5 things to know Thursday: Redevelopment plans for a Cary mall

Here's Thursday's weather forecast for Raleigh — High 89° Low 61° — Mostly clear and one of this year's hottest days (so far). With the heat, expect diminished air quality for much of the Triangle. Oh, and it's somehow still sneezin' season, too, as the springtime pollen lingers.

That heat is sparking deadly severe weather in the Midwest, which eventually will make its way here, making Saturday a WRAL Weather Alert Day. (More about that forecast in this space Friday).

Lawmakers in the North Carolina state House passed a bill that would ban transgender women from playing girls' sports in all schools and colleges. This comes as students in Moore County walked out of class to protest a new policy they say could 'out' LGBTQIA+ youth.

Overnight, police charged store owner Taiseer Zarka, 60, with murder in the April 6 stabbing death of Mark Garrity, 27, at Taz's Supermarket convenience store in downtown Raleigh.

Residences with rooftop living are part of a plan to redevelop Cary's South Hills Mall, which also will be the site of offices and a future sports venue if Cary approves developers' wishes. But small businesses already in the mall are worried upgrades will price them out, forcing them to move.

The Carolina Hurricanes needed overtime to dispatch the New York Islanders, 4-3, Wednesday night. But prior to OT, an Islanders player slashed winger Teuvo Teräväinen's hand, breaking it and knocking him out of the series, which the Canes lead, 2-0. The Canes, already dealing with injuries to two other star wingers, head to Long Island for Games 3 and 4, starting Friday.

Thanks for reading and have a great day! Questions? Comments about this newsletter? Feedback? Feel free to email me, Andrew Roman, at aroman@wral.com.