ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 4pm - April 16, 2026

Episode Date: April 16, 2026

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Now at 4, we are following breaking news this afternoon out of Raleigh. Chopper 11 is flying over a fire. This is at Lake Crabtree. Firefighters not only battling the flames here, but also very dry conditions. Troubling news for the triangle drought conditions getting worse, and now homeowners are coping with the restrictions set to go in place next week. And a breakthrough in the Middle East, President Trump announcing a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Lebanon, what it could mean for the war with Iran. Right now, live coverage from your local news leader, keeping you connected to your community and your first alert forecast. Here's what's happening where you live. This is ABC 11 eyewitness news. Breaking right now at 4 crews working to put out a large fire at Lake Crabtree in Raleigh. Chopper 11 is live over that scene right now. This is happening on the east side of the lake.

This is close to Interstate 40. And as the chopper zooms in there, it looks like you can see actually some flames on the ground with this fire, a lot of smoke. And they are working now to, I guess, get to the scene. We have reached out to first responders for more information on this fire because we don't see anybody clearly from our vantage point here. But that may not be the case. They could be coming up with the other side of it. But we're going to give you more information just as soon as we hear back from first responders. Chopper 11 also flying over Falls Lake in Raleigh today. Take a look at this. You can see a lot of dry spots. Wow, look at that. Officials warning that levels there are dropping fast. The water line now more than two feet below normal. And that warning comes as parts of the viewing area are now under an extreme drought level. And as you can see, parts of Wake County, Durham County, Vance County, and more are all in the red. This afternoon we have team coverage. John Dowding is checking it with home owners about the water restrictions.

set to go into place next week. But first let's get a meteorologist Steve Stewart in the first alert forecast center. Steve, the hot weather not helping the dry conditions. And gosh, we're not seeing any rain in what, seven to 10 days? Well, we're gonna get some on Sunday, but it's not gonna be much.

I mean, we need a soker and it's gonna be a few hundreds of an inch. So that's almost nuisance rather than a help. And up 85 now in parts of Wake County. We've gone all the way to the extreme category. So we've seen that area expand. Everyone else still in severe drought, but this is gonna rapidly expand

as we don't really have much rain coming anytime soon. Not a surprise though. We've had about six inches of rain since the beginning of the year. That's the driest on record for this stretch. If you look at 82 years worth of data and so obviously the burning ban is going to stay in place until further notice. And that's probably not going to happen until we get a couple of really good soakers and that's not in the cards anytime soon. Tomorrow maybe a touch cooler little trough swings through. We'll see partly cloudy skies, maybe a sprinkle. That's about it. And with that trough, temperature is still well above average. And there you can see a couple little showers. If you look at the upper levels,

little kink here and the winds aloft at around 18,000 feet, that's that trough. That gives lift on the right side of that. And that'll move in here tomorrow. Again, slightly cooler. And the potential we could get a sprinkle or two. 90 degrees right now at North Hills with a southwest breeze at 13. We've had some gusts around 25. That's a couple of degrees cooler than this time yesterday with widespread upper 80s to around 90s. So it's still very hot day out there. But again with two points in the 40s and 50s, it's tolerable. We have a reverse heat index. Again, actually feels more like 87 degrees. Heading out tonight to the Deepak to see Burke Kreischer, 89 when you walk in, really pleasant on the walk back to the car at about 76 degrees. The drought's

going to get worse with these low rain chances. More on that coming up in the 70 forecast. Barbara. All right, Steve, thank you. And those worsening drought conditions are sparking water conservation restrictions. Those begin next week. It comes at a time when people are working on their gardens or they've been waiting to and to start watering their lawns. Yeah, but those water restrictions could, of course, dampen your hopes of creating your own outdoor oasis. John Dowding is joining us live from Raleigh with more. I know John, you've been speaking with homeowners about how they are dealing with this. What can you tell us?

