ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 11pm - September 26, 2026

Episode Date: September 27, 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. Well, tonight on eyewitness news, former Governor Roy Cooper continuing in his push to become the next senator for North Carolina. Cooper holding a campaign event tonight in Raleigh on his statewide tour as his opponent, Republican Michael Wadley, looks to fill the role. That story is coming up for you in just two minutes. But first, I want to say good Saturday evening, everyone. Thanks for choosing us tonight. I'm Dewan Hoggard.

We hope that you enjoyed the ball game moments ago that just ended. But for now, let's go ahead and start our time together tonight talking about this wonderful weather. And what we saw today, go ahead and get used to it because it's going to be hanging around for just a little bit. So meteorologist Quailin Murphy is in tonight for Cruz. We're being a Quilin. Always great to have you. So what is the 4-1-1 on the rest of the weekend in the coming days? I'll let you know.

We're tracking temperatures again tomorrow morning in the 50s. We'll be in the 70s by noon tomorrow, the high around 80 degrees. Still tracking that low humidity for the second half of your weekend. So some beautiful weather. This is where we topped out today. Low 80s around the triangle, upper 70s around Lewisburg, mid-70s, Oxford and 80s for areas to the south and east. That mainly clear sky continues into downtown right now at 61 degrees. We're a little warmer than yesterday, but do point temperatures back into the 40s.

So that refreshing air is still here, maybe some long sleeves out the door if you're heading out tonight. upper 50s and low 60s on those out the door temperatures right now and the wind is a little bit lighter compared to earlier this afternoon. There are some clouds to the north, some showers to enter Virginia. I can't rule out a sprinkle onto Mecklenburg County, but overall dry conditions tonight. If you're wrapping your night up late tonight, will be in the 60s at midnight, 55 at 4 and again by noon tomorrow, 73 degrees. Looking ahead, get ready. Your first alert to near record highs later in the week next week. In terms of that nor'easter, it's still impacting areas. around DC all the way to the New England states. Coastal impacts remain, but we're going to see overall gradual improvements through Sunday and into early next week. I'll have your full seven-day forecast coming up.

Dwan, back to you. All right now, quite, and see again shortly. Go ahead and take a moment right now to download the free Iowanus News app. It will help you track changing weather conditions while you are on the go. So to get started, I'll search for ABC 11 in your app store. Well, in tonight's your voice your vote. Former Governor Roy Cooper hitting the campaign trail earlier tonight. The race for North Carolina's Senate seat continues to heat up.

The former governor meeting with supporters in Raleigh for another stop on his make-stuff cost-less tour. And it comes as families across our state keep looking for ways to save money with inflation, impacting everything from groceries to the gas pump. John Dowding speaking to Wake County families tonight about their budgets, as both Governor Cooper and his opponent Michael Watley share their economic plans with voters. We're entering into the final stretch of election season here in North Carolina with Both candidates for Senate here in the state ramping up events with voters in recent days.

It all comes here as some families we spoke to say inflation and the economy are top of mind. A year ago, even two years ago, it was all maybe half the price at this point. Inflation is forcing many Wake County families to find ways to save. I think gas prices. I think grocery store bills. I think it's all definitely adding up at this point. We do a lot of purchasing, use things like that. Even the stroller came off of Facebook marketplace. kind of looking at what's around. I want to go to Washington to make sure we make stuff costs less. Affordability was the main topic of conversation Saturday night, as former Governor Roy Cooper

made a stop in Raleigh on his Make Stuff Cost Less tour. Congress can do a lot by removing these chaotic tariffs, which we know are adding cost to people. Cooper met with voters and spoke about the need to address high costs, impacting just about everything from health care to grocery bills to housing costs. We know we need to end this war in Iran. because it is driving up gas prices. And people know that.

They know that the war in Iran is connected with driving up gas prices. We asked Michael Watley's campaign about inflation. His campaign, referring us to statements Whatley made earlier this week where Watley blamed former Governor Cooper and Democrats for hiking up costs. Watley credits Republicans for recent job creation and the passage of the working family's tax cut, which he says helps North Carolinians.

In a statement to eyewitness news about Governor Cooper's event Saturday, Michael Watley's campaign said in part, quote, Candidate Cooper is once again bashing Governor Cooper's failed record of higher costs for North Carolina families. If candidate Cooper wants to make stuff costs less, he ought to look in the mirror and have a prayer meeting with Governor Cooper. Families we spoke to say they'll make their voices heard on Election Day. We have an upcoming election. Please go vote. Yes, please vote. Have your opinions heard? Have your troubles heard as well?

