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

Episode Date: September 29, 2026

Eyewitness News at 11pm - September 28, 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Right now, live coverage from your local news leader, preparing you for tomorrow starting tonight and your first alert forecast. Here's what's happening where you live. This is ABC 11 eyewitness news. Right now at 11 jumping out of a plane to help people in need. A group of skydivers took the leap to help victims in another plane crash, the incredible story of bravery, and why they wanted to help. Plus, learning how to win on and off the field, sportsmanship in the spotlight on the plane. this Monday night. And tonight, local coaches say it's a mindset that can help athletes later in life. Because if you can't respect yourself, you can't respect the next man next to you. Tonight, how kids are learning how to play sports the right way. And could we be on the brink of an AI takeover what a major company just announced to prevent a so-called hack by AI agents.

And Don, you're also tracking a warm up before October arrives. Yeah, it's going to feel a lot warmer around here as we flirt with record high temperatures. We'll talk about that. And a first alert to your next chance for rain coming up. All right, more on those stories and those headlines in just a minute. We start tonight with a controversial traffic change, creating a lot of chatter in Raleigh, a community voicing concern over a project to widened pool road. Thanks so much for joining us here.

For the news at 11, I'm Lauren Johnson. Steve has the night off. The NC Department of Transportation plans to widen a section of pool road to four lanes. It would be between the Raleigh City limits and the Triangle Expressway. Jemis Price was at tonight's meeting, talking to people who live in the area, and they remember previous projects and they don't have fond memories. Neighbors say this project is needed to help with the growth happening near Pool Road,

but they want to make sure that the final results match the plans that were presented tonight. Some call it the price of growth. And Dr. Ulysses Lane, he knows firsthand. He's lived in the area near Pool Road for 22 years. He now leads the Southeast Raleigh Citizens Advisory Council. Our problem is that the infrastructure changes don't keep up with all this development that we have. We have all this new development going on, and by the time the infrastructure comes, there's already major problems. But NCDOT is trying to get ahead of some of the growth through a road widening project.

Monday night, NCDOT presented its proposed plan to take pool road from Barwell Road to Hodge from two lanes to four to help relieve congestion and alleviate the traffic strain on neighbors. Ulysses was there to get a closer look at the plan. Extra lanes, extra bridges for the Greenway, it's always good, but there's still a lot of unanswered questions about the impact. And those concerns are born from past experiences with another widening project, also on Pool Road. That's one of my concerns with this project, making sure that if they widen this project, make sure everyone can get there to safe. Latanya Williams has also lived in the area near Pool Road for 15 years. years. She agrees there needs to be some form of traffic relief, but she wants it done the right way.

We want to make sure that the project is actually benefit the residents here. The widening project would begin just west of the Barwell Road intersection and will include two additional bridges across the Neuse River. One of those bridges would accommodate pedestrians. Having four lanes from Barwell all the way up to Hodge and ultimately up to the 540 interstate, it's just something. that will be needed and people are just going to have to accept it and be patient with what goes on and ultimately realize that in the future it will be a good thing. This project is expected to cost about $43 million.

Construction could begin as early as 2029. In Raleigh, Jemis Price, ABC 11, eyewitness news. Demeis, thank you. New at 11, the man who terrorized black students at UNC at a Chapel Hill watch party has pleaded guilty, but he will not serve any jail time. Keegan Wilson appeared today in an Orange County District Court. He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and simple assault in exchange for a suspended 60-day sentence and 12 months of unsupervised probation.

Wilson, a UNC alumnus, crashed a Love Island watch party hosted by black student organizations in Greenlaw Hall on August 31st. Prosecutors say he threw pizza boxes at students, snatched someone's bag, left, and returned with a sharpened stick chasing students out of the building while yelling racial slurs and threats. His attorney confirmed Wilson was in a mental health crisis that night not taking his medication. The judge ordered Wilson to continue mental health treatment and medication. Today, jury selection started in the murder trial of Faith Hedgepath.

Miguel Saguro Olivares is charged with the killing in 2012 of UNC Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepath. H-Path's parents, sister, and other loved ones filled the front row of the courtroom as proceeding started today. Seven prospective jurors were questioned. The Durham County DA's office expects jury selection to last. at least three days. Turning now to your first alert weather and you couldn't ask for a better start to the work week. Check out this video

of the sunset over Raleigh tonight. A beautiful sight, but the heat is coming back. Let's check in with Don Schweniker with more on the heat turning up this week. Hi Don. Absolutely good evening to you. Yeah, it was a mild day out there today.

