2 NC counties are under alert.

The chances for severe weather are dwindling after some in the viewing area saw hail during the afternoon.


Thunderstorms loom overnight after severe weather risk Sunday

Severe Weather Alerts - NC

Three people who were shot were taken to the hospital, where one person died on arrival.

Fayetteville Police: 1 person dead, 2 people injured in shooting Sunday

Police car crime scene night

The storms that ran through the south claimed the lives of dozens of people in Mississippi, but locals in the area are joining the efforts to help the state get back on their feet.

Red Cross, Samaritan's Purse aiding victims of Mississippi storms

Storm damage in Mississippi

Three men were arrested on Saturday in Nash County when deputies uncovered a cock fighting operation.

Fowl play: Deputies bust cock fighting operation in Nash County, 3 men arrested

3 arrested in cock fighting ring

First Citizens Bank of Raleigh could be in the final hours of negotiating the acquisition of failed Silicon Valley Bank, according to media reports.

First Citizens reportedly is close to deal to acquire Silicon Valley Bank

Report: First Citizens still hopes to acquire Silicon Valley Bank

NCAA bracket

College hoops bracket challenge

Hoke County will be on the world stage Saturday as thousands are expected to turn out in person to pay their respects to George Floyd.

<b>RAEFORD, N.C.</b> — Hoke County will be on the world stage Saturday as thousands are expected to turn out in person to pay their respects to George Floyd.

Rockfish Church is where you can catch a shuttle to the Cape Fear Conference Center just down the road. That's where the second memorial service for Floyd will be held beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The first one was held Thursday in Minneapolis, days before Floyd will be buried Monday in Houston.

“The world will be looking," said Vernon Ratliff of Raleigh.

Long lines of mourners, on foot and in vehicles, backed up traffic along Fayetteville Road in Raeford Saturday, where a public viewing was being held for George Floyd. Floyd, whose death in police custody sparked protests nationwide, was born in North Carolina and his sister lives in Hoke County.

Bryan Mims

Gilbert Baez

Vinnie Boccanfuso

Richard Adkins

Jodi Leese Glusco

Family memorial for George Floyd will be held in NC

George Floyd NC memorial

“It’s going to be exciting in a good way for the family," said Josephine Adams with Cape Fear Conference Center.

Cape Fear Conference Center “B” is preparing to see people from near and far.

“It’s just overwhelming," Adams said. "People are just calling from Indiana, California, Georgia, everyone wants to come see the services for George Floyd.”

Joy Manson drove from Wilmington and plans to be in line two hours before the public viewing, which starts at 11 a.m.

“I wanted to come here to be part of history and show my kids and the students I teach that this is a big historical event that can bring about change,” Adams said.

Even as Hoke County's Sheriff prepares for George Floyd's memorial service on Saturday in Raeford, he spent his Friday afternoon marching alongside angry and concerned protesters in memory of Floyd's life.