Well, Barbara Amber, we always say April showers bring May flowers, but so far this April, we haven't seen much rain and now summer beginning to worry if we'll see any flowers begin to sprout up anytime soon. You know, once you drag the hose out and, you know, get everything going again. And plus the one's in the back. So, yeah, about an hour. As Raleigh homeowners head to their gardens this spring, they're faced with a unique challenge, drought conditions, forcing them to use less water. We caught up with Chuck Doppler as he watered his plants this afternoon. As he and many others pray for rain, he says the key to a successful garden right now is paying attention.

Pay attention, especially if they're new plants, you know, you've got to plant them correctly, but then you got to keep them water early on and then understand what their watering needs are. Don't overwater, but then make sure they get enough water. Now this is also causing some headaches between the drought and the water restrictions also causing some headaches for large-scale gardens and nurseries coming up at 5. We spoke with some of the experts at the J.C. Ralston Arboretum at NC State. They shared with us some of the challenges they're having to face right now and also shared some tips for homeowners about how you can use your water wisely right now. Live here in Raleigh, I'm John Dowding. ABC 11, I witness news.

Yeah, and as you said, it is only April. We have to get through summer. This is going to be a long road searching for some rain. All right, John, thank you. Well, with the high temps this week and the drought conditions now is a good time to download the ABC 11 mobile app. You can check the 7-day forecast there any time, right in the palm of your hand. And we turn now to a potential breakthrough in the Middle East today. That's right.

The president announcing a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Steve Daniels joins us now in the studio with more on what this could mean. And boy, Steve, for these two sides to be talking to each other as something else. Yeah, the talk started earlier this week in Washington. And Barbara and Amber, this is the other war that's unfolding in the Middle East right now. Israel attacking Lebanon and the Lebanese health ministry says more than 2,000 people have been killed and 7,000 wounded in just six weeks. And this pause and fighting there between Israel and Lebanon could pave the way for more talks between the Trump administration and Iran to come to a permanent deal on the war with Iran. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has.

agreed to the ceasefire in Lebanon, but IDF troops will not withdraw from their positions inside Lebanon. The Israeli government says it's targeting fighters and infrastructure belonging to the Iran-backed Lebanese militant and political group has Bala. This new ceasefire is a potential key piece in bringing Iran back to the negotiating table with the Trump administration in an effort to end the war. President Trump is threatening more strikes on Iran if no deal is made. When he was asked about the impact the war is having on oil prices, the president said the prices seem to be dropped. Well, they're not very high. If you look at what they were supposed to be in order to get rid of a nuclear weapon with the danger that entail. So the gas prices have come down very much over the last three, four days. And the U.S. military at the Pentagon is saying the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports is now working. No ships have passed through, which is squeezing Iran economically.

Iran still is not backed down. They're calling that blockade a violation of the ceasefire while Iranian state TV is reporting the country has, increased its production of military drones to 10 times the pre-war level. The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran expires next week. And this other ceasefire just announced between Israel and Lebanon runs for 10 days as talks to reach a permanent solution. Continue in that part of the Middle East, Barbara. All right. All right. All right.

Breaking news right now at 4. An update on the case of Nancy Guthrie. The FBI is now analyzing DNA recovered from Guthrie's home in Tucson, Arizona. The 84-year-old mother of today's show host Savannah Guthrie was abducted from her home on February 1st. private Florida lab that works with the Pima County Sheriff's Office sent the sample to the FBI in recent days. The FBI is now using new technology to conduct advanced analysis on the DNA sample to see if it can lead to Nancy's kidnapper. About two dozen Pima County and FBI investigators are still actively working the Guthrie case. Well, more on those two big national stories and other top national stories ahead at 630 on World News Tonight with David Muir.

And now witness news is working to learn more about the shooting death of an off-duty Cumberland County deputy. It has been more than two weeks since Captain Adam Bean was found shot to death at a home in Hope Mills. But officials will only say that it involved a domestic dispute between two off-duty law enforcement officers. An investigation by our news gathering partners at the News and Observer has found that the other officer is a state highway patrol trooper and the woman at the center of the dispute, described by authorities as a domestic violence victim and is the sister of the patrol's commander Colonel Freddie Johnson Jr. According to the news and observer, ABC 11 and the N&O have also reached out to the Highway Patrol, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, and the State Bureau of Investigation for more information about the incident and why no one has been charged.

