4 NC counties are under alert, including Moore and Hoke counties.

More than 21% of North Carolina's four-year-olds enrolled in the state's pre-kindergarten programs during the 2022-2023 school year, up from the prior year but still below the state's pre-pandemic highs, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research.

North Carolina ranks 29th in public pre-K enrollment, new report shows

Durham County budget increases funding for pre-K students

Consumer Reports surveyed more than 2,000 members who shared their experiences with pet insurance.

Is pet insurance worth the bark? Survey reveals middling results

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According to the DEA, rainbow fentanyl is currently found in 21 states. So far North Carolina is not one of them.

We all know how easy it is for children to pass candy around to each other while at school or just around each other.

That's why the word is out about the new latest <a href="https://www.wral.com/story/what-is-rainbow-fentanyl-colorful-pills-drive-new-warnings-about-deadliest-drug-in-the-us/20491128/">fentanyl pills that look like candy</a>.

Fentanyl has taken a lot of lives, including Danette Ingram's daughter.

Family members gathered in Raleigh on Sunday to advocate for sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, lost to fentanyl overdoses. 

<p>LOST TO FIT, KNOW OVERDOSES WRAL'S ERIC MILLER HAS THIS STORY. &gt;&gt; FOR DAVE UP DONE, IT'S BEEN 10 HEARTBREAKING MONTHS SINCE HER GRANDDAUGHTER ASHLEY PASSED AWAY. SHE DIED IN GREENSBORO OF A FENTANYL OVERDOSE. I PROMISED HER THAT PEOPLE WOULD KNOW HER IT WILL NEVER FACE. AND THAT I SOUTH. GET JUSTICE FOR HER. SO PART OF THAT PROMISE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LIVE UP TO THE JUSTICE PART. &gt;&gt; I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SOME DAY. PAYTON WAS RIGHT HERE ON STATE CAPITOL GROUNDS TO TRY AND KEEP THAT PROMISE ANY CHILD TO MAKE A MISTAKE. BUT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DIE FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER, JOINED BY OTHERS ALL SUFFERED THROUGH THE SAME HEARTBREAK. &gt;&gt; IT ISN'T REALLY THE ONLY TIME THAT WE WILL CAN BE OURSELVES BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER. PITCHERS ARE DREW'S LOST. HER ONLY DAUGHTER HEAVENLY NELSON TO A FENTANYL OVERDOSE. 2, THEY DIDN'T AND YOU BROKE MY HEART. SHE DIDN'T A CRUISE ORGANIZE SUNDAY'S RALLY. THE RULE OF TENTS, EACH STUFFED WITH PICTURES OF THOSE LOST TO OVERDOSES ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA. DURHAM VANCE I THINK THIS IS CUMBERLAND COUNTY, ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER. &gt;&gt; THERE WERE 314 SUSPECTED OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE STATE JUST LAST MONTH. A GRIM TOTAL PUSHING OVERDOSE DEATHS. 7% HIGHER. SO FAR THIS YEAR COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. WE'RE LOSING A WHOLE GENERATION. &gt;&gt; THE FAMILIES ON THE CAPITOL LAWN SAY THEY WANT TO SEE STRICTER BONDS AND HIGHER PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE CAUGHT DEALING FENTANYL AND WHAT THE STATE TO STEP UP ENFORCEMENT OF THE FELONY DEATH BY DISTRIBUTION. &gt;&gt; EVERY COUNTY. NICE TO HAVE A CERTAIN PROTOCOL. THIS FOLLOWED THE DPD KNOWS SHE CAN'T BRING HER GRANDDAUGHTER BACK. &gt;&gt; BUT YOU CAN'T SEND A MESSAGE TO THE NEXT MOTHER OR GRANDMOTHER OR GRANDDAUGHTER BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE THAT WE THAT. WE LOVE HER. &gt;&gt; WE JUST WANT TO SAVE SOMEBODY ELSE. I'M GOING</p>

Eric Miller

Ryan Bisesi

Advocates hold rally to spread awareness, remember those who died from Fentanyl overdoses

Advocates hold rally to spread awareness, remember those who died from Fentanyl

"I lost my daughter Dakota," said Ingram. "She was 22 years old I lost her in May 2019 to fentanyl.”

