Name: 2022 WRAL Tower Lighting special
Uploaded: 2022-11-30T18:39:00-0500
Duration: 1656148
Description: Join WRAL as we celebrate one of our favorite holiday traditions - the 64th annual lighting of the WRAL-TV tower, creating a 300-foot beacon to light Santa's way to Raleigh. We'll also light the towers at our sister properties at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham and Rocky Mount Mills.

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Join WRAL as we celebrate one of our favorite holiday traditions - the 64th annual lighting of the WRAL-TV tower, creating a 300-foot beacon to light Santa's way to Raleigh. We'll also light the towers at our sister properties at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham and Rocky Mount Mills.

<p>&gt;&gt; WELCOME TO THE 64TH ANNUAL TOWER LIGHTING JOINED THE WRAL FAMILY WITH SPECIAL GUEST, THE DURHAM CHILDREN'S CHOIR. SICILY. DAVID GAYLE, FRIENDS AND CAROLINA HURRICANES MASK ON STORMY AS WE COUNTDOWN TO THE BIG MOMENT, OUR CELEBRATIONS STARTS NOW. &gt;&gt; GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR A RALLY TRADITION. THE 64TH ANNUAL WRAL TOWER LIGHTING SPECIAL. I'M GERALD O AND I'M DEBRA THE WEATHER IS PERFECT. WE HAVE SUCH A FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE. THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEEN GOING ON AND IT IS FINALLY TIME ARE SO EXCITED. WE HAVE INCREDIBLE NIGHT FOR YOU. SO SIT BACK AND JUST RELAX ON YOUR COUCH AND JUST ENJOY THE ENTERTAINMENT AND ALL THE FUN THAT WE HAVE FOR YOU IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR. AND FOR THE 3RD TIME WE ARE TAKING THE CELEBRATION BEYOND OUR CAMPUS HERE AT WESTERN BOULEVARD AND TRIPLING THE TOWER EXCITEMENT. IN ADDITION TO OUR COVERAGE HERE, WE HAVE LIVE REPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FROM THE AMERICAN TOBACCO CAMPUS IN DURHAM AND ROCKY MOUNT MILLS. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK RIGHT NOW AT EACH CAMPUS. WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE EACH TOWER ADORNED WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS. AND IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES, EACH ONE OF THESE TOWERS WILL BE LIT FOR THE HOLIDAYS. ARE YOU GETTING READY? IT IS JUST RIGHT HERE. SKY 5 UP ABOVE 2. SO WE HAVE EVERYBODY OUT WORKING TONIGHT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE GATHERED. THESE CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE AREA, ROCKY MOUNT DURHAM. AND OF COURSE, HERE YOU ALL BE ABLE TO SEE THEM THROUGHOUT THIS BROADCAST. &gt;&gt; THERE IS A HUGE CELEBRATION GOING ON RIGHT NOW. YEAH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TOSS IT OUT TO WRAL'S DAN HAGGERTY, WHO IS THERE WITH THE CROWD PEOPLE, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GATHERING TO WATCH. &gt;&gt; LUCKY STRIKE TOWER BE LIT TONIGHT. DAN. &gt;&gt; ALL THAT IT FEELS SO FRESH ABOUT HERE IS SO FUN BEHIND ME RIGHT NOW. WRAL'S CHRIS LOVINGOOD IS EMCEEING THE EVENT GETTING THE CROWD READY. SANTA CLAUS IS TAKE THE STAGE. GETTING READY FOR THE COUNTDOWN AND YOU JUST MISS IT. HE OPENED UP WITH THE SINGING NUMBER WOULD JUMP THE SHARK BY ACTUALLY DID PRETTY GOOD. LET ME STEP OUT OF THE WAY AND GIVE YOU A LOOK AROUND THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HELD HERE, FILLING THE CAMPUS ONLY BULL UP ON THE STAGE WITH CHRIS'S ARE TOSSING CANDY TO THE KIDS. YOU'LL NOTICE THEY'RE WAVING AROUND A LOT OF THE JOB. HE'S LIGHT UP ONES THEY CAN EARN UP TO 1000 OF THEM. THE KIDS HAVE BEEN PLAYING WITH THAT IS REALLY SETTING THE COMMUNITY FAMILY. FEEL THAT JUST OVER TAKES THIS AREA DURING SUCH A FUN EVENT IN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES. SANTA CLAUS IS GOING TO BE ON THE STAGE. THE CHILDREN'S CHOIR IS GOING TO SAYING THEY HAVE DOZENS OF PERFORMERS FOR STREET PERFORMERS WALKING THROUGH THE CLOUDS AND SANTA IS GOING TO DO THE COUNTDOWN AS WE LIGHT UP THIS BEAUTIFUL TOWER AND GET THINGS KICKED OFF HERE IN DURHAM. IT WAS A LONG NOW. THAT'S GREAT OUT THERE FOR NOW. DAN, THANKS SO MUCH. WE WILL CHECK BACK IN WITH YOU. &gt;&gt; FOR A LIVE LOOK AT THE TOWER LIGHTING IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. YOU SEE THE OVERFLOW CROWD THERE ACROSS THE WATER. THAT'S A GREAT CROWD OUT. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE. ABSOLUTELY. AND WE HAVE A LOT TO PACK INTO TONIGHT'S SPECIAL. THAT IS FOR SURE. LET'S CHECK IN AT ROCKY MOUNT MILLS. THAT'S WHERE WRAL'S MICHELLE MACKONOCHIE IS STANDING BY. MICHELLE. THE CELEBRATION UNDERWAY THERE. &gt;&gt; YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, GUYS. IT IS SO MUCH FUN HERE. