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

Episode Date: September 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. Tonight on eyewitness news, a contentious Wake County Board of Commissioners meeting ends with the board voting to approve the Wake Med Atrium merger. At one point, things were so tense. Members of the public were kicked out of the room. We have reaction after the vote and what it means for your wallets. Juvenile suspected of stealing fire shots at Durham police officers as they try to arrest him. Tonight the mayor is weighing in on that violent confrontation. Getting married takes a day, getting divorced in North Carolina takes a year.

And the day why some North Carolina lawmakers want to shorten the weight to end the union. We're hearing from one of the sponsors of a bill to change the law. We'll have those stories coming up. But first tonight, we're taking a look at the weather. Spotty storms and rain showers are moving through parts of Central North Carolina tonight. We're glad you're joining us for this late edition of eyewitness news. Steve Daniels. And I'm Lauren Johnson. While today was another scorcher, a cold front now expected to hit the state over the next few days, bringing with it and needed cool down as tonight's storms sputter out by early tomorrow morning. Another wave of storms will be accompanying that front as the week goes on. Let's get you over to meteorologist Steve Stewart for your first alert weather forecast. Hey, guys, you're right. Most of the rain winding down now, had some heavy pockets. Tomorrow, I think the coverage is going to be more impressive than today. So and again, there's that risk that we could get some really heavy downpour. Take a look at the radar. Here's what's left. Most of it's light, but you see that green box. That's an aerial flood advisory where we've had a slow moving thunderstorm down around Kenley now. You got the lightning going on, really heavy downpour still continuing there. And it has been for a while. This is going to wane just like the other showers and eventually we get quiet. Now take a look at where the rain is falling. We've had pockets of very heavy rainfall. Doppler estimates there near Kenley between two and three inches. Also some pockets up around Rocky Mount.

just south there by Roxborough all the way down to Durham the airport eight tenths of an inch so far for today it was hot too we had temperatures in the 90s mid 90s around the triangle this could be it for 90s by the way we could be done but wouldn't you be shocked at all of course not so far this is the hottest September on record with an average high temperature of 92.1 degrees 73 right now that's 5 degrees cooler than yesterday in east breeze with that stalled front right over us now and that front will be the focal point to get some showers and thunderstorms for tomorrow. 83 for the high temperature. It's mainly late day into the evening. And some of those downpours tomorrow will be heavy. We're going to have to track that as we go through the evening hours. And you might need a jacket for your morning walks this week.

We'll talk about that in just a little bit. Okay. We need the rain. Some people really got a lot tonight. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. All right. See, thanks.

Thank you. Take a moment. Download that free eyewitness news app. It'll help you track those changing weather conditions. Steve just mentioned while you're on the go to get start. search for ABC 11 in your phone's app store. We're following some breaking news unfolding in Wake County. That controversial merger is one step closer to being finalized.

We're talking about the Wake Med Atrium Health Deal. And tonight, Wake County Commissioners voted to approve that deal in a contentious five to two vote. That vote didn't come without several moments of dramatics. There was a protest before the meeting started and tonight. Things were so intense and heated board chair. Don Mile had the room cleared after interruptions by protesters. Take a listen. Depp, will y'all please clear the room?

The deal includes several new pledges, including that WakeMed spend 8% of its revenue on care for low or no-income patients. Atrium, not WakeMed, will also pay Wake County $150 million over 10 years to address mental health care, homelessness, food insecurity, and more. The amended agreement also strengthens Wake County's control over Wake Med's board of directors with eight of 14 board members appointed by county commissioners and required to live in Wake County. The deal also prevents the sale of WakeMed without Wake County's consent. Tom George joins us live from outside Wake Med. Tom, you were there. Dramatic chain of events happening today for sure. Yeah, there was a lot of tension in that room, all coming after hours of debate before that vote finally happening.

