Raleigh breaking news and weather, Raleigh North Carolina news today, WRAL 7-day forecasts, NC lottery updates. WRAL news in Raleigh, NC.

WRAL.com

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, expand Red Hat Amphitheater

Economic impact. Currently, we're losing some of those opportunities to cities that have already improved and increased their capacities. Our hotel will add approximately 100 full time jobs into Raleigh downtown. These will be permanent jobs with excellent wages and benefits for the citizens. We hire, we want to sustain these jobs and add more of them. I urge you to support the proposal for the Red Hat amphitheater to be moved and improved. Thank you. Hello, good afternoon, everyone. Uh My name is Alex Leon. I'm a resident of 5433, Wade Park Boulevard in District D. Uh Today I'm gonna be speaking in strong support of shutting down, uh, the one block of South Street between Dawson and mcdowell, uh, to relocate the Red Hat amphitheater. Uh My position is simple. It's just beyond the amphitheater. Uh, if we don't shut down this one block of South Street, uh, it could put hundreds if not thousands of potential current and future jobs at risk. Uh Basically, uh sorry, first time speaking publicly. So I basically, uh, we wanna make sure that our local downtown businesses are supported. Uh We don't want to see them go away because they are part of a vibrant and thriving downtown. Um So, yeah, that's uh all I had to say. Thank you. Thank you. My name is Ben Davis. I own property in downtown Raleigh and have been a Raleigh resident for over 27 years. I support keeping Red Hat amphitheater in downtown Raleigh and voting. Yes, on September 17th. While Minnie today will speak of the economic impact. I want to talk politics. People love Red Hat amphitheater. It's where my kids learn to ice skate. It's where Minnie had their first date and it's where Minnie saw the greatest concert of their lives. Don't gaslight us into thinking there is a perfect plan when it comes to government bureaucracy. The pursuit of perfection impedes progress. You will never make everyone happy. The vote is September 17th. Election day is 42 days after. For those of you who want to, who say you want to keep Red Hat and down downtown Raleigh, prove it. Plan B is never a guarantee. Downtown Raleigh has serious problems and we need serious people to help solve them. If the Red Hat plan fails, your constituents won't go to the ballot box. Thanking you for saving South Street. They will hold you responsible. I've been in the entertainment industry for over 20 years from working at Live Nation at Walnut Creek Amphitheater House of Blues and opening the D pack in Durham. And now I have the privilege to be the executive director of the music nonprofit band together here in Raleigh Band together, puts on the largest Southeast annual charitable concert. And over 10 years, we have called Red An amphitheater. Our, in the last decade through our yearly concerts and community, we have supported over $9 million that goes back to our nonprofit impact partners. As I stated, I was on the ground floor bringing DAC to life. And from the very beginning, I got to see firsthand how that facility completely transformed downtown Durham and is now thriving. Red Hat was created to help offset these losses from these national touring shows going to Durham and help bring more people back to downtown Raleigh. I cannot stress this enough. Red Hat amphitheater is a focal point of downtown and it's such an important piece of our community impact concerts with the health of survival of our local businesses, hotels, and restaurants. To take this crown jewel away would be catastrophic repercussions. It's my highest recommendation to keep this venue downtown. It will be a huge mistake if we don't. Thank you. Thank you. Um Speaker 20 Lo put up to number seven, please. Yep. No one more. There you go. I'm Jay Spain. You all know me is um hindsight really 2020 in 1977 Fayetteville Street was closed to create a pedestrian mall. We put the civic center in the middle of the road. It was a massive failure for residents, but especially businesses, many closed or relocated to North Hills or, or Crabtree. It was a massive failure for residents but especially businesses in 2006, the civic center was demolished and Foo Street reopened to traffic. It took a public process to fix bad planning. A new convention center was planned and built with public engagement. Adding Red Hat amphitheater in June 2010, great input, great planning. Now, why do we want to close another street permanently? Transit will suffer greatly but businesses will eventually suffer the most a critical artery to downtown for the many thousands of new residents around Dick's part will be severed. Red Hat amphitheater needs to stay downtown but South Street must remain open. Ok. If we could have the speaker list up next is Taylor Morgan, Danny Rosen, Frank Hayes, um Nathaniel, um Dill and Carissa Kramer. Good afternoon. My name is Taylor Morgan. And while I'm not a Raleigh resident, I am one of the many visitors who helped generate the 17.5 million in revenue. Red Hat amphitheater brought in last year. I'm here to urge you to support the closure of one block of South Street to allow Red Hat to expand to the size it needs Red Hat isn't just a venue. It's a vital part of Raleigh's culture and economic landscape. But without this expansion, the amphitheater won't be able to attract the same level of top tier artist. A smaller Red Hat simply won't work if this one block isn't closed, Raleigh risk losing out to cities like Charlotte and Wilmington and the local businesses that rely on event traffic will suffer. This is a small sacrifice with a massive payoff ensuring Raleigh remains a destination for world class entertainment in a thriving downtown. Please support the closure of South Street to secure Red Hat's Future and Raleigh's platform on the cultural map. Thank you. Thank you. What Taylor said. My company brand Fuel has moved downtown after 20 years of being in a uh stale office park in RT P. We moved downtown due to the allure of a vibrant social downtown. And the amphitheater was a big driver. Taking the amphitheater away means you take away. One of the main reasons my company just invested in a five year lease to stay downtown. I'm also co-founder of band together. Please imagine a sad future where band together moves its concerts from downtown to other triangle venues. The positive impact to those we serve in our community would greatly decrease for those who are food insecure, struggle with mental health and can't afford housing. And here's my dream a future where a percentage of every Red Hat ticket sold went to local nonprofits. Our amphitheater would be the only community impact venue in the world with every ticket sold, the city of Raleigh could proudly state that it's would be investing back into areas of need. That's good marketing and goodwill. Thank you. Thank you, Frank Keynes. Hello. Uh my name is Frank Keynes. I live at uh South Bland Avenue is and I wanted to make three points about the amphitheater. First of all, I support it in downtown, but I believe closing South Street is bad for the city and has unknown future impacts. The city should review all alternatives with public input. The amphitheater is vital for Raleigh but the plan to close the block of South Street is being pushed through without public engagement, especially from those most impacted by this closure. Closing South Street impacts a walkable city, Chavis and