Breaking

23-year-old police officer killed in overnight collision on I-540 eastbound — Officer Ryan Hayworth, 23, a three-month veteran of the Knightdale Police Department and former member of the United States Army, was killed when a car crashed into his police cruiser while he was assisting with another crash on I-540 eastbound. All eastbound lanes are still closed.

WRAL Data Trackers Coverage

COVID-19 was cause of death for 2 of every 3 NC law enforcement officers in last 2 years
Nationwide, the coronavirus has claimed the lives of 473 law enforcement first responders since the beginning of last year. That's more than five times as many who died from gunfire in that same time.

October 15, 2021 7:41 p.m. EDT
NC coronavirus hospitalizations are declining, but patients are getting sicker
Coronavirus hospitalizations in North Carolina continue to trend downward, but patients are requiring more care.

October 2, 2021 4:06 p.m. EDT
Naloxone use is up, data shows, but nationwide shortage could limit ability to reverse overdoses, save lives
On the heels of deadliest year for overdoses in U.S. history, there's a shortage in naloxone

September 30, 2021 6:10 p.m. EDT
Unpredictable drug supply among reasons for overdose uptick
Last year, about six North Carolinians died every day from an unintentional drug overdose,

September 29, 2021 7:09 p.m. EDT
RPD responded to historically high number of overdose calls in 2020. They've exceeded it already this year.
There was a 28% increase in statewide overdose deaths last year when more than 2300 lives were lost.

October 6, 2021 4:09 p.m. EDT
Durham considering Denver STAR program to improve community safety, ease officers' burden
Leaders involved with a program in Denver, Colorado has been having meetings with officials here in Durham about how to best launch its Community Safety Department.

September 28, 2021 8:47 p.m. EDT
Violent crime rate in NC higher than national rate
For the first time in 13 years, North Carolina's violent crime rate is higher than the national rate.

September 27, 2021 11:27 p.m. EDT
FBI: Violent crime in NC more prevalent than US average
For the first time in 13 years, North Carolina's violent crime rate is higher than the national rate.

September 28, 2021 1:04 p.m. EDT
New infections in NC dropping rapidly; state doing better than neighbors
The number of new coronavirus infections in North Carolina is down 25 percent from a week ago, a sign that the surge from the virus' delta variant might finally be subsiding.

September 24, 2021 7:53 p.m. EDT
Neighboring states report more new virus cases per 100,000 residents than NC
The number of new coronavirus infections in North Carolina is down 25 percent from a week ago, a sign that the surge from the virus' delta variant might finally be subsiding.

September 24, 2021 7:52 p.m. EDT
Pediatric hospitalizations higher than at other points in the pandemic
New data shows children under 18 recently made up 29 percent of all coronavirus cases in the state.

September 23, 2021 4:12 p.m. EDT
14 of top 20 days for COVID-related pediatric hospitalizations fell during this month
While very few children wind up in the hospital with COVID, during this last month, the number has consistently been higher than many other times during the pandemic.

September 23, 2021 5:11 p.m. EDT
'Things are going to get better:' Vaccines, variants are key to winter COVID trend
New projections from an epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill paint a positive picture of herd immunity and fewer COVID-29 cases through the coming winter.

September 22, 2021 6:24 p.m. EDT
Model shows COVID spread slowing this winter if these two important conditions are met
New projections from an epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill paint a positive picture of herd immunity and fewer COVID-19 cases through the coming winter.

September 23, 2021 9:47 a.m. EDT
At least 195,000 in NC overdue for second vaccine shot
Fifty-seven percent of all North Carolinians have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, but thousands are overdue for their second one, according to state data.

September 21, 2021 7:53 p.m. EDT
NC following up with people overdue for second vaccination
Fifty-seven percent of all North Carolinians have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, but thousands are overdue for their second one, according to state data.

September 21, 2021 7:53 p.m. EDT
'You lose sense of how pervasive the COVID is in our community,' Wake Forest man says
Neighborhoods in Raleigh and Wake Forest have two of the three highest totals of coronavirus infections in North Carolina, according to state data.

September 20, 2021 6:28 p.m. EDT
Raleigh, Wake Forest ZIP codes among highest in NC for coronavirus infections
Neighborhoods in Raleigh and Wake Forest have two of the three highest totals of coronavirus infections in North Carolina, according to state data.

September 20, 2021 6:37 p.m. EDT
Coronavirus hitting harder in communities of color across NC
Nearly 7,300 new coronavirus infections are reported a day in North Carolina, which is up 40 percent from a month ago. But the cases are hitting some groups harder than others.

September 17, 2021 7:56 p.m. EDT
Infection rates, deaths much higher among NC's Black, Latino residents
Nearly 7,300 new coronavirus infections are reported a day in North Carolina, which is up 40 percent from a month ago. But the cases are hitting some groups harder than others.

September 17, 2021 7:55 p.m. EDT