ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 11pm - June 16, 2026

Episode Date: June 17, 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 have breaking news off the top here at 11. A really wild scene in Raleigh tonight. Police telling us a reported kidnapping led to a chase that ended with an SUV crashing into an RPD cruiser. This is a new video from our breaking news crew on the scene. We'll have a live update on that in just a couple of the minutes. But the big story on eyewitness news tonight is the forecast. The first alert weather team tracking the return of dangerous, potentially record-breaking heat on Thursday, feels like temperatures will climb well above 100 degrees. And we're also keeping an eye on a tropical system

churning off the coast of Texas right now. It could bring a much-needed soaking rain to us here in Central North Carolina on Friday. Thanks for joining us here for the news at 11. I'm Steve Daniels. And I'm Lauren Johnson, Chief Murrologist, John Schwinnaker's in the First Alert forecast center. And on the good news is that heat and rain should clear out just in time for the Canes parade on Saturday. Yeah, looking dry right now. We'll talk more about that coming up in just a bit. Let's take a look at our first alert feels like temperatures. Times on the title.

This is Wednesday afternoon. You'll notice the feels like numbers are getting into the 90s. If we go through Thursday morning into Thursday afternoon, all of a sudden the triple digits start to show up. 102 Durham, 102 Raleigh, 101 in Fayetteville, 106 in Clinton and 107 possible up in Roanoke Rapids. So Thursday is the heat. And then the ice turn to what could be the next tropical system. Right now it's just a, it's called PTC. This is a possible tropical cyclone one.

Eventually, when it becomes a tropical storm, it'll be named Arthur. You'll notice it tracks up the coast and then dies out somewhere here in Jackson, Mississippi. But look at the path of the area of low pressure. Even after it dies out from being a tropical storm, the spaghetti models bring it right up in toward us. Now, a couple of them do take it north. So we still have some questions where this will go. But as this works up, it will drag the moisture with it, and that works through on Friday. So let's look at it.

Here's the low coming through as we go into Friday. Here's Raleigh. Friday afternoon. It starts to clear out of here and should clear out just in time for the parade. We'll talk more about that Saturday forecast and your first alert seven-day forecast. Coming up in just a bit, Stephen Lauren. All right, Don, we'll see you then. Thank you. Take a moment to download our free ABC 11 app.

It's going to help you track changing weather. conditions on the go to get started. Search for ABC 11 in your phone's app store. We want to get back to that breaking news in Raleigh, police telling us a reported kidnapping led to a chase that ended with an SUV slamming into an RPD cruiser. It happened in North Raleigh in a neighborhood near Lynn Road and Ray Road. Tom George arriving on the scene in the past few minutes on Lake Vista Drive. And Tom, police are telling us they do have a person in custody tonight. They do, yeah, police just left the scene just a couple of minutes ago.

But you can see the damage left behind from this crazy scene that played out in this apartment complex, as you mentioned. And this all started with a kidnapping call. And it ended with a SUV, T-boning, a Raleigh Police Cruiser. I want to show you the SUV that we're talking about right here. The Chevy Tahoe, you can see there's still glass on the ground and you can still see the front bumper damage right there. So just a couple of minutes ago, too, we also saw that Raleigh Police cruiser being towed away. It had some significant damage as well, as you see right there. from that video that we just captured.

But what we're told is that this all started as some people calling 911 reporting a potential kidnapping. Some say they saw a woman being shoved into the SUV. There was some sort of pursuit. And that's when that silver SUV apparently slammed into that Raleigh Police cruiser. Now we are told that the officer that was behind the wheel of that cruiser is okay.

We do know that the driver has been taken into custody. We also know that the woman that was potentially involved in this also is okay. So again, you still see some of that damage left behind right here at this apartment complex. Again, police clearing the scene just a few moments ago. They say they do have a driver in custody, some potential charges pending in this case. And we'll, of course, continue to follow up on this as soon as we know more. But again, everybody involved in this is okay tonight. Reporting live, Tom, Georgia, ABC 11, Otis News. All right, Tom, thank you. All right, some say they don't think Raleigh is a hockey town, but the numbers say other

New at 11, we're getting our first look at the TV ratings for Sunday's Stanley Cup final game here on ABC 11. Nearly 6 million people tuned in across the country to watch the Canes win the Stanley Cup. It was the most watched Stanley Cup final game since 2019, game six. At its peak, more than 7 million people were tuned into the game. The series of NHL playoff games was the most watched ever in the U.S. with an average of 1.8 million viewers across the country, and that brings the previous record of 1.56 million setback in 1996. And people all across the triangle right now have a serious case of Cain's fever.

