This year marks the 65th annual lighting of the WRAL-TV tower in Raleigh, an annual tradition that has grown to include celebrations with towers at American Tobacco Campus in Durham and Rocky Mount Mills.

WRAL lights towers in Raleigh, Durham and Rocky Mount

Students are reported for possession of non-firearm weapons about 20 times as often as they are for firearms. But schools are still relatively safe places, and many crime statistics in schools have been improving for years, experts say. 

Easy to conceal, harder to detect: Knives more prevalent than guns in schools 

School lockers 

A 14-year-old girl was shot in her thigh during a robbery on Glen Reilly Drive in Fayetteville. 



<b>FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.</b> — A 14-year-old girl was shot in her thigh during a robbery on Glen Reilly Drive in Fayetteville.

The crime occurred in a residential area.

Her injuries are not life-threatening, according to police.

Police are still investigating the shooting, and said they would release more information as it becomes available.

Maggie Brown

14-year-old girl shot in thigh during Fayetteville robbery

Fayetteville police investigate after 14-year-old girl was shot in the leg.

As you head out the door, temperatures will be in the upper 30s. You may want to grab an umbrella before leaving the house.

December kicks off with much-needed rain, wet weekend on tap ☔

Heading to school

Medicaid expansion means North Carolina's working poor can go to the doctor for free. It also means billions in new federal funding for hospitals.

After 14 years, billions to flow as 600,000 qualify for Medicaid insurance in NC

More than half a million North Carolinians now qualify for Medicaid 

A landlord with properties spanning across the state, including multiple units in Raleigh, faces potential disciplinary action and legal scrutiny.

Landlord who charged NC State students $18,000 for beer pong table at center of multiple investigations

5 On Your Side investigates landlord with history of excessive charges

According to an arrest warrant obtained by WRAL News, 26-year-old Daquan Seandre Thomas is charged with felony murder and felony concealment of 22-year-old Tyrone Taylor. According to Sheriff Wayne Coats, Thomas was already in jail for a domestic violence incident with the victim's sister.

'Infectious smile': Community grieves youth pastor found dead after missing for 10 weeks

Body of missing Dunn man found; suspect in custody, charged with murder

JERUSALEM (AP) — There was no trace of Hanan Yablonka — not on the 42-year-old Israeli's social media accounts nor on his phone, found in the bullet-riddled car he and four friends tried to flee in after Hamas militants attacked the music festival they were attending in southern Israel.

Nearly 2 months into the war, many Israelis have no idea if their relatives are dead or alive

Israel_Palestinians_Searching_for_Answers_63792

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

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday plans to name a replacement for State Auditor Beth Wood, who previously said she would step down in the wake of charges related to her use of state-issued vehicles.

Replacement named for State Auditor Beth Wood

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

N.C. High School Athletic Association Commissioner Que Tucker and President Chris Blanton hold a press conference following the winter board of directors meeting in Chapel Hill.

NCHSAA press conference following winter board meeting

Videos

Here's a look at which bowl bids NC State, North Carolina and Duke could accept.

Which bowl game will NC State, North Carolina and Duke play in?

Dave Doeren with Mack Brown

NC State quarterback MJ Morris will enter the transfer portal. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

NC State QB Morris to enter transfer portal

MJ Morris (16) in the pocket. 

No. 1 South Carolina rallies from 11 down to beat No. 24 UNC 65-58 in ACC/SEC Challenge

South Carolina North Carolina Basketball

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Mathew Barzal scored at 2:46 of overtime to lift the New York Islanders past Carolina, 5-4 on Thursday night after the Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho tied it with 2.5 seconds left in regulation.

Mathew Barzal has goal and 3 assists, Islanders outlast Hurricanes 5-4 in OT

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Duke sophomore Ashlon Jackson scored 18 points and the Blue Devils outscored Georgia 17-10 in overtime to upend the Bulldogs, 72-65, in the inaugural ACC/SEC Women's Basketball Challenge.