Wake Med and Atrium together calling this a historic moment for the future of Wake Med. But opponents say they still have some major concerns about what this would mean for employees and for patients. moments before a vote, deputies clearing the public out of the room after several people spoke up in a last-ditch effort to try and stop the Wake Med Atrium deal from being passed. Honestly, I feel deeply mournful. It really is like I really wanted to plea with them. Just one more time to reconsider. I believe that they will come to regret the decision that they made tonight.

But in the end, the vote going on passing five to two, Vicki Adamson, one of the few dissenters, offering a warning. I feel like today we'll go down in here. history is a very sad day in Wake County when we turned our taxpayer-built community hospital over to a corporate conglomerate. But even some who ended up voting for the merger highlighted recent changes to the deal, including provisions pushed for by Governor Josh Stein to cap price increases at WakeMed for the next five years and creating a $150 million fund to benefit the community. The agreement before us is stronger because people, people up here and people in community, People were willing to ask difficult questions and because of our negotiations.

Atrium has committed to fully funding the $2 billion investment over 15 years rather than using WakeMed's own resources to meet that obligation. But some are worried about costs going up and what it would mean for those on the state employee's health plan. Hey, your costs would go up. Makes total sense that they would because consolidation always, always leads to higher prices. We know it did in Winston-Salem. We know it did in Asheville with Mission. and we know it did with Novant down in New Handover. So we know what's coming.

This is not a mystery. For their part, WakeMed and Atrium applauding the move and promising to include the new changes saying, quote, we recognize that trust is earned and our focus now is to follow through on what we've outlined, continuing to listen to the community and demonstrating through our actions the value this combination will create for the people of Wake County and beyond. Yeah, and obviously today's vote was a major step in that process, but it is not a done deal just yet. It still has to go through a regulatory review process. The governor saying he appreciates the Attorney General weighing in and giving its own independent analysis of that deal that was voted on today.

Reporting live, Tom, D.B.C. 11, Iwoodis News. Yeah, both the governor and the AG saying they care about the cost for people of North Carolina. Tom, thank you. New here at 11, a juvenile is facing serious charges tonight after he allegedly committed a robbery and then fired shots at two Durham police officers. Our breaking news crew was there as police responded to the scene. This happened just before 430 on Durham Chapel Hill Boulevard. Police said they confronted a juvenile after a reported larceny, but when they tried to take him into custody, a fight broke out,

and that's when the juvenile pulled out a gun and fired two rounds. Officers were then able to disarm the juvenile and take him into custody. No one was hurt, and investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is ongoing. And the Durham Mayor Leo Williams was at the scene, along with the newly sworn in police chief, Stephanie Martis. Mayor Leo released a statement to eyewitness. news that says in part, while no one was seriously injured, this extremely close call is a reminder that reducing gun violence requires our young people having access to jobs with decent wages,

housing that is accessible and attainable, and a supportive community that doesn't politicize these real-life issues. The work is being done to give our young people the opportunity to make better decisions. New at 11 at Shatham County, Mann is facing more than 20 charges after allegedly sexually abusing several minors online and in person. Investigators are now searching for information on possible additional victims. According to our news gathering partners at the news and observer, 20-year-old Timothy Fox was initially arrested last month by the Chatham County Sheriff's Office. He is accused of kidnapping and raping a 13-year-old in February and engaging in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old, both on Snapchat and in person between last

September and July of this year. Search warrants indicate there may be more than two victims with investigators searching for a possible fourth victim's Snapchat account. Fox is being held in the Chatham County jail on more than $920,000 in secure bail and also has a pending charge in Moore County for motor vehicle theft, a case in which he was out on bond at the time of this arrest. The Chatham County Sheriff's Office asking anyone with information to contact them at 919-542-29-11, or you can send a message to the investigator. Shelby McGrath, the email there is on your screen. new here at 11 some North Carolina lawmakers say it's time to make changes to the state's divorce laws. In North Carolina, a couple needs to be physically separated for a year and a day to move forward with a divorce, but there's a push to reduce the time. A couple must wait to legally end their marriage.