And, you know, the symptoms are only going to get worse now that the cup is back in Raleigh, making its way around town. Yeah, that cup started in Vegas to RDU to Glenwood. It's on a world-wind tour. And today it greeted fans at a North Hills restaurant. Yeah, the cup isn't the only star making the rounds today. Kane star, Andre Svechnikoff was moonlighting at a restaurant right across the street from the NC State campus this evening. Javis has been following all the action. She enjoys us live now from downtown Raleigh, where the party keeps on going.

James. Hey, Steve and Lauren, the party will continue right here on Saturday. We're here on Hillsboro and St. Mary Street. This is really the starting point for the victory parade on Saturday. But some fans say, hey, I cannot wait until this weekend. I'm ready to cheer on the canes today. Stanley Cup champion, Andre Svetchnikoff, getting up close with the canyaks. This is such a big moment, and it means so much.

The Carolina hurricane wingmen making a stop at raising canes today. The Hillsborough Street restaurant playing host to the hockey star who is basking in this much-deserved moment. We finally did it, you know, this was the year and so happy right now and, you know, pleasure to do it with the boys that I did. He set the cup has been the goal since he was 10 years old. His two goals in game five of the Stanley Cup final helped the team get it done. That was the dream, you know, to make the NHTS. and be here and whatever you make to NHL, you just start thinking about the bigger goals,

and this was the biggest goal ever. Two days after the Stanley Cup victory, fans lined up to celebrate, hoping for an opportunity to meet the Kane Star. I can't really express how much it means to me and my sister. She's taking me to all my hockey games ever. She's the one who got me involved in the sport in the first place, so it means a whole lot personally.

It felt nice to, like, I don't know, be rooting for something for so long. and not everyone be on our side, but it finally pay off. Among the people in line outside the restaurant was Michael Perlmutter, a longtime King's fan. This team means a lot to all of us. He came with some of his artwork hoping to show Svetnikov. It's a piece that celebrates the team's victory. There's a Stanley Cup. Good night. Bye-bye.

And yeah, this one for North Carolina. Come on and raise the cup. Back inside, Svichnikov signed pucks and hockey sticks. He also raised his cup, dipped his chicken fingers, and even picked up a quick shift, serving up a few meals. Yeah, you're all over there. I love you. Let's go. And over in North Hills, fans were also lined up for a glimpse of the Stanley Cup. And the champs who made it possible, including team captain, Jordan Stahl, Seth Jarvis, and Sebastian Aho.

For hours, fans took turns posing and taking pictures with the Stanley Cup. I'm probably going to keep this for the rest of my life. A memory for a lifetime. It's such a relief to win this year. All right, and that victory parade starts at 11 o'clock right here again on Hillsboro and St. Mary's. Make sure you're out here loud and very proud. Lauren and Steve. I agree.

That's what we've got to be, right? Bring your voices to the parade. You think Svetch was taking tips out there at Raising Cains? No, I think he did it. I think he owed the fans. No, too. All right. James thanks. And we are counting down to the big parade. Coming up on Saturday in Raleigh, as Jemise mentioned, he gets started at 11 a.m.

and you can catch all the action right here. We'll have it for you live on ABC 11. The parade kicks off at Hillsborough and St. Mary Street. It'll travel east to make its way around the state capital. And then head south on Fayetteville Street. The parade ends at Davy Street right in front of our Raleigh, Eyewitness News Center. That's the same route as the annual Christmas parade. The city of Raleigh offering free parking for the Keynes Championship Parade on Saturday. Free parking is available at the City Hall.

Street Station, Moore Square, Cabarras and City Center parking decks. Parking at the convention center and the art center will be a flat rate of $10. Spots are likely to go quickly, so be sure to arrive early. And a number of restaurants are offering freebies to celebrate the canes in Raleigh. The Duncan locations on Western Boulevard and Wilmington Street are handing out $5 gift cards on Saturday morning. And through Saturday, Grasshopper Farms and Nightdale is filling any 30 to 40-ounce tumbler with four scoops of ice cream for $10. Stay with eyewitness news for continuing coverage of our Stanley Cup champion. Carolina Hurricanes look for our coverage on air online on the ABC 11 app, Disney Plus, or wherever you stream.

