ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 11pm - July 21, 2026

Episode Date: July 22, 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. And we continue tracking the threat of severe storms, a live look outside at our Raleigh and Durham sky camps tonight. The shower is staying mostly north of the area tonight, but tomorrow could be a very different story. We need to get ready for the prospect of some pretty heavy ring. Thanks for joining us here for the news at 11. I'm Steve Daniels. And I'm Lauren Johnson. Despite that severe weather risk, those storms never truly fired. And moving forward tomorrow will be another first alert weather day with storm chances and the potential for a flooding threat.

Let's get right over to Chief Meteorologist, Don Schwinnaker, with more on what we can expect. Hi, Don. Hey, good evening to you. Yeah, most of the showers staying well north of the border tonight. Mecklenburg County had some showers worked through. They were under a severe thunderstorm watch that is now expired. We're not seeing anything in the way of radar tonight. As we go through the overnight, maybe an isolated shower north of I-85 by 8 o'clock tomorrow morning. We're starting to see a few showers fire in the northern areas.

But as we get into the evening, that's when we'll see the showers spreading across the region and putting down some heavy rainfall. Our severe risk tomorrow making it a first alert day. The timing evening to overnight is when we expect the showers and thunderstorms to fire on your Wednesday coverage. The rain will slowly move from the north to the south. The two biggest threats will be gusty winds in excess of 60 miles an hour possible in some of those embedded thunderstorms. And I think localized flooding. As a matter of fact, we've got a two of four risk for flooding tomorrow. Your fast forward forecast.

Today was partly sunny 92. Rain for the most part stayed away as we head through tonight into tomorrow. Expect more cloud cover throughout today and those showers and storms firing tomorrow evening. And they could put down several inches of rain. We'll talk about that. Plus we just got the 11 o'clock update on tropical storm. Bertha. I have it all for you in your first alert forecast coming up in just a bit. Steve and Lauren. All right, Don, thank you. New tonight emergency repairs to three Wake

County schools are underway after significant structural concerns that needed to be addressed. The White County Superintendent shared the update tonight at a school board meeting. Jemise Price live now at Crete Road Elementary School where the district first recognized the structural problems. Jamise, what are you hearing tonight about it? Hey, Steve, it started right here right at Creech Road Elementary School and that led to a major investigation and what we determine and what the district rather determined were to major structural issues at three elementary schools. And take a look right now. You can see where that construction work has been taking place here at this elementary school now around the clock working to make

sure that this school is ready for the first day of school. Safety of students has always been paramount for me and they cannot learn if they're not safe. And now the district is working to make sure those students and staff are safe at Durant Road, Davis Drive and Creech Road Elementary Schools after an investigation found missing rebar, grout, compromise beam connection elements and roof support structures. So when we begin to look at those remaining three schools, we could see where some things were not done completely by those plans. Superintendent, Dr. Robert Taylor explained how these structural problems were missed in the initial construction inspection, nearly 35. years ago. Most of those kinds of things you're able to catch. When you talk about structural issues

that may be internal to a wall, those are things that you may not catch. And so you're talking about a rebar that's inserted within concrete. Repairs should be complete at Davis Drive in Crete's Road Elementary by August 21st and Durant Road repairs should be done by August 17th. The cost for the work, $5.6 million. Creech Road School Board rep trying to ease parents' concerns. It is incredibly important to me that every student and staff member return to a building that is safe, reliable, and prepared to support teaching and learning. If the repairs aren't complete before the first day of school, there's a contingency plan. Durant Road has already made the move to Abbott's Creek Elementary ahead of the first day of class on July 30th, and that can bring a new set of challenges. I know that there will be a time crunch to get the job done before Abbott's Creek starts their school year.

But I know everyone involved will want to get the job done right. As the repairs are being made, the district is working towards accountability. Not knowing who these general contractors or subcontractors were 35 years ago, we certainly want to hold any person accountable for public tax dollars. So Wake schools will provide construction updates every five days. They also launched a web page to keep track of progress. Congress in Garner. Genece Price, ABC 11, eyewitnesses.

