97 NC counties and 1 VA county are under alert, including Wake, Cumberland, Durham, Johnston, and Orange counties.

First responders were on the scene of a roof collapse at Apollo Theatre in Belvidere, Illinois, late Friday night following fierce storms that ripped through the community.

Breaking News: Roof collapses at Apollo Theatre in Illinois following storms, multiple injuries reported.

A large tornado is tearing through Arkansas -- and the danger isn’t over. on WRAL at 11 how a local mother is desperately trying to get her family out of Little Rock.

Only on WRAL at 11: ‘It’s like the aftermath of a hurricane.’ A Raleigh mother shares how her family barely escaped tornados in Arkansas

On Friday night, the festival announced the gates would open at 2 p.m. Saturday instead of noon due to the expected high winds and possible lightning. 

Dreamville Festival starting time pushed back to 2 p.m. With Level 1 risk, planners share how that changes things

Saturday headliners forecast for Dreamville Festival

A WRAL Weather Alert Day has been issued for Saturday, when much of the state is under a Level 1 risk for severe weather.


WRAL Weather Alert Day: Wind gusts could reach 50 MPH on first day of Dreamville, Level 1 threat in effect

Level 1 threat  includes most of the viewing area for April1, 2023

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A monster storm system tore through the South and Midwest on Friday, spawning deadly tornadoes that shredded homes and shopping centers in Arkansas and collapsed a theater roof during a heavy metal concert in Illinois.

Tornadoes strike Arkansas, Illinois; 4 dead, dozens injured

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When Major League Baseball asked for updates to make Durham Bulls Athletic Park better for players, the team added some features for fans, too.

DBAP updates include bigger locker room, ability for fans to watch batting practice

DBAP new batting cage

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is facing multiple charges of falsifying business records, including at least one felony offense, in the indictment handed down by a Manhattan grand jury, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Friday.

AP sources: Trump facing at least 1 felony charge in NY case

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NCAA bracket

College hoops bracket challenge

All assets associated with the tag: credit report

Credit report Coverage

Credit scores are used for everything from getting a mortgage to getting a job.

MONICA CHECKS OUT CREDIT SCORE APPS. >> CREDIT SCORES ARE USED FOR EVERYTHING FROM GETTING A MORTGAGE TO DETERMINING WHAT INTEREST YOU WILL PAY TO GETTING A JOB. SO IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO KNOW WHAT YOURS IS, BUT THE APPS MAY NOT BE GIVING YOU WHAT YOU THINK YOU ARE GETTING. >> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT APPS THROUGH COMPANIES INCLUDING CREDIT KARMA, EXPERIENCE REPORTS AND OTHERS. THEY PROMISE YOUR CREDIT SCORE IN AN INSTANT. SOME EVEN OFFER SCORE MONITORING. IT ALL SOUNDS GOOD, BUT DIG DEEPER AND CONSUMER REPORTS SAY WHILE THE APPS HAVE UPSIDES, ALL HAVE SIGNIFICANT DRAWBACKS. >> OUR INVESTIGATION SHOWED THESE APPS POSED SERIOUS PRIVACY RISKS AND WHAT IS WORST IS THAT OUR SURVEY CONSUMERS WHO USE THESE APPS REVEAL THAT IN SOME CASES, THEY DON'T EVEN PROVIDE AN ACCURATE CREDIT SCORE. SEVERAL OF THE APPS USED ADVANTAGE SCORE 3.0, WHICH HAS LIMITED VALUE BECAUSE A LOT OF LENDERS DON'T EVEN USE IT. >> AS FOR PRIVACY, THE APPS SHARE MORE DATA ABOUT YOU THAN NEEDED FOR THE JOB. MAINLY SO THEY CAN SELL YOU OTHER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. FOUR OF THE FIVE APPS LOOKED INTO CHARGED USERS FOR THE CREDIT REPORT, WHICH IS YOUR DETAILED CREDIT HISTORY. SOMETHING THAT IS FREE THROUGH THE SITE ANNUAL CREDIT REPORT.COM. RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NOT ANY SIMILAR ACCESS TO YOUR CREDIT SCORE. YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET IT THROUGH YOUR BANK OR CREDIT CARD COMPANY. CONSIDER REPORTS IS PUSHING FOR FREE ACCESS. THERE IS A BILL IN CONGRESS, BUT SO FAR IT HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED FOR A VOTE. ALSO, CR ASKED ALL FIVE CREDIT AT COMPANIES ABOUT THEIR CONSUMER PRIVACY DATA COLLECTION AND DATA SHARING PRACTICES. EACH RESPONDED SAYING THEY TAKE CONSUMER PRIVACY VERY SERIOUSLY AND THAT CONSUMER TRUST IS PARAMOUNT TO THEIR BUSINESS. >> SINCE YOUR CREDIT REPORT IMPACT YOUR CREDIT SCORE, BE SURE TO REVIEW IT REGULARLY AND REPORT ANY DISPUTES IMMEDIATELY IN WRITING.

