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: Bonner Bridge

Bonner Bridge Coverage

The collapse of the Bonner Bridge had a ripple effect on the economy at the Outer Banks, as it shut down the one roadway leading to the island.

It's like a ghost town. Almost just nobody here. Hatteras Island is hurting. Just ask Danny Sharp what the loss of the Bonner Bridge did to the island economy. I've been laid off. So it's been pretty hard on me. In October. A dredge smashed into the Bonner bridge. It ripped apart a 360 ft section taking with it. The Island's lifeline. Do you feel real isolated? I really do. Hotels sit nearly empty this day. Only one person is staying where Melody Hicks works. Winters are usually slow but not like this. It's meant less hours, less pay, but we get through it. Even the island's most popular tourist attraction isn't doing much attracting the number of visitors to the Cape Hatteras lighthouse is half what it was a year ago. It's pretty bad. It's really dropped. I've really seen a big difference. Unemployment is at its highest winter level in more than five years without tourists. Island stores have laid off workers. The question everybody is asking is, when will the bridge reopen? Well, if the weather cooperates, the Department of Transportation says the end of February crews work seven days a week, they're repairing the bridge in an inlet that can be rough and dangerous. Everyone prays for good weather knowing a late February reopening is critical. It's very critical because of our spring fishing season. The surf fishing season will begin in March and April and it's critical that we can get people over and back across the Oregon in the bridge at their convenience. Convenience is in short supply. The only way to get to the island is by ferry. It takes two hours to get through and used to. I could get there in like 40 minutes. 45. I'm hoping that it won't take too long, but it'll be sort of an adventure. You know, an adventure. Many tourists just don't want leaving Hatteras Island businesses nearly empty. How anxious are you for that bridge to open up again? Everybody down here people hope there's a light at the end of the bridge. Praying tourists will soon be just a short drive away. Carol Sp wr LTV. Five News. The Outer Banks.

Oct. 1990: Bonner Bridge collapse affecting economy at Outer Banks

Bonner Bridge collapse

Those who remember the collapse of the Bonner Bridge at the Outer Banks said they know what some in Baltimore are going through.

FIRE UNDER CONTROL. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. ALSO NEW TONIGHT, WE NOW KNOW THE NAMES OF 2 WORKERS PULLED FROM THE PATAPSCO RIVER IN BALTIMORE 120 THIS AND ORLEAN CABRERA WERE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS REPAIRING POTHOLES ON THE BRIDGE WHEN THE SHIP KNOCKED IT DOWN. 4 PEOPLE ARE STILL MISSING AND PRESUMED DEAD. FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SAY 11 SHIPS INCLUDING THE DALI CARGO VESSEL ARE STUCK IN THE PORT OF BALTIMORE. THE NTSB SAYS INVESTIGATORS WERE ABLE TO BOARD THE VESSEL OVERNIGHT AND GET THE DATA RECORDER. >> THIS COLLAPSE IS BRINGING BACK DIFFICULT MEMORIES FOR THOSE WHO EXPERIENCED THE PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF NORTH CAROLINA'S BAHNER BRIDGE. THIS HAPPENED MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO IN THAT INCIDENT, A DREDGE BROKE ANCHOR DURING A VIOLENT STORM TAKING OUT 7 SPANS OF THE BROUGHT BAHNER BRIDGE. A RETIRED MEMBER OF THE OREGON INLET COAST GUARD RICK BALL. TALK TO WRAL TONIGHT. HE HELP GET PEOPLE TO SAFETY DURING THAT INCIDENT. AND REMEMBERS WHAT IT WAS LIKE. HE SYMPATHIZES WITH THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN BALTIMORE'S BRIDGE COLLAPSE, INCLUDING THOSE ON THE BOAT. >> EVERY ONE OF THEM IS SHAKING. EVERY ONE OF THEM IS MORE THAN MORE THAN LIKELY. HAVING TO STRUGGLE WITH THE REALITY OF WHAT. HAPPENED AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S PROBABLY SOMEBODY ON THERE THAT. DID SOMETHING THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE OR DIDN'T DO SOMETHING. THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT NOW THEY HAVE TO TO LIVE WITH THAT TYPE OF REGRET. >> PAUL SAYS BALTIMORE'S CARGO SHIP APPEARS TO BE OLDER AND MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE TO MANEUVER THROUGH A POWER OUTAGE. THAT OUTAGE CUT OFF THE SHIPS, HYDRAULICS AND STEERING ABILITY. >> THE AMOUNT OF CONTAINERS THAT WAS ON THAT SHIP. THEY'RE VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE WIND. IF THEY DON'T HAVE GOOD PROPULSION GOING WITH THEM, THEN AS SOON AS THAT PROPULSION STOPS AND THE WIND IS GOING TO TAKE THEM WHEREVER THEY ARE, WHEREVER THE WIND AND THE CURRENT ONES TO TAKE. >> PAUL SAYS THE PRIMARY CONCERN FOR BALTIMORE OTHER THAN SAFETY AND POLLUTION AT THIS POINT IS TO CLEAR THIS CHANNEL FOR EVERY DAY IT'S CLOSED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PROFIT WILL BE LOST AND THE

Baltimore bridge collapse brings back painful memories for some in NC

Tuesday's bridge collapse in Baltimore reminded North Carolinians of a similar collapse in North Carolina decades ago. On Oct. 26, 1990, a runaway dredge collided with the Bonner Bridge on the Outer Banks, causing a section of the bridge to collapse. 

'Everyone of them is shaken': Former ship driver says Baltimore bridge collapse similar to Bonner Bridge collapse

Federal authorities have fined a contractor in an April collapse of a section of the old Bonner Bridge on the Outer Banks that killed a worker.

Contractor fined for fatal bridge collapse on Outer Banks

One worker was killed and a second one injured Wednesday when a section of the old Bonner Bridge on the Outer Banks collapsed, authorities said.

<p>DEBRA? &gt;&gt; KIRSTEN GUTIERREZ LIVE IN RALEIGH, THANKS. &gt;&gt;&gt; AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY TONIGHT AFTER A PERSON WAS KILLED ALONG THE OUTER BANKS. IT HAPPENED THIS AFTERNOON. ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE PERSON DIED WHEN A SECTION OF THE BRIDGE FELL INTO THE OREGON INLET. DEMOLITION OF THE BRIDGE HAS BEEN GOING OFF FOR SOME TIME. NOW THEY REPORT ONE OF THE TWO REMAINING SECTIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INLET COLLAPSED. ANOTHER PERSON WAS INJURED.</p>

One killed, one hurt when part of Bonner Bridge collapsed during demolition

OSHA investigating fatal bridge collapse on Outer Banks

The Coast Guard says it's investigating the collision of a tugboat with an old bridge on the Outer Banks.

Coast Guard: Tugboat leaking fuel after colliding with old Bonner Bridge

Federal appeals court hears Bonner Bridge plans

The replacement for an aging bridge on North Carolina's Outer Banks is now open.

New bridge connecting Outer Banks opens

A federal judge on Monday dismissed an environmental group's challenge to a planned bridge at the Outer Banks to replace a flood-prone section of N.C. Highway 12.