This year marks the 65th annual lighting of the WRAL-TV tower in Raleigh, an annual tradition that has grown to include celebrations with towers at American Tobacco Campus in Durham and Rocky Mount Mills.

WRAL lights towers in Raleigh, Durham and Rocky Mount

Medicaid expansion means North Carolina's working poor can go to the doctor for free. It also means billions in new federal funding for hospitals.

After 14 years, billions to flow as 600,000 qualify for Medicaid insurance in NC

Wake County adding 74 jobs to Medicaid office but can't hire yet

Four million people have atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder. Out of 700,000 strokes in the United States every year, 140,000 can be linked to atrial fibrillation. It's most common in the elderly or those with different heart defects.

PINEHURST — Four million people have atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder.

Out of 700,000 strokes in the United States every year, 140,000 can be linked to atrial fibrillation. It's most common in the elderly or those with different heart defects.

Electrical impulses are what cause the heart to beat and pump blood. For some people, that system can go haywire and cause the heart's atrial chambers to fibrillate or beat irregularly. That's called atrial fibrillation.

More blood pools up in the upper chambers, which increases the risk of clots and, therefore, stroke. The options have been medical management, shock therapy to bring the heart back into rhythm, ablation therapy or surgical treatment.

A new procedure developed at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital called the Ex Maze procedure is a less invasive way to get the heart permanently back in rhythm.

The standard surgery, called the Cox Maze procedure, involves stopping the heart, cutting it into sections and sewing it back together. The scars redirect the electrical currents to restore normal rhythm.

Dr. Andy C. Kiser, chief of thoracic surgery at FirstHealth Moore Regional and a cardiologist, developed a new procedure called Ex Maze to accomplish the same thing as Cox Maze, but less invasively.

Using a plastic surgical model, Kiser demonstrated how his procedure uses a special heating coil encased in a long tube.

&quot;We pass the device behind the heart, and the tether pulls right behind the heart and you can see how easily that goes through,&quot; he said.

Suction attaches the short heating coil to the surface of the heart to create a scar.  The multiple scars form a pattern, or maze, all around the surface of the heart to disrupt the irregular electrical impulses.

&quot;You direct the current of the heart in the direction that you want it to go,&quot; Kiser said.

There have been 70 such procedures done worldwide; 20 of them at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. It's where many surgeons around the country will come for Ex Maze training.

&quot;There are 3 or 4 million Americans today who don't have a good treatment for atrial fibrillation,&quot; Kiser said. &quot;This device has really enabled us to do now what people have been trying to do for years, without having to stop the heart and cut the heart.&quot;

Until now, the procedure has only been done in conjunction with other open heart procedures. In about two months, the first &quot;stand alone&quot; Ex Maze procedure will be done at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.

Kiser said the long-term plan is to try to do the procedure laparoscopically through small incisions, but even standard surgery for it poses a much lower risk than the current standard surgery of stopping and cutting into the heart.

Allen Mask, M.D.

Rick Armstrong

Kelly Hinchcliffe

Doctor Develops Procedure to Help Regulate Heartbeats

Doctor Develops New Procedure to Help Regulate Heartbeats

The morning will start off with some sunshine, but clouds will quickly move in by noon. 

Don't forget your umbrella!☔Rain expected for the next 3 days

Wetter and warmer weekend

According to an arrest warrant obtained by WRAL News, 26-year-old Daquan Seandre Thomas is charged with felony murder and felony concealment of 22-year-old Tyrone Taylor. According to Sheriff Wayne Coats, Thomas was already in jail for a domestic violence incident with the victim's sister.

'Infectious smile': Community grieves youth pastor found dead after missing for 10 weeks

Body of missing Dunn man found; suspect in custody, charged with murder

A landlord with properties spanning across the state, including multiple units in Raleigh, faces potential disciplinary action and legal scrutiny.

Landlord who charged NC State students $18,000 for beer pong table at center of multiple investigations

5 On Your Side investigates landlord with history of excessive charges

A 17-year-old Lumberton High School student will be suspended for a full year after staff found a handgun and marijuana in his car on Thursday.

Lumberton High student found with gun, pot in car

marijuana 

Students returned to Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School today for the first time since Monday's deadly stabbing - to at atmosphere they are describing as calm, quiet, somber and anxious.

Anxious, but resilient: Students, teachers describe atmosphere on first day of school after fatal stabbing at Southeast Raleigh

Anxiety and resiliency: Students, teachers describe atmosphere on first day of school after fatal stabbing at Southeast Raleigh

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

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Umbrellas for the weekend 

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

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday plans to name a replacement for State Auditor Beth Wood, who previously said she would step down in the wake of charges related to her use of state-issued vehicles.

Replacement named for State Auditor Beth Wood

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

N.C. High School Athletic Association Commissioner Que Tucker and President Chris Blanton hold a press conference following the winter board of directors meeting in Chapel Hill.

NCHSAA press conference following winter board meeting

Videos

Here's a look at which bowl bids NC State, North Carolina and Duke could accept.

Which bowl game will NC State, North Carolina and Duke play in?

Dave Doeren with Mack Brown

Duke sophomore Ashlon Jackson scored 18 points and the Blue Devils outscored Georgia 17-10 in overtime to upend the Bulldogs, 72-65, in the inaugural ACC/SEC Women's Basketball Challenge.

Duke women prevail in overtime, 72-65, at Georgia

Duke Logo

NC State quarterback MJ Morris will enter the transfer portal. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

NC State QB Morris to enter transfer portal

MJ Morris (16) in the pocket. 

The #7 Shaw University volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 hole to notch a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the #2 Wheeling Cardinals 

Doctor Develops Procedure to Help Regulate Heartbeats

More On This