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

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

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From the deaths of two runners at the first Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Raleigh to a snow photo that went viral, it was a year of powerful stories and pictures from across the region -- and WRAL News was there to capture it all. 

Tragedies, oddities, crime and a lot of crazy winter weather were among the themes of the top-read articles on WRAL.com for 2014.

From the deaths of two runners at the first Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Raleigh to a snow photo that went viral, it was a year of powerful stories and pictures from across the region — and WRAL News was there to capture it all.

Here's a roundup of the most-read WRAL.com stories from 2014:

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/two-die-in-inaugural-rock-n-roll-marathon-in-raleigh/13565181/">Two die in inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Raleigh</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/judge-stripping-veteran-teachers-of-tenure-rights-unconstitutional/13650846/">Judge: Stripping veteran teachers of tenure rights unconstitutional</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/snow-in-raleigh-2014-glenwood-ave/13390109/">'Oh my gosh!' Raleigh woman's snow photo goes viral</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/unc-professor-dies-after-chapel-hill-mugging/13837100/">UNC professor dies after Chapel Hill mugging</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/dead-black-bear-found-dumped-on-ncsu-campus/13602869/">Dead black bear dumped on NCSU campus</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/missing-2-year-old-raleigh-boy-s-father-charged-with-murder/14306867/">Missing 2-year-old Raleigh boy's father charged with murder</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/self-inflicted-gunshots-kill-two-wayne-county-teens/13296041/">Two Wayne County teens die from self-inflicted gunshots</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/substitute-wake-bus-driver-gets-lost-taking-students-home/13203001/">Substitute Wake bus driver gets lost taking students home</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/heritage-high-student-killed-in-wake-forest-crash/14025890/">Heritage High student killed in Wake Forest crash</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/deputies-day-care-and-mentoring-program-a-front-for-child-porn-operation/13758447/">Deputies: Day care, mentoring program a front for Sanford child porn operation</a>

Angie  Basiouny

Top WRAL.com stories of 2014

'Oh my gosh!' Raleigh woman's snow photo goes viral

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

USA Basketball studied every men's basketball game it has played for about two decades and a clear trend eventually appeared. When the defense isn't good enough, the Americans tend to get themselves into trouble.

USA Basketball announces its men's team for the Paris Olympics

Pelicans_Warriors_Basketball_28998

The Coyotes are moving to Salt Lake City in a deal that was signed less than 24 hours after Wednesday night's 5-2 win over Edmonton.

Party's over: Coyotes end tenure in the desert with team's sale, move to Salt Lake City

Oilers_Coyotes_Hockey_54852

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.

A North Carolina softball family is honoring one of their own, focusing on suicide prevention

Helmet stickers honoring Aubrey Horne

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

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.

Top WRAL.com stories of 2014

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Two die in inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Raleigh

Judge: Stripping veteran teachers of tenure rights unconstitutional

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