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE WAITING TO LIGHT THE TOWER HERE, ROCKY MOUNT MILLS. WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE TO MEET SANTA AND MISSUS. CLAUS. WE HAVE THE GRANT. WE HAVE SO MANY KID FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES HERE TONIGHT. WE ARE 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM LIGHTING THE TOWER. WE EVEN WILL HAVE SPECIAL MUSICAL PERFORMANCES AS WELL. WE HAVE A STAGE SET UP RIGHT SICILY AND HER FATHER MADDIE WILL WILL BE PERFORMING A SPECIAL SONG FOR US TONIGHT. IT IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN. WE ARE JUST 10 MINUTES AWAY. WE'RE GOING TO BRING YOU THE TOWER LIGHTING LIVE TO YOU. &gt;&gt; JUST A FEW MINUTES. I MEAN, HAHA DIFFERENT THAN MY SNOW. IT'S SNOWING HARD ROCK. YOU KNOW THAT IT IS IN RALEIGH OVER TO COME BACK TO YOU IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. HAVING A GREAT TIME THERE IN ROCKY MOUNT MILLS. &gt;&gt; WHAT IS ALMOST A BLIZZARD THERE AND ROCKY MOUNT WILL. NOW WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST FOR YOU ON HAND TO HELP US CELEBRATE THE SEASON HERE AT THE WRAL STUDIOS. THIS IS A BIG GALE PRINCE. JUST 9 YEARS OLD ALREADY BEEN ON BROADWAY. WELCOME, BABY. WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU TONIGHT. THANK YOU. TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER SO FAR. YOU'RE ONLY 9 AND YOU'VE BEEN ON BROADWAY. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT SINGING AND PERFORMING? &gt;&gt; WELL, I LOVE ABOUT SINGING AND PERFORMING. IS THAT ON? I JUST ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM OF MINE SINCE I WAS A LITTLE LITTLE GIRL IT JUST SO ON. I JUST ENJOY DOING AND IT JUST BRINGS LIKE MISS MY LAW. AND IT IS MONDAY AT SO MUCH. WELL, IT'S SNOWING, TOO. AND CERTAINLY IT'S THE HOLIDAYS. SO IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME TO TO CELEBRATE AND BE FESTIVE. &gt;&gt; BUT YOU HAVE A SPECIAL REASON FOR SINGING YOUR YOUR SONG TONIGHT. SO SO TELL US ABOUT THIS FOR SONG AND THE MEANING BEHIND IT. &gt;&gt; WELL, THIS PERSON IS WARY CHRISTMAS FROM HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS AND &gt;&gt; WHY I LOVE TO SING. THIS IS BECAUSE I'M HERE ON WRAL RIGHT NOW. IT'S VERY SPECIAL TO BE HERE. AND IT'S A SETTING LIKE AND HAHA, YOU DON'T SEEM NERVOUS AT ALL TO ME. &gt;&gt; AND YOU ALSO SOMEONE THAT YOU WANT TO DEDICATE THIS SONG TO WRITE. YES. &gt;&gt; I'D LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS SONG SEE CINCO COMPANY BECAUSE ON THE ACCIDENT THAT HAPPENED AT THE RALEIGH CHRISTMAS PARADE THIS YEAR AND A LITTLE GIRL PASSED AWAY. AND IT'S VERY SAD TO EVERYONE WHO IS INCLUDED THE SAME. SO I LIKE TO DEDICATE IT TO HAILEY AND HER FAMILY AND ALSO SEEING COCOA BEAN. AND YEAH, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. ALL RIGHT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MIGUEL, PRINCE. &gt;&gt; REALLY HERE. &gt;&gt; TO US. &gt;&gt; IT &gt;&gt; I SERVE. &gt;&gt; AND &gt;&gt; AND THAT WAS A WONDERFUL YEAH. SO HARD TO FEEL TOO. WE SO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND CELEBRATING WITH US. THANK YOU. I KNOW HALEY'S LOOKING DOWN FROM HEAVEN WITH A SMILE ON HER FACE SO THAT THAT WAS SWEET. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THE BUREAU'S OUR LIGHTING IS A DECADES LONG TRADITION. &gt;&gt; IT'S GOT A LOT OF US THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES AND IT'S KEPT A SMILING OVER THE YEARS. YOU KNOW, YOU AND I, GERALD, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF THESE TOWER LIGHTINGS. WE LOVE EACH ONE OF THEM. THEY EACH KIND OF HAVE THEIR OWN PERSONALITIES. BUT ALWAYS THE THEME BEHIND THIS IS THAT IT IS A CELEBRATION WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY. &gt;&gt; AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE AGAIN TONIGHT. IF YOU'RE NEW TO THE AREA QUICK HISTORY LESSON FOR YOU. THIS ALL BEGAN BACK IN THE NIGHT. LATE 1950'S. &gt;&gt; WHEN CAPITAL BROADCASTING FOUNDER AJ FLETCHER WOULD READ A CHRISTMAS, CAROL, TO VIEWERS BEFORE THE 300 FOOT TV TOWER WAS LIT WITH THIS TRADITION HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS EACH YEAR GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. &gt;&gt; WE ARE NOW ON OUR 64 SET OUR LIGHTING. SO IT'S EACH ONE. IT JUST IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. WHAT DO YOU THINK HOW WE DOING THAT? SO MANY OF THESE 20 IS ACTUALLY AND YOU'RE RIGHT. IT DOESN'T MEAN THIS IS SO FAST. