Shortages of teachers, infrastructure and technology workers will hamper schools' ability to provide the best education, facilities and tools to children, Superintendent Robert Taylor said Thursday.

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Wake County Public School System Superintendent Robert Taylor speaks to the League fo Women Voters of Wake County, April 18, 2024

Consumer Reports surveyed more than 2,000 members who shared their experiences with pet insurance.

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Wake County is offering free, drive-thru COVID-19 tests at six different locations before and after Christmas.



<b>RALEIGH, N.C.</b> — Wake County is offering <a href="https://covid19.wakegov.com/testing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free, drive-thru COVID-19 tests at six different locations</a> before and after Christmas.

Many people are choosing to get tested before seeing loved ones for the holiday, although health experts are advising Americans to avoid traveling and to gather with immediate household members only.

While a coronavirus test does not guarantee you will not infect others, it's a proactive step people can take if they choose to gather with people outside of their household.

<strong>Sanderford Road Park - 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.</strong><br>

<strong>Carolina Pines Park - 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.</strong><br>

<strong>Brentwood Park: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.</strong><br>

<strong>Sanderford Road Park - 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.</strong><br>

<strong>Carolina Pines Park - 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.</strong><br>

<strong>Brentwood Park: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.</strong><br>

<h4>Sites open Dec. 22-24 and Dec. 26</h4>

Except for Christmas Day, testing will be available every day through Saturday at one or more of the following sites:

<strong>Swinburne Parking Lot Drive-Thru Testing</strong><br>

<strong>Departure Drive Building Drive-thru Testing</strong><br>

<strong>Radeas Labs Drive-thru Testing</strong><br>

907 Gateway Commons Circle, Wake Forest 27587<br>

<h4>Sites open Dec. 29-31 and Jan. 4-10</h4>

<strong>Method Community Park</strong><br>

Testing hours will run for the following hours:

Appointments are not needed to get a test. <a href="https://covid19.wakegov.com/testing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check Wake County's COVID-19 testing website for future dates and times</a>.

Although fewer Americans will travel this Christmas, <a href="https://www.wral.com/story/rdu-anticipates-64-fewer-travelers-this-holiday-season/19432503/">Raleigh-Durham International Airport is preparing for a busy two weeks</a>. President and CEO Michael Landguth said RDU is anticipating about 104,200 travelers for Christmas week, or about one-third the number who traveled through the airport last year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a strong warning against travel for the holiday season on Dec. 2, asking the public to postpone their holiday plans. But, Many Americans will likely travel anyway this holiday season. 



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The busiest travel days are projected to be the two Sundays after Christmas -- Dec. 27 and Jan. 3 -- with more than 18,400 travelers expected each day.

Traveling is discouraged as COVID-19 cases climb. <a href="https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/north-carolina-coronavirus-cases-maps-graphs-live-updates/19010016/">On Sunday, North Carolina reported its third-highest new daily total since the pandemic began</a>.

The North Carolina COVID-19 Dashboard. The latest Coronavirus case numbers, deaths, hospitalizations, and other key coronavirus stats for North Carolina and the US.

<div class="g-row section-head ">
<h1>NC Coronavirus: Maps, graphs and data</h1>
</div>

<p>As cases of COVID-19, the illness associated with the new coronavirus, spread across North Carolina and the world, WRAL News is providing interactive maps, graphs and data to help explain the spread of this disease, now classified as a pandemic. {{a href="page-19028981"}}Click here for the latest coronavirus coverage from WRAL's news archive.{{/a}}</p>

<p><em>NOTE: On Sept. 25, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services began releasing data on both molecular (PCR) and antigen testing in North Carolina. WRAL added this data on Sept. 28, resulting in updates to several of the graphs and charts on the dashboard below. {{a href="external_link-19309937"}}Read more about the corrections and compare the changes here.{{/a}}</em></p>

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North Carolina Coronavirus dashboard - Maps, charts and data

Coronavirus research

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List: Free COVID-19 testing in Wake County before, after Christmas

Photo Courtesy/Piedmont Health

The Storm Prediction Center has our southern counties under a Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday.

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Durham police are investigating a drive-by shooting Thursday night. 

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defenses at a major air base and a nuclear site near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones early Friday morning, raising fears of a possible Israeli strike in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.

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Residents in Anderson Creek Crossing in Spring Lake, are on high alert after discovering a disturbing pattern of tampered mail.

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More than 4,300 North Carolinians died from overdoses in 2022. That trend continues going up, devastating entire communities.

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

WRAL Late News 

WRAL Noon News

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.

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After 22 years in business, Armadillo Grill on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh has closed.



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Caleb Love declared for the 2024 NBA Draft while keeping the option to return to college for his final year of eligibility. 

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After the death of a Harnett County teenager, the softball community in Eastern North Carolina remembers her through stickers and fighting the stigma around mental health.

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NCAA athletes will be immediately eligible to play no matter how many times they transfer -- as long as they meet academic requirements -- after the association fast-tracked legislation Wednesday to fall in line with a recent court order.

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The NHL has set the start times for game 1's across the Eastern Conference. The Canes are the opening act with puck drop Saturday at 5 pm from PNC Arena.

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Brandon Butterworth picked up his first hit of the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to beat No. 11 North Carolina.

List: Free COVID-19 testing in Wake County before, after Christmas

Dec. 22-23

Dec. 24

Sites open Dec. 22-24 and Dec. 26

Sites open Dec. 29-31 and Jan. 4-10

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