WRAL Newscasts
Noon News on WRAL - Friday, June 28, 2024
So the reason I chose William Peacels because of their stellar game design program is very rare to find a game design program in the United States at all, yet alone in North Carolina. And this place seemed like the right place for me for where I wanted to go and the connections I could make within the program. Turn your hobby into a career in one of the highest paid professions in the country, with William Peac University's Simulation and Game Design program. Master Design 3D Modeling and Programming in a state-of-the-art space, with the latest and most remarkable technologies available, find out more at peace.edu. Now, breaking news from WRAL, coverage you can count on. Breaking news, a new decision from the Supreme Court means hundreds of people charged in the January 6th attack could get another day in court, the decision that could reverse some convictions, but not all. As we get ready to head into the weekend, we have more heat on the way, could be heating next values up to 110 and some isolated strong storms on Sunday. We're going to go over all of this coming up. A former Wake County teacher is in custody following a WRAL investigation. James Renter is charged with assaulting children with special needs. You'll hear from parents who long suspected that abuse coming up on WRAL News. And fresh off the debate stage, President Biden and former President Trump hit the campaign trail. Biden will address supporters here in Raleigh while Trump attends a rally in Virginia. We've got both campaigns covered for you. We'll get to those charges against a Wake County teacher following a WRAL investigation and the dangerous heat headed our way in just a moment, but we do need to begin with breaking news this noon. Ken Smith is in the WRAL Live Center with a decision by the High Court that makes it harder to charge the January 6th riot defendants' camp. I'm Michelle and Jeff, this is just into our news and federal prosecutors, improperly charged a January 6th defendant with obstruction, a divided Supreme Court rule today likely upending many cases against rioters who disrupted the certification of the 2020 presidential campaign. Now, after the January 6th, 2021 attack on the Capitol, federal prosecutors charged more than 350 participants in the pro-Trump mob with obstructing or impeding an official proceeding. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Robert said the government's broad reading of the statute would give prosecutors too much discretion to seek a 20-year maximum sentence for acts Congress all fit to punish only with far shorter terms of imprisonment. Now, in its biggest decision on homelessness in decades, the U.S. Supreme Court also today ruled that cities can ban people from sleeping and camping out in public places. The justices in a 63 decision along with ideological lines overturned lower court rulings that deemed the cruel and unusual under the 8th Amendment to punish people for sleeping outside if they had nowhere else to go. Now, writing for the majority, Chief Justice Gorsuch said homelessness is complex, its causes are many, but he said federal judges do not have any special competence to decide how cities should deal with this. In a dissent, Justice Sotomayor said the decision focused only on the needs of cities, but not on the most vulnerable. These are two decisions. We will continue to follow all the odds of the afternoon here on WRAL. What going on this noon? Add to it, the heat index will be near 100 this afternoon. That's right. Meteorologist Anthony Baglione is in the WRAL severe weather center with a look at why it could feel even hotter this weekend, Anthony. Yeah, it's going to be toasty for us. Our actual air temperature is going to be manageable this weekend, but you factor in the humidity. It's really going to ramp up those fields like values to potentially about 110 as we get into tomorrow and still very similar into our Sunday. Where we sit currently, though, across the area, feeling like 90 in Raleigh, 93 in Goldsboro, where you see those sensors not showing up, it looks like they're probably down currently. So we'll continue to watch that. But still, upper 80s and low 90s for us with actual air temperatures currently. We go through the day, 93 this afternoon. And to this evening, it's still going to be pretty warm, low to mid 80s, but we could see at least the chance today of an isolated shower or thunderstorm, nothing severe and nothing that I would cancel plans for. But you see that general coverage trying to bubble up later on this afternoon into this evening. It's not going to be a lot for us, but then that's going to set the stage for at least a more humid air mass into the weekend. There's a look at those fields like values. Check those out. Potentially feeling like 97 today, actual air temperature of 93 and then 110 tomorrow. We are likely to see heat advisories coming out the next couple of days, 108 there into our Sunday, 93 degree for an actual air temperature reading. So it's definitely going to be pretty hot for us. The last time at RDU that we had a heat index of 110 or higher was back in 2023 August 15th. So that's just something we're going to be watching here. I think again tomorrow, probably about 110. We'll talk about though the rest of the weekend storm chances and if that heat lasts very long into next week guys coming up here in a few minutes. In breaking news this noon, this former Wake County teacher has been arrested for assaulting students with special needs following a WRL investigation. James Rancher was booked early this morning on 12 misdemeanors. Keeley Arthur was first to report these allegations last month and Keeley, as you stand outside the Wake County Justice Center, this was not on investigators radar before you started looking into this. That's right, Jeff and Rancher turned himself in to the building behind me earlier this morning. As you said, this was not investigated until our own investigation showed that these abuse allegations which occurred in 2022 were not reported to law enforcement and that the Wake County School District may have not properly investigated this. Now warrants released today detail