Now at 11, Republican lawmakers are pushing for sweeping bill that would mean major changes to elections here at North Carolina protests rallying against the legislation today. And those demonstrations led the House Rules Committee to cancel debate on the bill. Tom George is in our downtown Raleigh Newsroom breaking down what comes next. As protesters descended on the legislature criticizing a sweeping bill that they claim would suppress the vote, while Republican supporters argue, are needed reforms. The bill is 36 pages long and it includes multiple provisions, including banning election officials from encouraging people to vote, having more political appointees to the state board of elections, and expanding the state auditor's authority in election fraud investigations. It would also ban ranked choice voting in North Carolina. There's some very nefarious elements in the bill that further politicize the elections board and give the elections board chief, all kinds of political power or more threatening firing and hiring power over the staff that's kind of unprecedented. So there's real reason to protest this.

I'm just saying besides that, it's a mess. This afternoon, after an initial vote, there was supposed to be another vote in the House Rules Committee, but it was taken off the calendar. right before the meeting began. The committee chair saying it still needs more changes. Public policy analyst Mack McCorkel says that's part of the issue with the bill. It is so multifaceted. It looks like a grab bag or what we used to call a Christmas tree bill that has so many provisions apparently to get different Republican legislators to sign on

with their favorite complaint. I don't think we've seen the final version of this bill. And that was Tom George reporting for us from Raleigh. New at 11, a person is recovering tonight after being hit by an SUV in Johnston County. It happened around 6 o'clock this evening near East Lizzie and Spindale Streets in Selma were told the person who was hit was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the SUV who hit them stayed on the scene. Selma police are investigating what led up to that crash. Also new at 11, Orange County Commissioners approving a $327 million budget for the next fiscal year and it includes a property tax increase. The county tax rate is rising. from 63.83 cents to 68.05 cents for every $100 of assessed value. That money provides more funding for local schools, and it'll pay for county services and other expenses. The budget also includes a 2% pay raise for county. The new budget there in Orange County takes effect on July 1st. So to come here on eyewitnesses, President Trump is over at the G7 summit in Geneva and facing questions about the deal to end the war with Iran. You'll see why members of Congress are now demanding to see that agreement

in full. Plus, why the president of the College of Southern Nevada, was forced to take a pie to their face. Here's a hint. It has something to do with the canes. And Don's checking in on those 70s outside tonight. Yeah, temperatures across the region, a little warmer than they were last night. If you're looking to go into the parade this Saturday,

tips will be in the 80s. At this point, it looks dry. We'll talk more about that at about a big warm-up to first alert you about in the seven-day forecast next. President Trump is at the G7 summit in Switzerland tonight, facing questions about the U.S. deal to end the war with Iran. The president calls it fair. and good, but he did not offer any other details. As ABC's Reno Roy reports, a growing number of members of Congress now want to see the terms of that agreement in full.

President Trump is touting a U.S.-Iran deal that would end the war. We have a deal that's a fair deal. It's a good deal. Trump says the memorandum of understanding has been signed, but the details are unclear. Republican senators have requested the text, but say they've still gotten nothing. Moving in the right direction, we hope, but the devil is going to be in the details. We're going to wait. and see what this looks like on paper first. The president facing growing pressure to release it as he meets with European allies at the G7 summit. There's so much interest in the text of the document. Why not release the top? Oh, I will. Why don't release it before? Well, because I'd like to get a formal setting first before we do that. Israel also putting in a request to the U.S. to see the agreement.

But according to an Israeli source and a U.S. official familiar with the matter, that request was denied. Vice President J.D. Vance has described the agreement as a very general document about a page and a half long. President Trump would only say this about what it includes. Here's what it says. Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. That's what it says. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer demanding transparency and briefings for lawmakers. No one quite understands what Trump is up to. And now he's keeping everybody in the dark. The U.S. agreeing to lift the blockade of Iranian ports, Iran re-opened. the street of Hormuz. After that, 60 days of talks to address the future of Iran's nuclear program.

Iran's top diplomat says the tentative deal would require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, a condition Israel has already rejected. Still unclear what kind of financial reward Iran has been promised. The Wall Street Journal reports the agreement allows Iran to start selling oil immediately. Rina Roy, ABC News, New York. Marina, thanks. All right, let's circle back to our Stanley Cup champs. As the Cades faced off against the Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup final, the presidents of Wake Tech and the College of Southern Nevada out in Las Vegas made a friendly wager. The loser would have to take a pie to the face.

Well, the president of the College of Southern Nevada made good on the deal. Let's just get this thing over with. That's Dr. Clip there taking the cake to the face like a champ as students and staff cheered on that moment. little chocolate cake and vanilla icing to the face. I think he thought he was going to get away with that tiny cupcake at first. Yeah, come on. No, Dr. Cliff, that's not the way it's going to go. No, no cupcake. And also, it was kind of cool. They donated some money to the Wake Tech Foundation, too. So they're sending money to help out people at Wake Tech.