We saw 80 degrees, lots of sunshine. But if we fast forward into tomorrow, temperatures are starting to go up. Still not bad. 83 and partly cloudy. partly cloudy will be in the 90s by Friday. Let's talk about your weather headlines tonight. And start with tomorrow morning. If you're headed out the door, it's typical temperatures. You'll see temperatures around 60 degrees. That's where we should be for this time of year. But that heat returns as we get toward Thursday and Friday. We're talking 90 degrees both days near record highs.

And then for the weekend, maybe some rain, but we're going to stay dry all the way through Saturday afternoon. Look at our rain chances over the next couple of days. You'll see we're at zero all the way till Friday, and that's just a slight chance. Better chance for showers Saturday night. Sundays when we'll get wet around here. We'll talk more about those showers and what would cause them. And our first alert to this heat in your seven-day forecast. So I'll come up in just a bit.

Lauren. All right, Don, we'll see you then. Thank you right now at 11, the body of an Army medic who died during a training accident in Texas earlier this month has returned home to the triangle. It was an emotional scene as the Patriot Guard riders paid their respects to private first class, Ethan Brewer, Chopper Levin, over that scene as the bikers helped escort Brewer's body back to his hometown of Apex. Michael Perchick joins us live from RDU. Michael, surely an emotional day honoring a hometown hero. Lauren, the Patriot Guard riders gathering here earlier this evening before making their way into RDU eventually to Apex, paying their respects to a fallen soldier.

Standing at attention for the honor flag line, this group of veterans and Blue Star moms watching closely as a hearse, carrying the body of Army Private First Class Ethan Brewer passes through. You just got to have a heart, just willing to give. Jimmy Dixon serves as the Assistant State Captain with the Patriot Guard Riders Triangle District, honoring veterans and active service members, such as Brewer. It's a community. We don't have to know each other, but we already have a bond. The group providing an escort from the airport to an Apex Funeral Home Monday night.

Brewer died following a vehicle rollover involving a military ambulance during training at Fort Hood in Texas earlier this month. An accident which remained under investigation by the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center. The 20-year-old entered the Army in 2025 and arrived at Fort Hood earlier this year. He was awarded the Army Achievement Medal. It's their brother, even though he's 20 and they've been out 20 years, he's still their brother. Lynn Smith's son is currently serving in the Navy. She says while the Patriot Guard writers in Triangle Blue Star Mom show for everyone flown into RDEU, Brewer's deep ties to the area.

He graduated from Apex High in 2025, made it even more important. First of all, I'm a mom. I can't even begin to imagine the heartbreak. And we just, we want them to know that we're here. We're all a family. Dixon tells me the triangle chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders alone. It's about 150 of these missions so far this year, just showcasing the level of commitment and naturally important of their work.

In Morrisville, I'm Michael Persick. ABC 11. High Witness News. Yeah, creating community for grieving families. Michael, thank you. Today, a golf tournament was held to honor the life of a 10-year-old girl who was killed in a boating crash on Harris Lake last year. Our cameras out at the Brooklyn May, Carol invitational today at the McGregor Downs Country Club and Carrie. Organizers say the money raised will support safe and sober boating initiatives and promote water safety.

Just last month, Quentin Kite pled guilty to charges related to Carol's death. He admitted in court he was impaired when he was operating the boat that hit. and killed her. Another woman was also seriously hurt in that crash. Still to come at 11 new details into a reported gang rape being investigated at Cornell University, what the city's police department is now saying about their role in the alleged case. And practicing the art of sportsmanship, coaches across the triangle are doing what they can to ensure players make a difference on and off the field the impact it's having on the game of football. And Don, checking those temperatures outside right now. Yeah, mild night tonight. I think tomorrow the emoji guy is happy.

A great day ahead. But later this week, it's getting worse. He's not liking this. We're going to tell you why in your complete forecast next. We are local news. ABC 11 eyewitness news continues now. Tonight, many of you staying up late, tuning in to ABC 11 watching the Eagles lose pretty badly to the Bears on Monday night football.

For athletes across the triangle, it's a level many aspired to reach one day. But it's not just success on the field they need. It's learning how to win in life. Michael Perchick speaking with one local team focused on instilling lifeless. As Jay Shaw McQueen watches from the sideline, he sees himself in the players he now leads. I start an organization as a sign to get back to my community. There's a lot of ways people try to give back, but I feel like this is the only way I can't

really connect with kids. Football was my strong suit was what helped me get out of trouble and get out of my neighborhood and really was pushed me to think about going to college. McQueen's Vice President and a coach with 919 Bulldogs, a youth sports mentorship organization. Because if you can't respect yourself, you can't respect the next man next to you. So we're big on respect, big on respect to your peers, respecting adults, because this goes outside the football field. That attitude takes on even greater importance during tense moments.