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. TREES, A BEAUTIFUL YOU AND I MATCH EXACT RED AND GREEN. WE'VE GOT TO GO OUT ON YAHOO OUT THE AREA AND SEE THE WAY TO THE FOLKS OUT THERE. THERE'S A CAMERA. YEAH, THEY GO. THEY GOT A LOT OF FOLKS HERE AND GUESS WHAT? IT'S ABOUT TIME TO LIGHT. OUR FIRST HOUR WRAL'S MICHELLE MACKONOCHIE BACK WITH US LIVE FROM ROCKY MOUNT MILLS. MICHELLE. &gt;&gt; YEAH, WE ARE HERE BACK IN ROCKY MOUNT MILLS MINUTES AWAY FROM LIGHTING THE TOWER. BUT FIRST WE HAVE TO INTRODUCE A VERY SPECIAL MUSICAL GUEST. WE HAVE SICILY AND HER FATHER MATT HERE. THAT'S TONIGHT. SUPER EXCITED LET IT SNOW FOR US TO SAY. I HAVE TO ASK YOU, YOU ARE AN ADVOCATE FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY YOU ARE. WELL, I WAS BORN THE CYSTIC IT'S BEEN SOMETHING I'VE STRUGGLED WITH MY ENTIRE LIFE. &gt;&gt; IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME FOR ASKING MYSELF AND FOR OTHERS WITH THE DISEASE. I DON'T I HAVE BEEN DOING MUSIC YOU KNOW, A VERY LONG TIME THAT I WAS REALLY LITTLE KID. WE'VE RELEASED A 9 SONG ALBUM HERE AND RAISE SO MUCH MONEY FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS AND I'M SO PROUD OF AND YOU CAN CHECK ME OUT AS A PART TIME CONGRESS IS A VOTE ON ALSO FEELS SO AMAZING. WELL, WE ARE NOT. AND YOU FOR THAT. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO TAKING AWAY WOULD LET IT SNOW. &gt;&gt; AND HE'S RIGHT. &gt;&gt; THIS IS &gt;&gt; IT &gt;&gt; WHAT IF YOU &gt;&gt; THAT WAS SELF AND HAS A NEW SO MUCH SO IS EVERYBODY READY TO LIGHT DOWN FROM 10? SO I WANT TO HEAR EVERYBODY COUNTDOWN WITH US. WE HAVE THE GRINCH AIR WITH A MAGIC BUTTON. HE IS AN ALLY TO SORRY. THAT'S READY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. READY AND WE ARE STILL EARLY LEAD HERE. AND IN ROCKY MOUNT MILLS, EVERYBODY. HE'S HAVING SUCH A GREAT TIME. WE'RE GOING TO TOSS IT BACK TO YOU, DEBORAH AND GERALD ON THE CLOCK. ALL RIGHT. THANKS SO MUCH, JOY. LOOKS BEAUTIFUL THERE. AND THE GRINCH DIDN'T EVEN STAND IN THE GOOD GUY AGAIN. YEAH, THAT'S PERFECTLY ALL GREEN TO MATCH THE GRANT. &gt;&gt; SICILY, AMAZING TO WE APPRECIATE THE LET IT SNOW LOOK LIKE KIND OF A BLIZZARD THERE, BUT A BLIZZARD. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO COME ON. WRAL'S TOWER LIGHTING SPECIAL. WE'D LIKE TO THANK SOUTHERN SNOW BAND IS A BETTER BAG FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL SNOW THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING HERE TONIGHT ON THE PLAZA WITH NOT A CLOUD IN THE SKY. &gt;&gt; AND HERE'S A LIVE LOOK OVER THE WRAL PLAZA WHERE WE WILL LIKE THIS. 300 FOOT TV TOWER FOR THE 64TH TIME. WE'LL HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST HERE TO HELP US PUT THE SWITCH. STAY WITH US TO SEE THE CAROLINA HURRICANES MASCOT STORMY AND WHAT HE HAS TO SAY OR NOT SAY. &gt;&gt; AND THIS IS THE FIRST OF OUR COMPANY'S 3 TOWER SHINING BRIGHTLY. NOW WITH THE HOLIDAY LIGHTS. JUST MOMENTS AGO, WE FLIP THE SWITCH ON THE TOWER AND ROCKY MOUNT MILLS AND LESS THAN 3 MINUTES, WE'RE GOING TO HEAD LIVE TO DURHAM FOR PERFORMANCE FROM THE DURHAM CHILDREN'S CHOIR AND THE LIGHTING OF THE TOWER AT THE AMERICAN TOBACCO CAMPUS DAY WAS &gt;&gt; WELCOME BACK TO THE SIXTY-FOURTH ANNUAL WRAL TOWER LIGHTING SPECIAL. PLUS, WE TOLD YOU WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON TONIGHT WITH 3 TOWERS TO LIKE WE JUST DID THE ONE IN ROCKY MOUNT. NOW, LET'S GO BACK TO DAN AND DURHAM FOR TOWER NUMBER 2. DAN, HUGE CELEBRATION GOING ON THERE. DAN. &gt;&gt; THE HOUSE LIGHTS JUST STARTING TO COME DOWN. SANTA CLAUS ON THE STAGE. I'LL STEP OUT OF THE WAY FOR THE COUNTDOWN. &gt;&gt; I'VE HOSTED THAT EVENT AT A DURHAM, ANY TIES AND SUCH A MAGICAL PLACE TO BE THIS TIME OF ASKED HIM. I LOVE THE WAY THAT WAS ALL LIT UP AND THE DURHAM CHILDREN'S CHOIR. IT SOUNDED AMAZING WHAT I THANK YOU FOR THAT PERFORMANCE AS WELL. SANTA DID A GOOD JOB WITH THE COUNTDOWN. JUST GETS IT RIGHT. EVERY YEAR. YOU KNOW, GO ANYWHERE. VERY SPECIAL. WE HAVE 2 DOWN ONE TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT. YEAH. WHEN WE WRAP UP HERE, STAY TUNED FOR CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER, AN NBC SPECIAL AS ONE OF NEW YORK CITY'S LARGEST TREES IS LIVE FOR THIS YEAR. AND OF COURSE, THERE'S A LOT OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ON TOP THERE, TOO. AND NOW FOR A LIVE LOOK AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER WHERE EVERYONE IS PRACTICING AT WARMING UP AND READY TO BE PUT ON AN INCREDIBLE SHOW FULLY. WE WILL SEE THAT. &gt;&gt; BUT IF NOT TONIGHT AT 7.30, AND YOU'LL GET TO SEE IT LIVE THEM. WELL, IT'S SURE TO BE A GREAT NIGHT TO GRAB SOME HOT CHOCOLATE. ENJOY ALL THE FESTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE GOING ON. HERE'S A LIVE LOOK AT OUR 3 TOWERS. 