The clock is ticking. We're about a month away from the start of the new school year. August 24th is when the kids go back. And I know parents and kids will be watching that calendar very closely. Jimmy's, thank you. New here at 11 Durham Public Schools has officially approved a pay increase for classified employees. That move will increase the district's minimum wage to $18.22 per hour and implement

a progressive salary increase model. The news is a victory for classified workers who have pushed for higher wages for years now. They will receive an 8% raise thanks to newly approved state budget. Both raises will be reflected in employees July paychecks. Tonight, the Fayetteville and Fort Brad community is mourning another soldier killed in active duty. Yesterday, we told you about the death of First Lieutenant Tyler Fian. And today we learned Sergeant Michael Swinton was killed during a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone at an air base in northern Iraq.

Swinton enlisted in the Army in 2017 and was assigned to the 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment and the 108th Air Defense. Defense Artillery Brigade. He attended several Cumberland County schools, including Algerby Wilkins, Westover, and Jack Britt High Schools. Swinton is expected to receive a bronze star, a purple heart, and a combat action badge, and he'll be promoted to Staff Sergeant. He leaves behind a six-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter and a wife as well. His wife and kids were the center of his world. His mother, Crystal Swinton and Dahar told the Associated Press, adding, quote, his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched, the laughter he shared, the strength he gave others and the unconditional love he poured into his family. He will forever be missed, forever

honored, and forever our hero. Meanwhile, the dignified transfer for First Lieutenant Tyler Feehan will happen tomorrow morning at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. He was one of two soldiers killed in Jordan while defending against Iranian attacks. President Trump is expected to be in attendance. As the country mourns the loss of these brave service members, airstrikes in Iran continued for the 11th straight day. Just ahead, we've got the latest on what Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegsep, told lawmakers as the Pentagon presses for additional war funding. New here 11th, a Siler City woman is wanted after she allegedly abandoned dozens of animals at her home in Chatham County. The Chatham County Sheriff's Office has 37-year-old Maggie Brady left her home on Her Beaver's Road in June,

leaving pigs, chickens, ducks, rabbits, a dog and turkeys behind without food or water. Animal Resource Center staff spent several days recovering animals from the property. They seized 22 chickens, two turkeys, one rabbit and a dog. animals wandered to neighboring properties where the other owners agreed to care for them. Brady is charged with two counts of felony animal cruelty and 26 counts of misdemeanor abandoning an animal. Warrants have not yet been served and authorities say she's actively trying to avoid arrest. The interim town manager of Kerry joined a number of other Kerry officials for a town council

meeting this evening. It's significant because it's the first town council meeting since a state audit report highlighted a number of questionable financial decisions involving taxpayer dollars. Tom George has been following this developing story and he joins. just now with the latest. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Okay, motion moves forward. With that, Cary's town council voting to come up with a committee to look at changes in the wake of a lengthy state auditor's report looking at how town money is being spent. Conensation, I think travel was one. Meals. It all comes after former Cary town manager, Sean Stiegel stepped down after questionable

spending practices, which North Carolina state auditor, Dave Bullitt, calls extravagant. And it's time for the leaders of Kerry to buckle up and get right on behalf of the taxpayers in Carrie and write the ship there in terms of being more austere with what they spend money on. Bullock's also looking into similar spending issues in Zebulin and utility billing issues in Rocky Mount. Back in Kerry, lessons from that audit report, fancy meals, hotels, even Raybans for all council members. Councilmember Chris Khan Johnson says in hindsight it was those little things she saw happening that she wishes she would have spoken out about. It's not acceptable that I can, you know, for me to say, hey, I didn't participate. So I have no culpability. My failure in,

in this situation has been not being loud enough and not being, I think, proactive enough to ask enough questions. Now looking towards solutions. Carrie's town manager position already has a lot of financial control, but she believes there can be more guardrails, like limiting their discretionary spending limit in line with similar size cities and making sure, any land deals go through council. But she says deeper than that, there needs to be accountability. There are far too many examples in the last, especially the last couple of years when things started to go really off the rails.

There's just far too many instances where policy existed and it was ignored. In Carrie, Tom, George, ABC 11, eyewitness news. Tom, thanks. And Carrie has a full town council meeting coming up on Thursday. And that's when they'll discuss the results of their own independent investigation that's been done by an outside firm. Still to come here on eyewitness news tonight, state health leaders giving us an update on the status of the ongoing cyclospora outbreak. What they're saying about the potential source of that illness has cases here in North Carolina grow to more than 500.

Plus an update on a story that's been gripping the nation. The mysterious death of teenager Nolan Wells were learning when the results of his family's independent autopsy are set to be released. And Don's back, checking on the temps outside right now. It is very warm out there tonight. We are in the mid-80 still and no rain out there to cool us off. That's all going to change by tomorrow night. We'll talk about the showers moving in and the flood potential in your complete forecast coming up next. We're back now with the latest in the war with Iran.

