The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill confirmed that Maxwell Azzarello, who set himself on fire outside the courthouse where Donald Trump is on trial, attended the university from 2005 to 2009.

Former UNC-Chapel Hill student sets himself on fire near courthouse where Donald Trump is on trial

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

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.

North Carolina ranks 29th in public pre-K enrollment, new report shows

Durham County budget increases funding for pre-K students

An effort between Charlotte-area law enforcement agencies helped rescue more than 150 children who were missing for months and more than a year in some cases.

<b>CHARLOTTE, N.C.</b> — An effort between Charlotte-area law enforcement agencies helped rescue <a href="https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/operation-carolina-homecoming-rescues-children-human-trafficking-drug-rings/275-b138ce47-2da4-4750-813d-39329f89a256" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than 150 children</a> who were missing for months and more than a year in some cases.

As part of Operation Carolina Homecoming, children were rescued from life situations that involved drug activity, prostitution or human trafficking.

"Blind Eyes Opened" is a documentary about the magnitude of the problem and some Christian organizations that are making a difference in helping survivors. One of the six women featured in the film, which will be shown at area theaters on Thursday, is that of Rocky Mount native Niki Rowe Cross.

HELP THOUSANDS OF VICTIM >>> YOU ARE A VICTIM OF CRIME. YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG. >> AT THE MESSAGE NIKKI ROWE CROSS HAS SPENT HER LIFE TRYING TO INSTILL IN VICTIMS WHO ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH HER STORY. AT 15, SHE WAS ABDUCTED, HIDDEN AWAY AND BROUGHT INTO THE SEX INDUSTRY. FOR A YEAR, SHE WAS ASSAULTED AND SOLD FOR SEX. WHEN SHE ESCAPED, HER MISSION BECAME CLEAR, IT WAS TO HELP OTHERS. >> SHE HOPES TO DO THAT WITH THE DOCUMENTARY THAT DEBUTS THIS WEEK ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AMANDA LAMB HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH CROSS TO SHARE HER POWERFUL STORY AHEAD OF THIS, AMANDA? >> Reporter: KATHRYN AND GERALD, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS  BEAUTIFUL SKYLINE OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAPPENS HERE. IT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE. THERE ARE 4.8 MILLION VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING WORLDWIDE. 1 MILLION OF THOSE ARE CHILDREN. IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN OUR BACKYARD. >> IT'S HAPPENING SOMEWHERE RIGHT NOW. >> BLIND EYES OPENED A DOCUMENTARY FEATURING SIX WOMEN, VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CLIMBED OUT OF THE DARKNESS, THEY SAY, WITH THE HELP OF GOD. >> WE OFTEN TIMES TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE EXPLOITATION AND THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING BETWEEN OUR NOSES. >> Reporter: WHEN NIKKI ROWE CROSS WAS JUST 15 YEARS OLD, GROWING UP IN ROCKY MOUNT, SHE DISOBEYED HER PARENTS AND WENT TO A CONCERT IN GREENSBORO. SHE MET A MAN WHO TOLD HER HE COULD MAKE HER A STAR. >> HE USED THAT AS HIS POINT OF GROOMING. >> Reporter: THE MAN TO CROSS TO OHIO WHERE HE AND TWO OTHER MEN FORCED HER UP THE STAIRS OF A HOME. >> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS, BUT I KNEW IT WOULD NOT BE GOOD. I KICKED, I SCREAMED. >> Reporter: SHE FOUND HERSELF SHACKLED IN AN ATTIC WITH TWO OTHER CHILDREN, A BROTHER AND A SISTER. CROSS SAYS THEY SHARED A DIRTY MATTRESS, AND WERE ALL SOLD FOR SEX. >> THERE WAS A LOT OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE DONE, THAT THE HUMAN BODY SHOULD NOT EVER HAVE TO ENDURE. >> Reporter: THE TORTURE WENT ON FOR A YEAR, FINALLY WITH THE HELP OF STRANGERS, CROSS ESCAPED AFTER HER ABUSER CUT HER THROAT. >> WALKED ME TO THE TRUCK, PUSHED ME IN THE TRUCK, AND THEY ARE HOLDING NAPKINS TO MY NECK, BECAUSE HE CUT MY THROAT. >> Reporter: SHE CALLED HER PARENTS. >> TO HEAR MY MOTHER CRY THAT WAY, I JUST, I CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE HOW IT MADE ME FEEL. >> Reporter: CROSS HAS NOW MADE A LIFE OUT OF HELPING OTHERS. SHE FOUNDED STAR, WHICH STANDS FOR STOP THE ABUSE AND RESCUE. SHE HAS A MESSAGE FOR VICTIMS. >> YOU DON'T DESERVE THAT KIND OF TREATMENT. YOU WERE NEVER CREATED FOR THAT SORT OF TREATMENT. AND THERE IS HEALING FOR YOU. >> Reporter: CROSS ESTIMATES SHE HAS HELPED AS MANY AS 10,000 VICTIMS OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, WITH HER ORGANIZATION. SHE STARTED IT IN FLORIDA, NOW SHE IS OPENING A BRANCH HERE AND SHE HOPES TO REACH OUT TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE DOCUMENTARY, GO TO WRAL.COM. KATHRYN? >> HER STORY IS SO POWERFUL AND DEFINITELY EYE-OPENING , AMANDA, THANK YOU FOR THAT. PROJECT, WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS, IT EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CONNECTS VICTIMS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA WITH SERVICES THAT CAN HELP THEM. IF YOU NEED HELP, THIS IS INFORMATION WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE. YOU WANT TO REPORT SOMETHING, THE HOTLINE NUMBER IS THERE ON YOUR SCREEN. YOU CAN ALSO TEXT HELP TO BE FREE.

