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>DURHAM</b> — Durham police have arrested a woman in connection with a baby found at a car wash early Saturday morning.

The two-week-old baby girl was found in a car wash bay  beside the  BP station on Chapel Hill Boulevard.

Police say Iesah Batteaste, 23, abandoned the baby and then called 911. Caller:"I'm not for sure, but I think it was maybe a baby bundled up in a blanket or something." Dispatcher:"You saw it at?" Caller:"I think... (mumbles) I was parked at the car wash."

Police received the tip about 4 a.m. Saturday. When they arrived at the scene, the baby was still warm to the touch.

Earlier reports indicated  the call was  from a phone at the Town & Country convenience store on University Drive -- just down from the car wash where the baby was found.

Batteaste is said to live near where the call was made. She is charged with child abuse.

The baby is in good condition at Duke Medical Center.

Anyone with information about this case should call Crimestoppers at919-683-1200.   andMichelle Singer

Kelly Gardner

911 Call Leads to Arrest in Durham Abandoned Baby Case

This two-week-old baby girl was abandoned at a car wash early Saturday morning. Police ask that anyone with information about the case contact Crimestoppers at 919-226-CRIME.(WRAL-TV5 News)

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

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 

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 

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.

Angier Avenue back open after gas leak forces evacuations in Durham

Gas leak prompts evacuations in Durham on Angier Avenue 

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

WRAL Late News 

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

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

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

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

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.

USA Basketball announces its men's team for the Paris Olympics

Pelicans_Warriors_Basketball_28998

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

Oilers_Coyotes_Hockey_54852

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.