Officials are encouraging residents to take steps to prepare for extreme weather ahead of hurricane season. New data shows flood and wind risk is changing in the state.

Inland homes at risk for high winds, flooding during hurricane season. Here's what you can do now.

Holly Springs shed damage

More than a dozen former employees say understaffing at Brynn Marr Hospital contributes to what they describe as a dangerous place for patients and employees. Hospital officials say allegations of violence, sexual assaults, overmedication and lack of mental health therapy are unfounded.

Former employees say short-staffed NC psych hospital rife with violence, abuse

Brynn Marr Hospital

Authorities said they believe fireworks sparked a brush fire late Sunday in southern Harnett County.

<b>SPRING LAKE, N.C.</b> — Authorities said they believe fireworks sparked a brush fire late Sunday in southern Harnett County.

The state Division of Forestry Resources responded to a 5-acre fire in the Anderson Creek area.

Firefighters were able to control the blaze, and no injuries were reported.

Authorities are trying to determine who was responsible for starting the fire.

Matthew Burns

Fireworks blamed for Harnett brush fire

Harnett brush fire

Friday is now a WRAL Weather Alert Day, with an upgraded risk for severe storms in our southern counties.


🚨WRAL Weather Alert Day🚨 Level 2 risk for severe storms Friday afternoon, damaging winds & isolated tornadoes possible

Severe risk for Friday 

A man was taken to the hospital Friday after shots were fired at an apartment complex in north Raleigh.



Shots fired at north Raleigh apartment complex, man injured

One man hurt in north Raleigh shooting, police remain on scene

Two men were charged after four people were shot Wednesday night in Durham. One man died in the shooting, and a woman was seriously injured.



Two men arrested after 4 people shot, man killed at Durham apartment

Yeltsin Cinto Orozco, 29, and William Antonio Sanchez-Vasquez, 42

A series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the sun have the potential to create dazzling auroras that may be seen as far south as Alabama and Northern California but also disrupt communications on Earth tonight and over the weekend.

Solar storms could create rare aurora displays, be visible in North Carolina this weekend

Aurora forecast for May 10-11

The yellow flashing traffic signal that indicates a malfunction at an intersection is turning red, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.



Traffic signals will flash red, not yellow, to alert drivers, NCDOT says 

Traffic lights

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

WRAL Late News 

WRAL Noon News

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

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

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.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

Carolina Hurricanes players and Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour talk about Game 3 on Thursday night against the New York Rangers. 

Canes players, coach talk about Game 3 against New York Rangers

Videos

The Carolina Hurricanes try to turn the tides against the New York Rangers in Game 3 at PNC Arena. The Canes are down 2-0 to the Rangers.

Hurricanes fall in overtime to the Rangers, trail 3-0 in the series

Hurricanes_Rangers_Hockey_22564

Dozens of people showed up on Douglas Street in Wilson on Thursday morning for a groundbreaking ceremony for the Carolina Mudcats' new Wilson stadium.

Wilson breaks ground on new Mudcats baseball stadium

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- The New York Rangers erased an early deficit to take momentum, only to squander their own lead late with a huge postseason road victory only minutes away.

Artemi Panarin scores in overtime, Rangers beat Hurricanes 3-2 to take 3-0 series lead

Rangers_Hurricanes_Hockey_22876

Seth Jarvis is like the little brother to the Hurricanes veterans, a role he's played his whole life.  Seth's big brother Kayden shares what it was like growing up Jarvis and how it helped make Seth the player he is today.  