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Deductibles will double for some, premiums could potentially more than double, and people on the plan will also find themselves paying more for prescriptions, primary care visits and other costs.

Higher bills, new benefits on the way for State Health Plan members in NC

TOMORROW OR LESLIE. WRAL NEWS LIVE IN RALEIGH HEALTH CARE COSTS WILL SOON INCREASE FOR STATE WORKERS, RETIREES AND THEIR FAMILIES, POSSIBLY EVEN DOUBLING FOR SOME. >> WITHIN THE LAST HOUR, THE STATE HEALTH PLAN BOARD MET IN RALEIGH TO DISCUSS THE CHANGES RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS HAVE LED TO A 500 MILLION DOLLARS SHORTFALL. STATE LAWMAKERS APPEAR READY TO PAY FOR ONLY SOME OF THOSE COSTS. THAT MEANS HEALTH PLAN MEMBERS WILL SEE THEIR PREMIUMS, DEDUCTIBLES AND OTHER COSTS GO UP. YOU CAN FIND MORE DETAILS ON THESE HIGHER COSTS AS WELL AS THE NEW BENEFITS. THE STATE HEALTH PLAN IS ALSO

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Health care costs expected to rise for state employees

Hospital bed

Wrong man detained at funeral: Attendees leave to hostile scene with Lee County deputies

Lee County deputies

Tailgate time looks clear, but storms may shake you awake early Wednesday

WRAL Weather Alert Day May 20-21, 2025

Hurricanes defenseman to make playoff debut in Game 1 vs. Panthers

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Smithfield police searching for 'armed and dangerous' 17-year-old charged in Monday shooting

Zayvion Boone

WRAL Severe Weather team forecasts "near-average" number of tropical systems in 2025

2025 Atlantic Hurricane season outlook on WRAL

Was shove murder? Jury must decide in case of Home Depot worker who died

Home Depot murder suspect to appear in court 

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Wake County school board votes on new cellphone policy

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Hudson, 24, has told at least one person that she and Belichick, 73, are engaged.

Report: Jordon Hudson told at least one person she and UNC coach Bill Belichick are engaged

Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson at the NFL Honors

The city of Raleigh has unveiled a $1.78 billion budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, featuring substantial pay raises for some city employees. The budget also proposes increases in solid waste, water, sewer and stormwater fees, though the property tax rate is set to remain unchanged.

$1.78B proposed budget: Raleigh employees would receive raises, property tax rate remains the same

Raleigh skyline

North Carolina legislative leaders are divided on how much money to allot for the state's first freestanding children's hospital. A new House proposal would cut previously approved funding for the project.

Hundreds of millions for NC children's hospital caught in budget battle

Duke Children's Hospital

East Wake, Knightdale, South Garner and Southeast Raleigh high schools, along with Phillips and SCORE Academy alternative schools, will no longer be eligible for Title I funds.

Wake will drop 6 high schools from funding program for lower-income schools as budget tightens

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Railroad crossings in Durham have been common scenes for injury and, in some cases, death. In numerous instances, pedestrians and drivers have found some of the crossings confusing and through a mix of circumstances, it's led to problems. 

Durham's train crash problem steering toward solutions with study

Trains in Durham

Researchers launched GPS-equipped plastic bottles into a Raleigh creek to track how local litter travels downstream, breaks into microplastics and threatens ecosystems and human health.


Tracking trash: NC State study reveals hidden path of plastic pollution

GPS will track trash in NC waters to show how litter spreads

Person County health officials said it was the third confirmed case of rabies in the county this year.

Coyote who attacked Roxboro man tests positive for rabies, Person Co. health officials say

Coyote

Under the House budget proposal, released Monday, most state workers would get at least a 2.5% raise over the next two years. Teachers would get an average 8.7% raise over that period. 

State employees, teachers would see pay bumps under NC House's proposed budget 

State budget

NEW YORK (AP) â George Wendt, an actor with an Everyman charm who played the affable, beer-loving barfly Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy âCheersâ and later crafted a stage career that took him to Broadway in âArt,â âHairsprayâ and âElf,â has died. He was 76.

George Wendt, who played beloved barfly Norm on 'Cheers' and found another home onstage, dies at 76

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States and school systems across the country are cracking down further on cellphone use in schools, which is seen as a distraction to learning and part of a larger problem of too much screen use among young people and even adults.

