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Matthew Lane, 19, was charged with cyber extortion conspiracy, cyber extortion and aggravated identity theft, according to federal prosecutors. PowerSchool, a student data company, was among Lane's victims, state officials say. 


Mass. college student pleads guilty in case tied to hack that exposed NC students, teachers

SARAH KRUEGER, WRAL NEWS LIVE IN RALEIGH. >> THIS IS BRIAN SHRADER IN THE WRAL LIVE CENTER AND BREAKING NEWS IN THE PAST HOUR, WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT AN ARREST AND PLEA DEAL IN A CASE TIED TO THE POWER SCHOOL DATA BREACH. MATTHEW LANE AND 19 YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT IN WURSTER, MASSACHUSETTS FACING THESE CHARGES AND PLEADING GUILTY AND A PLEA DEAL WITH FEDERAL PROSECUTORS YESTERDAY. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT HE WORKED WITH CO-CONSPIRATORS TO HACK INTO POWER SCHOOL IN 2024. AND GET THE PERSONAL INFORMATION OF MORE THAN 70 MILLION STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND THEN DEMANDED A RANSOM OF ALMOST 3 MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE REPORTED EARLIER. THAT POWER SCHOOL PAY THAT RANSOM AND THE COMPANY SAYS THAT IT WATCHED WHAT IT BELIEVED WAS THAT DATA BEING DELETED. BUT LATER, EDUCATION EMPLOYEES ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA SAID THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED THREATENING MESSAGES ABOUT THAT DATA. LANE HAS NOT BEEN SENTENCED YET. HE FACES BETWEEN 2 AND 17 YEARS IN PRISON, ACCORDING TO FEDERAL PROSECUTORS. HE'S A STUDENT

A file photo of the PowerSchool Mobile app.

College student pleads guilty in connection to PowerSchool data breach

NC House votes to approve spending plan, setting up showdown with Senate

Berger and Hall on Nov. 6, 2024

Stories and service: WRAL's Debra Morgan reflects on 37-year career

WRAL anchors and Raleigh community celebrate Debra Morgan's 32 years at WRAL

NCSHP troopers won't be charged in handling of fatal Raleigh crash, despite 'dishonesty' per Wake DA

 Sgt. Garrett Macario (left) and Sgt. Matthew Morrison

Lower humidity and "perfect" weather heading into Memorial Day weekend, rain soon to return

Rain chances increase Sunday into Monday heading into next week

'Miscarriage of justice': Some attack DA for not charging troopers

Lorrin Freeman

Under the mulch, under the radar: Dangerous ants invading NC neighborhoods

Asian needle ant

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North Carolina State University announced that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will resume its cancer cluster investigation into Poe Hall, reversing an earlier decision to close the evaluation.

Investigation into potential cancer cluster at NC State will continue

Poe Hall at NC State

The proposed budget aims to address public safety concerns by increasing the starting pay for emergency communication call takers, raising it to $49,100. This move seeks to retain and recruit skilled personnel amid community concerns about 911 response times.


Raleigh's proposed budget boosts 911 call taker pay by 17% to address safety and staffing concerns

Proposed budget includes starting pay increases for 911 call takers 

Alexander James Glenn is accused of fatally attacking his mother, Stephanie Donita McCoy, in her home last week.


Durham man charged with killing his mother

Alexander James Glenn Jr. mug 

Rick Barakat, the new chief revenue officer for the school's athletic department, told a UNC Board of Trustees committee on Wednesday that the process to sell naming rights has begun.

UNC seeking naming rights sponsor for Kenan Stadium

Kenan Stadium

When Bill Belichick appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" last week to promote his new book, "The Art of Winning," the most revealing moment of the interview had nothing to do with his storied NFL coaching career or his new job leading the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's football program.

Bill Belichick was always in control. Then he fell for Jordon Hudson.

Bill Belichick Was Always in Control. Then He Fell for Jordon Hudson.

A wrong-way crash on Capital Boulevard near Star Road Tuesday night has left 24-year-old Katana Perry dead.  

Wrong-way crash on Capital Boulevard leaves 24-year-old woman dead 

Crash in Wake Forest on Capital Boulevard at Star Road

WRAL earned regional Edward R. Murrow Awards in two categories -- Continuing Coverage and Excellence in Innovation -- for work done in 2024.


WRAL wins Murrow Awards for coverage of Poe Hall, In Depth with Dan

Edward R. Murrow

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and state lawmakers now have three dueling proposals for extra Hurricane Helene aid, which they'll consider as they also negotiate the broader state budget.

NC House proposes $450 million more for Helene relief -- about half of Stein's request

Flood insurance not an option for many homeowners left paying for Helene damage

Raleigh police are asking for the public's help in identifying a person suspected of an armed robbery on May 14 at a Fifth Third Bank along East Six Forks Road.

Raleigh police need help IDing bank robbery suspect in Amazon vest

Raleigh police are asking for the public's help in identifying a person suspected of an armed robbery on May 14 at a Fifth Third Bank along East Six Forks Road. Police also released a picture of a silver, four-door sedan.

House Bill 959 would also restrict cellphones in schools and require school boards to pass policies that would prevent students from accessing inappropriate content and TikTok when using school internet or devices.

