ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 11pm - April 22, 2026

Episode Date: April 23, 2026

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Right now, live coverage from your local news leader, preparing you for tomorrow starting tonight and your first alert forecast. Here's what's happening where you live. This is ABC 11, I Witness News. And right now at 11, some massive wildfires are spreading across the southeast. Those flames fueled by an extreme drought that has no end in sight. Tonight, what we're learning is thousands of people evacuate trying to get out of harm's way. And new tonight, a mother going to social media hours after her husband faced a judge, In the murder of his own infant daughter, what his wife is saying about a tragedy and life taken far too soon. But first, we begin with a major economic boost for the Bull City. Abbey, a biopharmaceutical company making a $1.4 billion investment to build a huge manufacturing campus right here in Durham.

And with the building, Durham is also getting hundreds of new jobs. Thanks for joining us here for the news at 11. I'm Steve Daniel. And I'm Lauren Johnson. It's a move. Durham's mayor is calling a major win for the city. Abbey will create 734 jobs in a new pharmacy. operational operation. The company says it will build a 185 acre state-of-the-art manufacturing campus. The average annual salary will be right around $118,000. Jamis Price talked to Mayor Leo Williams tonight, who calls it the biggest private investment in Durham history. James Mayor Williams thinks this could be transformational for the people of Durham.

Steve and Lauren, you really want to see a city thrive. Mayor Leo Williams says this is how you do it. You bring in an employer who really wants to invest in the city and the city. the people and pretty soon we will see that happening right here in Durham when construction begins and eventually more of those hundreds of high paying jobs. Today we broke history. A groundbreaking day in the Bull City, according to the highest ranking official in the city of Durham. Today Durham punched well above its weight once again outbidding, beating everyone across the entire country to land this employer. Bio-pharmaceutical giant, avidavisputedical giant, is one of the largest life sciences companies in the world expanding from his headquarters in North Chicago, creating a 185 acre campus somewhere in Durham.

And with the campus comes jobs. Durham mayor Leo Williams says Abbey's largest single campus investment in the company's history will benefit the people of Durham greatly. These are manufacturing jobs that are going to speak to us right here at home. The barrier of entry is low. It's accessible, but this is going to change the game for affordability in Durham. AbVie is expected to bring 734 jobs, positions like engineers, scientists, manufacturing operators, and laboratory technicians. The project will also call for another 2,000 construction jobs during campus development. North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilly says Durham edged out other top contenders like Illinois and Texas. because of our elite colleges and universities that create a direct pipeline to a strong workforce.

So as we continue to think about investments, that's where the governor recommends that we make further investment in our workforce and in our communities because that's really what attracts companies like FB to Durham. A message echoed by Joshua Gunn, Durham's director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. He says this announcement creates an opportunity for partnerships for jobs. There are already opportunities to train and connect people to these opportunities coming to the city. Wide range of jobs, many of which are perfect to partner with Durham Tech and NCCU and Duke to train Durham residents for those jobs. Jobs that are estimated to pay an average salary of six figures.

We're bringing an outside employer in that's going to hire local, give more Durhamites a chance to thrive and live the quality of life that they deserve. It makes me proud. So construction is expected sometime this year with the completion date around 2028. And Lauren and C, we remember that energy we felt during the state of the city addressed yesterday, that momentum is still here with this big announcement tonight. Mayor Williams says Durham's culture is the true currency. And it is obvious with this big company coming in this major investment that everybody want to be down with the staff in Durham tonight. James Price ABC 11 eyewitness no.

You hit the nail on the head. We love it here. And it's really amazing. They say the annual payroll impact will be about $87 million. That will be huge for the entire triangle economy. Jemise, thanks. New at 11, a federal prison escapee is behind bars in Lee County tonight after police say he held a woman at gunpoint inside her home.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office says 46-year-old Antoine Clemens showed up at a woman's home in the Lemon Springs area Monday morning and held her hostage at gunpoint. The victim managed to get word to her family. member who called 911, deputies set up a perimeter and started negotiating with Clemens, who eventually released the woman and surrendered without a fight. That's when deputies noticed he was wearing a prison uniform. He was supposed to be serving an active sentence at Butner Federal Prison and had walked away from that facility. He's now being held in the Lee County

jail without bond. New at 11, a juvenile is now charged with murder in connection with last week's deadly shooting in Fayetteville. Cumberland County investigators identified the victim as 47-year-old Christopher Crocker. He was found shot at a home on Jacqueline Road last Friday afternoon and pronounced dead there at the scene. The juvenile suspect whose name has not been released is now in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice facing a first-degree murder charge. In Raleigh, the State House and Senate have now reached an agreement on something called Medicaid rebase. That means there will be new funding to address the rising cost of health care and the increased enrollment in the state Medicaid program. House Bill 696 uses $319 million

to fund the program through June. It also includes a series of reforms, including more frequent eligibility reviews, an audit led by the state auditor's office, and a requirement by the state health department to submit an annual report identifying and addressing waste, fraud, and abuse. Also in that bill, a provision requiring county social workers across the state to refer people to federal immigration authorities if their status cannot be verified. So advocates are concerned about this, that it will have an impact on our public health. Tom George diving into the issue for us. He joins us now in Raleigh with what he's hearing. Hi, Tom.

