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

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

On Saturday, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is hosting its first in-person event in over two years -- the Triangle SciTech Expo.  Museum coordinator Chris Smith describes the event and introduces some special guests.

THE ANIMALS YOU GET TO SEE AT >> WELCOME BACK. I'M MIKAYA THURMOND AND WE ARE OUTSIDE BECAUSE THE NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES IS HOSTING ITS FIRST EVENT IN 2 YEARS. IT'S BEGINNING TOMORROW. THE SITE TECH EXPO. THIS IS MUSEUM COORDINATOR CHRIS SMITH JOINING US LIVE AND EVENT COORDINATOR. TELL US WHO YOU HAVE HERE AND WHAT FOLKS CAN EXPECT AT THE SITE TECH EXPO. >> SITE EXPOS A GREAT EVENT FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO ENGAGE WITH SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY, ANIMALS, NATURE. AND OF COURSE, TODAY IS EARTH DAY. YES. SO I THOUGHT A PROMO. THE WHOLE THING. WHY NOT MEET SOME OF THE AMAZING ANIMALS THAT WE SHARE THE PLANET WITH THE FIRST ONE THAT I BROUGHT FOR. YOU. THERE'S A TIGER. ALMOST ALMOST A TIGER. THE TIGER SALAMANDER. WOW, THIS IS THE LARGEST TERRESTRIAL SALAMANDER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THEY LIVE IN OUR COASTAL PLAIN, BUT THEY'RE RARE. THEY ONLY HAVE A FEW SMALL POPULATIONS IN OUR STATE. >> WOW. AND YOU'RE WEARING GLOVES. AND IS THAT A REASON FOR THE TIGER? ABSOLUTELY. THESE ANIMAL SALAMANDERS BREATHE THROUGH THEIR SKIN. SO I'M WEARING GLOVES TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING ON MY HANDS GETS ON HIS SKIN. THAT THEN WOULD MAKE IT INTO HIS BODY. WOW. THAT IS. SO YOU'LL HAVE A VERY LARGE IN PERKS IT. I WAS SAD. FASCINATING, OK? SO WHO ELSE DO YOU HAVE WITH YOU? WELL, MOVING FROM OUR COASTAL PLAIN TO THE COAST ITSELF, OK, OUR MARSHES ESTUARIES AND SOUNDS THE ONLY BRACKISH WATER TURTLE IN NORTH AMERICA. THE DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN, OK, FREE. WOW. THIS IS A FEMALE YOU CAN TELL BECAUSE SHE'S YOU CHIP THE SIZE OF A DINNER PLATE. IN FACT. THE GORGEOUS MARKINGS ON THEIR HEAD NECK AND BODY. THE DIAMONDBACK COMES FROM THE SHAPE OF THE SCALES ON THAT. THAT TURTLE SHELL. BUT THIS ANIMAL IS ALSO THREATENED IN NORTH CAROLINA, RIGHT? DON'T LIVE IN SALT MARSHES AND SOUNDS WHICH IS NOT VERY COMMON IN NORTH CAROLINA. JUST THE COAST. THESE ANIMALS ALSO GET HIT BY CARS DRIVING UP AND DOWN ROADWAYS ON OUR BEACHES. AND WE LIKE TO BUILD OUR CONDOS WHERE THEY LAY THEIR EGGS. BUT OF COURSE, THEY WILL BE AT THE SITE TECH EXPO WHERE THEY'RE NOT ENDANGERED AND THEY ARE VERY HAPPY DATERS HAS RE. >> WATCH OUT HERE. OKAY. WE'VE GOT ONE MORE SURPRISE FOR YOU GUYS. THIS ONE. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT A DOZEN LIVE IN NORTH CAROLINA, BUT IT IS THE CUTEST. HAHA. THIS. IT'S CALLED A HEDGEHOG. 10 WRECK. THIS IS AN ANIMAL THAT LIVES IN MADAGASCAR ARE NOT NORTH CAROLINA. BUT THEY LOOK PRETTY MUCH LIKE A HEDGEHOG THAT GOT SPINES DOWN THEIR BACK TO PROTECT THEM FROM PREDATORS. THEY'VE GOT SHARP LITTLE TEETH FOR EATING BUGS. BEATLES WORMS. BUT THEY ALSO HAVE SHARP LITTLE CLAUSE BECAUSE THESE GUYS CAN CLIMB TREES. I GOT TO TELL YOU, OK, THE HEDGEHOG IS VERY QUICKLY AND I KNOW WE KNOW THAT. BUT YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW SHOCKED, THOUGH. >> AND HOW EFFECTIVE IT IS AT PROTECTING THEM. >> RIGHT. IF YOU ARE A PREDATOR SNEAKING UP ON THIS AND THIS LITTLE 10 WRECKED TURNED INTO A BALL AND THEN PRESSED BY UP VERY FAST. YOU GET HIT WITH ALL OF THESE LITTLE SPINES AND YOU MIGHT THINK TWICE ABOUT MAKING A SNACK OUT OF A 10 WRECK FROM MADAGASCAR. SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SITE TECH EXPO. WHAT ARE THE TIMES AND WILL PEOPLE GET TO PET THE ANIMALS? >> AT THE SITE TO EXPOSE PEOPLE GET TO MEET THESE ANIMALS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. WE'LL ALSO GET TO MEET SCIENTISTS, TECHNOLOGISTS. THEY'LL GET TO SEE ROBOTS. DO SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS, CRAFTS, GAMES, ACTIVITIES ALL DAY LONG TOMORROW AT THE MUSEUM. JUST WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING BACK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2 YEARS FOR YOU, CHRIS, I KNOW WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER FOR YEARS AND IT'S BEEN A MINUTE THAT WE'VE SEEN EACH OTHER IN PERSON. IT'S JUST LOVELY TO SEE SO MANY FACES BACK IN THE MUSEUM. >> ENJOYING ALL OF THE EXHIBITS AND ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE GETTING TO SEE OUR ANIMALS LEARN ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA'S NATURE, RIGHT, BEING IN PERSON AND GETTING TO SEE THESE THINGS UP CLOSE HELPS PEOPLE TO CARE MORE ABOUT THEM. THAT'S RIGHT. SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT THEM. >> I GOT TO TELL YOU, THIS IS SO COOL. IT'S FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AND KIDS OF ALL AGES, INCLUDING MYSELF. CHRIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. YOU KNOW, CAN I GOT TO SAY THIS WOULD BE GREAT FOR HIM AND AND FRANKIE, ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GREAT MUSEUM RIGHT HERE IN OUR BEDS.