We'll continue to follow and update this story. Well now to some other local headlines in your speed feed. First, a federal judge sentences a woman to prison for threatening to commit a mass shooting in Raleigh. The U.S. Justice Department says Ashley Moore, a woman who claims to be transitioning to become a male, made the threat after she could not receive the treatment she wanted. She received treatment from the VA in Michigan and moved to Raleigh without coordinating the transfer with the VA. And when she couldn't get the treatment immediately, officials say she sent a number of threatening emails and text messages including, quote, this will make national news and quote, I am taking as many souls as I can with me. Moore was sentenced to one year in federal

prison and three years supervised release. No bond for the Samson County man accused of setting his girlfriend on fire. 29-year-old Franklin Faircloth was in for today. Deputies say he broke into his girlfriend's home in Roseboro Saturday night, doused her with gasoline and set her on fire. Faircloth was arrested Monday after a two-day search. He's facing multiple charges, including attempted first-degree murder and arson. He is expected back in court next month. We're told the victim has burns on her arms, legs, chest, and back, and she's recovering at a trauma center. The victim's mother told the DA the prognosis is not good. The man arrested for breaking into a woman's home and shooting her in Goldsboro has passed away. Police say Alexander Jones shot a woman inside her home

on Shelly Drive as she tried to escape what they call a potentially breaking and entering in progress. When officers arrived on the scene, they say Jones shot at them. Officers returned fire and Jones was injured in that shootout. They say he has died from his injuries. Police say the woman who was shot is still in the hospital in serious condition. A North Carolina Central University student athlete charged with raping a teammate is out on bond. That is according to the arrest warrant. 19-year-old Alan Webster, the third of Pukweev Arena, is charged with second-degree forcible rape. Webster as a sophomore on the track and field team.

And that is your speed feed. Amber, back to you. All right, Barbara, thank you. Today, state lawmakers pressed attorney general Jeff Jackson and state health secretary Dev Sangvi in a hearing on alleged Medicaid fraud in the state. And it comes to state health officials navigate millions of dollars in a budget. shortfall. That money is to keep pace with growing costs and enrollment in Medicaid, according to state health officials, but some state lawmakers claim those numbers don't add up.

Currently, state health officials and the governor are asking for about $319 million to address that Medicaid shortfall in the absence of a new state budget. But today, legislators pointed out that North Carolina ranks near the top nationally in recent Medicaid enrollments and near the bottom in fraud investigations. Proving fraud civilly. is easier from an evidentiary standpoint than proving fraud criminally. We take our case as criminal every single time the evidence supports it. But there are some cases where the evidence just doesn't support it because to take it criminal, you have to prove intent.

Several lawmakers say more needs to be done to investigate fraud and abuse and draw a clearer path between that alleged fraud and criminal action. Still ahead here 4 o'clock for the first time since the nationwide immigration. crackdown and ICE agent is facing felony assault charges. What we're learning tonight about the incident that led to the charges. And nine months after Tropical Storm Chantal, one Chapel Hill grocery store finally reopens. We're talking with the shoppers as they return to Aldi today. Big Gibbs, I don't know about you, but just looking at this, my heart starts pounding a little bit.

I like, get stuck in that and you're like, oh man, and it's not good out there at I-40, an airport Boulevard. The other direction, not too bad at this time. Hopefully things will get a little bit better here fairly soon. Meantime, we're going to be talking about a couple of things. The heat's going to come to an end. We do have some rain in the forecast, and how does next week look? We'll talk all about that coming up. First, here's your traffic hotspots brought you by the First Alert weather team.

The ABC 11 First Alert forecast team is working to keep you safe. One ease across the region. Some cloud cover starting to build. That rain is going to push on through. Cold air coming in. The First Alert Forecast team. Only on ABC 11. I witness news.

