ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 11pm - January 28, 2026

Episode Date: January 29, 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 eyewitness news. Right now at 11, gearing up for round two, NCDOT and local crews preparing to roll out their trucks once again tomorrow morning to start riding roads and highways all across Central North Carolina in preparation for this weekend snow. It comes as students and parents are just starting to get back to a sense of normalcy. Schools were closed for remote learning every day this week because of the winter weather storm over the weekend that left road slippery and dangerous. Wake County, Durham and Chapel Hill Carborough City Schools will reopen tomorrow on a two-hour delay. They'll join Johnson County, which reopened on a normal schedule today. Students in the Orange County and Chatham County school systems will continue to stay home Thursday for remote learning.

Thanks so much for joining us here for the news at 11. And I'm Lauren Johnson. Steve has a night off. And as we all look towards the weekend, we have to think about stocking up again. James Price will join us with a look at how hardware stores are handling the increased demand for winter weather supplies, back-to-back weekends. But let's start tonight with the extreme cold. That's our main concern. Don joins us now in the first alert forecast center.

Don, there's a cold weather advisory for some of us. Yes, and we're going to start with that first. And we'll get to that snow forecast for the weekend. This cold weather advisory going from tonight from 1 a.m. until 10 a.m. tomorrow. It includes Mecklenburg County, our friends watching up in South Hill, Virginia, and Clarksville, Rone Oak Rapids, Northampton, Halifax, Edgecom, and Nash counties, including Rocky Mount all under the cold weather advisory. You could see windchills tomorrow morning at six degrees. Our first alert feels like temperatures, our latest model showing nine in Roneau Crapids, three in Oxford, five tomorrow in Roxburgh. Even Raleigh's at 10 degrees for that windshield to start tomorrow. All right, let's talk about radar. on it tonight, but this will be lit up this weekend with some snow. So let's check our ingredients for a big snowfall around here. First of all, we have to have a position of the high. It's got to be to our north. It's got to be funneling that cold air in. And that high has to be strong enough check to push the cold air into us. So that's two check marks. We also need available moisture. This low off the coast is going to throw enough moisture our way that we will see snowfall. So we've got three of the four ingredients. The last one's still a question mark to position to the low where it sets up.

But it is trending more and more tonight toward a heavy snowfall. As a matter of fact, I've adjusted this graphic from 6 o'clock. Now high probability of seeing one inch of snow, three inches of snow, six inches of snow now in much of the region. And 10 inches of snow is really starting to sneak up. We'll talk more about this. I'm waiting on one last little piece of model data to come in. In the complete forecast, I will have our first shot at that snowfall forecast across the area. We'll show that to you coming up in just a few minutes.

in just a few minutes. Lori. All right. We all need our boots and shovels this weekend. Don, thank you. Preparing for this weather comes with trips to the stores and we're learning hardware stores are working to restock the shelves. Customers stocked up last week, meaning inventory is low on some items. Getting some of those supplies back in store has been hard. James Price has traveled the triangle today. Checking in with store owners, James, the stock rooms are low and fingers are crossed for some morning miracles tomorrow. And that's right, Lauren, you see it here? Fingers are across, we are hoping that the folks over here at Hudson's and Gardner will have ice melt in the morning. But like most stores, you will need to call ahead to make sure they did get it in. Now,

inside the stores, a lot of those shelves are empty running out of those key supplies or some of those key supplies are out. This is about my third store so far. Hoping the third time was a charm. Wayne Embry is preparing for snow. I was looking for some ice melt as well, but wasn't able to find any. isn't alone in the hunt. Ice melt. I'm bagged ice melt. Yep. I bagged ice melt is what people want. The phone has been ringing nonstop at Hudson's Hardware and Garner. Hi, I'm just calling to find out if you guys have any ice melt.

We do not, but you can call in tomorrow. Co-owner, Stone gullies, says suppliers have dried up, but tomorrow may bring better luck through one of his connections. They bagged through the night, and then we talk to them each morning and basically say, what can we get from you? How many pallets can we get? That's stone's plan for the store, but this is a plan B, kitty litter or sand to provide traction. Sand does not have the same melting qualities that the ice melt does, but you can still put it down to just give you your feet something to grab on. It's a helpful hack when the real

thing is hard to come by. This sign at Burke's Brothers hardware tells a story of just how hard it is to find and keep it in stock. I'd love to be able to get some ice melt like half the world, but nobody around Raleigh that I'm aware of has any ice melt. Over at Ace Hardware in Durham, restocking is the name of the game. We are going to get in some faucet covers on a truck tomorrow, some gas cans, generators, heaters, some of the necessities, batteries, some of the things we ran out in the last storm,