Jessica Patrick

Meet new animals: NC Museum of Natural Sciences hosts special event Saturday 

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WRAL Late News 

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

I'm meteorologist, Amy Wilma in the WRL severe weather center, we had a dry warm day today, but a cold front is off to the west of us and it arrives tomorrow and brings the potential for some scattered showers and some thunderstorms. It's a pretty potent system today with a level three out of five risk for part of the Midwest. But the severe weather will be moving eastward as this cold front moves eastward as well. And we'll have the risk for severe storms tomorrow. Although the storm energy will not be as high tomorrow as it is today. There's a lot of storm energy west of us today and that's why they have that higher risk for severe storms. But as this system moves closer to North Carolina, it does weaken. We could still have some isolated severe storms but we have weak to moderate energy. We don't have the strong energy that they have west of us today. So it's a level one risk for most of us Friday. This is in the afternoon and evening. So isolated severe storms possible. The biggest threat will be some damaging winds and a potential for some hail as Well, the first half of the day is dry, so no rain worries for the morning commute. But by the time we get to the afternoon and evening, that's when we'll have scattered showers and storms and any of the storms that do form could become severe. And our highest rain chances are right during the evening commute. So about a 40% chance for rain tomorrow as we move ahead to Saturday, only a slim chance for a shower, a 20% chance for rain. But then a decent chance for rain on Sunday, we don't expect storms, but mainly the second half of our Sunday will have some scattered showers and it will be a cooler day. Here's a look at the rain over the weekend again, just a slim chance for rain on Saturday. Otherwise partly to mostly cloudy skies with temperatures in the low to mid seventies. Sunday morning looks mainly dry with a little bit of rain over some of our southern counties. But then as we head toward the afternoon, a better chance for rain, especially south and east of the triangle. And then during the evening is when some of that rain lifts to the north and includes a good part of the viewing area on Sunday. So the second half of the day certainly looks like the wettest part of the day, still warm Friday with a high of 84. And then we're down into the mid seventies Saturday, high temperatures will be in the low to mid sixties for Sunday and Monday with some chilly mornings, Monday morning and Tuesday morning. Down into the forties, we warm back up next week though. 74 on Tuesday, 78 Wednesday and near 70 for a high temperature on Thursday.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

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

Good evening. I'm Gayle Hurd. Welcome to tonight's joins for Thursday, April 18th, 2024. Well, let's get started tonight with our Carolina pick three. Our first winning number is a three. Our second number is three also and our third number tonight is two and our pick three. Fireball number is one. Joining me for tonight's drawing is our auditor from mcconal and Jones L LP. Now let's move to the Carolina pick four. Good luck. Everyone is that first winning pick four number. It's a seven. Our second number is six. Third number tonight is seven again and our fourth number is two and our pick for a fireball number is an eight. We're turning now to the Carolina cash five. If no one was the top prize tonight. Tomorrow, our prize is estimated at $235,000. Good luck. Everyone. Who's that first winning cash five number. It's 22. Second number is five third number tonight is it 25. Our fourth number is 10 and the final number in our cash drive this evening is 21. The North Carolina education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education Thanks to your support. Get your winning numbers right here every night in your exclusive station for the North Carolina Education lottery. Thanks for playing. Have a great night.

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.

