WRAL Investigates the local emergency plan for a potential train derailment disaster, and asks why we’re left in the dark about the hazardous materials traveling through the Triangle.

On WRAL at 6: Hidden dangers on the rails: WRAL investigates the local emergency plan for a potential train derailment disaster

Intense smoke blanketed the northeastern United States for a second day Wednesday, turning the air a yellowish gray and prompting warnings for people to stay inside and keep windows closed. The smoke was flowing from dozens of wildfires in several Canadian provinces.

Air pollution cloaks eastern US for a second day. Here's why there is so much smoke

Canada_Wildfires_New_York_30524

In the wake of tragic and traumatic events, feelings like stress, anxiety, grief and depression are natural. Here is a list of crisis counseling and county-by-county resources in North Carolina, as well as nationally. These resources are available for you -- just call. 

Get Help: County-by-county guide to mental health and crisis resources in NC

 Mental health graphic

<b>DURHAM, N.C.</b> — Accusations of financial mismanagement means the Durham Housing Authority will soon be operating under a microscope.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has ordered the troubled agency to hire an outside consultant to oversee day-to-day operations.

The move came after an audit found the Durham agency had improperly handled more than $5 million in federal funds.

HUD officials will now approve all contracts and hiring decisions. They hope to have the Durham agency back on the right track within a year.

Julia Lewis

Kamal Wallace

HUD Looks Into Durham Housing Authority

Four people were killed Wednesday and one person was hospitalized after a head-on crash on N.C. Highway 690 in Moore County.

Three sisters killed in head-on crash on Moore County highway 

Three sisters killed in Moore County crash

North Carolina on Thursday is under a Code Orange alert, with air quality expected to worsen as the day goes on.



Code Orange: Air quality will worsen Thursday afternoon 

Air quality index: June 8, 2023

A 4-year-old is recovering after a venomous copperhead bit him on a family camping trip in North Carolina.



Child bitten by copperhead snake while camping in North Carolina

Child bit by copperhead snake while camping in North Carolina

WXII reports seven students in the Alamance-Burlington school system were charged after senior pranks at six schools caused more than $4,000 worth of damage.



Dead fish, moped on roof: Students charged in NC high school senior pranks 

Police charged a man with murder after a senior citizen was shot and killed Tuesday at a Durham home.




Man charged with murder after senior citizen shot at Durham home 

Brett Cote, 35, of Durham

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

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

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

The bill would allow betting on professional, college and other sports on phones or other electronic devices.

NC lawmakers take final vote to legalize online sports gambling

Kilauea, the second largest volcano in Hawaii, began erupting on Wednesday after a three-month pause, U.S. Geological Survey officials said.

Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, is erupting

Videos

The N.C. Baseball Coaches Association has released its all-state teams for the 2023 season.

N.C. Baseball Coaches Association releases all-state teams

Baseball: South Brunswick vs Hoggard (Mar. 21, 2023)

Every year, 47,000 people die by suicide in the United States. After her husband became one of them, a Cary woman shared her family's experience as an example of what's still lacking in emergency care for people experiencing mental health crisis.

Cary woman says husband's suicide is example of mental health treatment weaknesses statewide

Widow calls for change in handling mental health emergency care in NC 

HighSchoolOT's final track & field rankings are calculated by lumping all finals performances from the state championships into one "super meet." When the dust settled, Cuthbertson's girls and Christ School's boys repeated their No. 1 positions from a year ago.