It's a battleground weekend in NC: DeSantis, Trump, Pence and Biden are all visiting today or tomorrow. On TV at 6:30: Coverage of Biden's visit and the NCGOP Convention.

On WRAL at 6:30: Trump indicted ahead of big battleground weekend in NC. 

There are a few problem spots with lower air quality in the Triangle area this morning. On TV at 6: When we should start seeing an improvement. 

On WRAL at 6: Still tracking problem spots for air quality in the Triangle

Intense smoke blanketed the northeastern United States for a second day Wednesday, turning the air a yellowish gray and prompting warnings for people to stay inside and keep windows closed. The smoke was flowing from dozens of wildfires in several Canadian provinces.

Air pollution cloaks eastern US for a second day. Here's why there is so much smoke

Canada_Wildfires_New_York_30524

Check out summer movies with our cheap and free movies database, which lists 26 options for inexpensive summer movie fun.

Summer movie guide: 25 places for free, cheap kid-friendly movies

Summer movies - free movies

All assets associated with the tag: lifeguard

Lifeguard Coverage

A GoFundMe page was established Friday hours after two Nags Head lifeguards were injured in a house fire.



Nags Head lifeguard injured in house fire, home a total loss 

The city of Raleigh is struggling to find and recruit new lifeguards this summer, causing half of all pools to close down. 

The city of Raleigh is looking for at least 75 new lifeguards. 100 would be ideal. But we've had to kind of delay opening in some cases. We might not have all the bodies of water open in some of our year round pools. We've been limited in instructions and swim lessons. The shortage is nothing new, but the pandemic made it much worse. Yes. Covid, we lost quite a few because of that. Some opted not to come back, which I think a lot of people considered during, during the pandemic is really, what do I want to do, ken Heisler, the Parks and Recreation Director says they've increased pay from 9 to $13 in hopes of attracting staff. However, of the last 10 applicants, only about 30% passed the swim test. It's kind of physically demanding. You gotta be able to swim, you gotta go 300 yards without stopping. You need to be able to tread water for two minutes And you need to be able to pull a £10 block off the bottom of the pool and do some swimming. And Chrysler says they're actively looking for lifeguards in until they have more pools will not be opening? And we hope that that doesn't come to it, which is why we're always looking to juggle. Can we open up portions of it? Can we delay? Can we kind of work through it so that everybody can get that experience? But it really comes down to safety first and we will not put anybody in a position where that will be, There will be any risk that goes into that.

City of Raleigh forced to shut down 4 pools amid shortage of lifeguards

LIfeguard shortage Raleigh

Lake Johnson, Longview, Biltmore Hills and Ridge Road pool will not be open this weekend because of a lifeguard shortage .



Half of all Raleigh's pools not yet open due to lifeguard shortage 

Lifeguard shortages will mean fewer days to go to Forest Hills pool in Durham.



POLICE DIVERGING TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES. NO WORD ON THE EXTENT OF INJURIES. >>> LIFE GUARD SHORTAGES WILL MEAN FEWER DAYS AT A DURHAM POOL. THE POOL WILL BE CLOSED DUE TO A STAFFING SHORTAGE. WRAL'S JULIAN GRACE JOINS US LIVE TONIGHT WITH SOME OF THE INCENTIVES THAT WERE BEING USED TO TRY TO HIRE MORE STAFF, JULIAN? >> Reporter: AND ONE OF THOSE BIG THINGS COULD MEAN MORE MONEY FOR LIFE GUARDS HERE AND IN THE MEANTIME THIS POOL WILL BE CLOSED ON SATURDAY. IT'S FRIDAY AND IT'S A HOT ONE. >> IT IS REALLY HOT. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR SPRAY GROUNDS EVERYWHERE AND THEY SEEM TO BE CLOSED. >> Reporter: THE BAKER FAMILY LEARNED THE POOL JUST A FEW FEET AWAY WILL NOT BE IN THE OPTION THIS SATURDAY. >> IT IS A LITTLE FRUSTRATING. >> Reporter: THE FOREST HILLS SITE WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH LIFE GUARDS ON DUTY TO BE OPEN SATURDAY. >> WE ONLY E OPEN OUR POOLS IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE SHORT ENOUGH LIFE GUARDS FOR ONE DAY THIS COMING SATURDAY, TOMORROW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SHUT ONE OF OUR THREE OUTDOOR POOLS. >> Reporter: DURHAM IS NOT ALONE. RALEIGH HAD ROUGHLY 40 OPEN LIFE GUARD POSITIONS, AND MANY POOLS WERE OPERATING UNDER MODIFIED SCHEDULES. RIGHT NOW DURHAM IS DOING A LOT TO ENCOURAGE THOSE TO BECOME A LIFE GUARD. >> WE HAVE INCREASED OUR WAGES AND OUR SENIOR LIFE GUARDS JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA MAKES $17.99 AN HOUR. >> THAT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ENOUGH TO OPEN THE POOL ON SATURDAY, SO THE BAKER FAMILY WILL HAVE TO LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE TO KEEP COOL. >> WE KIND OF HAVE TO STAY INSIDE AND WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP HYDRATED. MAKING SURE SHE HAS HER SUNSCREEN ON. >> Reporter: A LACK OF LIFE GUARDS, WILL THAT BE A PROBLEM? WE'LL SEE HERE ALL SUMMER. LENA, I ASK THAT QUESTION TO PARKS AND RECS HERE IN DURHAM TONIGHT AND THEY TELL ME PLEASE REMEMBER THERE IS A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE AND NO ONE IS IMMUNED.

Lack of lifeguards causes temporary closure at Durham pool

Lifeguard shortages will mean fewer days to go to Forest Hills pool in Durham. 



'It's a little frustrating.' Staffing shortage causes Durham pool to close on Saturday 

Lifeguards earn between $17.99 and $21.56 per hour, according to the city.  They typically work between 15 to 20 hours a week. 

Durham seeking lifeguards, ages 16 and up

Swimming pool

Raleigh is offering its lifeguard training program for teens as young as 15, and now is the time to sign up.



Need a summer job for your teen? Raleigh's lifeguard training program is open

Some Triangle cities are grappling with a shortage of lifeguards.

Triangle cities in need of pool lifeguards

So far this summer, seven people have drowned along the North Carolina coast -- 28 nationwide -- due to rip currents. But hundreds more have been rescued.



Lifeguards demonstrate rip current rescue 

Rip current rescue

As the summer swim season begins, the city of Raleigh is still on the hunt for more than a few good lifeguards.