We’re also following strong winds, heavy rain and possible hail tomorrow. Plus, how you can better stop thieves from stealing money and gift cards from your mailboxes and how much closer DPS employees are to seeing a salary increase. Watch WRAL NEWS at 11 and search for these and other stories on WRAL.com.

On WRAL at 11 : Strong winds, heavy rain, possible hail ⛈️ Who has the best chance for storms tomorrow

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

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

<b>APEX, N.C.</b> — A CSX train had a bumpy ride as it rolled through Apex Wednesday.

Four cars, one of which was carrying asphalt, jumped the tracks on Salem Street behind the old Fire Department. None of the others contained anything hazardous.

No one was hurt in the derailment. A crane was brought in to clean up the mess.

CSX officials have not said what caused the accident.

Train Derails In Apex, Spills Asphalt

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

Level 1 severe risk Friday afternoon: Damaging winds and hail possible

Chilly mornings on the way 

Durham police are investigating a drive-by shooting Thursday night. 

Man injured in drive-by shooting on Chautauqua Ave., Durham Police investigate

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday morning as explosions could be heard near a major air base near Isfahan, raising fears of a possible Israeli strike following Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.

Iran fires air defense batteries in provinces as explosions heard near Isfahan

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Residents in Anderson Creek Crossing in Spring Lake, are on high alert after discovering a disturbing pattern of tampered mail.

Torn envelopes, missing money: Harnett County residents report disturbing mail tampering

Neighbors in Spring Lake say thieves stole their mail, cash, and gift cards 

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

2022 data: 12 people a day died from drug overdoses in North Carolina 

Woman shows faces of those who died from overdoses in NC

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

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.

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

Videos

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.

A North Carolina softball family is honoring one of their own, focusing on suicide prevention

Helmet stickers honoring Aubrey Horne

THE WOODLANDS, Texas (AP) — Nelly Korda, who is looking to tie an LPGA Tour record with her fifth straight win, shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday in the opening round of the Chevron Championship, leaving her two shots behind leader Lauren Coughlin in the year's first major.

Chasing 5th straight win, Nelly Korda is 2 shots back at Chevron Championship after a first-round 68

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The Coyotes are moving to Salt Lake City in a deal that was signed less than 24 hours after Wednesday night's 5-2 win over Edmonton.

Party's over: Coyotes end tenure in the desert with team's sale, move to Salt Lake City

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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.