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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

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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A mix of weekend weather between Saturday, Feb. 8 and Sunday, Feb. 9

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

UNC President Peter Hans

NC joins lawsuit to stop DOGE from accessing Americans' personal data

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

St. Augustine's University 

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

Shooting at Durham bus stop

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

Millie Dunn Veasey

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WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

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

N.C. health, mental health, Medicaid generic

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

Depressed teen (Adobe Stock)

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

Apex police car break-in investigation

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

Hasson Bacote

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.

Xavier is a 5-year-old Beagle and currently ranked the No. 1 beagle in the country!

NC dog is top beagle in the country and competing in Westminster Dog Show

NC beagle in Westminster Dog Show

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': Failures, child deaths & how to fix NC's foster system

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

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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

How Much Would You Pay for a Sporting Event?

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

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

Raleigh-area sports bars

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

Duke Energy

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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The head of North Carolina's public colleges issued a rebuke of the trustees at UNC-Chapel Hill and suspended some of their authority over athletics, saying their "independent and unilateral actions continue to create substantial legal risk to the University."

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

Failures, child deaths and attempts to fix North Carolina's foster care system

State Health Plan could increase $20-$50 per month based on salary

Family still learning of woman's struggles, heroism 

Family of Millie Dunn Veasey

Instagram videos led police to Durham murder suspects, warrant shows

Video Central

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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

Judge blocks Trump from placing thousands of USAID workers on leave and giving them 30-day deadline

Nation/World

Flu season in the US is the most intense it's been in at least 15 years

Jobs report shows a hiring slowdown as companies are acting like âtheyâre in a recessionâ

Judge in Boston to consider latest bid to block Trump's birthright citizenship order

Iran supreme leader criticizes proposed nuclear talks with US, upending push to negotiation

Get creative with wing flavors from these local restaurants

chicken wings

Weekend best bets: American Aquarium, Jim Gaffigan

Band Together NC

Iconic New York City bagel spot opening five new locations in the Triangle 

H&H Bagels

Raleigh's tallest rooftop bar opens its doors

Urban Oak 

Valentine's Day fun ideas for families

Taco Valentine Box

Out & About

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

Politifact

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

Fact check: Did Trump's firing of aviation officials make the plane crash likelier? Doubtful, experts say

Fact check: Did JD Vance provide 'furnished apartments' for Helene victims?

Fact check: Trump says Biden kicked 2,000 Helene victims out of temporary housing

 Trump administration halts program funding EV stations in North Carolina

NC Capitol

State Health Plan board set to approve changes

UNC System cuts diversity-course requirement for graduation

Former NC Gov. Roy Cooper to teach at Harvard University

No new private school vouchers, State Board of Education asks lawmakers

UNC System cuts diversity-course graduation requirement

Education

'You guys are losers:' Comment about DEI get backlash for Wake school board member

North Carolina AG will investigate PowerSchool breach; Wak that exposed teacher, student data

NC educators request cap on private school vouchers

Johnston County Schools names replacement for former board member, police officer sentenced to prison

NC State students demand PCB testing on campus

WRAL In Depth

How to vet home contractors

Federal lawsuit targets North Carolina's 'broken' foster care system for urgent reforms

FAQ: Economist Mike Walden breaks down Trump's tariffs & how they could impact North Carolina

Here's what to know about Trump's tariffs

CJ Rosser, nation's No. 2 ranked sophomore, elevates Northern Nash basketball to new heights

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At 72 years old and out of the NFL, Bill Belichick makes presence known at the Super Bowl

Extra Effort Award: Jack Britt's Makani Morris plays big, lives bigger

Tiger Woods to play at Torrey Pines, his first PGA Tour event since July

Thomas Detry nearly aces 16, shoots 64 to take 2-shot lead in Phoenix Open

No. 3 North Mecklenburg routs No. 17 Chambers to wrap up conference title

HighSchoolOT

Lake Norman Charter repeats as 3A girls swimming state champions

Lake Norman Charter wins first boys swimming state title

Cardinal Gibbons wins first 4A boys swimming state title

Myers Park wins fourth straight girls swimming state title

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

NC State student government to vote on call for more PCB testing on campus

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.

NC lawmakers want school boards to restrict cellphones during class

File photo of cellphones in school.

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.

State lawmakers meet to debate how to spend an additional $500 million on Helene relief funding for western NC

$500M in Helene aid debated by NC lawmakers. How it compares to Stein's $1.1B proposal

Flooding from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina

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

In Depth with Dan: Explaining property tax exemptions for NC veterans

WRAL Specialists

Restaurant ratings: Bass Lake Draft House, Canastas Chicken, Ichiban Hibachi Supreme Buffet

How to protect yourself from sports betting scams

Tips to stay safe when sports betting online

Patients using diabetes apps can miss critical alerts. Here's how to make sure you're getting them

5 On Your Side

Lawsuit calls for changes to NC's foster care system

Airspace safety: What FAA data reveals about close calls at RDU

Shrinking number of air traffic controllers comes into focus after DC crash

Following deaths, North Carolina families demand stricter dental anesthesia laws

Investigations

Tom Snyder highlights data, uncertainty in 2025's State of the Region

Grace Ueng: ââInside the mind of a champion: Cognitive defusion & the pale blue dot

Guest column: Startup uses AI tech to fight Americaâs health insurance bureaucracy

Mike Walden: What is the status of manufacturing in North Carolina?

WRAL TechWire

Amazon reports strong earnings for Q4, but stocks dip due to outlook for the first quarter

EV maker Scout Motors wants to sell directly to buyers but can't do it in its home state

OpenAI looks across US for sites to build its Trump-backed Stargate AI data centers

NC-based Honeywell, one of the few remaining US industrial conglomerates, will split into three companies

Business

Powerball

Mega Millions

Cash 5

New book aims to help moms navigate the stormy waters of parenting tween girls

Family

Go Ask Dad: A Dylan Dad

Mom's ADD diagnosis in her 50s provides some answers

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

'Very, very sick children': Flu cases soar in NC as COVID, RSV numbers decline

Amazon Deals: $13.59 Emergency Fire Blankets 2 Pk, $19.99 Blink Mini Smart Security Camera, $7.99 LED Tactical Flashlights 2 Pk, Children's Valentine's books starting at $3.99

SmartShopper

List of National Pizza Day 2025 deals 

The Children's Place Sale: 75% off clearance, Jeans for $4.99 and up, Graphic tees for $1.99 and up

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

Volume	8,367
Open	21.92
Bid (Size)	10.86 (1)
Ask (Size)	32.58 (1)
Prev. Close	21.89
Today's Range	21.68 - 21.92
52wk Range	19.50 - 22.21
Shares Outstanding	N/A
Dividend Yield	N/A

YTD	+1.87%	+1.87%
1 Month	+1.78%	+1.78%
3 Month	-0.46%	-0.46%
6 Month	+7.75%	+7.75%
1 Year	+8.89%	+8.89%

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII FT Vest Laddered Small Cap Moderate Buffer (NY: BUFS )

Price and Volume

Performance