

Local Jackson memorial service set

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:04:05 -0400

A local memorial service for the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson will be held Tuesday at the downtown Raleigh Convention Center, event organizer Bruce Lightner announced Saturday.

Ex-H.S. basketball star surrenders in drive-by shooting

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:49:26 -0400

A former high school basketball star surrendered to police Saturday to face charges in the drive-by shooting deaths of an East Carolina University student and pizza parlor owner.

Fireworks truck explodes on Ocracoke, three killed

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:36:54 -0400

A truck carrying fireworks for Ocracoke Island's July 4th celebration exploded near the South Ferry Terminal Saturday morning, leaving three people dead and critically injuring two others, according to Hyde County authorities.

Camp Lejeune welcomes new citizens on July 4th

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:05:42 -0400

Camp Lejeune will celebrate Independence Day with a naturalization ceremony for 25 Marines, sailors and their spouses.

Free fishing on the Fourth in N.C.

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:04:07 -0400

North Carolina fisherman can cast their lines on Independence Day without getting a license.

Children of soldiers killed overseas to be honored

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:05:42 -0400

The Fayetteville Area visitors bureau and a local volunteer group is teaming up with Hasbro to provide GI Joe action figures to children of fallen soldiers.

Suspect arrested in Knightdale home invasions

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:52:04 -0400

Authorities have arrested a suspect accused of robbery, kidnapping and assault in the Amber Ridge subdivision, Wake County jail officials said.

Family: Missing Rocky Mount woman was friends with women found dead

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:29 -0400

Yolanda Lancaster, 36, was reported missing on March 30, according to police records. Family said Lancaster knew two of the women who were found dead in Rocky Mount.

N.C. Guard, families mourn deaths of four in Iraq

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:21:32 -0400

This Fourth of July, a community no stranger to sacrifice is reminded again of the price of freedom. Four North Carolina National Guard soldiers were killed in Baghdad this week.

Fayetteville police officer is also part-time movie producer

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:44:21 -0400

John Sorie uses his day job as a Fayetteville police officer as inspiration to make movies.

Ladies also take center stage in 'Jersey Boys'

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:03:23 -0400

The musical may be called “Jersey Boys,” but the show also includes a group of “Jersey Girls.”

Holiday revelers return to Hope Mills Lake

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:59:16 -0400

This Saturday night, fireworks will go streaking through the sky from atop a brand-new dam on Hope Mills Lake. It marks the return of the holiday celebration to the lake for the first time since heavy rains washed out the dam in 2003.

Beach insurance plan a tough balancing act for N.C.

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:01:30 -0400

A fight in the General Assembly boils down to east versus west. It's not the budget. It's the beach plan – a state-run insurance pool that offers homeowner's insurance to residents that some private plans won't cover.

Governor considers safe boating legislation

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:31:40 -0400

Senate Bill 43 would require that anyone born after 1984 complete a certified safe boating course before taking the controls of any vessel with more than 10 horsepower.