Senate Bill 626 would cut the mandatory separation down to six months along with some other provisions. Tonight, we spoke with one of the sponsors of that bill, along with a family attorney who's pushing back against these proposed changes. is live in Raleigh. So Jamice, tell us some of the other key elements in this bill. Stephen Lauren, this bill really calls for reform to North Carolina's divorce law, adding protections for domestic violence survivors looking to escape a marriage. And then there is another element. This one is a bit controversial. It would eliminate North Carolina's alienation of affection law. A senator called it antiquated and a defense attorney said that this is something that could protect.

Houses. Going through a divorce is never easy and in North Carolina is never quick either. Senator Woodson Bradley knows that firsthand. It took me almost six years to get divorced. Senator Bradley said those years took a toll on her mentally and financially. That is one of the biggest reasons why you see women getting unfair settlements, custody battles, things like that in this state is because they can't financially sustain the fight. North Carolina, a couple must be living apart for a year and a day to move forward with a divorce. Senate Bill 626 would change that to a six-month separation period. In cases of an uncontested divorce with no children, the waiting period would be waived.

I'm not a pro-divorce person, but I am an anti-penalizing people and trapping them in dangerous situations. The bill also calls for provision to waive the waiting period for people who have evidence of domestic violence in their marriage. North Carolina should not force that person to stay legally tied to an abuser because the calendar says they haven't waited long enough. I am somebody that that happened to. Senator Bradley said this bill also calls for the state to abolish its alienation of affection law. Marriage is sacred. It is a contract. Monday night, we said,

sat down with family law attorney Robinetta Jones. She takes on about two or three alienation of affection cases a year, including the widely known case that involved a TikTok star sparking international headlines. When you lose your spouse income, when you lose child support, when you lose love and affection of your spouse, you need to be compensated for it. As the legislation is written, Attorney Jones doesn't support it. She also believes the year and day separation is needed. What about giving them time to see? if they want to be back together, if they can make any agreements so that the children are provided for without using the court. And Senator Bradley is also working with social media influencer Jen Hamilton,

who's also going through her own divorce. They're both trying to spread awareness about North Carolina's divorce laws. They will continue that conversation a little bit later this week with a fireside chat and fundraiser. In Raleigh, Jemis Price, ABC 11, eyewitness. An interesting introduction to that legislation. And some good points on both sides. Absolutely. All right, Jemise, thank you. We are learning more about today's pre-trial hearing in the murder case of Faith Hedgepeth.

The UNC Chapel Hill student, her murder trial begins next week. And we'll have the latest on the arguments made by defense lawyers and prosecutors and then what the judge had to say in the courtroom today. And in tonight's your voice, your vote. The vice president made a stop in Greensboro today to stump for Republicans. As the midterms inch a little closer, we've got the latest on J.D. Vance's appearance. in North Carolina. And Steve's back, checking on the temperatures outside right now.

Yeah, outside right now. Temperatures generally still up there in the 70s. We got clouds and showers around. Things are quieting down, but with a stalled front, we have more rain around tomorrow. Could be heavy at times. All the details coming up. In Toronto, every arrival is a statement,

and nothing says it better than this. Cadillac Optic was the number one selling luxury EV in Canada for 2025. Find your rhythm across a seamless 33-inch display and an immersive 19 speaker, AKG surround audio system. This city demands agility and optic delivers with precision to make every drive extraordinary. Let's take the Cadillac. Find out more at Cadillac Canada.ca. Luxury sales claim based on S&P Global Mobility Canadian New Vehicle Total Registrations

for calendar year 2025 for the Cadillac definition of luxury. Now to a case we've been following pretty closely. A final pretrial hearing was held today in the murder case of Faith HedgePath one week before that trial is set to begin. It's been 14 years since the UNC Chapel Hill students. was killed in her off-campus apartment. Today, defense lawyers for Miguel Soluero Olivares spent hours presenting evidence. They say reveals inconsistencies in the statements of Karina Rosario, who was faith's roommate at the time.