Dick's Park connection and South Street businesses like Fayetteville Street. Its closure has unknown impacts. Proposed mitigations are uncertain, costly and incomplete. A full transit and traffic study is needed to account for thousands of new residents around Dixson downtown. In summary, this amphitheater needs to stay downtown but closing South Street should be a last resort. The city should review relocation plans with clear objectives and involve all impacted Raleigh residents. Thank you. Speaker 24 is Nathaniel here. OK. Um Cresa Kramer speaker 25. Hello. Uh My name is Carissa. I'm a bartender downtown, so I'm not sure you've had my perspective. Um I work for primarily Berkeley Cafe which has already been in the in front of you before for different reasons. Um I also bartend at Red Hat and other businesses downtown. I work in district D primarily and I live in District C and I will tell you, it is not an exaggeration. Uh, to tell you that you will literally kill a handful if not very many small businesses downtown. It is very much that simple. You will kill us. Uh We get by those nights that we have the profit from a red hat go a long way in the nights that we just simply don't because summer if you don't know, is a tough time for service industry. Folks, people are on vacation and whatnot. Contrary to the other comments made, I feel like the council has done their due diligence. You have explored other options. And South Street, the small block is not that big of an issue in terms of keeping something that is so vital to downtown. I feel like one of your main purposes as city council is to promote, promote stable and positive change and uh for the city and I think this is the way to do it. Thank you. Uh huh. Ok. Um Next speakers. Um We could move the speaker list up speakers 2627 I guess 28 is not here 2930. So Athena Woolen. Hi, I'm Athena Wallen. I live on Brookside Drive. You've heard about my uh attempts to convince you that visibility is a form of equity. Um I am now going to tell you that there seems to be discrepancy within the operation of the Department of Transportation itself. The parking division has a different route to implement projects that is different than the rest of the department in the vein that it doesn't have the same um, scope and pedestrian minded uh uh objective, sorry. And it's inherently car centric by nature. So if we could try to get the Department of Transportation to, uh you know, coexist and intermingle with itself better, then maybe we won't have bike lanes continuously replaced by parked cars and that, I guess I have time. Thanks, Kate. Um This is Kate Council member branch. We're actually gonna have a conversation on Brookside Drive Thursday at three o'clock here in the chamber. I'm gonna be there. Look forward to you. Thank you. Ok. Um, speaker 27. Hi. My name is Rusty Sutton, my husband and I own the dis um, the green monkey at 215, South Wilmington Street in District C. I've had the privilege of meeting with other small businesses in downtown Raleigh. Over several weeks, I've learned we all have a common struggle. We are just managing to stay afloat, lower foot traffic due to safety concerns and parking misconceptions. Now, we are facing the possibility of losing one of our bright spots. Red Hat amphitheater. The city council, small business and citizens must unite to save our amphitheater council members. I implore you to stand with the majority of businesses and citizens in the decision to keep the Red Hat amphitheater in downtown Raleigh. It's a driver of foot traffic. A booster of sales and a supporter of local jobs. It's mo removal would only make the task of revitalizing and our downtown more daunting your vote. Thank you just in case he's not here. Ok. Um Brick French, good afternoon. My name is Rick French. I am a chairman and CEO of French West Vaughan in downtown Raleigh. We're one of the larger employers downtown. I am also chairman of the Board of City Club Raleigh. So I'm speaking on behalf of both organizations here. Our board of City Club Raleigh which represents over 20 business leaders in the community has asked me to express to you that they are strongly in favor of a plan to keep Red Hat downtown and whatever that may take. I can also say to you that as a downtown employer who has dealt with safety issues related to my headquarters building, which is adjoined to the bus station, uh foot traffic downtown is critical for our safety on the nights in which there is not much going on in downtown Raleigh. We have more incidents of attempted B and ES and vandalism on the nights where there are over 100 and some programmed events, whether it's concerts or the ice rink, we have fewer problems. Thank you, Jennifer Martin. And then Joseph Hatch. Next, please. Councilors we've heard from many today on why Red Hat amphitheater is important to Raleigh and specifically downtown Raleigh. We also know that many of you spent a great deal of your time off in July talking to business owners and residents about this project and it was presented to you right before your break. But that's another matter. We also know that many of you have been placed in an unfair position between business and residents and on an issue during election season to which we all want to say, thank you for all the time you were taking to talk to business and residents about this important economic issue. And one that has also been made political with Red Hat amphitheater being a multimillion dollar positive economic revenue producer for the city of Raleigh employees over 100 people in spurs millions into spending to downtown residents, retail bars, hotel, and other venues. We all know the amphitheater belongs in downtown Raleigh. This is a big project and one that needs to be done, right? Needs to be done well and most of all it needs to be done in downtown Raleigh. Our downtown businesses community is depending on this and our community as a whole needs a vibrant downtown and we need to be doing everything we can to get people back downtown. Thank you. Is um Joseph Hatch here. Uh Good afternoon. My name is Joseph Hatch. I'm co-owner of Woody's at City Market. Been downtown for 22 years. Uh to say that the last four since COVID and the riots have been difficult uh would be an understatement. I support closing South Street for the one block to keep Red Hat moved to the new area, expand it to keep people coming in. I guess that's it. You know, I want redhead downtown, but in order to have the proper Red Hat downtown, that one section of South Street does need to be closed. Uh, I haven't agreed with everything city council has done over the years, but I believe they've always done it uh, in the interest of the majority of people. Thank you. Thank you. Ok, thank you everyone for coming out today. Um We're gonna continue our meeting. But if you would like to um all of you who signed up to speak, if you'd like to depart, you can, but we also have a presentation coming up on Red Hat, you might want to stay. So, um with that said, I am going to go to um report of the Planning Commission. Good afternoon. The Planning Commission has not met since you last met and I have no items to report. Ok, thank you. Now, we'll go to special items. The first is the Raleigh Community Advisory Council. It's Tansy. Hi mayor members of the city council. I have a very brief update for today. So just as a way of a background, the city council uh early last year and into the spring took some actions related to the restoration of city support to citizen advice.