we're going to be getting in tomorrow. From businesses to customers, everyone is searching for the same, thing to deal with Mother Nature's double whammy. Back to back to back snow events like this, to have bigger back to back snow events like this is kind of an odd thing. All right, it's odd, not common, but it looks like it's happening, y'all. So the folks over here at Hudson's, they also told me they are getting another truck in tomorrow. And hopefully it will have those supplies that you need during a storm, shovels, batteries, all of the necessities. Again, call before you come, because things are going.

going fast. Lauren. All right, fingers crossed as we said, Jemise. Thank you. And as we keep an eye on the possible snow for the weekend, be sure to download the ABC 11 app. We'll keep you up to date on what's happening in your community. Now to some breaking news. An inmate charge with murder is on the run tonight in Robeson County. The sheriff's office tells eyewitness news, 26-year-old Zion Britt escaped from custody yesterday after posing as another inmate who was scheduled for release. He was last seen around 9 p.m. last night wearing a black zip-up coat with the hood, dark sneakers, and a pink shirt hanging from his back pocket. Britt was being held at the Columbus County Detention Center for safekeeping in connection

with the 2021 homicide. He's charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy. Britt is believed to be in Robinson County. The sheriff's office warning anyone harboring or assisting him will be prosecuted. A 16-year-old girl is facing a serious felony charge for allegedly posting threats about a school shooting at Rocky Mount High School. The Rocky Mount Police Department was informed with the post just after 7 o'clock this morning after a thorough and quick investigation. A 16-year-old female student was arrested

in charge with communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property and taken to juvenile services. This arrest is the second incident in two weeks involving students posting threats of mass violence on social media. The other was a 12-year-old Rocky Mount Preparatory student who was arrested last week. And just in the last hour, Rocky Mount High School posted on Facebook that it's aware of another threat made against the school tonight. there will be an increased law enforcement presence on campus as a precaution. A North Carolina man is facing a slew of charges after he allegedly sexually assaulted patients in the special victims unit at Wake Med's Mental Health and Well-Being Hospital on Sunnybrook Road. 30-year-old Devin Lilly was arrested Monday on charges of forcible rape, breaking and entering in decent exposure, kidnapping, and sexual battery.

Between January 15th and 16th, Lily Lee is accused of breaking into rooms at the Wake Med facility and raping at least two patients. According to arrest warrants, he's also accused of sexually assaulting a third patient and exposing himself. It's not clear how Lilly gained access to the property. He's currently being held in Wake County Jail without bail. New tonight, hundreds of nurses gathered outside the VA Medical Center in Durham for a vigil honoring VA nurse Alex Pretty. He was shot and killed by federal officers in Minneapolis. Our Tom George joining us live outside the Durham VA off Irwin Road. Tom, tell us more about that message and the reason.

Yeah, that's right. Here at the Durham VA, nurses here work countless hours supporting our veterans. It's exactly the kind of work that Alex Prattie did in Minneapolis. This is why this hits so close to home for many people here that were out here tonight. And some outright called for ICE to be abolished, but others say things need to change. Remembering one of their own. It almost brought tears to my eyes watching his lifeless body laying on the streets of Minneapolis. Outside the Durham VA Medical Center where they treat veterans just like. Preddy did honoring someone who served others. Everybody that comes into this field, they come in with, you know, with this attitude that we are here to help people.

It doesn't matter who you are. We're here to help you. For VA nurses, seeing the escalation of ice in places like Minneapolis creates a moral crisis. I think if you see ICE agents coming into hospitals or violating human rights of our fellow citizens, of our community members, that it's so. more of a crime to stay silent than to say something. So I certainly think he was within his rights as a nurse and as a fellow American. And as ICE continues to ramp up enforcement, some nurses

telling us when they were in the triangle, watching out for the community extended beyond their work in the hospitals. Furthermore, when ICE was here in our local community, we were out in the streets. We worked together to get kids to school safely, to feed families who were too afraid to come out of their house. It's what you do as a community, not just as a nurse, but it's a nurse, but as a community. It's a lesson some say is important to teach the next generation. No matter what, no matter what you look like, no matter your race, ethnicity, how you feel of sexuality, we are people and we need to be treated as people. No one should be getting killed for trying to help someone. So Durham is a place of love. Everyone here is loved by someone

and us. So we just need to be doing better about this. Yeah, show of support here in Durham. Meanwhile in Minneapolis, more information continues to come out, new video as well of the shooting of Alex Prady. We do know at this point that the ICE agents involved in his shooting death have now been placed on leave. Reporting live, Tom George, ABC 11, O, and its news. Yeah, that group also asking for ICE to be defunded, or at least the Department of Human Services for activities and actions that they've been seeing around the country. Tom George, thank you. New at 11, the North Carolina Association of Educators is calling for Department of Homeland Security Secretary,