I love that. Yeah, very cool. All right. Don's with us right now. A couple of big weather stories to talk about tonight. But the one big thing is... Well, the one big thing you got to remember with tonight's forecast, the heat returns. And it's going to be dangerous. heat just for one day Thursday, but we're going to see those feels like temperatures again into the triple digits flirting with 100 possibly for the fourth time. And summer isn't even here yet. It doesn't begin officially until Sunday, first day of summer.

But you can see that heat in on Thursday near record heat. Friday scattered storms for Juneteenth. Saturday 90. Looking dry now for the Canes parade. We'll keep an eye on that 93 for Dad's Day on Sunday. look on first alert Doppler net tonight we're dry around here a couple of showers out towards Charlotte but they will stay away from us as we look live our mutual tower sky cam the duke chapel lit up tonight gorgeous shot there 76 right now cloudy on a southwest wind at nine miles per hour temperatures from manny o to murphy tonight running in the 70s down at the coast warm spot is wilmington they're at 78 degrees this hour we look at temperatures going into the 60s tonight though for low as normal is 66

We'll get down there. Typical night as the clouds move in. 69 in Clinton, 70 of Fayetteville, 62 in Roxborough. Chance of a shower south. Some of this will pass to the south of us. You can see all the clouds streaming up across this. There's actually two systems down in the Gulf. The first one's going to miss us.

That's going to track east. It'll keep clouds on us. It's the second one out here. That's what could become tropical storm Arthur tomorrow. We'll watch that as it tracks to the north and east. It does bring the rain chances to us for Friday. Now tomorrow, first alert predictive forecast model. We start in the 70s.

We'll end the day around 90 degrees. Pretty typical summer day. Isolated shower chance down south. As we get into Thursday, look at Thursday. We start today already in the upper 70s. When you start that warm, you're going to end warm, and we'll see those temperatures in the 90s, getting near 99. Feels like temperatures triple digits. Now Thursday night, isolated shower works through, but there's the real rain on Friday.

And it looks like by lunchtime on Friday, that heavy rain from the run. of Arthur works its way here. Tomorrow we stay dry, warmer 94 in Raleigh, 93 Durham, and 91 in Fayetteville. Seven-day forecast shows those temperatures 90 for June Teeth. Remember June Teeth Jubilee in Fayetteville. We're a sponsor of that Friday night. Saturday 90, we stay in the 90s on into next week. A whole lot of 90s, but at least we have a chance for rain.

That's true. Cool it off. Don, thank you. Still ahead. Some of the best universities in the world are where? right here in the triangle the schools that are making the grade in North Carolina. Eyewitness news. We are local news weeknights four to six 30 and 11. U.S. News and World Report is out with its annual ranking of the very best universities all

around the world and nine of them are right here in North Carolina. The rankings are based on 13 metrics that weighed the school's academic research, performance and international reputation. Topping the list are three American institutions, Harvard University and MIT took first and second place with Stanford coming in at number three, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, both in the UK, rounded out the top five. Here in North Carolina, Duke University came in at number 30. UNC Chapel Hill ranked as the 55th best school in the world. As for the rest of our state schools, NC State, Wake Forest, UNC Charlotte, East Carolina University,

UNC Greensboro, North Carolina A&T University, and UNC Wilmington, all making it. on that list. All right, let's talk sports here. The Las Vegas Golden Knights announcing today, head coach John Tortorella will not be back next year. Tortorella was brought in with eight games remaining in the regular season after the Knights fired Bruce Cassidy. His deal with Las Vegas was only through June 30th.

All right, do you remember this comment that Tortorella made after the Cains won Game 5 in Raleigh, sending the series back to Vegas for game 6? I'm going to leave my clothes there. That's for sure. They'll be in the hotel. All right. It's been the butt of a lot of jokes after the Keynes won. Game six in that shutout and the Cup out in Vegas. Well, the Rialto Theater in Raleigh is poking fun at the now unemployed head coach.

Their marquee reading, hey, Torts, come get your suit. We're not keeping it for long here in Raleigh. We're sending that thing back. A team in our area can bring it home. You've got some good juju. Why not? Kate, thank you. And thank you at home for watching. That's going to do it for us here tonight.

We'll see back here tomorrow. Good night. Chevrolet together let's drive shop capital Chevrolet.com