I witness news. We are local news weeknights four to six 30 and 11. Right now, authorities are investigating the death of deaths of Virginia's former lieutenant, governor and his wife as a murder suicide. Investigators believe Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife Serena inside their home before turning the gun on himself. According to the Fairfax County Police Chief, the couple's two teenage children were inside the home at the time of the shootings. It was their son who actually called 911. Police believe the shooting stem from an ongoing domestic dispute surrounding their divorce. The couple had been married since 2006 after meeting at Duke University where they were both students.

We are learning more about a false bomb threat at the home of one of Pope Leo's brothers. It happened Wednesday night in New Linux, Illinois. Police say they received a call just before 630 for a reported bomb threat at the House of John Prevost. And out of an abundance of caution surrounding homes were notified they were asked to evacuate. There were no explosives, no injuries, according to police. The incident is still under investigation. An ICE agent is facing felony assault charges over an incident on the highway back in February during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

Prosecutors have issued a warrant for his arrest, saying he acted out of the scope of his duties. ABC's Reno Roy has the latest. Under Operation Metro Surge, as many as 3,000 immigration enforcement officers flooded the streets of Minneapolis over the last five months, often met with protests over their tactics. Today, the first criminal charges filed against one of those agents. The officer facing felony assault charges after authorities say he pulled a gun on a driver who allegedly cut him off in traffic. Both the driver and the passenger in the victim's vehicle felt threatened by Mr. Morgan's actions.

Hennepin County prosecutors identifying the agent as Gregory Morgan Jr., issuing a warrant for his arrest. Court records allege Morgan was driving back to a federal building with his partner at the end of his shift in February, saying he was driving illegally on the shoulder of a highway trying to pass the individuals when they allegedly cut him off. Mr. Morgan's conduct was extremely dangerous. Driving while pointing a weapon out of your moving vehicle at the victims who were in another moving vehicle could have led to yet another disastrous incident. The individuals telling police they were unaware it was an ice agent in the unmarked. vehicle. Mr. Morgan was driving a rented SUV with no markings or other features to indicate that it was an ice vehicle. Morgan claiming he feared for his safety and the safety of others telling

investigators that's why he rolled down his window drew his firearm and yelled quote police stop. Illegally driving on a shoulder pulling up to a car and pointing a gun at the heads of two community members who are not doing anything at the time. is well beyond the scope of their authority as federal agents. Prosecutors say they do not agree with the Trump administration that ICE agents have absolute immunity. Minnesota prosecutors add other investigations, including the deaths of Alex Prettie and Renee Good, are being blocked by federal agencies. Rina Roy, ABC News, New York.

Rina, thank you back here in Central North Carolina months after Tropical Storm Chantal swept through Chapel, leaving behind a trail of destruction. One grocery store has now finally reopened its doors. The Aldi in the Eastgate Shopping Center is now open. Akela Davis is joining us live now from the store with the doors open again. We see them behind you, Akela, some of the shoppers you spoke with, they must be happy to see this. They are, Amber. You know, nine months after a tropical storm shantal, most of the businesses here in Eastgate Crossing have reopened.

You mentioned it. Today is Aldi's first day back. Let's go back in time. It was July of last year when Tropical Storm Chantal brought record flooding to North Carolina, forcing many business owners here in Chapel Hills East Gate Crossing to close their doors. Eyewitness news was here as stores opened gradually over the last several months. Staffers at Petco I spoke with today say they've only been reopened for a few weeks. Today we caught up with all these shoppers who say it's convenient to have the store open again. It's great to have such an affordable option so close to campus.

especially after seeing how that kind of natural disaster wiped out this whole shopping center. It's great to have great deals like here at Aldi. It's good to have it back in the neighborhood open again, so somebody else can have somewhere cheaper the shop other than Walmart. Today is the first day, and I'm very excited because I love the Isle of Shame, which is what people call the non-grocery aisle where they put new stuff out every week. So again, most of the businesses here in Eastgate Crossing have reopened ahead at 6 or 5, I should say. I'll tell you which businesses will not be returning.

Reporting live from Chapel Hill, Akela Davis, ABC 11, eyewitness news. It's been a long road and happy to see them open. Akela will see you in an hour with more. Thank you. All right. Why don't we go to the Carolina Coast? Yes, check out this view. This is Carolina Beach and it is a warm day, gorgeous day at the beach. And can't you just want to be there right now?