disturbing accounts of abuse against two disability students at East Wake High School. The students were nonverbal, unable to communicate the abuse. Rancher is accused of shoving one of the victim's heads, jerking a victim backwards by the shirt and neck and kicking a young or a yoga ball out from under one of the young victims, causing them to fall among other instances of abuse. The teacher picked him up by his arms like this, picked him up forcibly and took him and pushed him out of the classroom into the kitchen and then slammed the door and just left him in the kitchen. That's the scary part because these people are supposed to be looking out for your children and they clearly are not, clearly are not. Keep in mind the district let this person continue to teach for more than a year and a half after the alleged abuse took place. By ask the school district if they will investigate the possibility of any other allegations of abuse in light of this arrest, they said they can't comment, claiming it's a personnel matter and it's confidential. Again, we were the ones who first reported it. That is why this was investigated. Rancher, I'm being told by the Wake County District attorney right now, is still in custody. He will have his next court appearance next month. That's why the Arthur force live outside the Wake County Justice Center, thanks. Well, less than 30 minutes, President Joe Biden is expected to take the stage at the State Fairgrounds here in Raleigh. This is a look inside the Jim Graham building where the Raleigh will take place and that's where we find WRL's Monica Casey with reaction to what some would call a shaky performance in Atlanta, Monica. Yeah, Michelle, the Biden campaign says there will be 2,000 people attending this event in this room and it's going to be a tight fit. One of the main topics on everyone's mind here is last night's debate performance by the president. We have spoken with supporters here, some who say they have concerned about Biden's performance. Others have said it's not a big issue for them. That includes college student who came here from Winston Salem named Adrian Payne. He says it was important for him to be here because of North Carolina's status as a battleground state. He had a rocky start, but let's be honest here, though. If it comes down to the guy who stood versus the guy who said there and lies the entire debate, I'll take the guy who stood as any day or the guy who lies the entire debate. Now, this morning, the Biden campaign co-chair said the president may have lost the debate on, quote, "style," but he wanted on facts. When it comes to facts, a politicized fact check of the debate found both candidates made statements that were false. Now, here at the Jim Graham Building, we are less than 30 minutes from the start of this rally. We're expecting to see North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper as well as Democratic nominee for Governor, the candidate for Governor Josh Stein here with the president. So a lot of big faces is expected to be here in this building in just a little while in Raleigh, Monica Casey, WRL News. And here in the WRL Live Center, the president's visit once the rally is finished will impact your afternoon joint on the roadway. Check out what we're talking about. The state fairgrounds are right here and likely because of the motorcade and the motorcade route, it will affect the road closures and delays possibly around Wade Avenue and, of course, I-40 Westbound going out to the airport. So keep that in mind. We'll, of course, keep you posted on air and online after that rally. As for President Biden's Republican challenger, Donald Trump is campaigning today in Virginia where he's expected to attend a rally with that state's government. Now this morning, Trump supporters on the Hill reacted to the debate saying President Biden is just not up for the job. It's nothing we take pleasure in pointing out because it's so dangerous because we're concerned about our stature and standing on the world stage, our adversaries see exactly the same thing that all of us see. Trump and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin are expected to take the stage in Chesapeake, Virginia at three o'clock this afternoon. A flash poll conducted by CNN found 67% of voters thought Trump won the debate, 33% thought Biden won. Prior to the debate, 55% of those same voters thought Trump would turn in a better performance. Be sure to stay with WRL throughout the day for coverage of President Biden's visit to Raleigh, and we have a full breakdown of everything that happened in last night's debate on WRL.com. That includes a fact check of each of the candidate's statements from our partners at PolitiFact. Goldsboro Police announced they have arrested a teenager in connection with a deadly shooting outside a grocery store. A 18-year-old Javon Langston was shot and killed earlier this month outside of the food lion that was on East Ash Street. Officers say the victim and the shooter had an argument that escalated to gunfire. Officers did not release the name of the shooter because he is 17 years old. UNC police are investigating a string of break-ins on and near the main campus. Since Tuesday, police have been called to Beatty Hill, Craig, Parking Deck, and fraternity court. In all, they have taken eight reports of car break-ins. UNC police are reminding everyone to keep your bibles locked away out of sight and lock your car and be sure your alarm is set. A child died when a bookcase fell on top of them, and now the bookcase is being recalled. This is the piece of furniture that's being recalled to the Hayden bookcase made by Dania Furniture. What we know about the accident involving a child's death is that the bookcase was not anchored and fell onto a four-year-old child in August of last year. Dania is offering free funds or free installation of those anchor kits to customers. Next at noon, winning at the Olympics is hard. But first, athletes from our country have to make it on Team USA how the squad is shaping up. Dating in real life these days, how are millennials and Gen-Zers getting together? Plus, a three-year-old boy is dead and a mother and her boyfriend are charged