Raleigh residents discuss relocation of Red Hat Amphitheater

Red Hat Amphitheater update rendering

Rising trend of juvenile crime: In 19 Raleigh homicides, 9 of the suspects are under age 18

Bragg Street shooting

State leaders say cost to blame for driver's education backlog in NC

Driver's education in NC 

Refreshing! A taste of early fall expected Tuesday night through Saturday morning

A small taste of fall this week

UNC students can use digital ID to vote

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.

Civilian traffic unit easing load on Raleigh police officers; police looking to add more

Civilian Traffic Investigator Unit

The Latest: Day 2 of the DNC will feature the Obamas and second gentleman Doug Emhoff

Election_2024_DNC_92845

WRAL News+

WRAL News+ Live Thumbnail

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Latest Forecast Sponsored 1

The insect-borne oropouche virus is spreading in South America and the Caribbean and among people who have traveled to those areas.

New virus: Bug bites can bring fever, chills, aches

Body heat, odor make some of us irresistible to mosquitoes

The Hoke County sheriff saved an infant from drowning Sunday.

Hoke County sheriff saves baby's life

Hoke County Sheriff Roderick Virgil

Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024 -- North Carolina should return the $1.7 billion a year in federal education funds it gets. What kind of wisdom is that from Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Michele Morrow, who wants to be state Superintendent of Public Instruction?

Editorial: Robinson and Morrow fail to learn lessons of the past

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson

Justice For All, the political party associated with presidential candidate Cornel West, will be allowed to put candidates on the ballot in the year's elections, giving voters more choices at the ballot box while also complicating the presidential election.

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

Election_2024_DNC_86570

FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) -- A jury has found a sheriff in South Carolina not guilty of violating a jail inmate's civil rights when he ordered a deputy to shock the man several times with a Taser.

South Carolina sheriff who told deputy to shock inmate is found not guilty in civil rights case

Gavel, court, legal, judge

A 20-year-old Fort Liberty soldier has been charged with unlawful firearms trafficking and making false statements to the government.