Good evening. That is one of those oversight provisions that was added by Republican leaders into that bill. But the fact that it would impact potentially immigration status has some advocates concerned. It's this newly added language at the center of that debate. Starting in October, it would require the health department to refer any applicant or recipient for which citizenship or satisfactory immigration status could not be verified to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or any other federal authority for investigation and enforcement. Immigration advocates like Sienbra and C say that could prevent families with mixed immigration status from seeking the health care they might need. What we do know is that this provision and this proposal, like just really at their minds, trust between immigrant communities and public institutions, not just in this instance, but for years to come. Today, Speaker Destin Hall saying the provision is needed, along with other reforms in the bill, saying, quote, Medicaid should serve the people who truly need it, and this bill makes sure that happens. But immigration attorneys say it may be questionable. Not only is it forcing medical and social workers to be put in a position that they have to verify immigration status.

They also believe it's a moot point since those without status aren't eligible for government benefits. The people who don't have status, they can't apply for Medicaid anyway. And if they did, it would just be denied. I'm sure that there are much like voter fraud, some instances of people trying it. But it happens so few and far between that it doesn't really come up. So it looks like we're looking for a solution. to a problem that just isn't there. He also believes it could fall into a tricky legal area of challenged.

There may be rights to privacy and certain civil rights under the Constitution for privacy that could protect people from this. I don't know that this would necessarily stop under a court case given the current state Supreme Court and our federal Supreme Court. Yeah, and so in the grand scheme of things, it's unlikely that that one provision in the bill is likely to impact the overall bill. After all, this is something that lawmakers and the governor have both been really working towards to try and get Medicaid funded for the millions of North Carolinians who need it. And that final vote on the bill scheduled for sometime next week. Reporting live,

Tom George, ABC 11, IWitness News. All right, Tom, thank you. We have some breaking news coming in right now. The Wake County Sheriff's Office is responding to a shooting in the 1,300 block of Mack Todd Road. That's in the eastern part of Wake County, in between the towns of Zebulin and Wendell. The details are limited right now and it's not clear if anyone is hurt but right now sheriff's deputies are asking people to avoid the area we'll have the latest information on the shooting both on air and online as we get it a benton police officer facing several felony charges including rape 33-year-old peter blake appeared in court just hours after his arrest early this morning investigators say the alleged assault happened april 8th that's what investigators say he broke

into a benson home and sexually assaulted a victim he also faces charges of kidnapping burglary and sexual servitude prosecutors say the incidents happened while he was with with the Benson Police Department, though it's unclear if he was on duty. The judge said bond at $5 million. Blake is due back in court on May 7. Tonight, the wife of a 25-year-old Wake County man who's charged with murdering their infant daughter says the death was a tragic accident. She was in court for the arraignment this afternoon and was there offering him support.

The White County Sheriff's Office says Christopher Gonzalez killed his child. The incident happened in October of 2024. The baby was taken to the hospital with injuries and later passed away. IWitness News tried to speak with the child's mother after that court appearance today. In the Facebook post, she also said her husband is not capable of intentional harm, calling him a devoted husband and a loving provider who's also a military veteran. The way County Sheriff's Office says investigators conducted a thorough investigation, and earlier this month they obtained an arrest warrant for the 25-year-old. In Raleigh, a group of community members voicing their frustration with eyewitness news after they say kids as young as seven and eight years old continue causing property damage. This is happening in the neighborhood of Glasgow, Lions Way, Bennett and Addison Streets.

That's where neighbors say their property has been stolen, their windows smashed, and in some cases, their homes broken into. The community is sharing these pictures and video with showing some of the damage to their property. Raleigh police say they are aware of the issues and they're working to find those children involved. So to come here at 11, a raid at a park in Durham leads to the arrest of several people. And this isn't the only park targeted what the sheriff's office says they found. Also coming up, an employee of YouTube star Mr. Beast, who's from here in North Carolina. is suing for alleged sexual harassment. What she claims happened to her and how the Starz Company is now responding.

