More than 21% of North Carolina's four-year-olds enrolled in the state's pre-kindergarten programs during the 2022-2023 school year, up from the prior year but still below the state's pre-pandemic highs, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research.

North Carolina ranks 29th in public pre-K enrollment, new report shows

Durham County budget increases funding for pre-K students

Compared to pre-pandemic prices, ground beef is up 35%, chips are up 45%, bread is up 57% and a 12-ounce can of soda is up 66%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tracks trends on common grocery store items.

WRAL Investigates: 'Greedflation' and other drivers behind inflation at the grocery store

A look at inflation at the grocery store

More than 11 inches of rain is expected in Sampson County in the next 24-hours. Officials are asking residents to avoid traveling through the county, particularly near Newton Grove. 



<b>SAMPSON COUNTY, N.C.</b> — Officials are asking residents to avoid traveling through Sampson County, particularly in Newton Grove due to flash flooding.

In the past 24-hours, Sampson County has seen over 11 inches over rain.

Crews in boats were conducting water rescues early Saturday morning on US Highway 701 near Parkside Grill and in the Luke Hobbs Farm and Whit Road area.

There is a chance for thunderstorms, some of them severe, through about 11 p.m. Tuesday night, WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said. The greatest threat is for heavy rain, small hail and damaging winds.

Mike Maze

Jodi Leese Glusco

Scattered chance through Tuesday evening for heavy rain, winds, hail

Triangle now included in severe weather risk this afternoon

A flood warning is issued in Sampson County for the rest of Saturday.

North Carolina Department of Transportation blocked many roads across the county to keep drivers from entering flood waters.

Large trees have been reported as down in the area, and highways and roads are damaged from the flood waters.

River levels were already high in areas near Nash County, Vance County and Rocky Mount, which made way for perfect conditions for flooding this week. 



Maggie Brown

Flash flood warning still in place for several NC counties

Drone: Flooding in Rocky Mount

Mikaya Thurmond

John Payne

Water rescues, severe flooding in Sampson County 

Roadways in Sampson County flooded, water rescues underway

NEW YORK — A man set himself on fire Friday afternoon near the lower Manhattan courthouse where jurors were being chosen for the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump.

Man Sets Himself on Fire Near Courthouse Where Trump Is on Trial

Trump Trial Enters Fourth Day With Opening Arguments Next Week

Storms moved east Friday in central North Carolina. Over the weekend, the Triangle will feel a cooldown due to an incoming cold front.

Storms move east in North Carolina ⛈️; cooldown coming this weekend

Weather for the weekend 

The crash involved a school bus from Corinth Holders Elementary School at North Carolina Highway 96 and Earpsboro Road in Johnston County, according to authorities.

Johnston County school bus involved in crash on NC 96 

Capitol Broadcasting Company, the parent company of WRAL News, is part of the 2024 class inducted into the North Carolina Media & Journalism Hall of Fame at the University of North Carolina.

WRAL parent company inducted to NC Media & Journalism Hall of Fame 

UNC staff and hospital executives got their first looks at the product of the years-long construction project: a new hospital dedicated entirely to surgery.

New UNC surgical hospital to bring more beds, new procedures to patients

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

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

Gov. Roy Cooper joins United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to make a clean energy announcement.

Gov. Cooper makes clean energy announcement

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

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Videos

The Carolina Hurricanes are no stranger to playoff hockey. They're in the postseason for the sixth-straight season and are regarded as a Stanley Cup contender.

Chaotic Canes hope late-season surge continues into playoffs

Hurricanes_Blackhawks_Hockey_50050

Mark Mitchell announced he has committed to the University of Missouri in a post to his Instagram post.

Former Duke forward Mark Mitchell commits to Missouri

uvaduke23

The No. 15 Tar Heels have now beat No. 25 Duke in 15 consecutive games. Both teams now prepare for the ACC championship next week.

Women's Lacrosse: North Carolina pulls away in the third quarter, beats Duke

Duke vs. UNC women's lacrosse

THE WOODLANDS, Texas (AP) — Nelly Korda, seeking to tie an LPGA Tour record with her fifth straight win, shot a 3-under 69 on Friday in the second round of the Chevron Championship, leaving her one shot behind leaders Atthaya Thitikul and Jin Hee Im in the year’s first major.

Nelly Korda 1 shot back through 36 holes at Chevron Championship as she chases 5th straight victory

LPGA_Tour_Golf_71305

Game 1 is Saturday night in Raleigh. Game 2 is Monday at PNC Arena.

Water rescues, severe flooding in Sampson County

More On This

Saturday is the first day of summer, with a 50% chance of rain