Christy Noem to resign over what they call aggressive immigration enforcement operations in cities all across the country. In a statement sent to eyewitness news, the president of the NCAA says in part, Secretary Noem's reckless mismanagement of DHS and ICE has harmed communities across this country and in Minneapolis has now cost multiple lives. Secretary Noem must resign for the safety of our children, the security of our communities, and the health of our nation. The NCAA is also urging all North Carolina lawmakers to call for an end to the violent immigration. raids. Still to come at 11, the Fed holds interest rate steady for the first time since July, what Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is saying in defense of his decision. Plus, an annual report card that grades state and federal efforts to reduce tobacco use comes with a new warning why experts are worried, hard-won progress in tobacco use prevention may be at risk. And Donna,

chill in the air tonight and snow making a comeback. Yeah, it's going to light up the radar as we head into the weekend. We've got the first snowfall forecast with this storm. And a complete look at your seven-day forecasts coming up next. Today, the jury in the trial of Isaiah Ross was instructed to work until they can reach a unanimous verdict. The encouragement coming from the judge when the foreman alerted her, they were deadlocked on one of the charges. Jurors returned to the courthouse today after there was no court on Monday and Tuesday because of winter weather. This afternoon, the jury asked for clarification between voluntary manslaughter and second-degree murder. Several hours later, they announced a verdict on the charges for killing Devin Clark but said they were.

were unable to come to a unanimous decision on the charge for killing Lyric Woods. I can accept the unanimous verdict that has been found and declare a mistrial on the remaining count if the jury is unable to reach a verdict. That would lead to sentencing on whatever verdict if they find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is in fact guilty of some crime. Ross is accused of murdering both Orange County teenagers. When Ross took the stand, he testified Clark shot and killed. Woods, then pulled a gun on him. He said he wrestled that gun away and shot Clark in self-defense.

Court will reconvene tomorrow morning. In its annual report card that released today, the American Lung Association says smoking rates for adults dropped from just over 23 percent in 2000 to below 11 percent in 2023. While youth tobacco use is at the lowest level in 25 years, more than two million middle and high school students still use tobacco, including those e-cigarettes. Despite major strides, tobacco use remains the leading cause. of preventable death and disease in the U.S. claiming more than 490,000 lives every year. The report warns progress could quickly unravel due to changes in tobacco use prevention and cessation efforts. Keeping our eye on the economy, the Federal Reserve kept short-term

interest rates unchanged today despite pressure from President Trump to lower the cost of borrowing money. Economy is growing at a solid pace. The unemployment rate has been broadly stable, and inflation remains somewhat elevated. Inflation has eased significantly. from its highs in mid-2020, but remains somewhat elevated relative to our 2% longer-run goal. Despite consumer spending being up major companies are now announcing cuts to their workforce, including Amazon, UPS, and META. Today's decision was the first rate decision since the Department of Justice launched an investigation into Fed chair, Jerome Powell regarding his testimony last June, about the multi-year renovation of the Federal Reserve

buildings. Powell immediately denied any wrongdoing. Okay, Don, tomorrow the governor is visiting an NC DOT facility to thank the crews for their hard work, of course, over the weekend to keep people safe. But he's also going to talk about the forecast that you're also zeroed in on for the weekend. Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised to see him issue another state of emergency if we haven't. I do think the DOT crews will have their hands full this weekend. The good news, if any, is this is going to be more of a light, fluffy snow and not ice. And that's what we like to see around here.

