A deputy on Friday shot and killed a person on Hickory Drive in Raeford, according to the Hoke County Sheriff's Office.

Hoke County deputies, faced with person with a gun, shot and killed him Friday morning

Hoke deputies

An Asheville photographer captured an incredibly rare event Thursday night: The Northern Lights, typically not visible this far south, dazzling in the starry, purple North Carolina skies.

Incredibly rare: Northern Lights dazzle in North Carolina overnight

Northern Lights seen as far south as Asheville, NC, an incredibly rare event. Photo credit: Asheville Pictures

Friday will feature near-record heat, with the high temperature forecast to reach 87 degrees in Raleigh.



Big, big warmup: Near-record-breaking temperatures for Friday 

Pattern change coming...

Samuel Scipione, 18, of Raleigh admitted making threats against Research Triangle High School, but authorities do not believe he intended to carry them out. 

Student charged after threats to Research Triangle High School

Samuel Scipione

An Amber Alert was canceled Friday for 9-month-old Kayson Osiah Monk, who was found safe at a home in Harnett County sleeping on an air mattress with his father.

Greensboro PD: Father of kidnapped 9-month-old charged with murder

Kayson Osiah Monk

NCAA bracket

College hoops bracket challenge

The Target located in Cary Crossroads Plaza was seeing two-to-three times its normal traffic, spokeswoman Stephanie Perryman said Friday.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Shoppers on Friday began taking advantage of the state’s annual sales-tax holiday.

The tax-free weekend ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

The Target located in Cary Crossroads Plaza was seeing two to three times its normal traffic, spokeswoman Stephanie Perryman said Friday.

“The guests are very well educated on when tax-free is and where to go,” Perryman said.

Beverly Baker brought her children to the store so they could help pick out school supplies. “It has saved us tremendously,” Baker said.

Teacher Mary Lutz saved money on supplies for her classroom.

“I can get crayons for 25 cents and then you don’t have to pay taxes on that,” Lutz said. “It really saves.”

The annual tax holiday was started several years ago to help families purchasing back-to-school supplies, but it also includes other merchandise.

Shoppers on Friday began taking advantage of the state’s annual sales-tax holiday. The tax-free weekend ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

Gerald Owens

Greg Clark

State sales-tax free weekend begins

Shoppers take advantage of sales-tax free weekend

Computers are tax free up to $3,500, as are sporting goods up to $50 and clothing up to $100. School supplies that cost less than $100 dollars, including instructional materials like globes and maps, also are tax free.

The tax holiday cost the state $19.8 million last year, according to Department of Revenue spokesman Thomas Beam.

Although Washington, D.C., canceled its sales-tax holiday, a spokeswoman for Gov. Beverly Perdue said there was no discussion during recent budget negotiations to cancel North Carolina's tax-free weekend. Spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson noted that the annual tax-free weekend is written into state law, and legislators would have had to approve another measure to override it.

Kathy Hanrahan

sales tax free wknd 2009

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

A massive fire erupted early Friday morning from a tanker truck in Pikesville, Maryland. The tanker was hauling heating fuel.

On cam: Tanker overturns, bursts into flames on major highway

Meet Palmer! This 3-year-old spayed female cat is diabetic, so she's looking for an adopter who can make sure she gets her daily medicines to stay healthy! She is a homebody who doesn't much care for car rides, but she'll gladly wait for you to come home every day and show you just how excited she is to see you come through the front door. Palmer's adoption fee is $45, which includes her spay, microchip, vaccines, and more. Interested adopters can get more information at SPCAWake.org

Pet of the Day: March 24, 2023

A new study offers some comfort to coffee lovers. Researchers say drinking caffeinated coffee did not significantly increase a healthy person's chances of experiencing major heart palpitations. Researchers also found coffee drinkers were more physically active -- walking roughly 1,000 more steps. 

New study shows connection between coffee and heart health

Videos

Guard RJ Davis is returning to North Carolina for his fourth season with the Tar Heels. He joins Armando Bacot as starters back for UNC.

UNC's Davis says he'll return for another season with Tar Heels

UNC falls, 68-59, to UVa. at ACC Tournament

One of the key defensive players on Mount Airy's 2022 1A state champion squad has committed to attend and play at Virginia Tech. Deric Dandy pledged to the Hokies on Thursday night. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior is a 3-star prospect in the class of 2024. 247Sports ranked him as North Carolina's No. 24 player in the class.

Mount Airy 3-star edge rusher Deric Dandy commits to Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech Logo

UNC's Kennedy Todd-Williams and NC State's Camille Hobby announced they would look to transfer to other schools Thursday.

Key UNC, NC State women's basketball players to transfer

Kennedy Todd-Williams

Notre Dame's president and athletic director are asking for congressional help in managing the future of college athletics, particularly as it relates to name, image and likeness and athletes as employees.