Plus, an extreme drought fueling growing wildfires all across the southeast. Georgia now seeing massive devastation. What's being done as thousands are being forced to evacuate and take cover. And Don's checking on the temp. So it feels good outside tonight. It does. First Alert, Doppler Network scanning skies. A couple of sprinkles on the Durham County, Wade County border.

We'll talk about a better chance for rain in your first alert seven-day forecast. Coming up. New at 11, Durham Police went into a home. Encampment at a city park and walked out with drugs, four guns, and multiple people in handcuffs. Officers descended on Long Meadow Park on Liberty Street as part of the department called a violent crime initiative targeting known gun and drug offenders. This comes one week after the city moved to clear a separate encampment at Oakwood Park. Also new at 11, North Carolina native Mr. Beast is facing a federal lawsuit. A former employee is suing the YouTube stars production companies claiming she was demoted and fired after reporting sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.

The woman who ran the company's Instagram account filed a lawsuit here in North Carolina, claiming she was fired less than three weeks after returning from maternity leave. The lawsuit accuses the company of wrongful termination, violations of the family and medical leave act, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. A spokesperson for Mr. Beast, who employs more than 700 people, called the allegations false and vowed to fight the case in court. Three political candidates are now banned from a major prediction market. The candidates were actually caught betting on their own races. Kalshi suspended the three candidates from that.

platform after an internal investigation found they wagered on their own campaigns. It's a violation the company is calling political insider trading. One is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Virginia, another first seat in Congress from Texas, and the third running for Congress from Minnesota. Kalsh's head of enforcement says the size of the bets doesn't matter. Any candidate who can influence a market by staying in or dropping out breaks the rules. And this move comes weeks after the White House told staff members to stop using prediction markets to place bets on developments tied to the war with Iran.

Wildfires are burning across Georgia and Florida as extreme drought conditions continue impacting several states, including us right here in North Carolina. Tonight, at least 54 homes are destroyed in one community in Georgia alone. Thousands of people remain on alert tonight after being forced to evacuate. ABC's Jacqueline Lee has more. It's all hands on deck with aerial and ground assaults on the dozens of fires scorching the southeast. I will be very honest with you and say it's a miracle that we have not had any life's loss. Thousands of residents forced to evacuate across southeast Georgia and northeast Florida with extreme drought, low humidity, and strong winds fueling the fires.

We went from 700 acres yesterday morning at about 10 o'clock to almost 5,000 by 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Dozens of homes destroyed in Brantley County, Georgia, and some 5,000 acres of property burned, at least one minor injury to a firefighter who has been treated and released. ABC's Matt Rivers is on the scene in the hard-hit county. The fire sweeping through this morning. home park, dozens forced to flee ahead of those evacuation warnings from officials. You can see the damage that car there destroyed. This trailer completely burnt out. This is what

people who live here have to come back to. With chaotic evacuations Tuesday, drivers turning around as the fire tries to jump Highway 82. Outside Jacksonville, Florida, two fires merged into one, dubbed the railroad fire with strained passengers due to canceled train service. And in South Florida, a massive fire burning in the Everglades, scorching more than 9,000 acres. Jacqueline Lee. ABC News, Los Angeles. And back here in the Triangle, another Wake County town is announcing water restrictions. Fouquay Verena is now the eighth city or town in Wake County with water restrictions. Automated irrigation systems can be used three days a week.

Even numbered addresses can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Odd numbered addresses can water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Other restrictions include not washing down outside areas like home exteriors and sidewalks. The stage one restrictions take effect in Fuqua Verena up Friday. Goodness. So many families going through so much. much with our farmers. Absolutely. That's tough. Fortunately, there's a little bit of rain in the forecast. A couple of chances in the days ahead. We did have a couple sprinkles fall today in spots.

It wasn't much, but the better chance for in coming in on Saturday night. We'll talk about that in just a moment. Good evening to you. Take it a live look at your seven-day forecast. We're dry tomorrow, dry on Friday, but Saturday from about 5 p.m. on through the overnight, we do have a chance of some rain moving through. Not much, less than a quarter of an inch, but we'll take any we can get at this point. Could linger early into Saturday morning, clearing Saturday afternoon, another chance on Tuesday. We'll talk about that. Coming up, live look on your first alert, Doppler net tonight. And on a night like this, when there's just one or two little pockets of showers, the radar gets put in clear air mode so it can see everything. And that's why it looks

like it's so covered with showers out there. But we can actually zoom down in and focus this a little bit. And you can see this area of showers that work through just north of Durham is starting to wash out as it presses off toward Raleigh. That's it as far as the precipitation goes tonight. Live look into Durham. You can see the clouds working through 67 degrees right now, mostly cloudy. We're variable at three miles per hour.