with child abuse. At 1230, a live report from Harney County on this disturbing case. Keep watching WRL news over the Air Channel 34 and Spectrum Channel 1257. Good posture is essential to good health. Unfortunately, at least half of computer users have posture-related back pain. Other daily activities and hobbies can also contribute to weakened posture, causing spinal misalignment and discomfort in our bodies. Luckily, chiropractic is here to help. Chiropractors provide a drug-free form of health care that improves mobility and overall health while keeping your posture in tip-top shape. Find yours today at nchiro.org/poster What's the easiest choice you can make? Window instead of middle seat? Picking a vendor who sends a great gift basket, outsourcing business tasks you hate. What about selling with Shopify? Whether you're selling a little or a lot, Shopify helps you do your thing. However you cha-ching, Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. From the launch your online shop stage to the first real-life store stage, all the way to the "did we just hit a million orders" stage, Shopify is there to help you grow. Whether you're selling scented soap or offering outdoor outfits, Shopify helps you sell wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. Sign up for a $1-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/try. Go to Shopify.com/try now to grow your business, no matter what stage you're in. Shopify.com/try A grand jury handed down a criminal indictment against former Uvaldy school police chief, Pete Arendondo. The charges issued under the Texas Penal Code when someone intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence, causes a child bodily injury. Arendondo was employed as the chief of police during the Rob Elementary School shooting in 2022. He claimed that the gunman could not be stopped because the doors to several of the classrooms were locked. Evidence did not support his claims. And a white couple in West Virginia is charged with adopting four black children from a shelter and forcing them to work as slaves. Jeannie Whitefeather and Donald Lance faced dozens of charges, including hue and trafficking of children and civil rights violations. Deputies had to force entry into the couple's barn and found two juveniles locked inside a small room in deplorable conditions. Officials say the children are all safe. The couple has pleaded not guilty, they're each being held on $500,000 cash-only bonds. For a two-day break, Olympic trials in track and field resumed last night, and trials also get started in gymnastics. Mark Barger has all the key moments and reaction. The base of a replica Eiffel Tower gained more signatures from Team USA members Thursday night, including Tokyo Gold Medalist Valerie Almond, she uncorked this huge throw to win the discus. Also exciting for Val Konstein, ACL surgery a year ago, but a personal best and a trials record to win the steeplechase and a second Olympic trip. After winning the women's 100 over the weekend, Shaqiri Richardson began her pursuit of an Olympic double. Breezing to victory in her first round heat of the 200m, the semi-finals are up Friday night. A similar story for the men, an easy opening round win for 100m champ Noah Lyles in what is normally his stronger event, the 200. He's also longed to the semi-finals. He's a Minneapolis right now, but he is thinking about Paris. Frederick Richard turned in a stellar effort on the parallel bars and another on the high bar at the men's gymnastics trials. It was enough to put him in the lead after night one of competition. Recent US champion Brody Malone is in second place, heading into Saturday's action, which will determine the five athletes who make up the US team in Paris. Coming up tonight, it's the ladies' turn to take the floor. Mark Barger, NBC News. Can't wait for all of it, and Speedo is also unveiling the US swimsuit ahead of the summer games, the fast-skinned 2.0 design, it's the official choice for its global team roster. Speedo says the launch celebrates the Olympic trials in Indianapolis. WRL's coverage of the summer Olympics begins July 26. We'll have all the action, including reports from WRL's Liz McLaughlin. I'm looking forward to that. All right, let's get over to Meteorologist Anthony Baglione. He has a look over White Lake this morning. It's a nice day for the lake. It's warm. There's people out there. Yeah, I was watching this camera here for the past probably 15-20 minutes or so. You know, people are just out there enjoying the water. It's a nice still morning for us. We have some sunshine getting through. It's warm, but it's manageable. We don't see humidity levels really off the charts out there right now. You can see a couple boats off in the distance, maybe some just hanging out tube in here over the next couple of hours. It's going to be a beautiful day for the lake. We sit currently, though, at 91. So actually, I just call it hot out there, 89 in Rocky Mount 87 in Fayetteville, or you see the number not showing up. It looks like our sensors have been down this morning. We get that data fed in from the stations out there that kind of observe those temperatures. And so once they come back up online, we should be able to get those into our system. Nonetheless, though, we go to 93 this afternoon, 92 by about 5 o'clock or so. We may see just a spotty shower or a thunderstorm closer to this evening. It's not going to be a lot. It's nothing that I would cancel plans for. But if you're headed out, let's say, to dinner around 6 or 7 o'clock, you may encounter just a quick spotty sprinkle. It may be enough to kind of help the plants out a little bit. It'll pass on by, and it should be OK here this evening. 