Amanda Lamb

Chad Flowers

Matthew Burns

NC woman who was victim of sex trafficking now tries to help other victims

Niki Cross, sex trafficking victim

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said between April 26 and May 7, CMPD's Missing Person Unit detectives, U.S. Marshals and Department of Public Safety officers found 27 missing juveniles. More than 130 children were found before the operation started.

The months-long investigation focused on the recovery of missing and runaway juveniles in the Charlotte area where previous efforts to find them were unsuccessful.

Ryan Bisesi

More than 150 missing, runaway children rescued in Charlotte area from human trafficking, prostitution

Domestic Violence

The Storm Prediction Center has the Triangle under a Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday. Over the weekend, the Triangle will feel a cooldown due to an incoming cold front.

Level 1 risk brings possibility of severe storms ⛈️; cooldown coming this weekend

Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday 

NEW YORK -- A man set himself on fire Friday afternoon near the lower Manhattan courthouse where jurors were being chosen for the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump.

Former UNC-Chapel Hill student sets himself on fire near courthouse where Trump is on trial

Trump Trial Enters Fourth Day With Opening Arguments Next Week

One man was rescued and another died Friday at Harris Lake after a boat crashed into a cement pole, officials say.



Boater killed, another rescued from Harris Lake after boat crashes into cement pole

Person pulled from water at Harris Lake, search continues for other boaters

NEW YORK (AP) — A full jury of 12 people and six alternates was seated Friday in Donald Trump’s hush money case, setting the stage for opening statements next week in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president.

Opening statements set for Monday in Trump's hush money case after judge rejects latest bid to delay

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The owner of Clyde Cooper's Barbecue is selling the space in downtown Raleigh, according to a real estate agent representing the restaurant.

Clyde Cooper's Barbecue selling downtown Raleigh space for $2.9 million

Clyde Cooper's Barbeque

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

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

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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

Gov. Roy Cooper joins United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to make a clean energy announcement.

Gov. Cooper makes clean energy announcement

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

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Videos

The Carolina Hurricanes are no stranger to playoff hockey. They're in the postseason for the sixth-straight season and are regarded as a Stanley Cup contender.

Chaotic Canes hope late-season surge continues into playoffs

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Mark Mitchell announced he has committed to the University of Missouri in a post to his Instagram post.

Former Duke forward Mark Mitchell commits to Missouri

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DENVER (AP) — Colorado goaltender Alexandar Georgiev went home after a recent shaky outing and immediately watched film — the car-racing thriller “The Fast and the Furious.”

At playoff time, NHL teams march to the beat of their goaltenders and count on them to save the day

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Game 1 is Saturday night in Raleigh. Game 2 is Monday at PNC Arena.

Make your plans: Complete Hurricanes-Islanders first-round schedule

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The No. 15 Tar Heels have now beat No. 25 Duke in 15 consecutive games. Both teams now prepare for the ACC championship next week.

More than 150 missing, runaway children rescued in Charlotte area from human trafficking, prostitution

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