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

Get your music fix with our best bets for music this week.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Get your music fix with our best bets for music this week.

Huge Pupils, Butter the Children, Stronghold Crvsader, Death Rides a Horse at <a href="https://www.wral.com/Raleigh/Restaurants-Bars/Music/Slims-Downtown-Distillery/5584577/">Slim’s</a> – psychadelic punk/rock

Capitalist Kids, Almost People, Wolves and Wolves and Wolves and Wolves at <a href="https://www.wral.com/Durham/Attractions/Music/Motorco-Music-Hall/9656850/">Motorco</a> – pop/punk

Creepoid, Harsh Vibes at <a href="https://www.wral.com/Durham/Restaurants-Bars/Social-Games-and-Brews/11464074/">Casbah</a> – noisy rock

I Was Totally Destroying It at <a href="https://www.wral.com/Raleigh/Restaurants-Bars/Music/Deep-South-the-Bar/5794303/">Deep South</a> – a power-pop band from Chapel Hill

Lustre, Jack the Radio, Old Quarter, DeBonzo Brothers at <a href="https://www.wral.com/Raleigh/Music/Lincoln-Theatre/4872687/">Lincoln Theatre</a> – part of WeeseFest, a benefit for ALS

Gray Young, Juna at <a href="https://www.wral.com/Chapel-Hill/Bar/Chapel-Hill-Underground/8754961/">Chapel Hill Underground</a> – smooth rock

Valient Thorr, Gypsyhawk, Ramming Speed at <a href="https://www.wral.com/Downtown-Raleigh/Music/Kings/8979513/">Kings Barcade</a> – hardcore rock 'n roll

Glenn Jones, Ezekiel Graves at <a href="https://www.wral.com/Chapel-Hill/Restaurants-Bars/Music/Nightlight-Club/5669643/">Nightlight</a> – acoustic steel string guitar

Weesefest, I Was Totally Destroying It: live music this week

 I Was Totally Destroying It

Chapel Hill,Durham,Raleigh,downtown Raleigh,music

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

Trump Trial Enters Fourth Day With Opening Arguments Next Week

Storms moved east Friday in central North Carolina. Over the weekend, the Triangle will feel a cooldown due to an incoming cold front.

Storms move east in North Carolina ⛈️; cooldown coming this weekend

Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday 

The crash involved a school bus from Corinth Holders Elementary School at North Carolina Highway 96 and Earpsboro Road in Johnston County, according to authorities.

Johnston County school bus involved in crash on NC 96 

UNC staff and hospital executives got their first looks at the product of the years-long construction project: a new hospital dedicated entirely to surgery.

New UNC surgical hospital to bring more beds, new procedures to patients

A man is in critical condition after an attempt to snorkel in the pool at a Cary gym.

Snorkeler hospitalized after incident in pool at Cary Lifetime Fitness

Cary location of near-drowining

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

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

Gov. Roy Cooper joins United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to make a clean energy announcement.

Gov. Cooper makes clean energy announcement

Nightly N.C. Education Lottery drawings during the 11 p.m. News.

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Videos

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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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

uvaduke23

Game 1 is Saturday night in Raleigh. Game 2 is Monday at PNC Arena.

Make your plans: Complete Hurricanes-Islanders first-round schedule

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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

General manager Don Waddell likes how his Carolina Hurricanes finished the season, winning 16 of their final 21 games. He knows it means nothing now.

Weesefest, I Was Totally Destroying It: live music this week

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