2 OF THE 3 ARE NOW SHINING BRIGHTLY. &gt;&gt; WE'RE ABOUT TO FLIP THE SWITCH ON THE BIG ONE BEHIND US WHERE THOSE MINUTES AWAY FROM MINING THE WRAL TOWER. AND HERE'S SOME SKY 5. YOU CAN SEE THAT. BOY, THIS IS THE BEST VANTAGE POINT WITH THINGS GETTING A LOT MORE COLORFUL AND A FEW MINUTES. STORMY FOR THE HURRICANES IS GOING TO JOIN US TO HELP US PUT THE SWITCH. FIRST, A MESSAGE FROM A MEMBER OF THE WRAL FAMILY. &gt;&gt; I'M MONICA CASEY WRAL'S DURHAM REPORTER FROM THE BULL CITY WISHING YOU MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS &gt;&gt; ALRIGHT, DRUMROLL, PLEASE. IT IS THE MOMENT WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TOWER. ONE WELCOME STORY FROM THE CAROLINA HURRICANES. SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US OR ME TO CELEBRATE THIS BIG MOMENT CAME OUT TO CELEBRATE TO HAVING A DECENT SEASON. RIGHT NOW. WE HOPE IT ENDS WITH THE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. ABSOLUTELY READY TO FLIP THE SWITCH, STORMING YOU READY? AND THE CROWDS ALREADY HEAR SOME MEMBERS OF THE WRAL FAMILY ARE JOINING HAS TO. &gt;&gt; WELL, GET IN HERE, GUYS. GO AHEAD AND START AND THAT COUNTDOWN AND RIGHT AFTER STORMY FLIPS, THE SWITCH, WE'RE GOING TO JOY ANOTHER SONG. HAHA FRIEND. SO STAY TUNED FOR &gt;&gt; HAHA. &gt;&gt; BIRDS EVERY YEAR. EXCEPT ONE. HAHA. I DON'T REMEMBER THAT IS SO MUCH FUN STORY. WE APPRECIATE IT. YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT HAS MESMERIZED BY THIS AND I GET TO WRONG. AND YOU CAN SEE EVERY CUP FOOD TRASH TO STAFF. &gt;&gt; CHRISTMAS TREE THAT THE CHRISTMAS AND KEYS AND WE'LL DO SOME &gt;&gt; AGAIN, HE SAID AND MEANT TO SEE THE NEW GUY. &gt;&gt; AND LIES IS SEEING AND &gt;&gt; TREE HAS A FASHION. &gt;&gt; EVEN THEN &gt;&gt; THANK YOU. AND WHAT A GREAT NIGHT. WE'VE HAD THE BEST TIME LIGHTING THE TREE, AKA TOWER HERE AT WRAL FOR THE 64TH TIME. LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LOOK AT ALL 3 TOWERS AGAIN AS THEY ARE ALL LIT UP NOW. &gt;&gt; ALL I GOT SO HAS TO START HERE AND LOOK AT THOSE BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL TOWERS. &gt;&gt; MICHELLE WAS HEADED BACK OUT TO ROCKY MOUNT MILLS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL NIGHT. IS YOUR FIRST TIME HOW TO GO. &gt;&gt; GUYS. IT'S FANTASTIC. I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. THE CROWD WAS FANTASTIC. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN. WE GOT TO LIGHT. THE TOWER WAS THE 5TH ANNUAL TOWER LIGHTING HERE. ROCKY MOUNT MILLS. IT WAS SUCH A GREAT TIME. I GOT A HIT IN THE FACE, BUT SOME SNOW. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. WE HAD A FANTASTIC TIME AND WE WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ROCKY MOUNT MILLS. I WANT TO SEND IT OVER TO DAN HAGGERTY. NOW HE IS IN DURHAM. DAN, HOW'S IT GOING? &gt;&gt; THE PARTY IS JUST GETTING STARTED HERE, MICHELLE, BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER TODAY, THEY MOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT AN HOUR TO GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO SET UP MEETING THAT INSTEAD OF THE TOWER LIGHTING BE THE END OF THE NIGHT TO THE BEGINNING OF THE NIGHT. SO THE BAIL, THE PERFORMANCES ARE JUST BEGINNING. THE CROWD IS GOING TO STICK AROUND. WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS WONDERFUL LOOK, I ONE OF THE PERFORMERS PERFORMING UNDERNEATH THE BEAUTIFUL TOWER. MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM DURHAM WILL SEND IT BACK TO YOU GUYS IN RALEIGH. &gt;&gt; ALL RIGHT, DAN, THANK YOU. AND STORMY. ANY FINAL THOUGHTS? &gt;&gt; HAHA, I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT MEANS VERY CHRISTMAS. HAHA. HE'S OF MASCOT. A FEW WORDS. &gt;&gt; EXCITED THAT YOU ALL JOIN DOES TONIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THAT THIS TRADITION WITH CAPITAL BROADCASTING. SO SPECIAL WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS WEEKEND TO HAVE FUN AND CELEBRATE AND ENJOY OUR COMMUNITY. A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE AT ALL 3 LOCATIONS TONIGHT AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO START LEAST IN LAUNCHED THE HOLIDAY SEASON. WITH OUR FRIENDS HERE, WRAL, STORMY AND EVA GAYLE, YOU WERE MAGNIFICENT. &gt;&gt; YOU REALLY WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR TALENT WITH US TONIGHT. I REMINDED TO ENJOY THE TOWER HERE IN THE AREA EVERY NIGHT THROUGH NEW YEAR'S EVE AND JUST KEEP IT RIGHT HERE ON WRAL FOR NBC'S CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER. &gt;&gt; WE HAVE A GREAT NIGHT, EVERYONE. A MERRY CHRISTMAS.</p>