93 for us today. It'll feel like 97. We get into the weekend, though. It's another couple of days of some big-time heat for us. Actual air temperatures are going to be comparable to what we're seeing today. The difference being, though, we add in more humidity and that drives those fields like temperatures up. 110 is what it'll feel like stepping out tomorrow, 108 on Sunday. The heat advisory criteria that the National Weather Service goes by is 105. So I do anticipate, both tomorrow and Sunday, that heat advisers are probably going to come out for us. Speaking of heat index, though, the highest heat index is that we have ever seen there at RDU. There's a list for you. It was actually back last year, 2023, 115 degrees, 0.10, technically, was the observation at RDU. That was the highest heat index value that we've ever seen at RDU. We are not going to get there, but still, probably about five degrees cooler than that as we head into Saturday and Sunday. Let's time out here for us through the rest of today. So here's future cast. You can see we're pretty quiet. There may be a couple showers and thunderstorms that try and get going. I think this model's a little bit overdone, to be honest, but we get closer to six o'clock. It's still showing at least that potential for some of those coming through them. It's not going to be a lot for us. I think Sunday is going to be a better chance for seeing some at least meaningful rainfall. The trade-off being, we do have a severe risk out there for the entire state. What that's saying is we could see some gusty winds across the area. It's not going to be a big, severe threat for us, but Sunday does look like at least we could get some more scattered coverage across the area. Let's check out the tropics. We have this system in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. They're a 60% or 30% chance, rather, of development on that one. And our next one that's likely to become either a tropical depression or tropical storm is that red area that's out one that will likely happen here in the next couple of days. So we'll watch that closely. No imminent impacts or threats with that one, thankfully. 93 today, we go to 95 tomorrow, 93 on Sunday. The relatively coolest day of my list day there on Monday, and then we are close to 100. By the time we get into July 4th next week. Thanks, Anthony. Coming up this afternoon on WRL news, a fire breaks out at a funeral home in Fayetteville. And on our news at 4, WRL's Gilbert Bayes finds out what's next for this well-known facility and asks investigators whether the crematorium had anything to do with this. Then at 6, did your rent go up in the last year? WRL digs into how the cost of living has jumped in the Raleigh area. And some singles say it's time to take a swiping sabbatical. I'm not saying dating apps are bad, but I think we broke it. We need to go back to Old Fashion Way for a little bit. Coming up, why some say it's time to go back to the basics. Was NASA desperately needs new space suits, but the current designer bows out of the running to design the next-gen suits, the reason one company severed the contract. Hey there, it is Ryan Seacrest with you. You want to make this summer unforgettable? Join me at Chumba Casino. It's this summer's hottest online destination. They are rolling out the red carpet with an amazing welcome offer just for you. So don't wait. Dive in now and play hundreds of social casino games for free. The chance to redeem real prizes is just a spin away. Can I join me? Sponsored by Chumba Casino. No purchase necessary. VGW Group. Voidware prohibited by law. 18 plus. Terms and conditions apply. Welcome back as we look live over a beautiful Carolina beach. It is packed with people. It's the perfect day for the beach. Thanks for watching WRL news available on Hulu and the WRL app on your TV or streaming device. For years, apps like Bumble and Hinge have dominated the dating space, but studies show that millennials and Gen Zers might not be interested in them anymore. So how are young people making those connections? NBC's Maura Barrett explains they are actually getting together in person. The saying what's old is new again is ringing true tonight for how young people are looking to date. I'm not saying dating apps are bad, but I think we broke it. We need to go back to old fashioned way for a little bit. Gen Z specifically is looking to stop swiping showing more interest in meeting people quote naturally. A new event bright report showing a notable rise in singles events and speed dating. Action doesn't work in necessarily in the ways that we use them on dating apps where you might make a snap judgment on someone in less than 30 seconds. And that's not how things play out in person. A craving for connection led Ariana Nathani to make a space for singles in New York City with her company, Drinks First, curating dating events in person. What took our events to the next level was the interest that people wanted that in person connection. What has only strengthened with the decline of the use of dating apps is a trend across the country. According to event bright, a majority of young data is now saying meeting IRL feels more genuine. Well, nearly half says it feels safer than a potential catfish online. Dr. Jess Carbino, a sociologist who previously worked for Tinder and Bumble says it's also because younger generations are leaning into meeting where it's convenient, like in college or at sports clubs. And frankly, I'm glad that they are and the dating apps should be glad that they are as well, because they're going to learn the skills they need. That was more a Barrett reporting. Last month, the founder of Bumble teased that the app probably will not be centered around dating in a few years and instead used to meet anyone with similar interests. Now for a look inside a multi-billion dollar company that refuses to raise its prices even during inflation. A born and bred New Yorker, Don Voltagio, had never been to Arizona when he started Arizona Beverage Company. Well now it's one of the top iced tea and juice brands in America, close to three billion units sold per year. They started in 1992 with a 23 ounce can designed by his wife, selling for just 99 cents, and the price has notably stayed the same. We're debt free. We own everything. Why? Why have people who are having a hot time paying their rent have to pay more for our drink? Maybe it's my little way to give back. Well the owner says his customers are his friends and his colleagues are his family and sons Wesley and Spencer are tasked with bringing the brand into the future with everything from clothing to press on nails and even skis. I love that tea. So good. Alright coming