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.

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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.

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A look at inflation at the grocery store

Larry Hales, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., stopped to cash in a winning $20 ticket and decided to try his luck again at Han-Dee Hugh on Benson Highway in Garner. 



<b>GARNER, N.C.</b> — On his way to the dentist, a man picked up a scratch-off ticket worth $750,000.

Larry Hales, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., stopped to cash in a winning $20 ticket and decided to try his luck again at Han-Dee Hugo’s on Benson Highway in Garner.

"I was standing there. I said, 'Well, why don't I just buy a $10 ticket instead of a 20?' And I thought, if I win $750,000 I believe I can live with that," said Hales.

He then went on to the dentist before checking the numbers. Before heading back home, Hales stopped at the bank to make a deposit and decided to do the scratch-off while waiting in line.

He said he called his wife to double check the numbers.

“I'll bet we looked at those tickets a dozen times before we came up here," recalled Hales.

After federal and state tax holdings, he took home $530,628.

Hales said he and his wife plan to use the money for home repairs and "maybe a new truck."

Sydney Franklin

Man picks up $750,000 scratch-off winner during trip to the dentist 

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More than 4,300 North Carolinians died from overdoses in 2022. That trend continues going up, devastating entire communities.

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Woman shows faces of those who died from overdoses in NC

Shortages of teachers, infrastructure and technology workers will hamper schools' ability to provide the best education, facilities and tools to children, Superintendent Robert Taylor said Thursday.

Higher employee pay will be key to running Wake schools smoothly, superintendent says

Wake County Public School System Superintendent Robert Taylor speaks to the League fo Women Voters of Wake County, April 18, 2024

The Durham Fire Department responded to a gas leak involving a propane tank Thursday afternoon.

Gas leak prompts evacuations in Durham on Angier Avenue 

Domestic violence cases have spiked since the COVID-19 pandemic, with 17 homicides related to domestic violence already reported in North Carolina this year. In 2022, 72 homicides were connected to domestic violence in the state.

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Heather Pritt

The Storm Prediction Center has our southern counties under a Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday.

Level 1 severe threat: Strong winds and hail possible Friday 

Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday 

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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

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



Glenwood South staple Armadillo Grill closes

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

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

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After the death of a Harnett County teenager, the softball community in Eastern North Carolina remembers her through stickers and fighting the stigma around mental health.

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USA Basketball studied every men's basketball game it has played for about two decades and a clear trend eventually appeared. When the defense isn't good enough, the Americans tend to get themselves into trouble.

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If the Panthers want to start winning again, they're going to need a good -- maybe even great -- draft class. Here's an in-depth look on who Carolina should be targeting and when.