Attorneys focused on testimony about a blood smudge on Karina Rosario's hand, suggesting it may have been Faith's blood. Prosecutors argued the defense had gone through what they called a, quote, exhaustive list of circumstances trying to implicate Rosario instead of the man charged with murder Soluero Olivares. The only evidence about what we know about Ms. Hedgepatchap, when she was alive when she went into that bedroom of Ms. Rosario. And that when Ms. Rosario left, he was in the bathroom, never hear from Ms. Hedgepeth again. The state and one in this courtroom here today is here for the case of the state of North Carolina versus McGal-Saviero-Barrell. Not the state versus Brnoisseiro, not the state anybody else but this defendant. And I do agree with the state. Therefore, the state does prevail. Investigators say DNA from Soluero-Oliwades matches DNA found at the crime scene.

Faith's family members attended today's hearing there in the courtroom. The trial is expected to begin on Monday. The DA's office is preparing for it to last about four weeks. Now to your voice, your vote, and the countdown to the November midterm election. Just days after President Trump campaigned in Gastonia, Vice President J.D. Vance was in Greensboro today, stumping for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Watley. The visit is the latest sign of how important North Carolina has become in the fight for control of the U.S. Senate. Vance joined a list of prominent Republicans campaigning for Wattley

in recent days and told supporters Wattley would help advance the Trump administration's agenda in Washington. It is common sense versus craziness. It's about keeping taxes low. It's about rooting out fraud. It's about making it easier for hardworking American families to buy a home, to buy the medications they need to put food on the table. Vance also said Watley would fight for what he called election integrity and conservative

North Carolina values. The North Carolina Democratic Party fired back, releasing a statement accusing Watley of putting political interest ahead of North Carolinians and criticizing his support for Trump administration policies. Okay, we want to tell you to a really cool gathering out in LA. Disney, our parent company, brought together more than 350 YouTube content creators and innovators and storytellers for the first. first ever created in LA event. It kicked off with Disney president and chief creative officer Dana Walden and then the Disney CEO, Josh DeMorrow, welcomed the creators to the Walt Disney Studios lot there in Burbank.

The event became the largest gathering of people with more than 10 million YouTube subscribers each setting a Guinness World Record. In fact, across social media, the speakers and the attendees at that created in LA event have more than 1.9 billion followers combined. So I'm sure Disney is thinking, hey, they're going to get this stuff out there on YouTube. everywhere else and they're going to be talking about all kinds of cool Disney things, right? Right. Some digital heavy hitters, right? All right. All right. Steve's back with us right now and we've got to talk about these cooler temperatures on the way. That'll feel good. I'm loving it. Yeah, it's really a taste of fall. And we might be done with the 90s to say. All right. Outside right now, it's just wet out there

and overcast and we still have some showers or sort of the radar coming up in a second. But it's a stormy Tuesday, especially late day into the evening, elevated, flood risk we'll have to watch for late in the day. Damp, cool and breezy for Wednesday and Thursday. Grab a jacket. We've got some chilly mornings that are coming away. Look at that Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and even into Monday morning, we're going to have some really chilly numbers.

The lion's share of the range tomorrow, but still unsettled Wednesday and Thursday. We'll dry out Friday, and that drying trend continues all the way through the week. A lot of this is ground clutter here, but we still have a thunderstorm, which is finally waning as it moves south of Kenley. Still some activity going on around Princeton, and that's slowly drifting to the south right now. But that's the last of the thunderstorm activity. 73, still a little bit of light rain out around North Hills with an easterly breeze. There's that stalled front, 60s north and mid-70s to the south, and that'll be the focal point for tomorrow afternoon.

