1 closing/delay reported.

Tonight at 6 on WRAL, what's behind the disturbing trend in underage drinking and, in a rare interview you'll only see on WRAL, the head of the state's alcohol law enforcement talks about what they need to save the lives of our children.

At 6 on WRAL: An emotional plea from a mother after a rise in underage drinking and driving.

In November 2022 Tessiah Smithen received a letter that's haunted her for 18 months. Since, a teacher has resigned, and the school system is making changes following a 5 On Your Side investigation.

5 On Your Side: An anonymous letter accused a Wake teacher of abuse. What happened after a mom pushed for an investigation

5 On Your Side: Teacher accused of abusive behavior toward student with autism

Raleigh only sits behind Atlanta, GA and Fort Worth, TX.

Raleigh is the nation's third fastest-growing big city, data shows

City of Raleigh skyline from view of Boylan Street Bridge 

All assets associated with the tag: learning disability

Learning disability Coverage

As North Carolina spends tens of millions of dollars to overhaul how it teaches children to read, parents of children with dyslexia are spending thousands of dollars to educate their children outside of school. 

Few NC students with learning disabilities are passing. Will NC's new reading program help them?

books, reading, library

Jackie Saxton, Woman of the Year, leads Helping Horse to transform lives through therapeutic riding. Heartwarming stories of triumph, unity, and growth unfold in the Triangle community.

Jackie Saxton: Woman of the year transforms lives through Helping Horse Therapeutic Riding Academy

Jackie Saxton, Helping Horse Therapeutic Riding Program

Explore the heartwarming journey of 321 Coffee, a coffee shop and roaster that thrives on inclusivity, employing over 50 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Inclusive beans, heartfelt scenes: 321 Coffee's story

321 Coffee staff in Durham 

With a new school year around the corner, many parents have questions about whether their child is neurodivergent. This includes ADHD, autism, anxiety and other social and learning difficulties.

TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE DIED. WITH A NEW SCHOOL YEAR STARTING ON MONDAY. YOU MAY PARENTS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THEIR CHILD IS NARROW DIVERGENT THAT CAN INCLUDE ADHD. AUTISM, ANXIETY AND LEARNING DIFFICULT DIFFICULTIES. AND WE SPOKE WITH A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST WHO SAYS PARENTS SHOULD TRUST THEIR INSTINCTS. >> AND ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU FEEL YOUR CHILD IS STRUGGLING. I THINK ABOUT NOTICING ANY BEHAVIORS OR EMOTIONAL DYSREGULATION THAT STOPPING A CHILD FROM ACCESSING THINGS THAT HELP THEM GROW AND LEARN WHICH IS BEING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TO BUILD THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER, BEING ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL AND LEARN IN A GROUP. >> AND TALKING TO YOUR CHILDREN'S TEACHER OR PEDIATRICIAN CAN ALSO HELP YOU GET AN OBJECTIVE OPINION ON HOW YOUR CHILD IS DOING. >> YOU CAN FIND THIS FULL INTERVIEW AND MORE SIGNS TO

Asking questions about your child and neurodivergence

Student, school, boy in class, teen studying, student taking test

A WCNC Charlotte investigation found North Carolina relies on lengthy exclusionary discipline for students with disabilities more than any other state.

'We don't want you here': North Carolina leads nation in suspending students with disabilities

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Stacey Kohn founded Triangle Parent Navigator in 2008 when she realized there was a need for a middle person between therapists, parents and educators working to help struggling students thrive. 

'Work with my heart': Raleigh mom, entrepreneur helps students thrive at school

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Families and students navigating learning disabilities and other roadblocks in the classroom can find it difficult to coordinate with schools to get the help they need. That's where Stacey Kohn comes in.

I'm able to take the heavy lifting for the parents so that the parents can sit back and breathe and interject with as, as parents instead of having to be the parents, the navigator, the person that comes up with the ideas that all the things right. They can just be a parent in the room and take that parent role with having not having to feel like they have to manage everything. What I'm able to do is be a non emotional voice in the room. Let me learn all there is to learn about your child from the data, send me evaluation, send me, you know, school record, send me, you know, if you have an an individual education plan and I whatever you got just send it to me and what I do is I spent hours with that information and I'm the devil in the details. I love going through it all.