The drawback of credit checking apps 

A recent survey by the credit bureau Experian found most college graduates are optimistic about their future.

Survey: College grads are optimistic, interested in raising credit scores as they begin careers

How Debt Consolidation Affects Your Credit Score

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, there's been an increase in errors that are having a negative impact.

IT'S NOT CLEAR WHY THE SECOND DOSE IS BEING MISSED OR DELAYED. MORE ANALYSIS IS NEEDED. >>> MORE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC. CREDIT SCORES ARE TAKING AN UNEXPECTED HIT. 5 ON YOUR SIDE MONICA LALIBERTE EXPENSING ISSUE WE SHOULD CHECK. >> WE KNOW HOW CRITICAL CREDIT SCORES ARE. IT IMPACTS EVERYTHING FROM THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST YOU PAY ON THE LOAN FOR A NEW CAR TO WHETHER YOU GET THAT JOB OFFER. AND SINCE THE PANDEMIC, ERRORS ARE HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT. AS THE PANDEMIC SHUT DOWN THE COUNTRY LAST MARCH, HELP CAME VIA THE CARES ACT. IT ALLOWED MANY TO DEFER PAYMENTS ON FEDERALLY BACKED MORTGAGES AND STUDENT LOANS. SOME COMPANIES EVEN DEFERRED CREDIT CARD AND CAR LOAN PAYMENTS. BUT OTHERS REPORTED THOSE DEFERRED PAYMENTS AS LATE. AN ERROR THAT CAN HAVE LASTING IMPACT ON YOUR CREDIT SCORE. >> IN TERMS OF TRYING TO GET CREDIT CARDS, A MORTGAGE OR STUDENT LOAN, THAT CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GETTING A GOOD RATE, BAD RATE NO LOAN AT ALL. REPORTING ERRORS ARE COMMON. ONE STUDY FOUND ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE HAVE AT LEAST ONE MISTAKE ON THE REPORT. IN SOME CASES, THE INFORMATION IS OUTDATED. IN OTHERS, IT IS SOMEONE ELSE'S INFORMATION. EVEN WORSE, THE CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU SAYS SINCE THE PANDEMIC, ERRORS HIT RECORD LEVELS. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO? REGULARLY CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORTS ANNUAL CREDIT REPORT.COM. THEY ARE FREE FROM ALL THREE CREDIT BUREAUS. EXPERIAN, EQUIFAX AND TRANS UNION. FIND AN ERROR? DISPUTE IT WITH EACH CREDIT BUREAU IN WRITING. BE SURE TO SEND YOUR LETTER AND ANY SUPPORTING DOCUMENT USING CERTIFIED MAIL. IT IS A PAIN BUT IT'S LIKELY WORTH IT. YOU SHOULD EXPECTED TO TAKE AT LEAST 30 DAYS TO GET AN ANSWER. BE SURE TO FOLLOW UP AND MAKE SURE ISSUES ARE FIXED. MONICA LALIBERTE,  WRAL NEWS  5

Check your credit report for errors 

Consumers can now pursue financial goals with easier access to their most current credit status.

Easier access to credit reports could help consumers impacted by COVID-19

Credit report access undergoes changes

Especially with the pandemic causing stress and economic strain, it's easy to make costly mistakes that could impact your future credit. WRAL's Monica Laliberte has 5 simple tips to help you protect your credit score.