up for us, a Harney County woman faces charges in connection with the death of her toddler, we're live with who else faces charges in the crime. And we take you out to the fairgrounds right now, this is a live picture inside the Jim Graham building and Josh Stein speaking right there at the podium. President Joe Biden expected to rally his base there, less than 24 hours after his first presidential debate against former President Trump. We'll get you back to some of these live pictures when his speech begins. So here are your winning NC education lottery numbers. We take care of the things in our life, knowing proper maintenance and upkeep will extend the life of what we love. Do you give the same attention and care to your own body, staying fit and eating right are key. Equally important is supporting health and mobility with chiropractic. Chiropractic keeps your body aligned and running smoothly. Help extend the life of your engine with chiropractic. Find yours at nckiro.org/chiro. Here's Megan with Parkway Sleep Centers. Our sleepless nights affecting your life, parkway sleep health centers can help. We've treated sleep disorders in the triangle and beyond for over 20 years. We offer sleep studies, office visits, CPAP machines, supplies and more. And our stream life process allows us to see you sooner and usually saves hundreds of dollars. And sleep problems. Live your best life, experience the Parkway Sleep Difference. Visit parkwaysleep.com and start your journey to better sleep today. Parkway Sleep Health Centers. Sound sleep, sound health. Now, breaking news from WREL, coverage you can count on. Breaking news within the last 30 minutes, the court increased bond for a woman charged with at the death of her three-year-old. Police say the little boy was found unresponsive around 10 a.m. on Monday. Two arrests have been made in this case and charges could be elevated still according to Dunn's Police Chief. W.R.O.'s Chelsea Donovan joins us now live in Harnett County and Chelsea, you just spoke to the Police Chief there. Yeah, absolutely. And Jeff, we should mention that that tragic death happened just about five minutes here from the Dunn Police Station on Ponderosa Drive. It's a complex well known to the Dunn Police Department and when investigators arrived in the apartment, they did find this little three-year-old boy unresponsive. Let's show you a picture. This is three-year-old Marcos known as O.J. to his family. Police say he was bruised and battered all over his body and unresponsive when police and investigators went in on Monday. He was transported rather to a trauma center where he died. Now, the boy's mother, 22-year-old Sierra Pravette, was arrested last night. Police charged with negligent rather child abuse. The boyfriend of the mother, 24-year-old Michael Nguyen, was also charged on the day of the incident though with felony child abuse. Now, as you mentioned, I just got done speaking with Dunn's Police Chief about the toll that this takes not only on families, but first responders. It's very devastating that it even occurs, but it's also very painful and heartbreaking for our officers to have to process the scene and see everything that's involved. And as the chief of police, that's one thing that's really hard on me. Now both of these suspects were in a Harnett County courtroom earlier this morning. As you mentioned, the mother's bond was increased to a million dollars from a hundred thousand dollars. Michael Nguyen is in jail under a three hundred thousand dollar bond. We're also hearing from the Dunn Police Chief there planning a vigil for baby Marcos. We're live and done. Chelsea Donovan, WRL news. Another heartbreaking story here, WRL has been covering for months, the deaths of these two children. The adoptive mother of Blake and London Devon stood before a judge Wednesday, a day after her arrest. A Vante Devon seemed calm as she entered the courtroom and stood before the judge. The charges against her include two counts of first degree murder, concealment of death, kidnapping, and felony child abuse. Investigators say Blake and London Devon are dead. They had been missing for years, but a Vante never reported them missing. Authorities say they found a metal burn barrel with partial human remains in it. They believe the children were physically abused by their adoptive mother. Investigators say London Devon died of starvation and neglect. The Cumberland County District Attorney says the case is one of the most heinous he's ever prosecuted. All of us have have soft spots for children and the cases with children are the most difficult that we deal with. So the fact that this involved allegations of the abuse and the death of children was certainly the thing that they grabbed my attention first, particularly the manner in which the allegations suggest that they died. A Vante Devon is being held without bond at the Cumberland County Detention Center. She could face the death penalty if convicted on the murder charges. Americans should plan to get updated COVID-19 and flu shots this fall. That's the word from the Centers for Disease Control. As Channeli Painter reports, the Affordable Care Act requires insurers, including Medicare and Medicaid, to pay for those vaccines. As summer begins, health officials are already looking ahead in their efforts to fight new coronavirus variants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending all Americans to get new vaccination shots this fall. Essentially, the change with COVID is that there's an updated formulation. Everybody over the age of six months should get vaccinated for COVID and for flu. The decision follows last month's numbers that show COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations near the lowest levels since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. But rising COVID cases in parts of the country are bringing back some concern. The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID is a very quickly evolving virus. The Associated Press reports fewer than 25% of adults in the U.S. were up to date on their vaccinations last month. But Lauren Anselmeyer is a COVID-19 researcher at the University of Texas in Austin, says vaccinations