We'll talk more about that in a moment. Good evening to you. share you that seven-day forecast first won't make you wait for temperatures in the upper 30s tomorrow and Friday Saturday and Sunday that's when the snow arrives so let's get to it and talk about it here's what we're looking at over the last 10 years we've had one big snowfall year that was 2018 we had almost 18 inches of snow last year we did have 4.9 inches of snow and then a couple of trace amounts in there in a couple years without snow in the past 10 this far out with this storm were two to four days out. We use this to work on type and timing. What type of precipitation will we see? This is going to be snow, not worried about freezing rain. When the timing is looking more, more clear that this comes in overnight, Friday night into Saturday morning, and then it sticks around until Sunday morning. So here's the European model. And you can see by Saturday at lunchtime, we've got snow flying across the area and it lingers. This is Sunday 4 a.m. and then it finally moves out of here. The American model has come in line with this. This is the latest run.

coming in right now. This is tonight's latest run. We don't even have the whole thing in, but we have enough of it to show you the snowfall. And you can see by lunchtime, Saturday, that snow is flying, and then it works out of here by mid morning on Sunday. So how much snow are we talking about? This is my initial forecast. I do believe this will change as we get more data. We still need this storm system to form. But right now it looks like down into the sandhills, you're in the three to six inch category. And let's face it, once you get over an inch or two around here, two inches, six inches. It's a lot of snow for this area in one spot. So three to six inches of snow through the sand hills. And then when you get through Wake County, you're in that

six to 12 range, especially east as you get closer to the coast. There'll be more moisture incorporated. And I put a plus there. We could see spots out in this area that go even higher than a foot. Now this is under the National Weather Service forecast. They've forecasted a little bit higher because the potential is there to see colder temperatures. But right now this far out, This is my forecast. Three to six into the triangle, six to 12 as we work to the east. Now let's talk about what we're seeing as far as the bottom line with the storm. The weekend snow rise on Saturday.

High confidence in that. It's going to snow all day Saturday, and it could snow into Sunday morning. Major impacts on travel. Roads will really be affected. Anything over a couple inches of snow is going to make travel hard. The good news is this can be a fluffy snow, so air travel will be affected, but they will be able to clear it for. some flights still. I would move your flights if you can. And a winter storm morning is likely as we head into the weekend. I wouldn't be surprised here. Winter storm watch issued tomorrow. First

alert, Doppler nets dry tonight. We look at temperatures, Mandy O'Don Murphy, with just below freezing, 20s across the area, but those wind chills tonight will dip into the teens and single digits. 17s your overnight low in Henderson, 21 Raleigh, 23 in Clinton, 23 in Goldsboro, and 18 in Carborough. Tomorrow, those numbers recover into the 30s, not quite as warm as it was today. Fayetteville, you'll top 42, your first alert seven-day forecast, as we talked about. Upper 30s tomorrow and Friday, Saturday and Sunday, our first alert days, Monday 37, Tuesday, 42, Wednesday, 45. Meteorologist Steve Stewart's in tomorrow morning. He'll have the latest overnight models.

He may have to adjust that snowfall forecast, but anytime we say 6 to 12 inches around here, that's a lot of snow for this area in one hit. after last weekend. Absolutely. All right, Don, thank you. Still ahead. Drink local, if you can. A popular craft cocktail bar at Raleigh, Seaboard Station is going the extra mile to make sure their drinks are made with locally crafted spirits. A local company in Raleigh is expanding its operations. Boatman Spirits is set to launch its very own on-site distillery next month. Boatman has a popular craft cocktail bar and restaurant that opened at Seaboard Station last summer. Now the company will make classic cocktails made with bottles right from their distillery. The eventual goal is to be releasing rye and single malt whiskeys, but as you may imagine, those take a few years.

While those are sitting in barrels, we're making some different neutral spirits, such as vodka and gin. We've eventually tracked down a little grainhouse on the coast of North Carolina that's going to be growing black rye for me. So I'm going to have an entirely North Carolina supply chain. Bowman spirits will sell their first bottled vodka and gin on Sunday, February 1st. The group of beloved Buddhist monks walking more than 2,000 miles to promote peace and unity have officially left North Carolina. The group of 19 with their rescue dog Aloka crossed into Virginia today continuing their 95th day of the walk for peace, unity, and compassion. Chopper 11 capturing the monks as they started their day in Warren County, continuing to brave those icy conditions with no complaints. Something we can all learn from that.

Grab your docks, your permits, your moves, AI levels of your pitch, gets it in a groove. Grab design, deliver, make it the deck so you can be. Learn more at adobe.com slash do that with Acrobat. They're coming towards us. I know, that's the scary part. Dray, thank you and thank you at home for watching. That's going to do it for us here tonight. Jimmy Kimmel Live is up next.

Have a great night and stay safe. ABC 11 Eyewitness News is sponsored by Capital Chevrolet. Together, let's drive. Shop Capital Chevrolet.com.