PEDESTRIANS WILL STILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA. >>> THE EYES OF THE NATION WILL BE ON THE TOWN OF RAYFORD TOMORROW. TODAY RESIDENTS SENT THEIR OWN MESSAGE. . >> THIS IS THE BANQUET AREA. AFTER THE MEMORIAL TAKES PLACE AND THE VISITATION, THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL COME IN HERE. YOU SEE THEY ALREADY HAVE IT DECORATED. YOU GET A SENSE OF HOW MANY FOLKS WILL BE HERE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE COOKING AND SOME OF THE COOKING FOR TOMORROW IS ALREADY BEING DONE BACK IN THE KITCHEN. THE FOLKS WHO CAME OUT SAID THEY WANTED A PEACEFUL MARCH AND THAT IS WHAT THEY DID. >> THE CROWD OF ABOUT 300 LINED UP TO START THE MARCH. IT BEGAN WITH A PRAYER. >> EVERY STEP WE TAKE, GOD, THAT THE WORLD WILL BEGIN TO CHANGE, GOD. >> NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE. >> THEY HELD SIGNS AND SHOUTED FAMILIAR TUNES. THERE WERE NO POLICE BARRICADES OR -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] INSTEAD RAYFORD'S POLICE CHIEF MARK GODWIN MARCHED WITH THE CROWD. WHILE EVERYONE REFLECTED ON THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD. >> IT ATROCIOUS. >> TELL ME WHY YOU ARE OUT HERE. >> FOR OUR FUTURE. WE HAVE TO BE HERE. WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER. RIGHT NOW I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN WHO THIS WORLD HAS TO MAKE SPACE FOR THEM. I AM OUT HERE FOR THAT. >> JUST SEEING ALL OF THE POLICE BRUTALITY, EVEN THE WHITE ON BLACK CRIME, BLACK ON BLACK CRIME. JUST PERIOD. I WORRY ABOUT MY BOYS THEY GET OLDER. >> PROTESTERS FEEL THE GRASSY AREA OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY ON MAIN STREET. CHILDREN HELD SIGNS WHILE ORGANIZERS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND LAWMEN TOOK TO THE STAGE. HE SHARED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT FLOYD'S DEATH AND WHAT IT PERSONALLY MEANT TO THEM. >> I HAVE A SON AND EVERY TIME HE GETS IN THE CAR, I TELL HIM -- TO MAKE SURE HE DON'T GET STOPPED. AND I AM ONE OF THE COPS. BECAUSE I WORRY ABOUT THAT ONE. >> THE SHERIFF WILL BE ONE OF FOUR GUEST SPEAKERS THAT BE WILL BE INSIDE THE SANCTUARY TOMORROW. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SPACE PEOPLE OUT TOMORROW. EVERYONE IS ASKED TO MAKE SURE YOU WEAR YOUR MASKS. >>> WRAL WILL HAVE SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE MEMORIAL IN RAY FORD. IT STARTS TOMORROW AT 11:00 A.M. WHEN THE PUBLIC VIEWING BEGINS. A PRIVATE MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BEGIN PROMPTLY AT 3:00 P.M. AND WILL ONLY BE OPEN TO FAMILY MEMBERS. THAT SERVICE CAN BE SEEN ON WRAL

Heather Leah

Hoke County Sheriff marches along protesters, helps prepare for George Floyd's memorial

Rockfish Church will shuttle people in. Sorrell’s Salon next door is closing up shop to free up 150 extra parking spots.

“Let the people come in and say their farewells to Mr. Floyd. The family is here from Raeford,” said Stan Simmons of Custom Trim.

Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin said protesting will be prohibited on church property. He also said the viewing will be open casket, but pictures will be prohibited.

There will be several guest speakers at the service today, including Floyd's sister.

“You're going to have security in there, you are going to have ushers in there, people right there watching the whole thing, so pulling out the cell phones is not going to work. Keep it moving so everybody gets a chance to come in," Peterkin said.

Gov. Cooper ordered  all flags at state facilities to fly half-mast today in honor of George Floyd.

Here are the roads closed in the area on Saturday for the memorial:

<ul>	<li>Hoke Loop Road will close at 8 a.m. between Nessee Street and Raeford Road</li>	<li>Left lane outbound on Raeford Road is for travel, the right lane on Raeford Road is for the memorial service only </li>	<li>Closures will stay in place until the evening hours</li>	<li>Drivers can expect the wester region of Fayetteville around Raeford Road and Gillis Hill Road to be heavily congested with traffic. </li></ul>

Joe Fisher

Brad Simmons

Jason O. Boyd

Raeford making final preps for second memorial service for George Floyd

Site of Raeford memorial service for George Floyd

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

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

Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday Powerball drawings, as shown live on WRAL.

Powerball Drawing

One little girl and the swift actions of a group with a shared goal helped to save a giant pacific octopus in Washington state.

On cam: Little girl rescues giant Pacific octopus 

Videos

Once part of North Carolina's Medicaid expansion debate, the SAVE Act has lost steam. Nurses say doctors want to protect fees that current laws let them charge specialized nurses. Doctors say it's about patient safety.

Intense lobbying, broad support, no votes: NC nursing bill in limbo

Triangle hospitals experiencing nurse shortage as COVID hospitalizations rise 

A man is dead after an altercation with Lenoir County Sheriff deputies during the early hours of Saturday morning.

Suspect shot, killed in Kinston after aiming rifle at deputies 

The woman was taken to the hospital after being shot on Privette Road near Wendell

Woman injured after gun goes off inside home

Generic police car photo without lights on

ROLLING FORK, Miss. (AP) — Help began pouring into one of the poorest regions of the U.S. after a deadly tornado tore a path of destruction for more than an hour across a long swath of Mississippi, even as furious new storms Sunday struck across the Deep South.

Raeford making final preps for second memorial service for George Floyd

More On This

Raeford prepares for George Floyd's memorial service