Since losing Dakota, Ingram has drawn awareness to the <a href="https://www.wral.com/story/we-are-losing-a-whole-generation-group-gathers-in-raleigh-to-remember-fight-for-those-who-died-from-fentanyl/20426831/">dangers of fentanyl</a> through JoCo Angels.

She is speaking out about the latest trend, with dealers making rainbow-colored pills filled with the deadly drug.

“It is very scary it looks like sweet tart candy to me when I saw the pictures of it," said Ingram. "That is exactly what it reminded me of.”

According to the DEA, Rainbow fentanyl is currently found in 21 states. So far North Carolina is not one of them.

Lawmakers are working to slow the spread of the drug.

Deadly drug overdoses and poisonings have increased 8% from June of 2021, putting North Carolina on track for its deadliest year of overdoses in state history. 

AGE GROUPS. THEY COULD BE ENCOURAGED ONLY FOR OLDER ADULTS OR THOSE AT HIGHER RISK. NEW NUMBERS SHOWING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IS GETTING WORSE HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA. OVERDOSES ARE UP 8% SO FAR THIS YEAR, PUTTING THE STATE ON TRACK TO SURPASS LAST YEAR'S ALARMING RECORD. HIGH WRAL'S JOE FISHER REPORTS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN NEW FUNDING THOUGH WILL BE HELPING TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE NUMBERS ALL DAY LONG, BUT THE REALITY HERE >> IS THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE DYING. KIDS ARE DYING AND BEHIND ALL OF THE STATISTICS, THERE ARE STORIES OF HEARTBREAK HAPPENING. EVERY SINGLE DAY. >> AND IT'S THE HEART IS SAMANTHA DIAZ, HIS FATHER, JOHN DIAZ, AND HIS BEST FRIEND WERE FOUND DEAD INSIDE THIS HOME LAST WEEK IN HOLLY SPRINGS. WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS COCAINE, SHE SAYS, TURNED OUT TO BE STRAIGHT FENTANYL. I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GETTING IT, BUT IT BEATS TO STOP BECAUSE IT IS HURTING. >> I JUST MY FAMILY AND THEIR FAMILIES AROUND THE WORLD. AND I THINK ABOUT THE KID I THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A FAMILY. THEY HAVE A GOOD THING TO KNOW IS 50 TO 100 TIMES MORE POTENT THAN MORPHINE. AND IT'S OFTEN CUT INTO OTHER DRUGS. >> DAVID MARIJUANA IS BEING LACED WITH THIS. SO JUST STAY AWAY. JUDGE PERIOD. A NEW REPORT SHOWS IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. >> LAST YEAR, THE NEARLY 4,000 OVERDOSE DEATHS, 80% INVOLVED. FENTANYL POISONING SO FAR THIS YEAR, DEADLY OVERDOSES ARE UP 8% WITH MORE THAN 1700 DEATHS SINCE JANUARY. WE'VE NOT DONE ENOUGH TO HAVE AN IMPACT WITH OPIOIDS WOULD NOT DO ENOUGH TO HAVE AN IMPACT WITH SUBSTANCES OVERALL. >> BUT WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BECAUSE WE HAVE MODUCATI AWARENESS. JOYCE HARPER IS CEO OF FREEDOM, HOUSE RECOVERY CENTER IN CHAPEL HILL. THIS MONTH. THE STATE AWARDED THEM $800,000 TO EXPAND A PROGRAM THAT HELPS INCARCERATED PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS AS THEY COME OUT OF JAIL. AS OF THIS GRANT WILL ALLOW US TO EXPAND IT SO THAT WE CAN ADD HELPING INDIVIDUALS WITH TRANSPORTATION AND HELPING THEM WITH HOUSING BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO COME THROUGH OUR PROGRAM HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED TO REALLY BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR RECOVERY. HARPER SAYS ADDICTION IS A DISEASE AND IT'S TREATABLE. BUT RIGHT NOW FENTANYL IS MAKING IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE LIKE JOHN DIAZ TO BEAT THE ODDS. >> HE WAS A VERY GOOD HEARTED PERCENT. IT WAS THAT THAT ARE STAGES HE HAD. AND WHEN IT IS, I'M JOE FISHER, WRAL NEWS. >> IN TOTAL, THE STATE AWARDED 16 MILLION DOLLARS THIS MONTH TO 20 ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPAND TREATMENT, TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING FOR PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION, STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ADMIT MONEY ALONE WILL NOT SOLVE THIS ISSUE. THEY SAY PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT

