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Hasson Bacote, a Black man from Johnston County, was sentenced to death in 2009. He is challenging his death sentence under the state's Racial Justice Act, arguing that race played a role in jury selection.


NC man fights death sentence; closing arguments to begin in racial justice case

LINE WILL, OF COURSE, KEEP YOU POSTED TO THE DOUBLE YOUR TRAFFIC CENTER. >> TODAY WILL HEAR CLOSING ARGUMENTS IN A CASE THAT COULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR MORE THAN 100 INMATES ON NORTH CAROLINA'S DEATH ROW WRAL'S. LAURA LEVINE IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE BUILDING IN RALEIGH AND LAURA HASSAN. BUT COACH ATTORNEYS ARGUE HE WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH DUE TO RACIAL BIAS. >> IF JEFF, GOOD MORNING, CLOSING ARGUMENTS ARE SET TO BEGIN IN A COUPLE HOURS IN THIS CASE THAT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING. YOU KNOW, THE OUTCOME OF THIS CASE COULD REVIVE ABOUT 130 CASES INVOLVING DEATH ROW INMATE INMATES WHICH STARTED BEFORE THE RACIAL JUSTICE ACT IN 2013. NOW WE KNOW ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING HE'S ON THE COACH. TELL ME TODAY WE CAN EXPECT COMPELLING STATEMENTS, THE BACK OF EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY FROM SOCIAL SCIENTISTS AND HISTORIANS THAT WERE PRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE TWO-WEEK HEARING. >> AND THEY'VE ARGUED THE COACH CASE FOR SENATE WAS TAINTED BY RACISM IN JURY SELECTION AND TRAINING GRETCHEN ANGLE BE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE CENTER FOR DEATH PENALTY LITIGATION TELLS ME HE'S HOPEFUL TODAY WILL BRING A RECKONING AND THAT IT WILL MOTIVATE GOVERNOR COOPER TO RENT REDUCTION TO EVEN PARDONS BEFORE HIS TERM IS UP. >> IT'S THE THING THAT SKEWS OUR SYSTEM IN A MORE PUNITIVE, MORE RACES, LESS HUMANE DIRECTION AND FOR HIM TO TAKE A STAND THERE WOULD BE REALLY SIGNIFICANT. AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT NEED TO KNOW DID THE RIGHT THING. >> SO IN THE BEST CASE SCENARIO FROM A CODE, HIS SENTENCE WOULD BE COMMUTED TO LIFE IN CLOSING ARGUMENTS WILL BE HELD AT THE JOHNSTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE, WHICH BEGINS AT 10:00AM WRAL WILL BE LIVE STREAMING. LAURA

Hasson Bacote: Murder case could affect more than 100 death row inmates in NC

Murder case could impact more than 100 death row inmates in NC

Crisp mornings ahead: Experience a taste of fall with cooler temperatures

Weather for the next 24 hours

Major I-440 construction in Raleigh begins Wednesday night, drivers brace for delays

Winter is four months away! Here's a way-too-early look at what could happen

Winter is four months away from Wednesday

Dozens of Wake County schools offer free breakfast, lunch this year

school lunch

Triangle housing market: Why homes are staying on market longer

Wake County homes

Wake reduces graduation requirements, in compliance with new state law

High school graduation 

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Democrats are seeking to play up Vice President Kamala Harris' work on foreign policy, an area where she lacks experience compared to former President Donald Trump.

Trump plans to address national security in Asheboro, his second visit to NC in a week

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CHICAGO (AP) â The Democratic National Convention's second night showcased a double dose of Obama firepower to validate Vice President Kamala Harris and deliver an unsparing indictment of Republican Donald Trump. The convention also served up a raucous roll call of states that was essentially one big dance party.

A double dose of Obama firepower, a doting spouse and a dance party: Takeaways from Day 2 of the DNC

Election_2024_DNC_27218

As school begins, thousands of students will receive new guidance on using artificial intelligence (AI) in their studies. While AI can be used as a tool, the line between using AI as a tool and using it to cheat is not always clear.

AI use in schools: How districts are making sure it's used as a study aid

Researchers Poke Holes in Safety Controls of ChatGPT and Other Chatbots

Crews responded to a fire in Durham on Tuesday night, displacing six people.

Durham fire displaces six, causes major damage to apartment building

Dozens of people spoke Tuesday at the Raleigh City Council meeting. Most of the speakers voiced their thoughts about the future of the Red Hat Amphitheater.

Residents ask Raleigh council to consider traffic, jobs, community cost of plan to move Red Hat Amphitheater

Red Hat Amphitheater

Community leaders are working to address the growing problem of juvenile crime.

