We’re also following how a local school is responding after a mother says a teacher threatened her child. Plus, how local leaders are preparing for Passover with increased threats to Jewish Americans. Watch WRAL NEWS at 11 and search for these and other stories on WRAL.com.

On WRAL at 11 : Showers leaving out of the area tonight. The cooler weather coming after and when we could see more rain

Shortages of teachers, infrastructure and technology workers will hamper schools' ability to provide the best education, facilities and tools to children, Superintendent Robert Taylor said Thursday.

Higher employee pay will be key to running Wake schools smoothly, superintendent says

Wake County Public School System Superintendent Robert Taylor speaks to the League fo Women Voters of Wake County, April 18, 2024

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

All assets associated with the tag: Back the Blue

Back the Blue Coverage

Connor Larson, a 22-year-old University of South Carolina student, is the social and digital media coordinator for Operation Deep Blue, an organization that does long-distance sea kayaking expeditions for law enforcement, first responders, and military service members who have died in the line of duty.

the flags fly high at the Wilmington's marathon, but those weren't the ones catching the crowd's eyes. Connor Larson's flag made it 26 miles across Wilmington's when I decided to run the marathon, I didn't just want to run it. I want to do it for something and include my nonprofit. Connor is a 22 year old marketing major at the University of south Carolina. He's also the social and digital media coordinator for Operation Deep Blue, a nonprofit organization honoring the fallen service members of our country carrying the american flag the entire way the flag to me represents the unity of an amazing country and all the people that I'm running the marathon for. They make sacrifices every single day to um, protect what this flag represents. Listed on his flag, Six nonprofits that he chose to run for on saturday, all benefiting fallen service members and their families. You know, I've always loved charity work and through Operation Deep Blue, I've always been passionate about helping our military, our first responders and everyone who is making a sacrifice to help America be safe and you know, fight for our freedom. 26 miles. One flag and one message. Never forget our fallen heroes. And um, you know, never forget the ones who make the sacrifice for our freedom in Washington and Austin Boyars, W. E. C. T. News

College student runs the Wilmington Marathon in honor of fallen heroes

Connor Larson

More than 100 vehicles registered to drive around Johnston County, visiting law enforcement agencies around the county while waving police flags and showing support as part of the JoCo Back the Blue Parade on Saturday.

Over 100 vehicles join parade to Back the Blue, visiting law enforcement around Johnston County

Back the Blue Parade. Photo credit: Tara Danko

Black the Blue NC, with around 40,000 online followers, held a rally to show support for local police on Saturday morning in downtown Raleigh. 

OF THE HARDEST HIT AREAS BY THE STORM. >>> WELL IT'S THE JOB OF THE POLICE TO DEFEND THE PUBLIC RIGHT? PEOPLE GATHERED IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH TO RETURN THE FAVOR TO DEFEND THE POLICE. WRAL'S ADAM OWENS TAKES US INSIDE THE CROWD AND SOME OF THE TENSIONS THAT AROSE THERE. >> Reporter: FEEL IT IS THEIR TURN TO MAKE SOME NOISE. TO SPEAK FOR OFFICERS WORKING THE STREETS. >> THEY DO A LOT. THEY RISK THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY. MOST PEOPLE DISPARAGE THEM. >> Reporter: ROB PALMER WAS PART OF A CROWD THAT GATHERED IN DOWNTOWN RALLY TO BACK THE BLUE. THE FACEBOOK PAGE HAS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS ONLINE. >> WE NEED TO SHOW THEM LOVE. >> Reporter: PALMER SAYS HE IS AMONG THE MANY WHO WAS DISTURBED BY THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD IN MINNEAPOLIS. HE WAS ALSO DISTURBED BY SOME OF THE PROTESTS THAT FOLLOWED. >> WE HAVE SEEN ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING RALEIGH, WE HAVE SEEN OUR TOWN BURN. WE HAVE SEEN OUR POLICE STANDING BY NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING. THE ANGER IS BEING TAKEN OUT ON ALL OFFICERS. >> Reporter: SOME OF THAT ANGER WAS SHOUTED ACROSS JONES STREET. BETWEEN PARTICIPANTS AT THE BACK THE BLUE RALLY AND ANOTHER GROUP CALLING FOR JUSTICE AND CALLING OUT THE NAMES OF THOSE KILLED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. WILSON HAS BEEN ALONG EFFORTS TO DEFUND THE POLICE. >> IT SHOULD BE ON FUNDING THE POLICE ON BETTER TRAINING. >> Reporter: TROY LEWIS REMINDS PEOPLE WHAT IT MIGHT BE LIKE WITHOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> LIKE MAD MAX OUT HERE WITHOUT POLICE AND PROTECTION. ANYBODY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT. >> Reporter: ADAM OWENS, WRAL NEWS, RALEIGH. >>> WE SO AM ADDITIONAL DETAIL TO SHARE WITH YOU. THE FACEBOOK PAGE BACK THE BLUE NC GAINED NEARLY 2,000 NEW MEMBERS IN JUST THE LAST WEEK.

Back the Blue: Rally to support Raleigh police draws large crowd in downtown

Back the Blue: Community rallies to show support for police officers

A rally in downtown Raleigh outside of the North Carolina General Legislature's building in support of law enforcement draws a crowd Saturday afternoon.