Good afternoon. I'm back. Global. Welcome to this news drawings for Thursday, April 18th, 2024. Let's get started with Carolina pick three. The first pick three numbers zero. The second is one, the third is six that are pick three. Fireball number is one. Joining me for this afternoon's drawing is our auditor for a con and Jones L LP. Now move on to Carolina pick for the first four. Number is three. The second is for the third is 54, is seven in our pick four. Fireball number is nine. The North Carolina education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Thanks for your support and thanks for playing.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

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



WE HAVE MORE RAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR THE WEEKEND. I'LL SHOW YOU COMING UP. THE LIST OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH BUSINESSES SHUTTING THEIR DOORS IS ARMADILLO GRILL IS THE LATEST TO CLOSE FOR GOOD. >> WRAL'S SEAN GALLAGHER IS IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH TO FIND OUT WITH THIS MEANS FOR THE GLENN WOOD, SOUTH AREA. SEAN, THIS WAS A SURPRISE TO A LOT OF FOLKS. >> YEAH, THIS WAS VERY ABRUPT SO ABRUPT THAT WE'VE SEEN A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE COMING UP HERE TRYING TO GET LUNCH ON THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND THEY'RE MET WITH THIS SIGN ON THE DOOR, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE SHUT DOWN FOR GOOD, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AT THIS LOCATION. NOW, THIS TEX MEX RESTAURANT CALL THE CORNER OF GLENWOOD AVENUE AND TUCKER STREET HOME FOR THE LAST. 22 YEARS. IN A FACEBOOK POST, THE OWNERS SAY CHANGES IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AND RISING COSTS ARE WHY THEY'RE SHUTTING DOWN THIS LOCATION. IT'S THE LATEST IN A STRING OF STAPLE BUSINESSES RALLY, CLOSING CLOUDS BREWING, SHUT DOWN ITS RALEIGH TAVERN ON WEST STREET EARLIER THIS MONTH IN THE CAPITAL CLUB. 16 IS SHUTTING DOWN AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. OUR BELOVED REAL SAID THEY WILL LOOK FOR ANOTHER LOCATION TO SERVE THE RALEIGH COMMUNITY. BUT FOR SHARE MCCRACKEN OF GARDEN SCAPE DESIGNER FOR BUSINESSES AROUND THIS AREA. THIS IS JUST A SIGN OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >> IT'S ELEVATING RIGHT NOW. PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO KIND OF ROLL WITH IT. NATURALLY COMING TO AN END AND MAYBE THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SPOT THAT'S PERFECT FOR THEM. BUT YOU CAN DEFINITELY FEEL THAT THERE IS A CHANGE GOING ON ON THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH. >> AN ARMADILLO GRILL WILL ARE STILL OFFER THEIR CATERING SERVICES HERE AND THEY WILL STILL OPERATE THEIR FLAGSHIP LOCATION IN CARRBORO. BUT RENEE, THAT'S ABOUT 40 MINUTES AWAY RIGHT NEAR UNC CAMPUS. >> WHILE CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE TO DRIVE A LOT FARTHER AND WE WILL SEE WHAT ENDS UP TAKING ITS PLACE. THERE ON GLENWOOD

Glenwood South staple Armadillo Grill closes

Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday Powerball drawings, as shown live on WRAL.

Is powerball. Good evening, everyone. I'm Randy Trainer. Tonight. We have our life changing jackpot. It's estimated to be $80.7 million to get your tickets ready. Here. Come, tonight's winning numbers. Let's start things off this evening with the number 24. Right after that America. We have the number 54 and congratulations to Lisa Hayes from Illinois. She won $2 million playing powerball. All right, the rest of your winning number is 4447. And let's round it out tonight with the number 29 and tonight's win powerball number that's gonna be two and your power play multiplier is two. Let's take a look at tonight's winning numbers. Remember there are multiple ways to win. Good luck, everyone. We'll see you back here on Saturday night. It's time to play America's favorite.

Powerball Drawing

A crash has shut down all but one lane of Interstate 540 westbound near Buffaloe Road in Raleigh. Sky 5 is over the scene

Crash shuts down I-540 West near Buffaloe Road in Raleigh; Sky 5 is over the scene

Tuesday and Friday Mega Millions Drawing.

>> ACROSS AMERICA WITH MEGA JACKPOTS, IT'S MEGA MILLIONS. HELLO, MAYOR COMES ON CODE IS TUESDAY. APRIL 16TH AND TONIGHT'S MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT IS AN ESTIMATED A NEW TIES. 148 MILLION DOLLARS. >> DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. TONIGHT'S DRAWING HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY HALTED. ONCE THE MALFUNCTION IS CORRECTED, THE DRAWING WILL CONTINUE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE AUDITOR. WE SAY TO THE STATION FOR ALL WINNING NUMBERS. >> SPOTTY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POPPING UP HOW

Meet new animals: NC Museum of Natural Sciences hosts special event Saturday

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Meet new animals: NC Museum of Natural Sciences hosts special event Saturday

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WRAL Late News

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Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

Glenwood South staple Armadillo Grill closes

Powerball Drawing

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