19 Raleigh homicides, 9 of the suspects are under age 18

Bragg Street shooting

New Bern Animal Control got a call from a resident about a 12-week-old puppy with a note on the cage that said, "Please take me."

'Please take me': Puppy found abandoned near New Bern overpass inside cage with no water

Puppy found abandoned by Animal Control

During the State Board of Education meeting Tuesday morning, driver's ed coordinators said departments are short staffed, and it's getting more expensive to hire these teachers.



Fewer teachers means longer wait for driver's ed across NC

Driver's education in NC 

Last school year, Nash County Public Schools caught 381 students with vapes on the school campus. With the new school year starting just days from now, the district is using a grant to tackle the growing number of students who vape. 

Schools invest in new ways to curb vaping ahead of the school year

Vaping

The Hoke County sheriff saved an infant from drowning Sunday.

Hoke County sheriff saves baby's life

Hoke County Sheriff Roderick Virgil

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While many year-round students have already started classes, Aug. 26 marks the first day of the 2024-2025 academic year for most traditional calendar students, while Wake County schools start their traditional calendar on Aug. 27.


Schedules, buses, lunch fees, tips: WRAL is your back-to-school HQ

Back to school headquarters

The 2024 annual school supply sales and school clothing deals are in full swing and there are some great deals to be found! Check out the list of impressive buys at multiple stores starting at 15 cents this week. 

List of school supply deals starting at 15 cents

School Supplies Set

Winnie joined the zoo's band of Hamadryas baboons when she was born on June 16.

North Carolina Zoo welcomes Winnie the baboon

In 2023, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a law that requires schools provide access to menstrual products in bathrooms regularly used by students in grades 4 to 12.

Fact check: Did Walz force Minnesota schools to stock tampons in boys' bathrooms?

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The first supermoon of 2024 could be seen in the North Carolina sky Sunday night. Send us your photos of the supermoon at wral.com/report-it.

Photos: Supermoon lights up NC sky ð

supermoon 

The Sunshine Protection Act has yet to pass through Congress. Here's what it would be like if we never changed the time.

The sun now sets before 8 p.m. Will we ever do away with the time change?

Sunset over eastern Tennessee

Don't Miss It

Former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama and second gentleman Doug Emhoff will speak at the DNC, a day after the unofficial farewell for President Joe Biden, who served eight years as Obama's vice president.

Obamas headline night 2 of the DNC

Housing boom in SE Raleigh met with excitement and some resistance  

Drivers brace for more construction on I-440 in Raleigh 

New NC school buses and new training for drivers coming

Plan to relocate Red Hat Amphitheater moves closer to approval  

Real estate inventory is up in the Triangle 

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Housing boom in Southeast Raleigh sparks debate over affordability and accessibility

Local News

Fayetteville police investigate fatal shooting on Early Street, man dies at hospital

DMV takes on driver training before your child boards the bus

Tar Heel pride: 8 NC students represent the state at the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee

71-year-old endangered man found dead after vanishing days earlier, Raleigh police say

Trump campaigns to 'make America safe again' as Democratic convention zeroes in on his felony record

Nation/World

Bus carrying Shiite pilgrims from Pakistan to Iraq crashes in Iran, killing at least 28 people

Moscow sees one of Ukraine's largest drone attacks as fighting rages in Kursk and eastern Ukraine

Voters in Arizona and Montana can decide on constitutional right to abortion

Pro-Palestinian protesters clash with police near Chicago's Israeli consulate on second night of DNC

Schoolkids Records in Chapel Hill will close its doors at the end of the year, owner Stephen Judge announced Monday via social media.

Schoolkids Records to close Chapel Hill location by end of the year

Vinyl still rules at Schoolkids Records 

70+ things to do in August

Cage the Elephant

Foodie News: Seaboard Station to get new entertainment venue featuring arcade games, bowling

Open sign broad hanging on wood door front of cafe.

Top spots for burgers in the Triangle

Mojoe's Burger

Drink up: The 10 most Instagram-worthy cocktails in the Raleigh area

Best Raleigh bars and cocktails in the Triangle area. 

Channing Tatum movie filming this fall in Charlotte, extras needed

Channing Tatum Confirmed That âMagic Mike 3â Is Happening

Out & About

Politifact

Fact check: Walz says violent crime was up under Trump

Fact check: Vance says Walz left National Guard after being called to Iraq

Fact-checking claims about Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's Olympic boxing eligibility

Did an Olympic sponsor pull support after the opening ceremony?