NC schools would have to teach social media risks under bill advancing in legislature

Guy texting on smartphone

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A brand new bluegrass festival is coming to Raleigh in 2025. The non-profit PineCone announced the Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival is slated for Oct. 3-4.


New bluegrass festival: Raleigh Wide Open Music Fest set for October

Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival 2025

WRAL News anchor Debra Morgan delivered her final broadcast on May 21, 2025, concluding a storied career that began in 1988 in the television industry. Since 1993, she's worked at WRAL.

As warmer months bring more outdoor activity across North Carolina, experts are warning residents to watch out for a lesser-known but potentially dangerous insect: the Asian needle ant.


About 5,400 Boyro Baby 4-in-1 high chairs are being recalled for safety hazards.


Recall: High chairs sold on Amazon could cause babies to fall or become trapped

Boyro Baby 4-in-1 high chairs

Patients say local hospitals sent their private information to Facebook's parent company. Now those hospitals are settling lawsuits for millions of dollars. 

5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur has been tracking these cases for years. 

5 On Your Side: Patients sue hospitals for sending information to Meta, lawsuits settled

Don't Miss It

An investigation showed the two troopers, Garrett Macario and Sgt. Matthew Morrizon, lied about the chase. The chase ended with the death of Tyrone Mason.

Two troopers won't face charges after deadly crash

WakeMed, Duke Health settling separate lawsuits over use of tracking pixels

David's Bridal teams up with DoorDash for last minute wedding dress delivery

Tar Heel Traveler: Futuro House

Victim identified in Wake Forest wrong-way crash, driver facing charges

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Woman injured in Fayetteville shooting at Skibo Road Wendy's

Local News

Toddler dies from cardiac arrest while in daycare, Lenoir Police say

Mother and child hit in east Raleigh Walmart parking lot

One person dead after single-car crash in Fayetteville

AI Is Poised to Revolutionize Weather Forecasting. A New Tool Shows Promise.

Nation/World

U.S. Formally Accepts Luxury Jet From Qatar for Trump

The 10 richest Americans got $365 billion richer in the past year. Now they're on the verge of a huge tax cut

Target sales drop in 1st quarter and retailer warns they will slip for all of 2025

Netanyahu promises new Gaza aid delivery plan as supplies still fail to reach Palestinians

The city of Raleigh's Fourth of July fireworks show will return to the area around North Carolina State University in 2025. 

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

Fireworks at Dix Park in 2024

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

Sprinkle donut

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

Where to find the best ice cream in North Carolina

Try a new ice cream parlour

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?

Helene help: 3 competing ideas about how much WNC needs

NC Capitol

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

Health care costs expected to rise for state employees

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

Teacher raises, DEI cuts discussed at House budget press conference 

Federal health investigation into NC State's Poe Hall will resume

Education

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

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

Wake schools set to vote on new cell phone policy

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

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

WRAL In Depth

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

'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 

Duke walks off Pitt to advance to quarterfinals of the 2025 ACC Baseball Championship

WRALSportsFan

Indianapolis Colts' music-loving owner Jim Irsay dies at age 65

Shane's Take: Canes lacked game-long effort in series opener against Panthers

NFL teams can keep using the tush push after ban proposal fails at owners meetings, AP source says

Hurricanes fall to Panthers in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Final

Red-hot North Lenoir sweeps South Granville to clinch 2A East regional championship

HighSchoolOT

Goaltending, basket interference among new high school basketball rules changes

Midway wins at South Lenoir to take 2A East baseball series lead 

J.H. Rose rolls to Game 1 win over Terry Sanford in 3A East baseball series

Statewide Scoreboard: Spring sports state playoffs

Based on a neutral El NiÃ±o Southern Oscillation and varying Atlantic ocean temperatures, we are projecting an average number of tropical systems this season.

2025 Atlantic hurricane season: WRAL Severe Weather team predicts 'near-average' number of tropical storms

Facing that uncertainty from the federal government, Gov. Josh Stein says North Carolina state lawmakers need to approve more Helene aid funds since they can get money to the affected communities more quickly.

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

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.

WRAL Specialists

Errors found on Kroger price tags in Consumer Reports investigation

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

5 On Your Side

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

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

WRAL Investigates: Unlicensed massage practices in state shopping malls

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

Investigations

Wilmington's annual investor 'Buzz In' showcases thriving startup ecosystem

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

Remote workers are more engaged but struggle to thrive

Donald Thompson: 10 habits to make you indispensable at work

WRAL TechWire

David Gardner: Every business degree should require sales classes

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

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

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

Business

Powerball

Mega Millions

Cash 5

YouTube star Ms. Rachel sings with 3-year-old amputee from Gaza

Family

Parents be cautious! Top 5 dangers to children in the summer

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

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

Top grocery deals valid May 21-27

SmartShopper

New Publix opens in Rolesville

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)

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)

Time to activate your Food Lion Shop & Earn offers for May

Tar Heel Traveler: The Green Chair Project

Tar Heel Traveler: Lizzee's Apples

Holly Springs woman's 'kave' fully of family memories

Tar Heel Traveler: Deep River Sporting Clays

Tar Heel Traveler: Keith Barnes

Tar Heel Traveler

Century-old theatre Thalian Hall enters a new era

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