Perseverance, even though you're losing, you can never give up and you can still try to win. 11-year-old MJ Stevens is quarterback for the 12-U squad and knows how he acts as an impact on others. Take a deep breath because most times with quarterbacks, they're going to take responsibility on you. Even on the sidelines, positivity can be felt. You can't speak down on yourself.

Ovaria Wilkins is a cheerleader, working to maintain momentum no matter the score. We'll still try to keep the team going and make them still excited. The National Federation of State High School Associations has launched a bench bad behavior campaign, prioritizing sportsmanship. A 2023 survey conducted by the national,

National Association of Sports Officials found more than two-thirds of respondents said sports and ship was getting worse. Just over 21% reported no change and only about 10% said it was improving. McQueen wanting to connect with players before they reach those bigger stages. In reality, he's 13, 14, he's still a baby. You know, his mind's nowhere near developed. He still needs guidance. So I feel like I'm the guidance for them at that age group. In Raleigh on Michael Perchick, ABC 11, eyewitness news. Thank you. New tonight, Congress has taken its most significant step ever into college sports. Tonight, the U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act.

The bill would grant the NCAA, a limited antitrust exemption to restore its five-year eligibility rule and transfer limits. It would also severely limit NIL deals that have allowed athletes to be paid millions per season. The bill now heads to the House. Tonight, investigators are looking into who destroyed a flock camera in Johnston County. The camera was ripped down in the parking lot of the lows on Cleveland Crossings Drive on September 25th. No arrest has been made. Flock cameras capture license plates and vehicle details and are used by both private businesses and law enforcement. The technology has become increasingly controversial across the state with people saying it's a very thin line between policing and privacy.

Now to disturbing allegations coming out of Cornell University, prosecutors say they are reopening the investigation into an alleged sexual assault case involving members. of a fraternity. A civil lawsuit was filed by a former student who claims she was the victim of an alleged rape. The victim says it happened in 2024 after she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple members of that fraternity. The case regaining attention after the woman says a frat member shared messages with her showing others were encouraged and invited to join in on the alleged assault. No criminal charges were filed after Jane Doe reported the incident, but the woman's attorney disputes the conclusion arguing authorities failed. to properly investigate.

The Ithaca Police Department says the alleged incident was never reported to them, suggesting the case was exclusively investigated by the Cornell University Police Department. A massive data breach at the Pentagon has exposed the sensitive personal information of nearly 3 million military personnel. The Pentagon says its defense manpower data center was accessed without authorization between October of 2025 and July of this year. The data of 2.76 million living people and nearly 300,000 dead people have been exposed. Affected personnel are being offered identity protection and credit monitoring.

Navidia launching new software designed to keep artificial intelligence from going rogue. It prevents them from inadvertently connecting to other AI systems or the open internet without authorization. The announcement comes after open AI revealed in July a swarm of roughly 700 of its own AI agent, escaped a testing environment, accessed the internet and hacked into another AI company covering their tracks as they went. Navidia says its new platform would have stopped that attack. Carrie is growing and so is the development to keep up with that.

Town Council approved rezoning three parcels in the 4,400 block of NC55 near McCormon Parkway, Alston Town Center and Panther Creek High School. Capital Commercial LLC plans to include hundreds of homes, a car wash, office space, other commercial development. It's a really nice place. Honestly, I can't wait to see what's moving over here. I think for this area where it's really like family based and focused on like children and stuff like that, I think it's great for them to have third spaces.

We're missing those. The developer has made changes to address including concerns about affordability. The company declined to comment. All right, it's not official unless there's a ring, right? Well, months after winning the Stanley Cup championship, the Cains finally sporting their championship rings. Today, a ring showcase was held displaying the dazzling hardware. It was crafted in California. It features nearly 900 individually set stones, including 9.8 carrots of white diamonds and 1.4 carats of natural red rubies.

That's a real ring. All right, about 400 miles north, another championship winner, debuting a new look for his brand new team. NBA superstar LeBron James appeared for the. Philadelphia 76ers Media Day. James pretty excited for the new chapter saying he did not leave his family back in L.A. to be a part of a losing team. All right, Sixers fans, get excited. LeBron James is in Philadelphia, Don. And Philadelphia is probably hoping for a little more after that loss tonight. That was tough. It was a rough loss. I mean, so many people thought the bears were injured and weren't going to look good, but it looked pretty good tonight, right? Do we have Vizene?

Why? Because I know our producers' eyes were all bloodshed out. So we got to help him out there. Andre. They're not letting us talk. Just get over there, Don. Shut up and do the weather. All right, I'm headed over, Andre. We're taking a live, our producers named Andre, he's Big Eagles fan.