Wake schools cellphone policy up for vote Tuesday

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There are several pieces of information we use to make a seasonal forecast for hurricanes.

Ask the Meteorologist: What are some key ingredients to a tropical season forecast?

Ask the Meteorologist: Tropical season forecasting

This weekend is filled with several large festivals, including Animazement, NC Sugar Rush and Taste of Soul.

Weekend best bets: Animazement, Sugar Rush and Taste of Soul

Sprinkle donut

Cary and Apex secured spots in the top 10, with Cary ranked No. 5 and Apex No. 7.


Cary and Apex rank among America's best places to live, according to US News & World Report

GLOW: Kaleidoscope mazes, glowing forts pop up in downtown Cary

You get a call from a number your recognize and are told someone you love is being held for ransom.


Virtual kidnapping scam provides a scare, can drain your bank account if you're not careful

Answer or decline

A woman was gifted a new home in May. It comes after a North Carolina lawmaker rescued the woman from her previous home, which caught on fire.

Woman saved from house fire in February gifted new home

Esther Jones with NC Rep. Dean Arp in front of her new home

It's hard to find bad ice cream -- but when it's good, it's so good! We have a list of more than 10 great ice cream options in the area.


Where to find the best ice cream in North Carolina

Try a new ice cream parlour

Don't Miss It

The Green Chair Project in Raleigh takes in high-end donated furniture and gives it to people in need. Tomorrow night, the group holds a major fundraiser, auctioning off chairs that designers have transformed from boring to elegant.

Tar Heel Traveler: The Green Chair Project

Brind'Amour: Canes have benefit of rest, but Panthers come with full roster

High-rise out, but hotel, other housing still in plans for Moore Square area development

A rendering of affordable housing units in Moore Square in downtown Raleigh.

Brind'Amour on Florida: No one's been able to stop them

Brind'Amour: No one's been able to stop them

Pet of the Day for May 20, 2025

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Infinite Campus 'on track' to replace PowerSchool in Wake schools by July 1, district leaders say

Local News

Future of Raleigh's Moore Square includes plan for hotel, affordable housing

Raleigh's Fourth of July fireworks returning to Lenovo Center, Carter-Finley Stadium area

Carolina Furniture Direct closing after 41 years in Raleigh, liquidating all furniture

Arrested New Orleans jail worker says he helped inmates to escape after stabbing threat

Nation/World

With little progress after phone calls and talks, Ukraine's allies hit Russia with new sanctions

Musk vows to put hundreds of thousands of self-driving Teslas on US roads by the end of next year

Prosecutors charge McIver with pushing and grabbing agents while trying to stop mayor's arrest

Supreme Court allows Trump to strip legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelans who risk deportation

A four-part, family-friendly evening concert series serves as a summer showcase in Raleigh's City Plaza.


Downtown Raleigh gets 'Live After 5' starting this week

Live After Five, downtown Raleigh

10 incredible places to visit in North Carolina this year

Bodie Island Lighthouse. Photo: Big Stock

Swimming pools in North Carolina: Search for your favorite public pool

NC swimming pools

Foodie News: Cary is getting a new seafood restaurant, plus a major bakery announcement in Durham

Cooking a delicious main course in the restaurant kitchen

Where to find spraygrounds, splashpads in Raleigh, Durham

Splash Pads and Summer Safety

Out & About

Fact check: Jeffries says 20% of veteran households use food stamps

Politifact

Fact check: Trump says his order will reduce prescription drug prices 'almost immediately'

Fact check: NC Democrat blames Trump for Google Calendar's removal of Black History Month

Fact check: RFK Jr. says U.S. government is spraying the sky with jet fuel chemicals

Fact check: Is the new Pope registered to vote as a Republican?

