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Rocky Mount police said that a fire that burned out a business Friday was arson.

<b>ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.</b> — A fire that burned out a Rocky Mount Business Friday was arson, police said.

Firefighters said they found Alex's Mini Mart near downtown already engulfed in flames when they arrived around 1:30 a.m.

The store was closed at the time, and no one was hurt.

The building and its contents suffered extensive damaged that will cost nearly $200,000 to repair, investigators said.

Rocky Mount police said they have a suspect but have not made any arrests.

Arson Hits Rocky Mount Business

Jonah Mendys and Ryan McGuirt are facing misdemeanor charges.

2 people face misdemeanor charges after State Auditor's Beth Wood's December crash

NC State Auditor Beth Wood charged with hit-and-run

Two 16-year-old boys are dead and another 16-year-old boy is in the hospital from a shooting in Durham on Tuesday.

Three teens shot overnight near Durham middle school were friends, loved ones say

16-year-olds shot, killed in Durham

Classical Charter Schools of America, owners of four schools in south and east North Carolina, posted a statement online in defense of school grooming standards in response to families in Whiteville and Leland who pushed back after their sons were asked to cut their hair.

School defends grooming standards, sees 'trumped up controversy' in Native American families' resistance to cut boys' hair

Mia Chavis, the mother of 7-year-old Edward Chavis, told WRAL News her son's long hair is part of their Lumbee Tribe and Native American heritage, and she refuses to cut it.

A Smithfield Middle School teacher has resigned after an investigation, which found the teacher taped students' mouths shut.

'He was humiliated': Johnston County mother questions why teacher taped middle school student's mouth shut

Catherine Webster said she got a text from her son on Feb. 14 from inside Smithfield Middle School. There was painter's tape across the sixth grader's face. Photo courtesy of Catherine Webster.

Four North Carolina players have entered the transfer portal after a season that ended without an NCAA Tournament berth.

Armando Bacot returning to UNC; Puff Johnson entering transfer portal

Armando Bacot

Get the latest WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast whenever you need it, including the DUALDoppler5000 and the 7-Day Forecast.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Wednesday is the first of two votes in the full House required to put the Medicaid Expansion bill on Governor Roy Cooper's desk. The Senate has already approved it.

House session to vote on Medicaid Expansion Bill

The rate raise comes after weeks of economic turbulence, including high inflation, strong jobs growth and a banking crisis.

Federal Reserve raises rates after weeks of economic turbulence

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

Two inmates in a Virginia jail used primitively made tools to create a hole in the wall of their cell and escape, only to be found hours later at an IHOP restaurant nearby, a sheriff said.

Escaped Virginia inmates found eating at IHOP

Short_Jail_Escape_00461

Videos

NC State is ending its varsity rifle program. State's athletic department made the announcement on Tuesday.

NC State ending rifle program after 65 years of varsity status

NC State Wolf head logo

Jacy Sheldon made a tiebreaking jumper in the lane with 1.8 seconds left to lift No. 3 Ohio State to a 71-69 win over No. 6 seed North Carolina and help the Buckeyes advance to the Sweet 16 for the second straight season. 