All right, the next big thing you want to take away from tonight's forecast. Hey, summer is not done yet. You want to be ready for some hot temperatures again later this week. We're getting close to that last 90 degree day. But look at the next six days. We're on our way up the hill. By Thursday, we're almost 90. not a 91 and then a cold front's going to drop through.

It does two things. One, it brings clouds on Saturday. Two, it brings rain on Sunday. It actually does three things. It also brings some cooler temperatures next week. But tonight we are dry. We are mild. What a gorgeous evening across the region.

Live lookout at RDU as the planes are pulling in from around the country. 70 right now. Cloudy skies and those winds are calm. Maniota Murphy tonight we see 70s down in Greenville. 67 in the triad, 51 out in boom. 26 in Charlotte, 60 in Lumberton and 65 in Wilmington. And we'll drop down to around 60 tonight. This is pretty typical for this time of year.

Skies just stay partly cloudy, a few high clouds drifting through. Let's talk about the fitness forecast. You're headed out for a walk and run in the morning. You like it cool earlier is better. By 10 o'clock, we're up to 72 by lunchtime, almost 80 degrees. Satellite radar composite does show some of those high clouds working through.

Not rainmakers. They're just in the middle part of the atmosphere, relatively dry so we're not seeing much in the way of sprinkles out of them. We do see a couple of sprinkles up in Virginia tonight. We see some showers left over from that nor'easter. But look at all this clear real estate all the way back out into Oklahoma. You could fly from East Tennessee to Oklahoma City not see a cloud in the sky. That's the high pressure that builds in and not only brings the clear skies and keeps us dry,

but it does warm us up. First, a little predictor forecast model. 8 o'clock tomorrow morning. You start today around 60 by the afternoon. those temperatures up near 80 degrees. Then as we go into Wednesday morning, we're seeing temperatures again back into the 60s. But you'll notice as we go from Tuesday into Wednesday,

here's that high. It's usually a big blue age because that means blue sky, sunshine, keeping things clear. As we head into Wednesday, that high starts to push south will be near record. The record on Wednesday's 89. So we're going to get close to setting a new record. And then that high eventually slides off

to the south and east on the back side. It pulls that warmer air in and we see those temperatures start to jump as we get toward the end of the week. Forecast looks like this for tomorrow. Another nice day. A couple of degrees warmer. 83 Raleigh, 82 in Durham, 86 degrees in Fayetteville. A look at temperatures from across the region tomorrow. 86 in Clinton, 85 Lillington, 84 Sanford, and Pinehurst.

83, Kerry, Garner, Holly Springs, 84 Smithfield, 80 in Bahama. 79 in Roxborough and Henderson, 83 or 84 in Rocky Mount in Tarborough. First alert, seven-day forecast. Powered by Accuilers that warm-up really starts to jump up on Wednesday. Thursday, feeling like June, even though it's the first day of October, 89. Friday, 91 degrees. We've got the Raleigh-wide Open Festival going off. We've also got the second Keynes games.

It's going to be a lot warmer for tail-getting on Friday. Saturday, walked-end Alzheimer's in the morning by the afternoon, 82. Sunday 77 and Monday 75 we get cooler as the rain moves out. So some are trying to push through one more time. Yeah. I'm going to say it. This may be our last 90 degree day of the year. Good.

At least a good chance. We'll sweat it out one more time. All right, Don, thank you. You bet. Sillhead, saving a life from high in the sky, a group of skydivers, doing a different kind of jump after a plane crashed into the woods. The story of bravery is next. And a reminder, you can always find eyewitness news live on ABC 11, Disney Plus,

and everywhere you stream. We'll be right back. Witness News. We are local news weeknights four to six 30 and 11. New at 11, a group of skydivers just so happened to be in the right place when they jumped to the rescue after another plane crashed in Wisconsin. John Bechtel spent the day or spent the last three decades skydiving across Wisconsin. Well, yesterday, Bechtel with two other jumpers were preparing for their day in the air when they noticed some trouble with the nearby plane around the East Troy Airport. Take a listen.

He kind of banged up a little bit and then he disappeared behind. the trees and we all just kind of looked and we were just all sitting there waiting you know for him to show back up somewhere and never did we all just kind of looked at each other like we just see a plane crash the brave group asked their pilot to find a safe spot for them to jump they immediately rushed to the scene to help one of those jumpers is a former paramedic so he was able to help one person with a serious head injury before EMS arrived the timing couldn't have been any better had we left you know, five minutes earlier, we wouldn't have seen it. You know, if had we left, you know, 15 minutes later, you know,

we wouldn't have been able to get there first and assist. All four people on board survived and are expected.