The annual WRAL Tower Lighting is scheduled for Nov. 29, 2023. Tune in to WRAL-TV at 7 p.m. for a live, half-hour special of music and holiday cheer as we count down to when towers in Raleigh, Durham and Rocky Mount get their holiday glow.

WRAL to light towers in Raleigh, Durham and Rocky Mount on Wednesday at 7p

WRAL-TV held its 64th annual tower lighting on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022.

A couple blames a faulty gun safe for the death of their 12-year-old son. Now they're trying to make sure the tragedy they're going through doesn't happen to anyone else.

Family claims gun safe was defective in seeking justice for 12-year-old son who shot himself

Carson Preston

Yelp Coverage

According to a list compiled by Yelp for National Sandwich Month, a sandwhich shop in western North Carolina tops the charts for having the best sandwhiches in the state.



Here's the best sandwich shop in NC, according to Yelp reviews 

Ham Melt posted on Yelp by TR in October 2021. 

Businesses can now add descriptions to their Yelp profile page to let customers know if "proof of vaccination" is required to dine in and whether "all staff [are] fully vaccinated."

Yelp makes it easier for restaurants to tell you if proof of vaccination is required 

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The crowd-sourced review platform is expanding its COVID-19 section on profile pages to include information about enforcement of social distancing and if staff are wearing masks with new indicators activated by user reports. Yelp said Tuesday that the changes aim to "instill confidence in consumers to continue supporting local businesses."

Is a business or restaurant enforcing mask mandate? Yelp can tell you

NC-based LabCorp doubles COVID-19 testing capacity to 20,000 tests per day

WRAL's Kirsten Gutierrez has reaction to the news that Yelp will flag businesses that have been accused of overt racism.

WE START RELEASING EXCLUSIVE RESULTS MONDAY AT 4:00 P.M., PLUS THE EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON WHAT THE NUMBERS REALLY MEAN, ONLY ON WRAL. >>> NEW TONIGHT,  A MAJOR CHANGE FOR YELP. THE COMPANY WILL FLAG BUSINESSES ACCUSED OF OVERT RACISM. KIRSTEN GUTIERREZ EXPLAINS THE CHANGE AND WHY IT WAS PUT INTO PLACE. >> Reporter: THE COMPANY SAID IT SAW AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF REVIEWS WARNING OF RACIST BEHAVIOR AT BUSINESSES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. THE BUSINESS ACCUSED OF RACIST BEHAVIOR ALERT WILL FEATURE A RED ICON AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE, WITH A LINKED NEWS ARTICLE. YELP, TAKING TO TWITTER, SAYING IN PART, IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE HAVE SEEN A CLEAR NEED TO WARN CUSTOMERS ABOUT BUSINESSES ASSOCIATED WITH EGREGIOUS ACTIONS AND TO HELP OTHERS MAKE MORE INFORMED SPENDING DECISIONS. >> I THINK IT IS SOMEWHAT REACTIONARY TO THE TIMES WE ARE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW. I DO THINK IT IS A GREAT FEATURE. SETTING UP MORE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO PROTECT MINORITIES AND GIVE US A FAIR SHAKE. >> Reporter: IT IS NOT CLEAR IF YELP WILL INVESTIGATE RACIST CLAIMS OR IF BUSINESSES WILL BE ABLE TO RESPOND. >> MY ONLY CONCERN WITH THE FEATURE AS YOU DO NOT WANT THESE COMPANIES TO BECOME WATCHDOGS AND UNFAIRLY, HOW DO I BEST SAY IT, UNFAIRLY JUDGE PEOPLE WHEN THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG. >> KIRSTEN GUTIERREZ REPORTING. YELP SAYS THAT VALUES DIVERSITY, BELONGING, AND

Yelp Coverage

Here's the best sandwich shop in NC, according to Yelp reviews

Yelp makes it easier for restaurants to tell you if proof of vaccination is required

Is a business or restaurant enforcing mask mandate? Yelp can tell you

Yelp taking steps to flag businesses over racism