The military launched an 11th straight day of airstrikes on Iranian targets tonight. The resurgent attacks come as Defense Secretary Pete Heggseth is revealing the staggering cost of this war. And now the Pentagon is asking for even more money. ABC's Alex Stone has the latest. As the U.S. launches new attacks on Iran, Iranian state media says, saying it's targeting American troops in the region. Siren sounding Tuesday night in Bahrain. And Kuwait's army saying it was defending

against hostile drones attacking its country. And now Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth telling Congress, the war with Iran has cost over $37 billion and more money is needed. You are asking for unlimited money for bombs when people can't feed their families. And I don't know how this administration intends to defend those decisions to the American people.

Not unlimited bombs, Senator. I'm asking for the right bombs at the right time to ensure we can deter our adversaries into the future. It comes as a Pentagon identifies more American soldiers killed over the weekend, 28-year-old Angel Rampersod of Ozone Park, New York, and 30-year-old Sergeant Michael Swinton of North Carolina. His wife telling ABC News, he was an incredible husband and father to his two young children. Also killed was 19-year-old Isabella Gonzalez from Texas. Her high school friend sang, red. You know, she's not here anymore. And I didn't even get to see her. I didn't even get to say bye. 18 service members have died during the war with Iran. Iran now issuing a statement threatening an

expansion of war in the region if there are any attacks by the U.S. on its nuclear sites. ABC's Mary Bruce asking the president how it will all end. So the talks are, you know something that I don't know? Do you know something I don't know? Well, tell us. I will tell you, they want to desperately meet. And until they're ready to meet in a meaningful way. We have no interest in even. Alex Stone, ABC News, Los Angeles. Now an update on a case that's been getting a lot of national attention. The attorney for the family of Nolan Wells says the result of an independent autopsy

commissioned by his parents will be released tomorrow morning. Suspicion continues to swirl around the death of 18-year-old college football player Nolan Wells. The teenager was last seen alive during a July 4th boat trip with friends to an island off the Mississippi coast. That group left Horn Island without him, saying he stayed behind after meeting a girl there. His body was found in the water nearby two days later. Investigators believe Wells drowned and they do not suspect foul play. His parents are not buying that narrative.

An official cause of death has not yet been released. State health leaders providing an update on their fight against the cyclospora outbreak. The Department of Health and Human Services holding a briefing this afternoon. The state now tops 561 total cases of that illness since May 1st. 16 people were hospitalized as a result. Today, state health leaders said lettuce is currently not being tested in North Carolina as a potential source for the parasite. In other states, the illness is being tied to Taylor Farms of Mexico. Today, NCDHHS saying there's not one single source for the disease and multiple food items are now being investigated.

Our thought is that it's likely, maybe probable, that there are multiple vehicles for cyclospora. It's not a single source or a single food product from a single single. company. But it's one of those situations where if something keeps showing up repeatedly, a certain type of herb like parsley or cilantro or a certain type of vegetable like lettuce, we can, we start to think that that's probably implicated or that may be implicated. Health officials continue to conduct interviews to identify potential sources for the illness. All right, Don's back with us. Timing out the potentially stormy weather on the way tomorrow. Yeah, one big thing. The daytime is good. The nighttime is tricky.

You're right. That would have been a good one. I did not use that. But yeah, most of tomorrow is going to be dry. It's going to be hot again. It's as we get into tomorrow evening, increasing flood chances. And that will continue tomorrow night into Thursday as we see multiple rounds of rain headed in. We're not seeing any showers out there tonight. First alert Doppler net scanning the skies dry across our part of the Carolinas. If we go north, you can see strong storms up toward Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia. Those have all stayed north. We had some showers through Mecklenburg County, but that was just about it. Live lookout at R.D.U. 85 degrees tonight, totally different than it was last night when they couldn't get the planes in with all the storms around. 89, though. The feels like temperature still almost 90 degrees. Actual temperatures, Mandeota Murphy tonight. It's about a 10 degree spread from Maneo to Boone. 72 out in the mountains, 78 in Asheville. Triad checks in at 84, 86 Charlotte, 85 down to Lumberton. down at ECU.