Let's talk about what we'll see across the state. Mander Murphy tonight's 60s for all of us here in this part of the Piedmont. But if you get out toward the triad, it goes from 66 to just 49 in Boone. 60 in Asheville. So very warm and very deep. different in those two mountain towns. Closer to home tonight, we'll see those temperatures dropping into the 50s. Normal for this time of year is 51.

We'll be a 53 Raleigh, 52 Durham, 49 in Roxburgh in 55 in Fayetteville. Tomorrow morning, that drive-in, you'll need the sunglasses, lots of sunshine, temperatures quickly warming from the 50s to the 60s by 9 o'clock, 70s by 10 o'clock will be in the 80s by lunchtime. Satellite radar, here's that area of showers, really died out as it pressed into the dry one or two sprinkles left. That's it. Some showers up through Ohio tonight, not much back to the west, and it is dry. We're going to stay dry, at least for the next couple of days. Your first alert predictor forecast model. Seven o'clock tomorrow morning. We're in the 50s to start today. We'll end the day in the 80s, which is just a few clouds working through on your Thursday. So let's work ahead to Friday. We're in the warmest of the air on Friday, that southwest flow pushing temperatures into the upper 80s. And then here comes the relief, this cold front dropping through. It'll do two things. One, it brings a chance of some showers, but two, it'll move our highs from the 80s back into the 70s as we head into Sunday. Now, I think the model's overdoing this as far as the amount of precipitation goes. Very dry in the lower part of the atmosphere. So what rain we do see will be very spotty. Forecast looks like this for tomorrow. 87 in Durham, 87 Raleigh, 90 in Fayetteville. Let's get back to that seven-day forecast powered by Accuil, and you'll notice those temperatures across the region topping out. Near 90 on Friday, we kick up the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. Saturday, looking good for the Walk for ALS.

If you join us downtown, we'd love to see at Halifax Mall. Saturday afternoon, 86. The rain moves in Saturday night, early Sunday morning, and it's cooler. Mid-Upper 80s on Saturday, mid-70s, and breezy on Sunday. Monday, partly sunny, 75, Tuesday, a storm chance, 76, and Wednesday, 82 in a mix of clouds and sunshine. And if you've been watching, wondering what this thing is, it's Earth Day. This is from our friends at Nat Geo.

If you go to National Geographic.org, you can see all the great stories they've got on Earth Day. A little swag from Nat Geo there right on Hill, huh? You bet? Keep wearing it. It looks good on you. Don, thank you. All right, Steve, it's one of our favorite nights. In less than 24 hours, the nation's top college football players will hear their names

called during round one of the 2026 NFL draft. One lucky player is also going to get a special gift for the rest of his life. We'll tell you what? It's coming up next. News. We are local news weeknights four to six 30 and 11. Today's Earth Day. As you know, it's an annual event designed to promote environmentally friendly practices all around the world. So people across the triangle came together to celebrate today and our cameras captured this event at the Fenton Shopping Center and Carrie. The free family friendly event featured a variety

of things like plant sales, there was yoga, bee education and an outdoor showing of the classic bee movie. Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970. It mobilized 20,000. It mobilized 20, million Americans to protest against pollution and ultimately it led to the creation of the EPA and several key environmental laws. The people were getting educated about the bees. There we go. Yeah, the bees weren't getting educated. There you go. Help me out sometime. No, no, no, wasn't you. Got to tell the stories the right way. All right, New 11. We're now less than 24 hours away from the first pick of the 2026 NFL drive. And this year, a new tradition is being born and it has to do with the whole lot of ketchup. Listen to this. The Heinz Company will award a lifetime

supply of ketchup to the number 57 overall pick in the draft. Chicago Bears have the 57th pick so the lucky player will get a custom Mifster 57 jacket, free catch up for life and the chance to be a partner in future promotions. And the 2026 draft kicks off this week. You can watch it right here on ABC 11. The first round is tomorrow night 8 to 11 p.m. followed by rounds 2 through 7 on Friday and Saturday. And that makes a whole draft.

So Stephen Lauren, we talked a little bit about Caleb Foster earlier staying at Duke. now know Isaiah Evans will be moving on to the NBA draft. There are still a couple of other guys and a couple of other names that have not made it official yet. Of course, we expect Camboozer to go to the NBA draft. There are a few more names that John Shire and his team are waiting for. All right. Trey is going to keep us honest on it. Trey, thank you and thank you at home for watching. We'll see you back here tomorrow night for the NFL draft. Good night.