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State elections officials were right to reject Jefferson Griffinâs attempts to throw out tens of thousands of North Carolina votersâ ballots from the 2024 elections, a Wake County judge ruled Friday, just hours after hearing arguments in the closely watched case.

NC elections officials were right to reject GOP challenges to 65,000 ballots, Wake judge rules

<p>A WET AND CHILLY SETUP COMING UP. ALRIGHT, KAT, THANK YOU. &gt;&gt; NOW WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS IN THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF JUDGE RULED THAT 60,000 CHALLENGE VOTES SHOULD STAND IN THE CONTESTED RACE FOR THE STATE SUPREME COURT. THIS IS A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT WRAL'S CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF LAURA LESLIE LIVE IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH. &gt;&gt; WITH THIS DECISION AS IT UNFOLDS HERE. LAURA. &gt;&gt; AND YOU KNOW, EARLIER TODAY, JUDGE WILLIAM PITTMAN IN WAKE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT SAID IT IN REAL FROM THE BENCH. HE SAID HE WOULD TRY TO HAVE A DECISION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. OBVIOUSLY HE MEANT IT COMING OUT JUST MOMENTS BEFORE 5 O'CLOCK TODAY AND HIS DECISION, JUDGE PITTMAN LOOKED AT ALL THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES UNDER WHICH REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE JEFFERSON GRIFFIN WAS CHALLENGING VOTES AND THAT AND THAT STILL CONTESTED JUDICIAL RACE AND HIS CONCLUSION WAS THE COURT CONCLUDES AS A MATTER OF LAW THAT THE BOARD'S DECISION WAS NOT IN VIOLATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT HE IS UPHOLDING THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS DECISION TO DISMISS DIFFERENT JEFFERSON GRIFFIN'S COMPLAINTS AND THAT DID GET RID OF THOSE BALLOTS THAT THE NEXT STEP. IT'S VERY, VERY LIKELY THAT THIS WITH THIS WILL BE APPEALED TO THE STATE COURT OF APPEALS. &gt;&gt; AND WILL PROBABLY GO TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT BEFORE IT'S ALL OVER. WHICH COLLEGE CHELSEA DONOVAN IS OUT IN FRONT OF THAT WAKE COUNTY COURTHOUSE WITH SOME OF THE PERSPECTIVES FROM THE FOLKS WHO LINED UP THIS MORNING. &gt;&gt; YEAH, LAURA, AS YOU SAW THIS MORNING, THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PROTESTERS WAITING INSIDE OUTSIDE THAT COULD NOT GET A SEAT INSIDE. MANY OF RIG SAYS PROTESTERS CALLED GRIFFIN'S CLAIMS BASELESS. AND ABSURD. AND GRIFFIN BASICALLY HIS SUPPORTERS SAID THAT MANY FOLKS HAVE BROKEN THEIR ELECTION LAWS AND FOLKS COULDN'T VERIFY THEIR IDENTITIES. AND OBVIOUSLY IN THE U.S. SEES ME, OBVIOUSLY IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES, YOU NOTICE THAT THE JUROR, THE JUDGE RULED AGAINST HIM. TAKE A LISTEN TO SOME OF THE SIGHTS AND THE SOUNDS THAT WE CAPTURED TODAY OUTSIDE OF THE WAKE COUNTY COURTHOUSE PROTESTERS GATHER IN DROVES OUTSIDE OF THE WAKE COUNTY COURTHOUSE AS 10 FLOORS UP. &gt;&gt; REPUBLICAN JEFFERSON GRIFFIN AND DEMOCRAT ALLISON RIGGS GO HEAD TO HEAD AGAIN IN A NEVER ENDING BATTLE FOR A SUPREME COURT SEAT. I JUST THINK IT'S IT'S PRETTY ABSURD THAN JUST AN ATTACK ON EXIT EARLY VOTED IN DURHAM THEN GOT A LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM THE GOP. WELL, AT FIRST, FRANKLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS A SCAM. GRIFFIN APPEARED TO HAVE LOST HIS 2024 CAMPAIGN TO UNSEAT DEMOCRATIC SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ALLISON RIGGS BY A RAZOR THIN MARGIN OF JUST 734 VOTES ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE RECOUNTS. BUT GRIFFIN SAYS 60,000 VOTERS INCLUDING MAKES SHOULDN'T HAVE VOTED AND OTHERS VIOLATED LAWS. THESE ARE ISSUES THAT WE RAISED PRIOR TO THE ELECTIONS CONCERNS THAT WE HAD WITH THE STATE BOARD GRIFFIN'S LEGAL CHALLENGE WHILE BACKED BY THE GOP IS CRITICIZED BY VOTERS. I SHOWED MY &gt;&gt; VOTER ID. WHAT I WENT TO VOTE AND THAT APPARENTLY MY MISTAKE THIS YEAR WAS USING THE LAWS AFFORDED TO ME TO VOTE EARLY. &gt;&gt; GRIFFIN IS CHALLENGING SOME MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS OVER ALLEGED RULES VIOLATIONS AS WELL AS MANY MORE PEOPLE WHO IS IDENTIFYING INFORMATION IS MISSING FROM THE STATE DATABASE. EVERY VOTE COUNTS. JUST GO AHEAD AND CAN SEE RIGGS ADDRESSED THE CROWD AFTER THE TWO-HOUR HEARING. BUT GRIFFIN DECLINED. &gt;&gt; NO MATTER HOW LONG THIS TAKES, I AM COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THE RULE OF LAW. &gt;&gt; AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT VERY LONG. OBVIOUSLY, JUDGE PITTMAN ISSUING A VERY SPEEDY RULING IN THIS CASE. WE HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM JEFFERSON GRIFFIN. WE KNOW THAT HE PLANS TO APPEAL OUR CAPITOL TEAM HAS DONE EXTENSIVE IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATIVE WORK ON THIS AND YOU CAN FIND AN ENTIRE TIMELINE IN ALL OF THEIR STORIES RIGHT</p>