Overnight, we'll see those numbers into the 70s in the triangle. You'll still stay at 80 all night in Fayetteville, 78 Durham, Sanford, 77 Raleigh, 74 out your door, Henderson into Roxborough. The showers, mainly part of this boundary up to the north, have washed out as the sun has gone down. It's lost a lot of the shower activity, but that will continue to sag south. And this is what we're watching down here, this is tropical storm bertha. Now it's going to funnel a lot of moisture up. into that boundary and that's what's going to keep the rain chances on us tomorrow night

into Thursday and possibly even into Friday. First alert predictor showing the tropical update just in from the National Hurricane Center Tropical Storm Bertha hasn't changed much since the 5 o'clock updates. Maximum sustained winds at 60 gusts go into 70 getting close to hurricane strength. At this point it looks like it stays a tropical storm as it moves across the southern parishes of Louisiana. That will take some of the energy out of it and kill it off as an area area of low pressure sometime Thursday into Friday as it works toward East Texas. Now around here by tomorrow tomorrow, we start off dry. Not going to be a ton of sunshine out there tomorrow.

Sun and clouds will mix throughout the day. By four or five o'clock, we're starting to see the showers in the northern counties. And then as we go through tomorrow evening, this slowly starts to sag south. As a matter of fact, even by 11 o'clock tomorrow night, southern counties haven't seen much in the way of rainfall. But that changes as we go through the overnight by Thursday morning, very heavy rain in spots. Those showers will continue often on Thursday into Thursday night. And then by Friday, another round of rain is possible. Forecast looks like this for tomorrow.

89 degrees in Raleigh, 85 in Durham. Look at 96 in fatal because you go all day without any rain in the sand hills. It will be warmer. We have a shot of staying in the 80s with the cloud cover staying thick and those late day showers working in. Your seven day forecast powered by ACU weather, 77 on Thursday, a flood threat. So it is a first alert day. Friday, some scattered showers, 80, drying out Saturday into Sunday, back into the 90s, Monday into Tuesday. But get ready for some rain.

You won't need the umbrella on the way out the door tomorrow morning, but tomorrow evening, you may just need it. Okay, Don, thank you. We have a breaking news crew arriving on the scene of some RPD activity in East Raleigh in a neighborhood. We'll be live on the scene after this break. Eyewitness News. We are local news weeknights 4 to 630 and 11. We are back now with some breaking news unfolding in East Raleigh. Police on the scene of reports of shots fired in a neighborhood near Newburn Avenue and New Hope Road. Yeah, it's actually on Penn Oak Road, not far from the Headingham Golf Club.

Tom George just arrived there on the scene. Tom, let us know what you're seeing and hearing right now. Yeah, we haven't been able to confirm that right now, but we do know that there is a pretty active scene right now. As a matter of fact, they've created a pretty wide perimeter. So they have it blocked off to where we are right now, but you can see police have created a line right here. And it's about a quarter mile down the road where they are investigating at a nearby home. It looks like some lights are flickering there, but unclear which house it is. But they've been here for at least the last 30 minutes. And again, a very busy residential area where we are right now, multiple homes in this area that's now,

blocked off by this RPD perimeter right now where they are investigating right now. We can't go past this point. There are some people who live inside that are in between this area. But again, further down there is where they are investigating right now. We've seen multiple units on scene gathering around a home in that area. We're still working to learn more about what led up to all this, but obviously a very large RPD presence. And again, continuing to block off this neighborhood will of course continue to stay on. on scene here and let you know as soon as we have any updates on what's going on right now reporting live tom door jbc 11 i witness news crime scene tape is up they appear to be focused on a house very unusual tom that the rpd flashing blue lights are not there on any of the squad cars so i know you'll be

working to figure out exactly what's happening and update us as soon as you know more thank you a popular roller coaster at carowans in charlotte fury 325 is set to reopen yeah and his statement the state labor commissioner luke farley said he gave the order to reopen the ride today after inspectors with the NC Department of Labor, checked the completed repair work. The roller coaster was closed by caroans earlier this month after the park found an issue with the ride's foundation during some routine maintenance inspections. And this isn't the first time the roller coaster has been shut down in December of 2023. The ride was shut down for more than a month after a crack was discovered in a support beam.

But they're saying, fury. A little bit of smack to face the ag in September. So coach is already stirring the pot. And I'm sure he's not buying that finishing. number two either right right can't settle for that all right kate thank you and thank you at home for watching we'll see you back here tomorrow night at 11 good night ABC 11 eyewitness news is sponsored by capital Chevrolet together let's drive shop capital chevrolet.com