Fort Liberty soldier charged with trafficking firearms, accused of lying about ties to white supremacy group

Fort Liberty soldier charged with firearms trafficking

Friday marked the seventh time in four years that a North Carolina home fell victim to rising surf.

Outer Banks erosion: Rodanthe homeowners face the cost of changing coastline

House collapses on Cape Hatteras, beach closures issued

Republican Mark Robinson says he's trying to portray a softer version of his anti-abortion stances. The shift comes as polling shows Democrat Josh Stein extending his lead in the race for governor.

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

Josh Stein (left) and Mark Robinson (right) are running for North Carolina governor in November's election.

On Saturday morning, the Raleigh Police Department responded to 10600 Little Brier Creek Lane regarding multiple cars that had been broken into. The Residence Inn and Courtyard, both by Marriott, are listed at this address.

Police investigating 14 car break-ins at Raleigh hotel

Crime Scene police lights

Jacobia Crisp appeared in court Monday for the first time since her arrest. She's could serve more than three years in prison if convicted of felony charges. 

Woman charged with aiding convicted murderer's escape could face more than 3 years in prison

Jacobia Crisp

View WRAL's latest top news

MIX 101.5 WRAL-FM

95.7 That Station

99.9 The Fan

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?

Election_2024_Harris_67386

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

The Raleigh Police Department has hired five civilians to help get help to the scene of a crash faster.

New traffic unit reduces crash response times, first on the scene to fender benders

On camera: Arson suspect causes car explosion 

Caught on camera: 74-year-old man walking dog dies after violent assault   

Caught on camera: 74-year-old walking dog dies after violent assault 

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

State leaders to give update on driver's ed backlog Tuesday

Back to school: School sick day protocol

Video Central

WRAL 6am News | August 20

6am Newscast Static

WRAL 9am News | August 20

9am Newscast Static

WRAL Noon News | August 20

12pm Newscast Static

WRAL 4pm News | August 19

4pm Newscast Static

WRAL 6pm News | August 19

6pm Newscast Static

WRAL 10pm News | August 19

10pm Newscast Static

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

Local News

Rocky Mount had 15 sewer spills in less than one month. Nearly 3 million gallons of sewage spilled into the Tar River, creeks

Oh, Canada! Taste of early autumn coming to North Carolina from Alberta

16-year-olds and 15-year-old charged with murder in Highgate Place shooting 

Fuquay-Varina man arrested for secretly recording woman in restroom

Tech tycoon, defense attorney, and Morgan Stanley banker among those missing in freak yacht sinking

Nation/World

The Obamas and Emhoff are to headline the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday

Yacht that sank off Sicily was carrying people celebrating tech magnate's acquittal; 6 missing

Blinken visits Gaza mediators in pursuit of cease-fire deal but Hamas and Israel signal challenges

BMW recalling more than 720,000 vehicles due to water pump issue

Don't miss 70+ of the best concerts and festivals happening in August.

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

Your complete beach vacation checklist for a perfect getaway

NC beaches

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?

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

NC Capitol

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

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

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

NC hospitals agree to plan to relieve old medical debt for lower-income patients

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

Education

NC schools running out of money to replace student laptops

'It's our home:' Families celebrate progress, plans to reopen tornado-damaged middle school

Update expected Monday on plans to restore middle school hit by tornado

After tornado, Wilson County students will return while damaged middle school is rebuilt

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

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

Statewide Volleyball Rankings: Marvin Ridge, Ayden-Grifton, D.H. Conley climb into Top 10

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. 

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

In a newly revealed video, Republican candidate for governor Mark Robinson told supporters at a private event he would turn down federal funding for North Carolina schools. That's a popular idea among some conservatives, but it could come with a hefty price tag.

Robinson, Morrow say they would turn down federal education dollars

cnn-L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2ltYWdlL2luc3RhbmNlcy9jbHRmMzl2dzcwMDA2M2I2Z2ttN2tyeWpm-L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2FydGljbGUvaW5zdGFuY2VzL2NsdGYzOTU1ejAwMWI3eG96ZDhnZGJxa3g=-300

Saint Augustine's University is due to receive $7 million credit from Durham-based Gothic Ventures and up to $30 million total. The university is facing complaints from its faculty for delayed paychecks, with 29 complaints filed against the university since September 2023.

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

There is no doubt that gang violence, gang crime, is a problem, both nationwide and in North Carolina. 

Stay out of gangs, be great: Raleigh's Ship Community Outreach offers positive environment for teens

33,000 gangs nationwide

School districts, students, teachers and parents are grappling with appropriate cellphone policies as the new school year approaches.

What should we do about cellphones in schools?

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

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

Convicted murderer escapes: Why authorities drove him 150 miles to Orange County

Investigations

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

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

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)

SmartShopper

Global Atomic Corp (OP: GLATF )

Price and Volume

Chart

Price Performance