NC Supreme Court race: Judge rules 60K votes should not be discarded

NC Supreme Court race: Judge rules 65K votes should not be discarded

Judge Jefferson Griffin's attorney Craig Schauer presents Griffin's case for throwing out ballots in the 2024 race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court.

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4,000 Garner Amazon workers part of upstart union, want $30 an hour

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UNC System president wants sign off for future hires after Bill Belichick negotiations

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Saint Augustine's University's modifies land-lease deal in hopes of getting state approval

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Instagram video evidence led Durham police to juvenile shooting suspects, warrant says

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Millie Dunn Veasey, a WWII veteran and civil rights icon, became a trailblazer as part of the 6888th Battalion. A Netflix film unveils the profound impact and challenges faced by Veasey and her fellow servicemembers, drawing her family into an inspiring story of resilience they never fully knew.

Strength and stamina: Descendants still learning full scope of WWII veteran's struggles, triumphs

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Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 -- I've seen USAID operate around the world and it's not 'woke' -- it's lifesaving.

NICHOLAS KRISTOF: The world's richest men take on the world's poorest children

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The State Health Plan is considering a major overhaul of its pricing structure, likely leading to premium increases for most state employees by 2026.

State Health Plan premiums likely to increase for most workers by 2026

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A veteran North Carolina lawmaker found himself in a different role Monday night - that of a first responder. His intervention likely saved the life of a woman trapped in a burning mobile home.



Thousands raised to help woman rebuild after fire

Fire at a home in Richmond County

WASHINGTON (AP) â The Pentagon will deploy roughly 1,500 more active duty soldiers to the southern border to support President Donald Trumpâs expanding crackdown on immigration, a U.S. official said Friday.

Fort Liberty troops will head to US-Mexico border

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A study conducted by UNC researchers highlights the urgent mental health crisis facing Black middle school students, with alarming statistics revealing that nearly 28% have reported suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

UNC study reveals alarming suicide risks among Black middle schoolers

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Apex Police arrested six people Friday morning linked to a recent spate of car break-ins near U. S. Highway 64 and Old Jenks Road.