2022 WRAL Tower Lighting special

WRAL-TV News Broadcasts: Watch each newscast live or watch the most recent newscast on demand.

WRAL Late News 

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

I'm meteorologist, Amy Wilmeth in the WRL severe weather center, quiet weather in the forecast for a while. We did have the cold front move through yesterday. A northerly flow behind that will cool temperatures tonight into tomorrow today. Though beautiful weather with near normal temperatures will get up to 73 in Durham, 74 in Raleigh and 78 for the high temperature in Fayetteville. If you're headed to the Bulls game this evening, what treat? This is great baseball weather. The game gets started at 635 will be at 68 at 6 p.m. down to 65 by seven o'clock and 63 by eight o'clock and it stays nice and dry for that. It does turn kind of chilly tonight. Many of us down into the forties, 48 in Durham, 46 in Rocky Mountain, 49 in Goldsboro, 49 in Southern Pines. So it is going to be a chilly start to our Friday and it stays fairly cool Friday afternoon. We'll have partly to mostly cloudy skies. 67 for the high in Durham, 69 in Raleigh, 72 for the high temperature in Fayetteville. So many outdoor events this weekend and the weather cooperating very nicely. Brugal oo gets started Friday evening and then it happens again on Saturday for Friday evening. If you're headed, there, temperatures will be nice and mild in the sixties and it stays dry and then spring days in Cary, that's on Saturday, that's out at Bon Park looks like great weather for, that will be in the mid f in the morning. But then upper sixties by one pm, low to mid seventies during the afternoon and early evening hours. And maybe after that, you want to go some soccer, the courage taking on the rain. It's a home game and beautiful weather for soccer. Low seventies at 7 p.m. 69 by nine o'clock and 64 at 11 o'clock, that's for Saturday evening. So a lot of things happening this weekend and the weather really looking good. 74 today, a little cooler Friday and then back up to 74 Saturday, even warmer Sunday, 81 for the high 86 on Monday and then upper eighties in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

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.

Good afternoon. I'm Grace Holland. Welcome to this afternoon's drawings for Thursday, April 25th, 2024. Let's get started with the Carolina pick three. Your first pick three number is five followed by seven then seven and your fireball is eight. Joining me for this afternoon's drawing is our auditor from A L LP. Now let's move on to the Carolina pick four. The first pick four number is seven followed by one 60 and your fireball is five. The North Carolina Education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Thank you for your support. You can get your winning numbers each day at 3 p.m. and again at 1122.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

Gov. Roy Cooper, museum leaders and museum paleontologist Dr. Lindsay Zanno on Thursday preview Dueling Dinosaurs, a brand new exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. The exhibit opens to the public Saturday.

