Four of the top 2024 contenders for the White House are planning to visit the Tar Heel State on Friday and Saturday -- an early indication of how important North Carolina is to each party.

Presidential candidates descend on NC, with election far in the distance

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Summer is here and we have some great suggestions on what to do this weekend! 

Weekend best bets: Beer festival, pimento cheese fest and more

The Science of Beer event, where happy hour meets science, was h

A 15-year-old Fuquay-Varina girl whose body was found in Jordan Lake early Saturday morning died from multiple stab wounds, authorities said.

<b>PITTSBORO, N.C.</b> — A 15-year-old Fuquay-Varina girl whose body was found in Jordan Lake early Saturday morning died from multiple stab wounds, authorities said.

Fishermen found the body of Patricia Perez face-down near a fishing ramp off Farrington Road about one mile north of U.S. Highway 64, the Chatham County Sheriff's Office said. 

Teen's body found in Jordan Lake

Jordan Lake

She was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where examiners determined that she had been stabbed. 

Family members told authorities that the teen had been missing for about 48 hours and that her mother filed a missing persons report with the Wake County Sheriff's Office Friday evening.

Two Apex men were charged Sunday in connection with the stabbing death of a 15-year-old Fuquay-Varina girl whose body was found in Jordan Lake early Saturday morning, the Chatham County Sheriff's Office said.

Pair charged in Fuquay-Varina teen's stabbing death

It wasn't clear whether police have identified possible motives for the killing, but deputies said they don't have any suspects. No other information was released.

Bridget Whelan

Jodi Leese Glusco

Police: Wake teen found dead in Jordan Lake was stabbed

Patricia Perez

As the 2024 election heats up, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will be visiting North Carolina on Friday and announcing a new executive order that Dr. Jill Biden says is a 'matter of national security' due to its impact on military families.

Biden to visit Fort Liberty today to announce executive order to assist military families

Bidens visit NC on Friday, expected to announce new executive order

Some areas in NC will still be under a Code Orange alert - including Wake County, which was shifted into a Code Orange as of Friday morning.



Code Orange: Smoky haze brings poor air quality to Triangle area

On cam: Smoky haze hangs over downtown Raleigh skyline

On Thursday, the City of Dunn shared on social media that their interim city manager Mathew Boone had passed away.

City of Dunn grieves loss of interim city manager after untimely death

Mathew Boone, Dunn's Interim City Manager

Darryl Williams' cause of death is listed as a "sudden cardiac arrest in the setting of cocaine intoxication, physical exertion, conducted energy weapon use and physical restraint," the autopsy states. 

Attorney Ben Crump to hold conference after autopsy finds manner of death homicide for Darryl Williams, who died in police custody

On Tuesday, the man's mother, Sonya Williams, said her son Darryl Williams was the man who died. He was 32 and lived in Raleigh.

The North Carolina GOP's annual convention in Greensboro aims to offer conservative voters and political observers the chance to see speeches by Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump and Mike Pence as they vie to take on Democratic President Joe Biden in 2024.

DeSantis kicks off NCGOP convention Friday, followed by Trump and Pence Saturday

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Durham police responded to a stabbing on N. Roxboro Street around 8:29 a.m. on Friday. 

Durham police respond to stabbing on N. Roxboro Street

Man seriously injured in stabbing on Roxboro Street in Durham

With a pocket of smoke and code red air quality hanging over Raleigh much of the morning, here's a look at the haze obscuring the skyline.

Ben Crump to respond to autopsy for Darryl Williams, who died in Raleigh police custody

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

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Videos

East Columbus senior Karli Godwin has been named the Gatorade North Carolina Player of the Year in softball.

East Columbus state record holder Karli Godwin named Gatorade NC Softball Player of the Year

Softball: South Columbus vs. East Columbus (Apr. 27, 2023)

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)

Cardinal Gibbons' girls lacrosse team started and ended the year No. 1 in the HighSchoolOT girls lacrosse rankings. The Crusaders won the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A title with a 21-2 record.

HighSchoolOT's final statewide rankings for girls lacrosse

4A Girls Lacrosse: Cardinal Gibbons vs. Charlotte Catholic (May 19, 2023)

After a February 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, WRAL Investigates raised questions about the preparation of law enforcement and first responders in central North Carolina.

Hidden dangers on the rails: How Triangle first responders plan for a potential train derailment disaster

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.