The annual "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" is set for 7:30 p.m. on WRAL. Kelly Clarkson hosts musical guests and the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes for the lighting of the world’s most famous Christmas tree.

Rockefeller Christmas on WRAL: Kelly Clarkson hosts guests & the Rockettes for the lighting of the world’s most famous Christmas tree 🎄🎅

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 

Delvin Ferrell was the teenager killed in a stabbing on Monday at Southeast Raleigh High School. Friends will remember Ferrell with a balloon release on Wednesday evening.

'We are forgiving': Family of 15-year-old stabbed to death at Southeast Raleigh High School grieves loss, holds no ill will

Family of 15-year-old killed at Southeast Raleigh High School plans balloon release 

From the deaths of two runners at the first Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Raleigh to a snow photo that went viral, it was a year of powerful stories and pictures from across the region -- and WRAL News was there to capture it all. 

Tragedies, oddities, crime and a lot of crazy winter weather were among the themes of the top-read articles on WRAL.com for 2014.

From the deaths of two runners at the first Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Raleigh to a snow photo that went viral, it was a year of powerful stories and pictures from across the region — and WRAL News was there to capture it all.

Here's a roundup of the most-read WRAL.com stories from 2014:

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/two-die-in-inaugural-rock-n-roll-marathon-in-raleigh/13565181/">Two die in inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Raleigh</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/judge-stripping-veteran-teachers-of-tenure-rights-unconstitutional/13650846/">Judge: Stripping veteran teachers of tenure rights unconstitutional</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/-oh-my-gosh-raleigh-woman-s-snow-photo-goes-viral/13390109/">'Oh my gosh!' Raleigh woman's snow photo goes viral</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/unc-professor-dies-after-chapel-hill-mugging/13837100/">UNC professor dies after Chapel Hill mugging</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/dead-black-bear-found-dumped-on-ncsu-campus/13602869/">Dead black bear dumped on NCSU campus</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/missing-2-year-old-raleigh-boy-s-father-charged-with-murder/14306867/">Missing 2-year-old Raleigh boy's father charged with murder</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/self-inflicted-gunshots-kill-two-wayne-county-teens/13296041/">Two Wayne County teens die from self-inflicted gunshots</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/substitute-wake-bus-driver-gets-lost-taking-students-home/13203001/">Substitute Wake bus driver gets lost taking students home</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/heritage-high-student-killed-in-wake-forest-crash/14025890/">Heritage High student killed in Wake Forest crash</a>

<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/deputies-day-care-and-mentoring-program-a-front-for-child-porn-operation/13758447/">Deputies: Day care, mentoring program a front for Sanford child porn operation</a>

Angie  Basiouny

Top WRAL.com stories of 2014

'Oh my gosh!' Raleigh woman's snow photo goes viral

Police communication released on Wednesday provides some insight into the chaos inside Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School when a fight turned into a deadly stabbing earlier this week and the search for a suspect that followed.

All students involved in altercation ahead of fatal stabbing at Southeast Raleigh have been disciplined

911 calls reveal frightened students hid during fatal stabbing at Southeast Raleigh High School

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

This year marks the 65th annual lighting of the WRAL-TV tower in Raleigh.

While over Wednesday night temperatures are expected to drop into the 20s.

Brace for near-freezing 🥶 temperatures before warmth arrives

Temperature turnaround 

According to authorities with Nash County Public Schools, the school's new metal detection systems flagged an object that looked like a gun just before 7 a.m. Wednesday. The systems were installed over the summer at various schools in the county.

New security system at Rocky Mount High finds loaded gun inside student's backpack

Rocky Mount High School

Republican state Senate leader Phil Berger is endorsing Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the 2024 GOP primary for North Carolina governor. But he says he doesn't plan to make an endorsement in the presidential primary.

Why NC's most powerful Republican is endorsing a candidate for governor, but not president

Sen. Phil Berger

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

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

The N.C. High School Athletic Association Board of Directors holds it winter board meeting in Chapel Hill. This is the first of a two-day event for the NCHSAA.

2023 NCHSAA winter board meeting, day one

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

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

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Videos

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard announced that he would be leaving the program.

Duke QB Riley Leonard leaving Blue Devils

clemsonduke32

Max Johnson, a former Texas A&M and LSU quarterback, has committed to play for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Johnson is expected to compete for the Tar Heels' starting quarterback position in the 2024 season.

Former Texas A&M, LSU QB Max Johnson commits to North Carolina

North Carolina Logo 

The North Carolina Lottery Commission has not committed to a date for when sports betting would be allowed in the state.

Sports betting won't start in North Carolina before Super Bowl

Mobile sports betting

NC State linebacker Payton Wilson was named ACC defensive player of the year and freshman wide receiver KC Concepcion won the league's Rookie of the Year award.

NC State duo claims top ACC football honors

Payton Wilson during pregame warmups

George Williams, a former St. Augustine's University coach, was fired in July 2020. He continues to coach athletes and is preparing several for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Top WRAL.com stories of 2014

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Two die in inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Raleigh

Judge: Stripping veteran teachers of tenure rights unconstitutional

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