In that institution's history. But all of you can and I have seen that enthusiasm and that understanding that you are part of something special over the past few years as you have prepared for this day. So to the staff of the museum, thank you. And it's not just staff, a project like this wouldn't have been possible without a lot of important partners on behalf of everyone involved in this immensely successful public private partnership. And in addition to the General Assembly's extraordinary investment, I would like to take a moment to thank some of the very generous supporters of the Dueling Dinosaurs capital campaign, the SECU Foundation, the Bank of America Duke Energy, the North Carolina Glaxo Smith Kline Foundation, Wake County, friends of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences who really not only helped us in, in raising the funds but also in making this day happen and this opportunity happen. And so many others who are recognized on the campaign do donor wall just to the right of the exhibit entrance. So I encourage you as you go through there today to make sure you take a look at that wall. Now, along with the state's investment. This village of support has enabled the museum to open this new globally unique visitor experience. And on that note, I would like to invite Secu Foundation board chair, Chris Ayers to speak to the foundation's leadership gift, Chris. Thank you. Well, good morning fellow paleontologists. Um I'm excited to be here today representing the SECU Foundation and the over 2.7 million members of state employees credit union who fund that foundation. So this is a great day of celebration for the State of North Carolina, the Department of Cultural and Natural Resources and the many museum supporters and friends who have joined together to make this day a reality. I can tell you the foundation, the State Employees Credit Union has been looking forward to this day for a long time, going all the way back to when we got a sneak peek when they first rolled these fossils into the museum uh a number of years ago. So today's ribbon cutting ceremony shines a brilliant light on the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences as a research institution and the largest museum in the southeast of its kind. The work of the museum professionals and the world class facility benefits more than 1 million visitors each year. And we're delighted to help fund the Secu Dino Lab, which will be enjoyed by students, teachers and families from across the state and beyond. In addition to the SECU Diner lab, the foundation support of the museum also includes the large icon globe that we're in right now that you see outside the building, uh The SECU Daily Planet. As longtime supporters of the museum SECU is pleased that our collaborative efforts help bring the museum and our state to the forefront of natural sciences, education and research, innovative initiatives like this can only be achieved through incredible teamwork and support from the community if it isn't obvious. Let me say that we are so happy to be part of this team and we feel really lucky to have our SECU headquarters and our Sal Salisbury Street branch right next door where we get to see the daily droves of visitors year round. SECU is built on the principle of people helping people and our members live that philosophy through our support of nonprofits that uplift people and communities throughout our great state. For those of you who may not know the SECU foundation is funded through a unique concept known as the power of a dollar where SECU members contribute through the reallocation of their $1 monthly checking account fee. Collectively a dollar truly can make a profound difference. As you see here today, this summer marks the foundation's 20th anniversary. And over the past 20 years, our foundation's commitment to North Carolina nonprofits has surpassed a quarter of a billion dollars for scholarships, grants, financing for education, housing, health care, human services, all benefits to our great state. And we're going to celebrate that 20th anniversary. This fall dueling Dinosaurs is history in the making right here in downtown Raleigh. And we're so lucky to have a front row seat to marvel at the Scientific Discovery and the World of Paleontology. We at the SECU Foundation are honored to be part of this and I want to thank everyone for the great work and contributions that so many of you have made to make this day in this exhibit a reality. Thank you, Chris. Now I mentioned earlier about our staff and they really are all superstars, but there is one particular staff member who has as this project has developed over the recent years, kind of reached celebrity status. If you read Walter magazine, you probably read a profile of her and her work and how that has contributed to uh this particular exhibit. I'm pleased to introduce that person to you this morning. None other than uh the individual who had the vision to make this happen. Doctor Lindsay Zano, head of Paleontology here at the museum, Doctor Doctor Zano. Good morning. It's wonderful to be hosting you all this morning. You know, every week I get an email from a parent who wants their child to meet and talk to a scientist every single week. They want to fuel that child's love for science, encourage them to pursue their dreams. But more than anything they want that science to be real, they want it to be accessible, meeting those Children is wonderful. It's also not enough because not every parent has the resources of the opportunities to reach out to a scientist and arrange a one on one meeting for their child. Most of the Children who are interested in science will fall through the cracks and every public event I attend, I have a conversation with someone in our community who doesn't see the relevance of science to their daily lives who's never been invited to peek behind the proverbial curtain to see who scientists are and what we do and how we go about solving problems that are relevant to our communities. Today, we mark the next step in the evolution of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. We celebrate the opening of the dueling dinosaurs experience. This is one of the most daring public science projects ever imagined at its heart is a world class specimen and the barrier breaking sccu Dino lab that houses it. The specimen represents a single moment in time 67 million years ago when behemoths like tyrannosaurs and triceratops battled for life. The lab is a place where there are no walls between the scientists and the communities that we serve. One where the term behind the scenes loses all of its meaning. A place where every kid regardless of their socioeconomical status can talk to a scientist every day, any day, a place where they can look in the face of a scientist and see themselves staring back at them a place where science is done for the public with the public and transparently in front of the public and for those that cannot make it to us on site, we're broadcasting this project all over the world. Now, the dueling dinosaurs experience is fueled by an amazing team of scientists who I'm so proud of. And in the past two years, we've grown from 6 to 14,000. And that's because a year and a half ago, we launched our public science project Cretaceous Creatures. And already over 14,000 middle school students from around the state have made once in a lifetime scientific discoveries as real members of our scientific team. And we are just getting started. I want to close this morning by thanking the state all of our incredible donors, my amazing museum colleagues, and especially my team for believing in this project, for believing in my vision. I want to thank them for tirelessly working for eight years to bring this project to the people of North Carolina and beyond. You are all dreamers and I could not be more honored to be on this journey with you. One thing we can all agree on is the world loves dinosaurs. So today we're going to bring the next generation of leaders in science and technology and engineering and innovation and have them born right here in North Carolina. Let's show the world how it's done. Thank you. Make sure I didn't mess up the screen and dropping that. Um Thank you, Doctor Zano and I don't know what the acoustics are back there. But standing up here as you were talking about Children in that next generation from up here, you could hear all the Children up there in nature Research Center visiting the labs and it just kind of brought to life. What you're talking about this experience will mean it's now my pleasure to introduce to you, my boss, uh Secretary Reed Wilson. Now I can tell you, Secretary Wilson, this is a special project. He does a lot of openings, ribbon cuttings for our sites all across the state, state parks aquariums and not to play favorites. But I know this one ha holds a special place in his heart. He was telling someone this morning that he's been working on this project for seven years and so Secretary Wilson, I'm pleased to introduce you and we finally got here. Thank you, Jeff. Good morning, everybody. Uh Thank you all for being here this morning and to all involved. Uh Congratulations. This is an amazing huge day for North Carolina and for this museum, you know, making doing dinosaurs a reality has been a collective effort. And I want to thank some people that have already been thanked, but you can never thank these people enough. First, our sponsors, we would not be here today without your generous support. No doubt about that. I also want to thank the board and the staff of the friends of the Museum of Natural Sciences and three of the four board presidents who have been presidents during this period are here with us today. Um, but the