THE S&P CLOSED UP NEARLY 12. >>> ARE YOU UNKNOWINGLY DOING THINGS AFFECTING YOUR CREDIT SCORE? MONICA LALIBERTE POINTS OUT FIVE MISTAKES TO STOP MAKING. >> Reporter: FOR TOO MANY, FINANCES GOT REALLY TIGHT WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, BUT CREDIT SCORES IMPACT SO MUCH OF OUR LIVES YOU NEED TO TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT CHORES. WE TOLD YOU CREDIT SCORES ARE EVERYTHING. THE IMPACT WHETHER YOU GET ALONE, WHAT INTEREST RATE YOU PAY ON IT, AND WHETHER YOU LAND A JOB. SO STOP MAKING FINANCIAL MISTAKES THAT IMPACT YOUR SCORE. BANKRATE.COM SHARES DUES A DOSE OF FIVE PROBLEM MOVES TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MAKING SINCE THE PANDEMIC HITS. FIVE, DON'T CANCEL A CREDIT CARD TO SPECIFICALLY IMPROVE YOUR SCORE. THAT'S LOWER IS THE AMOUNT OF UNUSED CREDIT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE. LENDERS MAY SEE THAT AS A RISK. NUMBER FOUR, DO NOT IGNORE BILLS, AT A MINIMUM WORK OUT A PAYMENT PLAN, DO NOT CARRY A CREDIT CARD BALANCE, USE CARDS TO BUY ONLY WHAT YOU CAN PAY OFF EACH MONTH., PAY BILLS ON TIME. LATE FEES AT UP. LATE PAYMENTS LOWER YOUR SCORE, AT LEAST PAY THE MINIMUM DO. THE NUMBER ONE FINANCIAL MISTAKE PEOPLE ARE MAKING RIGHT NOW, WHICH IMPACTS THE CREDIT SCORES, ADDING TO THE DEBTS. BUYING THINGS THEY REALLY CANNOT AFFORD. .COM SAYS THOSE 56 TO 74, BABY BOOMERS WERE THE LEAST LIKELY TO MAKE THOSE MISTAKES, MILLENNIALS THE MOST LIKELY TO DO SO AND GENERAL XERS, 41-55, THEY WERE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE .

5 On Your Side: How to avoid costly credit mistakes

5 On Your Side: How to avoid costly credit score mistakes

Are you unknowingly doing things that impact your credit score? Here are five simple mistakes that can lower your credit score -- and how to improve.

5 On Your Side: Costly credit mistakes - and 5 simple ways to improve your credit score

Because of COVID-19's impact on jobs, finances and life, you can now get free, weekly, access to your credit report.

200 # # PANDEMIC. G4 SHOWS SIGNS COULD HAVE A PANDEMIC POTENTIAL. >>> FOLLOWING BIG CHANGES REGARDING ACCESS TO YOUR CREDIT REPORT. MONICA LALIBERTE EXPLAINS THE NEW BENEFIT. >> Reporter: SO THIS IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. YOU CAN NOW GET YOUR CREDIT REPORT EVERY WEEK FREE THROUGH NEXT YEAR. CHECK IT OUT. OVER THE YEARS YOU'VE HEARD ME RECOMMEND THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ONE FREE CREDIT REPORT WE COULD GET EACH YEAR FROM EACH OF THE THREE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES. SO THE ADVICE WAS GET ONE EVERY FOUR MONTHS. NOW BECAUSE OF COVID-19'S IMPACT ON JOBS, FINANCES AND LIFE, EQUIFAX AND TRANS-UNION NOW OFFER FREE WEEKLY ACCESS TO YOUR CREDIT REPORT THROUGH NEXT APRIL. IT INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR HISTORY, CREDIT AND PAYMENT THAT IS USED WHEN YOU APPLY FOR LOANS OR NEW CREDIT. YOU WANT TO CHECK FOR ERRORS OR SIGNS OF FRAUD THAT COULD ULTIMATELY IMPACT YOUR SCORE. SOME EXAMPLES, IDENTITY ERRORS SUCH AS WRONG NAME OR ADDRESS, NEW ACCOUNTS YOU DIDN'T OPEN, ACCOUNT STATUS, BECAME THAT'S INCORRECTLY SHOW AS LITTLE AND LIMIT ERRORS. DISPUTE ANY ERRORS ASAP. THERE IS ONLY ONE PLACE TO GET THE FREE REPORTS. THAT IS THE WEBSITE ANNUALCREDITREPORT.COM. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE YOUR CREDIT SCORE. IF YOU WANT ACCESS TO THAT FOR FREE, GET IT THROUGH ONE OF

Credit report access undergoes big changes.