Early voting begins on October 15th just a few weeks away, and Election Day is just third. 38 days away. Outside the Raleigh Eyewitness News Center, I'm John Doughton. ABC 11, eyewitness news. All right, John, many thanks. Also new tonight, an update to a story we first brought to you as breaking news Friday evening here on Iowness News. Milbrook High School responding after multiple fights broke out under the Friday night lies at its football game against Rollsville. Those fights prompting the game to be suspended so law enforcement had to break them up, only for another fight to cause the game to be called off for the night. Milberg High responding today saying in part, quote, we understand that the event. Last night were stressful and concerning for students, staff, families, and others present.

We take those concerns seriously. Security measures, including the district's clear bag policy, metal detector screening at stadium entrances, and additional security officers were in place for last night's game. In the coming days, we will continue to work with WCPSS security and law enforcement to review and strengthen our procedures for athletic events to ensure we are providing a safe environment for all attendees. The school also saying law enforcement found no evidence of reports of someone with the firearm at last night's ball game. Milbrook says it is working with Rollsville to figure out when the remainder of the game will be played as the score was tied at 10 and heading into overtime when it was called off.

Well, new tonight, we have an update on a developing story out of Harnett County where a shooting was reported this morning in Coates. Just past 6 o'clock this morning, the Harnett County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of a shooting on Theodore Lane to find someone who had been shot. That victim was then taken to Wake Med Hospital in Raleigh and is currently in critical condition. An investigation later revealing that the shooting had happened on Forever Lane where deputies found the camper trailer where that shooting happened. At that location, deputies found a man dead after having been shot multiple times. That man has since been identified as 30-year-old Christian Alejandro Rincon. We will continue to bring you updates on this developing story as we learn more. Meanwhile, a deadly shooting at a gas station in Fayetteville last night, our breaking

news crew on the scene at the Circle K, right off I-95 and Cedar Creek Road. You can see here in this video evidence markers surrounding a car at a gas pump there and markers extending all the way to the Pizza Hut right next door there. Just after 830, Fayetteville police responded to reports of shots fired at the Circle K, to find a man who had been shot. The victim was dead at the scene there. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to contact Fayetteville Police and Cumberland County on crime stoppers. Well, around 21,000 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer in the United States this year. That's all according to the American Cancer Society.

And this year, our very own Quedlin Murphy served as MC of this year's Gail Parkins Memorial Ovarian Cancer Walk in 5K, where today survivors and loved ones in the Triangle are doing what they can to raise awareness about this leading cause of cancer deaths among women. Bianca Holman sharing the local efforts, all making a difference right here in the triangle. Taking strides for more research. I was treated in 2007, so that's 19 years. I was diagnosed in 2010. Women surviving a distressing diagnosis. People gathering with them here at Sanderson High School in Raleigh for the Gail Parkins Memorial

Ovarian Cancer Walk in 5K. Organizer Melanie Batchelor establishing the event in honor from mother 24 years ago. The amount of people that do come out year after year, I mean, there will be people here today that have been to all 24. We'll have survivors that have been to all 24. They've become part of my family now and I'm so proud of my mom for being able to bring so much good into the world from hurt. Survivors, family, friends and community members honoring those affected by the disease. Team Fluffy Strong walking in honor of Maureen Bowen who passed away in 2020. She was energized. She wanted to bring as much awareness to this cause to this event as she could. Her

goal every year was to have the largest team represented. And she successfully did that. Around 12,000 women die from ovarian cancer yearly according to the American Cancer Society. Funds raised here support research at Duke University's medical centers, gynecological oncology laboratory research group. I had the best doctor over at Duke Raleigh. In fact, she's usually here at the run. And just the whole team, the nurses still keep in touch with one of the nurses.

the support from Duke Raleigh, it was amazing. Survivors moving forward and encouraging others. It just told another survivor it's just day by day and be thankful for every day. It's just wonderful because it's such a support. You feel like people care and that makes all the difference in the world. Raising more awareness to ensure earlier detection and ultimately saving more lives. Bianca Holman, ABC 11, Eyewitness News. Bianca, thank you. Well, in the wake of multiple incidents involving gun violence over the last few weeks,

local pastor gave away gun locks today in the hopes of keeping guns out of the hands of young people. Well, Pastor Cornelius Battle is not a Durham native, but says over the past 25 years, he's seen too many young people lose their lives to gun violence and negligence. And at today's Community Fund Day at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, during residents gather to celebrate community and to take in the day's beautiful weather. But the event also allowed the pastor to continue a trend. He's pushed forward over the last five years by giving out gun locks in the hopes of securing weapons so they don't reach their hands of children. It'll save a life.

You can't bring life back. So just doing that little bit or putting that gun lock on your weapon and make sure it's secure. That can save a life. They can save various lives. Battle hopes the giveaway will help keep young people safe, but also says adults must take responsibility for keeping guns out of the hands of kids. Coming up, we are looking to learn more about the decision by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office to stop using flot cameras. We'll have the latest on an audit of the agency's flock system that caused a case of unusual activity.