NC elections officials approve digital voter ID option for UNC students

NC Capitol

Cornel West officially on the ballot in NC, as state elections board reverses itself following court loss

'Not the right approach': Robinson seeks to shift his public perception on abortion

Back to school: NC ranks low on public school spending, but sent $180 million to private schools

North Carolina State Board of Elections to vote on UNC-Chapel Hill's digital ID

WRAL 5 On Your Side looks into hidden fees in your child's school lunch payments

Education

Wake Schools signs contracts for fire alarm inspections, amid ongoing 'fire watch' at schools

Back to school: School sick day protocol

Long lines, high costs keeping some kids from getting driver's licenses

How AI will be used in NC classrooms for the 2024-25 school year

Anti-violence worker charged in connection to teen's murder

WRAL In Depth

Pay complaints mount at Saint Augustine's University, credit agreement announced up to $30M

School districts grapple with cellphone policies as new school year approaches

Cyclospora parasite illnesses have affected 28 NC counties, sickened more than 200 people

In Raleigh, Harris unveils economic plans to give Americans 'a real chance to succeed'

Duke names Texas transfer Maalik Murphy starting QB

WRALSportsFan

Holly Springs man runs across country to build 'Walking with Grace House' for people with special needs 

UNC to play Dayton at 2024 Maui Invitational

No. 24 NC State  is chasing a breakthrough moment

The Tar Heels faded in past 2 years with QB Drake Maye. Now they must fix that issue without him

HSOT Volleyball Showcase is this Saturday; features 10 of the top teams in NC

HighSchoolOT

The ultimate road trip for NC high school football fans in 2024

The Starting 22: Best players from week 0 of high school football

Georgia is the 1st Power 4 school to offer Oak Grove junior OL/DL Ben Boulware

Apex Friendship beats Chapel Hill to move to 3-0 on the season

Community leaders are working to address the growing problem of juvenile crime throughout central North Carolina.

Nine juveniles charged in Raleigh homicides

Laptops purchased during the Covid-19 pandemic have changed education. Some recent changes should give schools a little more time to find the money to keep them. 

NC schools running out of money to replace student laptops

The North Carolina state elections board will decide for the first time Tuesday whether to accept a digital version of a student ID as an acceptable photo voter ID.  The board has never approved a digital ID in the past, but mobile technology is advancing quickly.

NC elections board to vote on use of digital IDs for voting 

The North Carolina State Board of ElectionsÂ will decide Tuesday whether to accept the digital version of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hillâs student ID as a form of photo voter ID.

Find out why 868 private and religious schools are getting hundreds of millions of tax dollars despite not having the same education standards required by public schools.

Why hundreds of millions of tax dollars were sent 868 private and religious schools across NC

Private schools and religious schools are due to take in millions of dollars in taxpayer vouchers.

There's no money to replace most of NC students' laptops. What are schools doing about it?

Wake County Public School System laptops

A Bull City United worker has been charged with accessory after the fact in relation to the murder of 19-year-old Jeremiah Williams.

Anti-violence worker charged in connection to 19-year-old's murder

WRAL Specialists

5 On Your Side: Uncover Consumer Reports' top deals on back-to-school and Labor Day essentials

5 On Your Side big savings for back-to-school 

Salmonella in cucumbers linked to 22 illnesses in NC, hundreds nationwide

Perdue recalls 167,000 pounds of chicken nuggets after consumers find metal wire in some packages

5 On Your Side

A closer look: Pursuits on the rise across North Carolina

Pay complaints mount before new school year at Saint Augustine's University

Raleigh leaders respond to increase in homicides compared to last year

Prisoner driven 150 miles to Hillsborough for medical care despite his connections to Orange County

Investigations

The boredom scroll on socials may be making your problem worse, study says

Tom Snyder: Is RTP the next Silicon (carbide) Valley?

Businesses are already girding for next phase of the U.S.-China trade war

Harris focuses Raleigh speech on economic plan as she faces GOP attacks over grocery costs

WRAL TechWire

Disney drops bid to have allergy-death lawsuit tossed because plaintiff signed up for Disney+

Too many people, not enough management: A look at the chaos of 'overtourism' in the summer of 2024

7-Eleven targeted by Circle K owner for huge convenience store tie-up

US settles with billionaire Carl Icahn for using company to secure personal loans worth billions

Business

Powerball

Mega Millions

Cash 5

Go Ask Dad: Back to school hugs

Family

10 healthy ideas for your child's lunch box

Back-to-school: Here's how to help your child adjust to high school

Top Amazon Deals: Apple iPad (9th Gen) only $199 (40% off!), Bostitch Electric Pencil Sharpener only $13.19 (45% off), Dickies Men's Dri-Tech Crew Socks 6 pk only $9.09 (43% off)

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Sam's Club 12-Month Membership only $20 (60% off) through Aug. 24

Subway: BOGO footlong subs through Aug. 25 with promo code

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