17 NC counties are under alert.

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

David Heredia, the animator behind the video series "Heroes of Color," at home with his daughter Elisa, in Santa Clarita, Calif., Jan. 9, 2018. With “Black Lightning” arriving soon on CW, "Black Panther” coming soon to theaters and Netflix about to offer another season of “Luke Cage," black superheroes are having a moment. There will be a lot to celebrate at this year’s Black Comic Book Festival, now in its sixth year. (Rozette Rago/The New York Times)

Front and Center: Celebrating Black Comics and Their Creators