We’re also looking into a gas leak in Durham, a downtown Raleigh institution being one of several businesses closing, and two shootings in one week near the American Tobacco Campus. Watch WRAL-TV at 7 and search for these and other stories on WRAL.com.

On WRAL at 7: Strong winds, heavy rain, and hail possible ⛈️ We’re timing out when the biggest storm threats could fire up

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

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

One thing that you may not realize is that many school districts across North Carolina offer a variety of options within the public school system, ones that are high quality and scalable to other districts. Today we'll hear about how North Carolina public schools offer many opportunities for students that are taking shape across our state and preparing our children to compete in a global workplace.
Guests:
Leigh Ann Lampley, Principal, International School at Gregory, Spanish Immersion Magnet, Wilmington

James Hopkins, Principal, Lakewood Elementary

Jake Henry, Chief Academic Officer, Participate Learning


Maggie Brown

Education Matters Ep. 192: Dual-Language Programs and School Choice

Education Matters

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

WRAL Late News 

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

I'm meteorologist, Amy Wilma in the WRL severe weather center, we had a dry warm day today, but a cold front is off to the west of us and it arrives tomorrow and brings the potential for some scattered showers and some thunderstorms. It's a pretty potent system today with a level three out of five risk for part of the Midwest. But the severe weather will be moving eastward as this cold front moves eastward as well. And we'll have the risk for severe storms tomorrow. Although the storm energy will not be as high tomorrow as it is today. There's a lot of storm energy west of us today and that's why they have that higher risk for severe storms. But as this system moves closer to North Carolina, it does weaken. We could still have some isolated severe storms but we have weak to moderate energy. We don't have the strong energy that they have west of us today. So it's a level one risk for most of us Friday. This is in the afternoon and evening. So isolated severe storms possible. The biggest threat will be some damaging winds and a potential for some hail as Well, the first half of the day is dry, so no rain worries for the morning commute. But by the time we get to the afternoon and evening, that's when we'll have scattered showers and storms and any of the storms that do form could become severe. And our highest rain chances are right during the evening commute. So about a 40% chance for rain tomorrow as we move ahead to Saturday, only a slim chance for a shower, a 20% chance for rain. But then a decent chance for rain on Sunday, we don't expect storms, but mainly the second half of our Sunday will have some scattered showers and it will be a cooler day. Here's a look at the rain over the weekend again, just a slim chance for rain on Saturday. Otherwise partly to mostly cloudy skies with temperatures in the low to mid seventies. Sunday morning looks mainly dry with a little bit of rain over some of our southern counties. But then as we head toward the afternoon, a better chance for rain, especially south and east of the triangle. And then during the evening is when some of that rain lifts to the north and includes a good part of the viewing area on Sunday. So the second half of the day certainly looks like the wettest part of the day, still warm Friday with a high of 84. And then we're down into the mid seventies Saturday, high temperatures will be in the low to mid sixties for Sunday and Monday with some chilly mornings, Monday morning and Tuesday morning. Down into the forties, we warm back up next week though. 74 on Tuesday, 78 Wednesday and near 70 for a high temperature on Thursday.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

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

Good afternoon. I'm back. Global. Welcome to this news drawings for Thursday, April 18th, 2024. Let's get started with Carolina pick three. The first pick three numbers zero. The second is one, the third is six that are pick three. Fireball number is one. Joining me for this afternoon's drawing is our auditor for a con and Jones L LP. Now move on to Carolina pick for the first four. Number is three. The second is for the third is 54, is seven in our pick four. Fireball number is nine. The North Carolina education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Thanks for your support and thanks for playing.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

After 22 years in business, Armadillo Grill on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh has closed.