Joe Fisher

Heather Leah

Deadly overdoses up 8%, leaving NC on track to surpass 2021 record

Just this week, Senator Chuck Schumer called for 290 million to help slow that spread.

"In my personal opinion after losing my own daughter I think that we can never do enough," said Ingram. "We have to start a process and have more resources available."

The DEA is advising families to have talks with their children about rainbow fentanyl, so they are aware of the dangers out there.

Julian Grace

Luke Notestine

Cory Dinkel

DEA warns of so-called rainbow fentanyl putting children at risk 

DEA warns of so-called rainbow fentanyl

Drug Enforcement Administration,fentanyl,public safety

The Storm Prediction Center has the Triangle under a Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday. Over the weekend, the Triangle will feel a cooldown due to an incoming cold front.

Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Moore, Hoke counties as Level 1 risk brings possibility of severe storms ⛈️

Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday 

The wait could be longer for answers about PCB testing at Poe Hall, multiple sources tell 5 On Your Side.

More Poe Hall delays: Results likely not released until end of semester

Poe Hall at NC State will shut its doors for fall semester

One man was rescued and another died Friday at Harris Lake after a boat crashed into a cement pole, officials say.



Boater killed, another rescued from Harris Lake after boat crashes into cement pole

Person pulled from water at Harris Lake, search continues for other boaters

NEW YORK (AP) — A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.

Person who was on fire outside Trump's hush money trial is rushed away on a stretcher

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The U.S. Marine Corps said a Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit was killed during a training exercise in Carteret County.

Marine dies during training exercise in eastern NC

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WRAL-TV News Broadcasts: Watch each newscast live or watch the most recent newscast on demand.

WRAL Late News 

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

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Gov. Roy Cooper joins United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to make a clean energy announcement.

Gov. Cooper makes clean energy announcement

Nightly N.C. Education Lottery drawings during the 11 p.m. News.

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are held at 3 p.m. daily. They can be seen as live or on-demand video.

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Game 1 is Saturday night in Raleigh. Game 2 is Monday at PNC Arena.

Make your plans: Complete Hurricanes-Islanders first-round schedule

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Mark Mitchell announced he has committed to the University of Missouri in a post to his Instagram post.

Former Duke forward Mark Mitchell commits to Missouri

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General manager Don Waddell likes how his Carolina Hurricanes finished the season, winning 16 of their final 21 games. He knows it means nothing now.

NHL PLAYOFFS: 'It's wide open' is the theme as the race to the Stanley Cup begins

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After the death of a Harnett County teenager, the softball community in Eastern North Carolina remembers her through stickers and fighting the stigma around mental health.

A North Carolina softball family is honoring one of their own, focusing on suicide prevention

Helmet stickers honoring Aubrey Horne

The No. 15 Tar Heels have now beat No. 25 Duke in 15 consecutive games. Both teams now prepare for the ACC championship next week.

DEA warns of so-called rainbow fentanyl putting children at risk

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DEA warns of so-called rainbow fentanyl

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