Quaila? A cold night right now. Temperatures are in the 60s. We're heading into the upper 50s and some spots into tomorrow morning. Warming up next week with a near record high, so I'll have more than that in my seven-day forecast. When West Jeffers took flight in 1996, the vibes were a bit different. People thought denim on denim was peak fashion. Inline skates were everywhere, and two out of three women rocked, the Rachel.

While those things stayed in the 90s, one thing that hasn't is that fuzzy feeling you get when WestJet welcomes you on board. Here's to Westjetting since 96. Travel back in time with us and actually travel with us at westjet.com slash 30 years. Welcome back. Growing questions tonight about the use of flock cameras after a Franklin County Sheriff's Office detective allegedly misused the system. She's since been fired. In a Facebook post, Franklin County Sheriff Kevin White identified the employee as Detective Janet Leonard. He also said the sheriff's office is suspending the use of flock following this alleged incident.

Here's Michael Perchick with the broader conversations playing out right now on Capitol Hill. You may not notice them as you drive by, but these flock cameras set up to capture the public's movements, even when no crime is being committed. To me, it's just a pervasive nature, right, of this technology. Art Ewan is a former FBI special agent who now is the executive director of the Master of Engineering and Cybersecurity Program at Duke. We spoke to him hours after Franklin County's sheriff Kevin White posted this lengthy message on Facebook. White shared that an audit of the agency's flock system revealed a stream of highly unusual activity leading to an investigation. He says that resulted in them discovering a detective was routinely utilizing the flock system to track the every movement of a single private citizen.

I believe in his news release, he even described it as an unconstitutional search, which I agree with. Mark Williams is an attorney in Wilmington who founded Deflock ILM, an advocacy group which opposes flock. If we all wore ankle monitors or if we all wore body cameras that transmitted our location and what we're saying to the government 24-7, that'd be very effective in solving crimes. But is that the miracle we want to live in? Last month, Flock announced new guardrails following reports of misuse by law enforcement and broader public pushback, including requiring law enforcement to label every search with a criminal case number, instituting an automatic review for abnormal search activities, and introducing a seven-day retention default instead of 30 days.

The ability for an agency, say, in California, to query the cameras of an agency on the East Coast, San North Carolina, that to me is concerning, right? especially if we don't know how the data is being protected. And that was our Michael Perchick reporting in that report for us. ABC 11 tried to reach Sheriff White, but he did not respond to our request for comment. We also reached out to Flock, which did not get back to us. And separately, that detective hung up on Michael Perchick when he tried to get her response. Well, in Washington, the Supreme Court is letting the Trump administration use a federal database

to check voter rolls. The North Carolina State Board of Elections welcomes the decision, but a voting rights group says it could hurt voter turnout in the November election. The database is called Save, and it checks citizenship and immigration records. North Carolina uses it to review voter rolls. Back in July, the state board said the system flagged nearly 1,600 people as potential non-citizens. The state board of elections released the following statements, saying it, quote, welcomes the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Both the United States Constitution and the North Carolina Constitution are clear. you must be a citizen of the United States to register and vote in our elections." End quote. Meanwhile, a voting rights group is pushing back on that decision. The federal law is unambiguous, right? States must not conduct systematic removal programs within 90 days of a federal primary or general election. This is just a continuation of that stoking of fear to ensure that certain voters that are eligible don't show up to the polls at all. This comes as North Carolina voters prepare for the midterm elections, which are now just 38 days away. A reminder, here are some dates to keep in mind.

October 9th is your last day to register to vote. In-person early voting runs from October the 15th through October 31st, and you have until October 20th to request an absentee ballot. Then election day is Tuesday, November 3rd, where polls across the state will be open from 6.30 in the morning until 7.30 that evening. All right. Let's go and talk weather. Quillan Murphy in for Cruz Medina tonight. Tonight was the Little Wayne and two chains concert. So a lot of folks there at the apothea. They had a great time, I'm sure, tonight with the weather. We had some great weather. It continues. Tonight it continues for the second half of the weekend, too. Lots of sunshine, humidity values stay low, seasonably warm tomorrow. Flooding with 90 degrees by the end of next week. So temperatures are heading back up. The nor'easter impacts continue for our coast, but they're slowly improving right here at home. Here's a live look in to. downtown where skies are clear 61 degrees right now in the triangle mid 60s Sanford and Fayetteville 61 Goldsboro upper 50s in Roxborough right now the winds are also a lit lighter in few spots as well skies are mainly clear a few clouds to the north a few spotty sprinkles possible I think around Mecklenburg

County not much more than that late tonight temperatures will be in the 50s again tomorrow morning to the north and also to the south high temperatures tomorrow afternoon upper 70s low 80s lots of sun humidity stays low with that northerly flow coming in northwest 5 to 10 miles per hour. So there's the big nor'easter impacts right now from the nation's capital really up to the New England states. We're going to see a few clouds from that northeaster into tomorrow afternoon, but there'll be thin clouds. So no major issues in terms of partly cloudy conditions or a lack of sunshine tomorrow. As we look into Monday, high temperatures will be near 80 degrees. We'll have that drier flow still around

that area of low pressure. Temperatures will build in on Tuesday into the mid 80s, that high pressure will be north of us. We'll start to slide offshore by midweek. And that will bring back return flow, which is why temperatures head back up later next week. These are current gusts around the coastline. Blue reports offshore 31 miles per hour, but we're seeing that range of 20s plus from Hatteras to Duck Pier.

