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

Rep. Beto O’Rourke, the Texas Democrat running against Sen. Ted Cruz, finishes a speech to cheers at a campaign event in Katy, Texas, Aug. 9, 2018. O’Rourke, who has visited each of the state’s 254 counties, has been attempting the Texas equivalent of walking on water — winning statewide as a liberal Democrat. (Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times)

2 Visions of Texas Vie for Its Ideological Future