Apex Police arrest six in connection with car break-ins near US-64

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On Friday, a judge said race did play a role in the trial and death sentence of Hasson Bacote. Bacote was previously sentenced to death for the 2007 death of Anthony Surles during a robbery attempt.


Judge rules race played role in Johnston man's death sentence

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Starting Friday, the Durham organization FHI 360 furloughed more than 220 members of its staff.


Freeze on foreign aid causes furloughs for Durham nonprofit

Foreign aid freeze leaves local nonprofits in limbo

WRAL's documentary, "Broken: Foster Care in North Carolina," highlights the tragic case of two children allegedly murdered by their adoptive mother, sparking calls for reform in the state's post-adoption monitoring system.

Advocates want more checks on adopted kids in North Carolina

WRAL's latest documentary "Broken: Foster Care in North Carolina" examines the tragic deaths of Blake and London Deven, highlighting critical failures in the state's foster care system.

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From commercials to recipes, we have your guide to Super Bowl 2025.

Super Bowl 2025: Everything you need to know for the big game

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A 911 call in Fayetteville led to the discovery that two adopted children, Blake and London Deven, had been missing for years. The subsequent investigation revealed systemic failures in North Carolina's foster and adoption systems.

'Broken: Foster Care in North Carolina' â A WRAL Documentary

The latest WRAL documentary, "Broken: Foster Care in North Carolina," premieres at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday.

Where are the best places to watch big games in Raleigh? Here are 10 sports bars in and around Raleigh that are ALMOST as good at being at the game.

Best Raleigh area sports bars to watch big games

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As western North Carolina fights to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, the need for aid is more urgent now than ever. Here's how you can help. 

Winter has shifted the needs of those in WNC after Helene. Here's how you can help

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Rising energy bills are raising questions for some Duke Energy customers.

Duke Energy customers shocked by spiking bills despite promised rate reductions

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NEW YORK (AP) â Scientists say they've cracked the code for boiling the perfect egg.

How to cook the perfect boiled egg, according to science

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Meet Winnie! Winnie is laid-back and enjoys lounging around. She is a 7-year-old dog looking for a forever home. Winnie would do best in a home with no stairs -- as she has had surgery on both knees and would like to keep them in good condition. For more information, check out goldenrescuenc.org.

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Driver collides with Amazon truck in Durham

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UNC president limits trustees' power after messy Belichick hire process

Gov. Josh Stein, President Donald Trump credited with getting debris removal started on Swannanoa River

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Army Corps of Engineers works to remove river debris in Western North Carolina by June 1

Local News

Foodie News: Popular Louisiana chicken restaurant to open Raleigh location

Raleigh traffic shift: 2-year passenger rail project to change traffic patterns

Man found dead in Goldsboro

Fayetteville man wanted for questioning in fire investigation

Hamas releases 3 more Israeli hostages for dozens of Palestinian prisoners under Gaza ceasefire

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Trump says he's ending Biden's classified intelligence briefings in payback move

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A 15-year-old went to a Brooklyn parade. The NYPD wrongly accused him of a mass shooting

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Fact check: How much USAID funding goes to people in need?

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Fact-checking Warren's claim about RFK Jr.'s work on vaccine lawsuits

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A group of NC State students is pushing for expanded PCB testing across university buildings.

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Republican legislative leaders in the state House proposed spending $500 million on Helene aid relief but have not yet detailed how that money might be focused.

NC lawmakers propose smaller Helene recovery bill

A new bill in the North Carolina Senate would require consequences for students who don't follow the rules -- the latest attempt to crack down on cellphone use in schools.

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State lawmakers will meet again Wednesday to debate spending an additional $500 million on Helene relief for western North Carolina. Republican legislative leaders made the announcement Tuesday, a day after Democratic Gov. Josh Stein called for more than $1 billion in "immediate" Helene relief aid from the state government.

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WRAL anchor/reporter Dan Haggerty answered viewer questions about states offering disabled veterans to waive their property taxes.

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Flu cases soaring the Triangle hospitals; state to release new data Wednesday 

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