That's a big improvement since Friday and early today. We're going to see those wave heights gradually decreasing around our coasts as at low pools to the north. So that will continue right through Sunday night. Elsewhere in the tropics for the Atlantic Bay's in Faye still hanging on, open waters out there, no issues for land. Another disturbance just to the southeast of Bermuda has a low shot to develop out to sea. Temperatures tomorrow by 9.61, 73 at noon, we're up to 80 degrees at 3. With another nice evening for Sunday. Temperatures into Sunday night and Monday will be

in the mid-to- Upper 50s. Low 80s Monday, arcanes are back at home Tuesday, say 84 degrees. 87 Wednesday for the final day of September. October 1st is Thursday. The high temperature 88, record high on Thursday it's 90s so we'll see if we can get a bit closer to that still hanging on to 90s on Friday and then Saturday that's our next best shot at some rainfall right now I have that chance at 30% high temperature still in the mid to upper 80s back to you all right looking good for that seven day thanks quite a coming up we are approaching a special time here at ABC 11 as the ABC 11 together food drive is set to kick off in less than two months we've got the latest on this year's food drive which will mark 40 years of taking care of our neighbors with food insecurity

And a reminder for you, you can find eyewitness news live on ABC 11, Disney Plus, and everywhere you stream. Well, we are approaching a special time here at ABC 11. The ABC 11 Together Food Drive is marking 40 years of taking care of our neighbors who need food in their homes. It's a labor of love that is very personal to our vice president of community engagement here at ABC 11. Her name is Monica Barnes. And Monica has been a part of the food drive since its inception back in 1983. started as the heart of Carolina food basket. Well, ABC 11 has partnered with fire stations, volunteers, and nonprofits to get food to people in need in Durham and Fayetteville. And Monica says

no one had any idea how big this effort would become 40 years later. This on a personal level never gets old for me. Why? Simply because no one should be hungry. And when we do this every single year, there's always at least one person, if not more. When they're coming to give, to donate, they'll say, well, hey, I don't have a whole lot, but I remember what it was like when I didn't. You know, I had less. So they'll, I've seen people sign over their Social Security checks and just say, here, take that for someone who needs it, you know, because I'm okay.

So just seeing people who don't have give and people who do have want to give, it just warms my heart because the human spirit is very powerful. The 40th annual ABC 11th Food Drive kicks off November the 18th. Our goal this year is to raise 1.4 million mills. Well, today was a beautiful day, as we mentioned moments ago, and the perfect climate for community members as they gathered for the Raleigh Tamalee Festival.

The festival was held to celebrate and discover the rich traditions and diverse flavors of tamales from local vendors. Plenty of great food and fun activities held throughout the afternoon. It was held at Moore Square and included live. music and dancing.

And speaking of dancing, we had some local teams today, Trayvon Miles. Even our Shaw, Shaw University, plenty of dancing there in the end zone today. Yeah, you saw that, right? Yeah, the people see it in a second. Shaw had a great game today. NC State and ECU just wrapping up, so you got it. A lot of

local teams dancing tonight. Also, North Carolina Central taking the trip over to Greenville to ECU. We've got that and much more when we come back to sports. Great news. The federal EV rebate is back. Eligible customers get up to $5,000 with the federal EVAP rebate on select 2027-volt and 2026,

Equinox EV models. Visit your local Chevrolet dealer today for more details. When Westchette first took flight in 1996, the vibes were a bit different. People thought denim on denim was peak fashion, inline skates were everywhere, and two out of three women rocked, the Rachel. While those things stayed in the 90s, one thing that hasn't is that fuzzy feeling you get when West Jet welcomes you on board. Here's to Westjetting since 96. Travel back in time with us and actually travel with us at westjet.com slash 30 years.

It has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after an altercation at a failure. It led to a woman's death. We've got the latest on that event, the events that led up to that woman's death. And the charges the suspect is... For 50 years, Canadians have wondered what the names of IKEA furniture mean. Like Natopa, the guardrail for children's beds. Natopa means, giving your... favorite person room to grow.

It means their safety and your piece of... No. In Swedish Natapa means night monkey. Deers of Swedishness at home. Look, he's wearing little pajamas. So cute.