whole board has been invested in this and not only did you all raise significant sums of money, but you tiptoed way out on that branch of risk. I remember the conversations. Well, we really sure we wanna do this. Uh But you were, you made the decision to, to just dive in um because you kept your eyes on the prize and, and understood what the risk was, but all that risk went away. Uh I wanna thank the museum staff. Um Thank you so much. I know that every section of this museum has been involved with this. And I, I dare say that there isn't anyone on the staff of this museum who wasn't involved in this project at some point. Um And obviously to Doctor Zano and your paleontology team. Um Y'all are just amazing. You're brilliant. All of you. Um Javin Sutton and your ex exhibition team, Christy Flint and your education team. I mean, I could mention everybody in this museum, everyone's been involved. It's been a long process and you've done a phenomenal job because here we are today and of course, we wouldn't be here without substantial public support. Thank you to members of the General Assembly um who prioritized the investment in this state of the art lab in particular. I do want to thank the leadership of the legislature speaker Moore, Senator Pro TEM Berger, minority leader, blue and minority leader Reeves. Uh, they're unable to join us today, but I think we should give a round of applause to the entire general assembly who supported this project. So it's taken us a while for us to get here today. And as Jeff mentioned, I've been involved with this one probably since the first week I was in this department in early February 2017. Um So it's not been quite 67 million years, but sometimes it felt like it. Um Is that my wife laughing? I remember, I do remember vividly the early Sunday morning in April 2017, almost exactly seven years ago to this day when these specimens arrived. I watched as the movers painstakingly removed them from the tractor trailer truck and carefully moved them into their hidden storage places. It was definitely a goose bumps moment for hours and then we had the groundbreaking in the midst of COVID, uh which complicated everything. And as I said, then at the groundbreaking, when this lab opens, our state will become a must see destination for dinosaur lovers everywhere, from young kids to academics to anybody. Um And so here we are and it's even better than I think any of us dreamed it could be. You will see when you go in there. What a special exhibit this is. We have the best dinosaur specimens in the world and the best setting for people to see them and learn from them. Hundreds of moments and of awe and wonder will unfold in there every single day. And I can't wait to just wander over here sometimes to watch the kids' eyes pop open. Now, at the heart of this project is the science. Our paleontologists will make discoveries as they carefully uncover these and analyze them. Science will be happening in front of the public's eyes. Um And so do doing dinosaurs is an excellent way for the state to engage students in scientist scientific discovery and to develop greater science literacy. So why is that important? Um It's important because the only way we're going to solve our big problems is to rely on the science and the experts who know what they're talking about. And the key to getting to that point is to expand science education to make sure that every child understands the value of science and how scientific discovery works. The Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit is going to pull people into this amazing world of science that's so important to our future. So I am now pleased to introduce a leader who uses science and facts and data to make his decisions as governor of the state of North Carolina and he has supported this project throughout its duration. Everyone please give a warm welcome to our Governor Roy Cooper. Thank you, Secretary Wilson. I'll tell you when we have cabinet meetings every Monday. His is always the coolest report, particularly when we get the updates on the dueling dinosaurs. Uh I am so grateful to everyone who helped to make this happen. The partners. Thank you so much for the work you've done all of the contributors. Uh My family, Chris is proud that our state employees credit union accounts that $1 a month is going to things like this. That is so exciting. And when I think about this week, I spent Monday Earth Day on the Blue Ridge Parkway looking at our amazing vistas uh in Western North Carolina on Tuesday and Wednesday, I got to spend time with North Carolina's own astronaut Christina Cook who set records for time that a woman astronaut spent in space and space walking. And she actually presented us with a lob Lily pine that had been germinated on the moon. Native plant, Karen, first lady made sure it was a native plant, uh excited about planting that in our pine forest at the executive mansion. And she presented us with the North Carolina flag that flew with her on her mission in the International Space Station for 11 months, presenting it to the people of North Carolina. Then I got to come over here with Doctor Zano, doctor Doctor Young and to go through this exhibit and to talk to these scientists and see see these dinosaurs and think about how amazing it was that this was happening right here in North Carolina. You know, North Carolina is the first and best in so many things. Now, we're the best in dinosaurs. I love it. You know, it is amazing and extraordinary that we have the best preserved and most complete tyrannosaur and triceratops in the world. Right here at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Scientists. This exhibit will add to an already excellent rep reputation that North Carolina has as a world class research university community College state. And I'm excited about that. I have been through this exhibit and, and to see the faces of the paleontologist, how excited energetic that they are. And they're also excited and maybe even a little bit nervous about sharing their work as they do it with the world, with the cameras on top of them, with their brushes and their equipment as they make discovery after discovery. And I said, you know, you're gonna get comments and praise and maybe some criticism from science, all scientists all over the world. They said, we know we know and we're ready for that and that's what makes this so special. Uh Doctor Young Doctor Zano, thank you for leading me through. Thank, thank you for the work. I asked Doctor Zano what she was gonna do this summer? She said, Utah, Montana and Mongolia. Wow, that's cool. Bring some stuff back with us uh to, to us but to compete, compete in today's world stem and steam classes. Are more important than ever. And our next generation of leaders will be walking through this museum every day that it's open and this exhibit will stimulate interest in a lot of them. I have declared 2024 as the year of public schools in North Carolina. And I am deeply grateful that the legislature stepped up and invested in this exhibit. Uh It, it took a lot of work to pull everything together and their work was instrumental and I am encouraging them now also to invest more in our public schools in our early childhood education. Our state has a history of investing in public education in order to fuel our innovation and our discovery. And when these young students learn in their school classes and they get to come here and meet face to face with these sci scientists. It's going to develop interest and it's going to create our scientists of the future this state of the art secu diner lab and the dueling dinosaurs belong to the people of North Carolina. It's open to everyone free of charge. That is amazing. Thanks to everybody who made this happen. This is a proud day for the state of North Carolina. Thank you so much. Thank you, Governor Cooper. Uh It truly is an exciting day for all of us and thank you for being here. Now, at this time, I would like to invite everyone to join us just outside the auditorium here. A little bit to the right at the at the entrance for doing dinosaurs for the official ribbon cutting. And I want to invite all of you up there on the 2nd, 3rd floor. Presents. Come on down and join us. So let's go celebrate. Thank you. Yeah, we're at the back line up a little bit. It's gonna be quite a few people here. They are going to be coupled. OK? Don't cut it. Yeah, check, check, get out. OK. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Right. The the face. Thanks this chair, right. You all right. So fantastic. Hey guys for media. We questions afterwards over step on. This is the best to the future. This very good virtually. Yes. Is young. Was it? How about that? This is Yeah, you and then I now make the tea for. Can you be away if you're gonna be here? J JJ? Yeah, I was gonna have how many we have to get here in the morning right here. I didn't see anyone. All right, I need to tell everyone you should never put your hands inside the mouth of a tyrannosaurus. It's very sharp, well done on the end. Just a little bit here. Thank you. All right, just in the position. All right forward. Creep forward. Look for the fray. There we go. 321. Hold on. Is there we go. No cool, cool. The skin is tough. It's a meat eater. Not a ribbon eater. So OK. Sorry. OK. Barry can we do one more second? Let me fill in real quickly with one more. Yeah, they have thank you. Who gets to keep this to bring here? Let's get next to a do what you want us here. That be perfect. And can I get you on? So right here, you know what the secret with you and, but yeah, one photo, 12 and three. All right, thanks everybody. Right. If we have five, hello, if you guys want to come over here, I'll stand where the governor is gonna be. I.

