This year marks the 65th annual lighting of the WRAL-TV tower in Raleigh, an annual tradition that has grown to include celebrations with towers at American Tobacco Campus in Durham and Rocky Mount Mills.

WRAL lights towers in Raleigh, Durham and Rocky Mount

Students are reported for possession of non-firearm weapons about 20 times as often as they are for firearms. But schools are still relatively safe places, and many crime statistics in schools have been improving for years, experts say. 

Easy to conceal, harder to detect: Knives more prevalent than guns in schools 

School lockers 

One person was shot in the parking lot of the Food Lion at 3300 Rosehill Road in Fayetteville Wednesday afternoon.

<b>FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.</b> — One person was shot in the parking lot of the Food Lion at 3300 Rosehill Road in Fayetteville Wednesday afternoon.

The person was shot in the shoulder, police said.

No other details were immediately available.

Stan Chambers Jr.

Person shot outside Fayetteville Food Lion

Shooting outside Fayetteville Food Lion

As you head out the door, temperatures will be in the upper 30s. You may want to grab an umbrella before leaving the house.

December kicks off with much-needed rain, wet weekend on tap ☔

Heading to school

Medicaid expansion means North Carolina's working poor can go to the doctor for free. It also means billions in new federal funding for hospitals.

After 14 years, billions to flow as 600,000 qualify for Medicaid insurance in NC

Wake County adding 74 jobs to Medicaid office but can't hire yet

A landlord with properties spanning across the state, including multiple units in Raleigh, faces potential disciplinary action and legal scrutiny.

Landlord who charged NC State students $18,000 for beer pong table at center of multiple investigations

5 On Your Side investigates landlord with history of excessive charges

According to an arrest warrant obtained by WRAL News, 26-year-old Daquan Seandre Thomas is charged with felony murder and felony concealment of 22-year-old Tyrone Taylor. According to Sheriff Wayne Coats, Thomas was already in jail for a domestic violence incident with the victim's sister.

'Infectious smile': Community grieves youth pastor found dead after missing for 10 weeks

Body of missing Dunn man found; suspect in custody, charged with murder

The 100 block of Raleigh's Glenwood Avenue - between Hillsborough Street and Jones Street - will be closed on Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Glenwood Avenue to close Friday morning between Hillsborough, Jones streets in Raleigh

Detour road sign

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

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday plans to name a replacement for State Auditor Beth Wood, who previously said she would step down in the wake of charges related to her use of state-issued vehicles.

Replacement named for State Auditor Beth Wood

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

N.C. High School Athletic Association Commissioner Que Tucker and President Chris Blanton hold a press conference following the winter board of directors meeting in Chapel Hill.

NCHSAA press conference following winter board meeting

Videos

Here's a look at which bowl bids NC State, North Carolina and Duke could accept.

Which bowl game will NC State, North Carolina and Duke play in?

Dave Doeren with Mack Brown

NC State quarterback MJ Morris will enter the transfer portal. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

NC State QB Morris to enter transfer portal

MJ Morris (16) in the pocket. 

No. 1 South Carolina rallies from 11 down to beat No. 24 UNC 65-58 in ACC/SEC Challenge

South Carolina North Carolina Basketball

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Mathew Barzal scored at 2:46 of overtime to lift the New York Islanders past Carolina, 5-4 on Thursday night after the Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho tied it with 2.5 seconds left in regulation.

Mathew Barzal has goal and 3 assists, Islanders outlast Hurricanes 5-4 in OT

Islanders_Hurricanes_Hockey_81716

Students returned to Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School on Thursday for the first time since Monday's deadly stabbing -- to at atmosphere they are describing as calm, quiet, somber and anxious.