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

One of the suspects in a fatal Raleigh home invasion pleaded guilty Thursday. Jaquan Tryon Dumas, 20, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

<b>RALEIGH, N.C.</b> — One of the suspects in a fatal Raleigh home invasion pleaded guilty Thursday.

Jaquan Tryon Dumas, 20, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Dumas and three others – Lenair Bene Omar Moses, Timothy Tyrone Horton and Brandon Michael Jones – were charged with murder for the death of Charmeka Cheymeir Harris, then 25, in her home at 4105 Spring Forest Road in August 2007.

Police said the men stormed into Harris’s apartment, shot her in the stomach and took money and jewelry.

In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dismissed Dumas’s murder charge. A judge sentenced Dumas to 34 to 50 months in prison.

Suspect in Raleigh home invasion pleads guilty

Jaquan Dumas

NEW YORK — A man set himself on fire Friday afternoon near the lower Manhattan courthouse where jurors were being chosen for the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump.

Man Sets Himself on Fire Near Courthouse Where Trump Is on Trial

Outside Court, Trump Is the Center of Attention. Inside, He Has a Rival.

Public documents show Blake Deven, 17, was reported missing in January 2024 even though police did not publicly announce his disappearance until late March 2024. The last police know of his whereabouts was 2022. London Deven was reported missing on April 4, 2024, years after she was last known to be living in Fayetteville.

Fayetteville missing: The search for Blake Deven and London Deven

Blake Deven and London Deven

This weekend offers a pleasant mix of sunshine and showers, perfect for both outdoor activities and catching up on some rest and relaxation.

 Raleigh weekend brings sunshine, showers & comfortable temperatures

Weather for the weekend 

Capitol Broadcasting Company, the parent company of WRAL News, is part of the 2024 class inducted into the North Carolina Media & Journalism Hall of Fame at the University of North Carolina.

WRAL parent company inducted to NC Media & Journalism Hall of Fame 

Janet Willis used the flowers from her mother's funeral to create a 100 day Instagram art project that explores grief. 

Beauty in grief: Durham woman creates art from her mother's funeral flowers

Janet Willis creates artwork using mother's funeral flowers.

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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

Mark Mitchell announced he has committed to the University of Missouri in a post to his Instagram post.

Former Duke forward Mark Mitchell commits to Missouri

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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.

Suspect in Raleigh home invasion pleads guilty

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