Teacher raises, DEI cuts discussed at House budget press conference 

NC Capitol

Gov. Josh Stein proposes $891 million for Helene relief, NC House proposes $700 million

Stein requests $890 million more for Helene, says federal aid 'nothing close' to what's needed

Former Vice President Mike Pence parts ways with Trump on tariff policy

How they voted: NC congressional votes for the week ending May 15

Infinite Campus comes with learning curve as Wake schools plan out how app will work

Education

Wake schools set to vote on new cell phone policy

NC lawmakers discuss classroom sizes for K-3 students

Family says special needs son was assaulted in class, suing Moore County Schools

Teddy Swims and band surprise Rolesville High School students

'I do not want to see another one': Tornado cluster spikes anxiety in eastern NC

WRAL In Depth

'Don't sit in a cave': NC man urges importance of screenings after Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis

Family claims nonverbal student with autism was slapped, knocked down

NC House seeks to expand K-12 special-ed funding, arts instruction and teacher training 

North Carolina cracks down on unlicensed massage practices in state shopping malls

Reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers, Hurricanes meet again in Eastern final 

WRALSportsFan

NFL owners unanimously approve player participation in Olympic flag football for 2028

Kurt Busch, Ray Hendrick and Harry Gant named to NASCAR Hall of Fame 2026 class

Belichick effect: UNC football sells out of 2025 season tickets, even with price increase

UNC community mourns loss of strength coach who died in car crash

Statewide Scoreboard: Spring sports state playoffs

HighSchoolOT

Schedules for NCHSAA baseball & softball regional championship series

By the Numbers: The top returning NCISAA quarterbacks

(14) Millbrook holds on to defeat (11) Wake Forest, earns first fourth-round appearance since 1989

(2) Charlotte Catholic ousts 4A defending champ (10) Marvin Ridge

Raleigh police officer Kyle Epps is no longer with the department following an internal investigation, the details of which have not been disclosed. The Wake County District Attorney has begun dismissing hundreds of cases where Epps was the arresting officer.

Raleigh police officer no longer with department after investigation

Raleigh police officer no longer with department after investigation, hundreds of cases in jeopardy

A file photo of Kyle Epps (left). Photo courtesy of the Raleigh Police Department.

The North Carolina House has unanimously approved the Fostering Care in NC Act, marking a significant step towards reforming the state's foster care system.  

NC bill to reform state's foster care program passes House, heads to Senate

North Carolina foster care reform bill moves forward with unanimous House approval

Rep. Allen Chesser said if Foster Care in NC becomes law, the state would be able to take action before a tragedy occurs, not just after.

A new lawsuit claims that online retailer Amazon reversed some instant refunds. For consumers, this could affect your ability to return items.

Lawsuit accuses amazon of reneging on refunds

Consumer reports spoke with a travel expert who shared tips on how to enjoy theme parks with your family this summer without spending a fortune. 

Experts break down ways to save money on vacation

WRAL Specialists

Attention Harris Teeter shoppers: Consumer Reports found price when you swipe higher than on shelf at Kroger-owned stores

Errors found on Kroger price tags in Consumer Reports investigation

Restaurant Ratings: Ruby Tuesdays and Kinlaw's Welcome Grill

Walmart raising some prices, blames Trump tariffs

5 On Your Side

Protecting patients' rights: Woman claims Duke doctor mistreated her mom

In viral video, woman claims Duke doctor mistreated her mom

Cost to fix lead in Durham's parks could be much higher than state originally estimated

Orange County farm owner charged after dozens of complaints about large party

Investigations

Remote workers are more engaged but struggle to thrive

Donald Thompson: 10 habits to make you indispensable at work

Greg Behr: 'ChatGPT-Itâ -- How OpenAI secured the verb for AI creation

David Gardner: Every business degree should require sales classes

WRAL TechWire

Trump's massive import taxes haven't done much economic damage -- yet

CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon quits as potential Trump lawsuit settlement looms

Trump's tariffs may mean Walmart shoppers pay more, his treasury chief acknowledges

Business

Powerball

Mega Millions

Cash 5

Put on hold by 911, Wake County family gave up and drove to ER

Family

Critical shortage of foster parents in NC: 10,000 children and teenagers need homes

Foster parent wants change after state takeover of Vance County Department of Social Services

City leaders discuss upgrades for popular Durham Central Park

Foster parent speaks out after state's intervention into Vance Child Welfare Services

Amazon deals: Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Water Bottle only $19 (46% off), LEGO Daffodils Building Set only $7.86 (48% off), Chuckit! Ultra Fetch Stick for dogs only $5.27 (52% off)

SmartShopper

Walmart Deals: Car Battery Jump Starter only $29.99 (reg. $89), Nerf Dog LED Squeak Ball only $4.97 (reg. $12), Heavy Duty 4 Shelf Metal Wire Shelving Unit only $43.99 (reg. $109.99)

Top grocery deals valid May 14-20