for COVID and other illnesses are needed in the early fall when the diseases begin to spread. These respiratory viruses, like RSC and influenza and COVID, they still take an enormous toll. The CDC is also updating its RSV vaccine recommendations for older adults. All individuals over age 75 get the RSV vaccine for the upcoming 2024-2025 respiratory virus season and that any adults between ages 16, 74 who have underlying conditions that put them at high risk for severe RSV, they should also be vaccinated. That was Chantley Painter reporting. The new COVID shots expected to be are expected to be available by September. Proper hydration helps the body function normally, but in the summer heat, it can be hard to know how to best replenish what's lost in sweat. An average person may need about four to six glasses of plain water a day for an average lifestyle, but if you're active, those folks need some more. And as they sweat, they also need to turn to drinks that have electrolytes in them. The more electrolytes you have in your body, the more water you can help to hold onto, and therefore it keeps you well hydrated. Coming up, NASA is dropping its plans to update their 40-year-old space while a spacewalk suits while they're canceling a $100 million contract. And Uber wants to pay you, but there's a catch. You have to give up your car, the new idea to reduce carbon emissions. You can watch WRL News Live anytime on WRL.com or the WRL app on your streaming device. Breaking news, the designer can give you the kitchen of your dreams. I'm Dana Merrill, the owner of The Designery in North Raleigh. I am True Merrill. I am the project manager. The designery is a lovely kitchen bath and closet remodeling company. We do pretty much any of the utility spaces in your house. If you want to store things in your cabinets, if you want to work on things on your countertops, if you want to have a floor that can get wet or muddy, we're the place to help you fix your home up. We are at The Designery North Raleigh, located at 3030 Wake Forest Road in the Holly Park Plaza. We would love to see you or visit our website at TheDesignery.com. Here's Megan with Parkway Sleep Centers. Our sleepless nights affecting your life, Parkway Sleep Health Centers can help. We've treated sleep disorders in the Triangle and beyond for over 20 years. We offer sleep studies, office visits, CPAP machines, supplies, and more, and our streamline process allows us to see you sooner and usually saves hundreds of dollars. And sleep problems. Live your best life, experience the Parkway Sleep Difference. Visit ParkwaySleep.com and start your journey to better sleep today, Parkway Sleep Health Centers. Sound sleep, sound health. A lot of events coming up this weekend in the Triangle. Yeah, we have your out and about best bets, including one way your family can take a break from this heat that we're seeing. Lego fans want to head to the Raleigh Convention Center this weekend for Brick Universe. This fan event will include exhibits, building zones, and lots of Lego merchandise. General admission tickets are available for Saturday and Sunday. They start at $20 at the door. And on Saturday, there will be more than 50 food trucks on Fayetteville Street. The Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo is from noon to 6 p.m. Bring your appetite. Admission is free. This is always a popular event. And on Sunday, there will be a Pride event at Downtown Kerry Park. Pride in the park is from noon to four. The event is open to the public and includes family-friendly activities, including lawn games, arts and crafts, friendship, bracelet-making, bubbles, and temporary tattoos. And for more about these and other events this weekend, you can go to WRL.com and search out and about. One of the two companies tasked with designing NASA's new spacesuits is backing out. The reason one company dropped out. A Civil War era discrimination law on contracts and foreign workers gets new life in the modern tech world and latest lawsuit meta must face in court. So when I was looking to transfer, it was a lot of one-on-one. And it didn't feel like I got lost in a huge university because I knew that if I came here, there was going to be someone I could talk to about every aspect of the courses I needed to take. But also too, I loved the smaller classroom sizes. And I liked how interactive and immersive all of the learning was going to be. It wasn't just going to be me sitting in a room with a couple hundred people and a professor who didn't know my name. To find out more about transferring to William Heath's University, visit peace.edu. At Wake Med MyCare 365, we deliver convenience others only talk about every day of the year, primary care and urgent care under one roof, multiple locations, virtual visits, walk-in or schedule an appointment online. From manual physicals and routine care to sinus infection strep or the flu, we couldn't be more convenient. Learn more about our kind of care at our kind of convenience at wakemed.org. Here's where we are out at the fairgrounds right now. This is a live look right now at the rally. President Biden will be attending momentarily here being entertained by Fat Joe right now on the stage right now part of the preliminary entertainment before the president comes out. Alright, let's get over to meteorologist Anthony Bagweone, he has our weather forecast and we have a beautiful look at Carolina Beach. I mean, that's the place to be right now. I was watching this camera and the water just looks so nice out there, pristine for us. Just those kind of colors off in the distance. It's going to be a beautiful day for the beach out there. A lot of sunshine, there's going to be some humidity though across the area. And what we're looking at currently, we're at 91 in Raleigh and Durham, 89 Rocky Mount, 87 in Fayetteville. It looks like our sensors there, like I said in Goldsboro, Clinton and Roxbury are probably down. But I'd venture to guess close to 90 in many locations out there. We're going to see tents climb to right about 93 this afternoon. It should be dry for the majority of the day and there could be a period of time closer to this evening where we see a few showers and storms