So the kids go to school, likely dry and just clouds and fog. 81 when they come home and watch out for scattered showers and thunderstorms. Now the fronts to our south, only 69 on Wednesday. Still unsettled with some showers. We'll keep it in the 60s as we go into Thursday. That flow coming around that area of low pressure and a high over New England brings that chilly air. And it piles up against the mountains like water and a dam. That cold air sits in place.

Warm air aloft means we get the cloud cover. And this is really hard to clear. And sometimes we can be really stuck in the cloud. This is called a cold air damming set up. Not that often do we get at this time of the year. But we're going to have that as we get into Wednesday and Thursday. Around 70 in the triangle, rain coming to an end tomorrow. We'll watch with that stalled front, showers and thunderstorms developing in the afternoon and evening.

And some of that rain tomorrow evening will be locally heavy. Wednesday and Thursday, 60s for highs. Really nice on Friday. Please make plans for the weekend. 70s for highs and 50s for lows and lots of sunshine. Really going to be a pleasant stretch. We have to get through a couple of rainy days first. And, you know, it's the dry.

We could use some rain. Oh, we desperately. give you some more. And we'll focus on the weekend, right? I know. He said, let's get out there. All right. Thank you. Still ahead of Raleigh Hotel gets a very special key and it unlocked some special recognition for this boutique building created by a local husband and wife team. We'll take you inside Raleigh's Heights House Hotel. And remember, you can always watch eyewitness news live on Disney Plus and wherever you stream. At Volvo, safety is not a feature. It's our purpose. Rigorous crash testing. Decades of learning from real accidents.

Innovations that help prevent accidents before they happen and help protect you when they occur. Going above and beyond industry standards. A vision of zero collisions. Volvo's legacy revolves around you because safety is about helping to keep you and everyone around you safe for life. Learn more at bolvocars.caps.caps.ca. slash safety. I witness news. We are local news weeknights four to six 30 and 11.

Welcome back. Tonight we're learning the couple behind Raleigh's Heights House Hotel has received a very special honor. The nine room boutique property in the Boylan Heights neighborhood has been awarded a Michelin Key. Think of a Michelin Key as the hotel industry equivalent of a Michelin Star given to restaurants. Anonymous inspectors come in and pay close attention to the architecture and design,

service quality, character, value, and the contribution to the surrounding neighborhood. A one key distinction recognizes a very special stay. Architecture, design, hospitality, all goes into these anonymous judges that come in and stay with us. We have no idea they're here. So it's any day-to-day person. They just come in. They give us a review behind the scenes. And all of a sudden, we receive one Michelin Key. So we are stoked. That is exciting. The property was restored from Montfort Hall, a pre-Civil War mansion. and National Historic Landmark by Sarah and Jeff Shepard and opened in 2021. ABC 11 together is highlighting ovarian cancer awareness month.

And there's a big event this weekend in Rale, to raise awareness of the silent killer. The Gail Parkins Memorial Ovarian Cancer Walk in 5K helps raise money for research and provide support to people battling the disease. The event is on Saturday at Sanderson High School in Raleigh. There's still time to join either online or on the day of the event. The run begins at 8.30 a.m. The walk starts at 1030.

and ABC 11 is proud to be sponsoring that. In Toronto, every arrival is a statement and nothing says it better than this. Cadillac Optic was the number one selling luxury EV in Canada for 2025. Find your rhythm across a seamless 33-inch display and an immersive 19 speaker AKG surround audio system. This city demands agility

and Optic delivers with precision to make every drive extraordinary. Let's take the Cadillac. Find out more at Cadillac Canada. luxury sales claim based on S&P global mobility Canadian new vehicle total registrations for calendar year 2025 for the Cadillac definition of luxury for the team as they get ready for that big season opener in just one week that's a good point it's a clear slate yeah okay thank you and thank you at home for watching that's going to do it for us here tonight we'll see you back here tomorrow night at 11 good night