Preview of Dueling Dinos, opening Saturday in Raleigh

Nightly N.C. Education Lottery drawings during the 11 p.m. News.

Good evening. I'm Gayle Hurd. Welcome to tonight's drawings for Wednesday, April 24th, 2024. Well, let's get started tonight with our Carolina pick three. Our first winning number is a seven. Our second number is six and the third number tonight is a nine and our pick three. Fireball number is six. Joining me for tonight's show is our auditor from mcconnell and Jones L LP. Now let's move to the Carolina pick four. Good luck. Everyone who's that first winning pick four number, it's zero. Our second number is a nine. Third number tonight is three and our fourth number is one in our pick for fireball number. There it is. It's three. Again, we're turning now to the Carolina cash five and no one was the top prize tonight. Tomorrow's top prize is estimated at $620,000. Good luck. Everyone here's their first win in cash five number. It's a 29. Our second number, it's 37 3rd number tonight. It's 34. Our fourth number is lucky 13 and the final number in our cash five this evening is 12. The North Carolina Education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Get your winning numbers right here every night on your exclusive station for the North Carolina Education lottery. Thanks for playing. Have a great night.

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

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

Ball. Good evening, Ruan, I Randy trainer. Tonight. We have another life changing jackpot. It's worth an estimated $130.2 million. So, get your tickets ready here. Come, tonight's winning numbers. Let's start things off this evening with the number 26. Right after that America. We have the number two and congratulations to Gina Magnum from North Carolina. She won $50,000 playing powerball. All right, the rest of your winning numbers tonight 20 47. And let's round it out tonight with the number 22 and tonight 20 powerball number, that's gonna be 21 and your power play multiplayer is four. Let's take another look at tonight's winning numbers. We'll see you back here on Saturday night. It's time to play America's favorite.

Powerball Drawing

Brian Shrader flies over the site of a plane crash at Raleigh-Durham International Airport approximately three hours after the accident.

Seen some activity just in the past 10 minutes or so. I want to take you outside Sky five right now for a live look at the scene. We saw a van being escorted to the runway there and someone got out and now there appears to be a really careful inspection of the debris going on. So we're working to confirm if that may be the NTSB investigation team arriving at the scene. Let's zoom out and give you some about where this is. There are two main runways at RDU International and this is in the grassy field next to the runway that mostly serves terminal one on the east side of the airport, that runway remains closed while this investigation continues at the top of your screen. That is the other main runway that serves terminal two, mostly that runway is open. So we have two things going on here that could affect your flights for the rest of the day and maybe even into tomorrow, the airport takeoff and landing capacity is roughly reduced by half because they are only working with one runway. And if you have a flight coming out of terminal one, maybe Southwest, you're going to have to take that crossover all the way out to that other runway. It's going to add a lot of extra time.

Sky 5 flies over RDU plane crash 3 hours later 

A UNC Health physician and pilot were taken to the hospital Wednesday after a small plane crashed at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).


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Sky 5 flies over RDU plane crash 3 hours later

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