coming through. It's going to be pretty light coverage if we see anything and certainly no severe weather. You can enjoy your Friday in that sense. Feeling though, like 97 today, so just make sure to hydrate. We feel like 110 tomorrow 108 on Sunday. That's going to be the story for us this weekend, definitely the heat continuing and then shower and storm chances into our Sunday. It may be a little bit more widespread Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening. We time out today though. Here's a look at future cast. You can see the next couple of hours. We are just fine. Some showers and storms though. As we get closer to this evening, they may try and filter in a little bit. It's not going to be a lot for us and then they fizzle out here as we get into tonight. You can see that general flow coming out of the southeast there. That will pump in some more humidity as we get into the weekend and also set the stage there for some storm chances into our Sunday. The difference between today and Sunday being we do have a severe storm risk outline there from the Storm Prediction Center. It encompasses just about the entire state of North Carolina. A level one, meaning the potential is there. It is not a given that we'll see strong storms, but it looks like we could see some gusty winds as that system kind of wraps its way up into next week. We look at where we sit in the tropics right now. We have this area in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, a pretty low chance of development. That one's not likely to do anything. The one we're keeping our eyes on, in fact two of them, if you will, areas of development. One where you see the red and then there's another one pretty much right on top of that. This one is likely to become a tropical depression or a tropical storm the next couple of days. The model plots that show kind of where that potential system could go. Take that over the Windward Islands into the Caribbean. Beyond that point, we're going to see what happens. It looks like it will probably weaken, but it has at least the potential to become, like I said, a tropical storm. There are some models that show a hurricane with that one. Not necessarily saying that will hit land, but we'll continue to distract that pretty closely here as we go forward. Ninety-three today, we go to ninety-five on our Saturday, ninety-three on Sunday, so just definitely a hot and humid weekend for us. Scattered storms on Sunday, we go to eighty-nine on Monday, so that may feel a little bit better. Ninety by Tuesday, and then into the fourth of July holiday, look at those temperatures, guys. We're getting close to one hundred, a stray storm chance, but at this point, it looks like the majority of the day should stay dry, just very hot. Since January 2023, 72 percent of the planet's reef areas have been bleached by heat stress, but scientists think hurricanes can actually help. When the water gets too hot for too long, bleaching occurs. That's when coral sheds its algae, which provides both its color and its food. If the water doesn't cool down soon enough, coral can starve and die. Hurricanes help cool the ocean along with their path and churn up pockets of cold water from deeper parts of the ocean. A small step for space fashion isn't moving forward as planned. NASA's canceling its one hundred million dollar contract with Collins Aerospace to design new spacewalk suits. The company's a long time NASA partner, the space agency says it wants new suits designed by 2026. The Collins can't deliver them that fast. The design for the iconic puffy spacewalk outfits astronauts use now is more than 40 years old. NASA awarded Collins an axiom space contract in 2022 to create the next generation suits. A rare nocturnal rainforest mammal called Kinkajoo is quarantined at a Washington State Zoo. A state trooper discovered the animal at a rest stop who didn't know what to do at first. Drew Mickelson explains what happened next. Early Sunday morning, trooper Nick Daly got a call he'd never had before. When I saw that, my mind kind of went, I got lost a thought because I didn't really know what to do or what to handle just because never heard of it. An unknown animal was running around a Yakima rest stop. The trooper was then told it was a member of the raccoon family, an exotic pet known as a Kinkajoo. I thought that update was made. I thought it was a joke because I thought it was some sort of Pokemon, not a very big Pokemon knowledge person, but that's where my mind went to. With the help of some Department transportation workers and a cardboard box, they got it in the back seat of another trooper's car. The Department of Fish and Wildlife ended up capturing it and taking it to the point to find zoo and aquarium where it's now under quarantine. Worth in little guy. He really is thin. After a full exam, head veterinarian Dr. Karen Wolf says it's a young male, overall healthy, but underweight, and before it was sedated, very aggressive. He does not like people. He has an attitude. He has very sharp teeth, the teeth that he has that are intact. He would make a terrible pet. Trying to prevent it from running off, either getting lost, ran over, or becoming prey because earlier there was a big crow that was circling around when it saw it, so I figured it was small enough to be prey. Trooper Daley and investigators don't know where the Kinkajoo came from, if it escaped from a car or someone tried dumping it off. The trooper just hopes he helped out. That was Drew Mickelson reporting the Kinkajoo will not be on display for the public. A search is underway for another zoo or sanctuary where he can live out the rest of his life with other Kinkajoos. Over wants to reward car owners for driving less, the driving force behind this deal and how you can cash in. And now live at the state fairgrounds, they just put the presidential seal on the podium so you know what's next. We are monitoring President Biden's speech when he comes there. We'll take you to it as well as get you an update on some of the traffic concerns around the fairgrounds and RDU as the president is in town. I chose William Peace because of the personalized education it offers, which allows students