WE HAVE MORE RAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR THE WEEKEND. I'LL SHOW YOU COMING UP. THE LIST OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH BUSINESSES SHUTTING THEIR DOORS IS ARMADILLO GRILL IS THE LATEST TO CLOSE FOR GOOD. >> WRAL'S SEAN GALLAGHER IS IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH TO FIND OUT WITH THIS MEANS FOR THE GLENN WOOD, SOUTH AREA. SEAN, THIS WAS A SURPRISE TO A LOT OF FOLKS. >> YEAH, THIS WAS VERY ABRUPT SO ABRUPT THAT WE'VE SEEN A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE COMING UP HERE TRYING TO GET LUNCH ON THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND THEY'RE MET WITH THIS SIGN ON THE DOOR, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE SHUT DOWN FOR GOOD, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AT THIS LOCATION. NOW, THIS TEX MEX RESTAURANT CALL THE CORNER OF GLENWOOD AVENUE AND TUCKER STREET HOME FOR THE LAST. 22 YEARS. IN A FACEBOOK POST, THE OWNERS SAY CHANGES IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AND RISING COSTS ARE WHY THEY'RE SHUTTING DOWN THIS LOCATION. IT'S THE LATEST IN A STRING OF STAPLE BUSINESSES RALLY, CLOSING CLOUDS BREWING, SHUT DOWN ITS RALEIGH TAVERN ON WEST STREET EARLIER THIS MONTH IN THE CAPITAL CLUB. 16 IS SHUTTING DOWN AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. OUR BELOVED REAL SAID THEY WILL LOOK FOR ANOTHER LOCATION TO SERVE THE RALEIGH COMMUNITY. BUT FOR SHARE MCCRACKEN OF GARDEN SCAPE DESIGNER FOR BUSINESSES AROUND THIS AREA. THIS IS JUST A SIGN OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >> IT'S ELEVATING RIGHT NOW. PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO KIND OF ROLL WITH IT. NATURALLY COMING TO AN END AND MAYBE THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SPOT THAT'S PERFECT FOR THEM. BUT YOU CAN DEFINITELY FEEL THAT THERE IS A CHANGE GOING ON ON THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH. >> AN ARMADILLO GRILL WILL ARE STILL OFFER THEIR CATERING SERVICES HERE AND THEY WILL STILL OPERATE THEIR FLAGSHIP LOCATION IN CARRBORO. BUT RENEE, THAT'S ABOUT 40 MINUTES AWAY RIGHT NEAR UNC CAMPUS. >> WHILE CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE TO DRIVE A LOT FARTHER AND WE WILL SEE WHAT ENDS UP TAKING ITS PLACE. THERE ON GLENWOOD

Glenwood South staple Armadillo Grill closes

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

Good evening. I'm Gail her. Welcome to tonight's drawing for Wednesday, April 17th, 2024. Well, let's get start tonight with our Carolina pick three. Our first winning numbers are two. Our second number is nine and the third number tonight is six and our pick three. Fireball number is an eight. Joining me for tonight's show is the auditor from mcconnell and Jones L LP. Now lets move of the Carolina pick four. Good luck. Everyone who's that first number. It's a three. Our second pick four. Number is one, third, one is one again and our fourth pick four number is a nine and our pick for fireball number is a six. Well, turning now to the Carolina cash five. If no one was the top prize tonight, tomorrow's top prize is estimated at $191,000. Good luck. Everyone is that first winning cash five number. It's 33. Our second number is an eight third number. Tonight is 10. Our fourth number is 22 and the final number in our cash five this evening, 41 the North Carolina education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Get your winning numbers right here every night at your exclusive station for the North Carolina Education lottery. Thanks for playing. Have a great night.

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday Powerball drawings, as shown live on WRAL.

Is powerball. Good evening, everyone. I'm Randy Trainer. Tonight. We have our life changing jackpot. It's estimated to be $80.7 million to get your tickets ready. Here. Come, tonight's winning numbers. Let's start things off this evening with the number 24. Right after that America. We have the number 54 and congratulations to Lisa Hayes from Illinois. She won $2 million playing powerball. All right, the rest of your winning number is 4447. And let's round it out tonight with the number 29 and tonight's win powerball number that's gonna be two and your power play multiplier is two. Let's take a look at tonight's winning numbers. Remember there are multiple ways to win. Good luck, everyone. We'll see you back here on Saturday night. It's time to play America's favorite.

Powerball Drawing

A crash has shut down all but one lane of Interstate 540 westbound near Buffaloe Road in Raleigh. Sky 5 is over the scene

Crash shuts down I-540 West near Buffaloe Road in Raleigh; Sky 5 is over the scene

Tuesday and Friday Mega Millions Drawing.

>> ACROSS AMERICA WITH MEGA JACKPOTS, IT'S MEGA MILLIONS. HELLO, MAYOR COMES ON CODE IS TUESDAY. APRIL 16TH AND TONIGHT'S MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT IS AN ESTIMATED A NEW TIES. 148 MILLION DOLLARS. >> DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. TONIGHT'S DRAWING HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY HALTED. ONCE THE MALFUNCTION IS CORRECTED, THE DRAWING WILL CONTINUE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE AUDITOR. WE SAY TO THE STATION FOR ALL WINNING NUMBERS. >> SPOTTY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POPPING UP HOW

Education Matters Ep. 192: Dual-Language Programs and School Choice

More On This