to truly know their professors. It's really possible to make genuine connections with your professors and learn intentionally here and dive deep into what you're passionate about. A 12-to-1 student to faculty ratio is just one of the many reasons students choose William Peace University. Extra attention starts day one for career planning with their Career Services Center. Find out all they have to offer at peace.edu. At your job, do you ever have to deal with a nose roller? How about a snub bully? Well, if you're installing a new conveyor belt system, dealing with the different components can sound like you're speaking a foreign language. Luckily, you've got a team ready to help. Granger's technical product specialists are fluent in maintenance, repair, and operations, so whenever you want to talk shop, just reach out. Call, click Granger.com, or just stop by, Granger for the ones who get it done. We wrap things up with a look at a few of the headlines we are following for you today. A former Wake County teacher arrested for assaulting students with special needs, James Wrencher was booked early this morning on 12 misdemeanors, a WRL investigation found that the accusations of abuse were not properly reported by Wake County Public School System employees. Only then did the sheriff's office start looking into this case, resulting in three charges. These charges, I should say, Wrencher turned himself in today. He was given $150,000 bond. He will be back in court next month. President Joe Biden is at the state fairgrounds in Raleigh for a campaign event. One of the main topics will be his performance in the debate last night. This is a live picture. You're looking at the crowd there. Supporters have told WRL reporters that they are concerned about his performance. Others told us while he may have lost on style, he won on facts. The WRL PolitiFact team found both candidates made false statements last night. We'll have coverage on that and Biden's visit on our evening newscasts. And a court increased bond for a woman charged in a death of her three-year-old. Police found a little boy unresponsive around 10 o'clock this a.m. on Monday and done. The mother Sierra Privet is charged with child abuse, so is her boyfriend, 24-year-old Michael Nguyen, charges could be elevated according to Dunn's police chief. The city of Dunn is working on a plan for a vigil for the little boy. The federal jury says the NFL has to pay nearly $5 billion in damages for overcharging subscribers of its Sunday ticket package. Plaintiffs in the case accuse the NFL of conspiring with teams to inflate the price of the Sunday ticket for millions of residential and other subscribers like bars and restaurants. TV was the sole distributor of Sunday ticket until this past season when YouTube TV took over the contract. A season-long subscription now costs nearly $450. A class action lawsuit against Meda can move forward. The suit stems from an 1866 law barring preferring extending contracts to foreign workers over American labor. A software engineer wants to sue Meda platforms because he says the company preferred foreign workers over him and those workers are paid lower wages, Meda denies any wrongdoing. Over wants to pay drivers to ditch their cars for a month. The ride-hailing company is launching the One Less Car Challenge in an effort to reduce carbon emissions. It will pick 175 people in select cities in the US and Canada to receive a $1,000 credit towards Uber, public transit, e-bikes and car rentals. The five-week program begins July 22nd. The cover art for the first edition of JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone just sold for nearly $2 million. That price tag makes it the most expensive item related to the series. The rare book jacket was painted in 1996 after the publisher hired a 23-year-old recent art school graduate from England. The artist behind the cover, Thomas Taylor, helped establish Harry Potter's iconic round glasses and that lightning bolt scar. A pet of the day is a playful, loving puppy from SPCA of Wake County. Lawson is a 12-week-old neutered male weighing 10 pounds. He won't stay small for long and he's estimated to grow to be around 55 to 70 pounds. Lawson adores human company, but he also knows how to entertain himself by playing with all his toys. Since he was a puppy, he is impressionable and could be introduced to cats and other dogs of all kinds. Lawson is looking for a family who has the time and energy to welcome a new baby into the house. For more information or to visit Lawson, visit spcawake.org. That is a sweet face right there. All right, we are taking you to Wilson, where for nearly six decades one restaurant has not only survived but thrived by serving only one option. That's today on your News at Four. Happening now in the WRA Live, Sydney won't take you this live look inside the Jim Green Building over at the State Fairgrounds, President Biden is about to address supporters after a very shaky debate last night. If you want to listen to the President's entire remarks, we're carrying it on WRA News Plus. Back here in the live center now, your traffic will be affected in the next hour. So after that rally, the State Fairgrounds right here likely the roadways around the State Fairgrounds will be affected, including Wade Avenue and I-40 Westbound. Keep that in mind if you're about to head out in the next hour or two. All right, NBC News Daily is up next on WRAL. Your next local news update in 30 minutes. And you can get breaking news updates anytime with our WRAL News app. Have a great day and stay cool out there. Keep watching WRAL News over the Air Channel 34 and Spectrum Channel 1257. Step into the world of power, loyalty and luck. I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse. With family, canollies, and spins mean everything. Now, you want to get mixed up in the family business. Introducing the Godfather at Chompacacino.com. Test your luck in the shadowy world of the Godfather slots. Someday, I will call upon you to do a service for me. Play the Godfather. Now at Chompacacino.com. Welcome to the family. No purchase necessary. The W Group, a way we're prohibited by law, 18 plus, terms, and conditions apply.