No. Feeling all that wind. Sea breeze. Boy, it's feeling like summer already, isn't it? It is. It's a nice day. to hit the beach closer to home. This was the scene today at the Cape Fear River. Things looking pretty peaceful on this hot spring day that feels like summer. A few fishing rods out there, people taking advantage of the clear skies and dry skies. That those water levels, as we've been

saying, they are also looking a little low. So that leads us to Steve Stewart. My son loves to fish, and he said, you don't do a lot of catching when it's the low and hot. No. Yeah. Yeah. And you know, people are dressed for summer. When he go out and about, It's like it's already summer. Yeah. Hey, the temperatures that summer like, the dew point isn't, though. I mean, the dew point's around 48 to 52. That's the best part.

That is the best part. And the breeze helps today as well. But outside right now, we've got the passing clouds around. Otherwise, lots of sunshine still hot at this hour, with temperatures up around 90 degrees. And we'll be near 90 for the next two. I think the hottest will be Saturday. Sundays, the front is coming.

And the temperatures are going to fall during the day. So we're going to be around 72, 73 early, and then probably fall quite a bit. maybe low 60s by the afternoon. Little rain, not a lot, probably less than a tenth of an inch. And then early next week, more seasonal, pretty nice. Monday, Tuesday, look good. As we'll see all the heat here.

Look at that trough that's going to come in here. We'll get a glancing blow. The coldest there is going to stay off to the north. We'll have highs in the 60s as we go into our Monday, Tuesday, around 73 or 72. That 73 again is early in the day on Sunday. And again, we'll get a couple of light showers with it. There's the expansion now of that extreme drought, drought up 85 and now parts of Wake County. No real surprise here being that it's been so dry.

And we've only had one day of rain this month and it was rather anemic at about a tenth of an inch out at RDU. 25% of what we should be getting in the last 30 days in some areas around 5%. So not good at all. We do have a decent chance of getting rain on Sunday, but don't get excited. This is going to be a light rain event, less than a tenth of an inch in most locations. a couple of our long-range models. As we get closer, we'll get some high-resolution data and fine-tune that.

Now, with that said, tomorrow, don't be surprised if there's a sprinkle. Little trough moves on through. It won't be a big deal. Most of us are going to stay quite dry and quite hot again. It's 90 at North Hills

at this hour with a breeze at 13. Feels like 87 because the dew points only 50, so a little bit of a reverse heat index. Evaporation is very, it works really well, and that cools us down when the air is drier.

But you see all the number. right around that 90 degree mark, fairly uniform across the area. Concert tonight downtown Lamb of God, it'll be hot about 90 at start time and really nice later in the evening as we fall down into the 70s. Now tomorrow we'll see those numbers climbing. We'll get to those upper 80s to near 90 and a suncloud mix as we go throughout the day. We'll watch that next front coming out ahead of it prefrontal warming. There comes the front and there's our wrist that we'll get some showers and cooler as we go into our Sunday. First alert seven day.

93, the hottest days on Saturday. Few light showers Sunday. A refreshing breeze on Monday. Tuesday morning, guys, little chilly. Outlying areas probably in the 30s. And we're right back to the 80s, Wednesday and Thursday. All right, that's good because I'm not ready for all of that heat this soon. Yeah.

Thank you, Steve. It's going to be refreshing, I think. For sure. All right. Steve, thanks. Next year at 4. Finding parking in one part of downtown Fayetteville will soon get a lot easier. County leaders announcing that they're reopening a central parking lot after closing it

nearly two years ago to make room for the Crown Center project. Plus Starbucks customers have a new way to order their next drink. How the coffee chain is using AI to help you choose a menu item based on your mood. Hmm. It's time now for some news you can use this Thursday. Within the next 30 days, the former parking lot on Gillespie Street in downtown Fayetteville ville will temporarily reopen for parking. The lot in front of the Cumberland County Courthouse closed in 2024 to make way for construction

of the Crown Event Center. The project was canceled last year, but the local. lot remain closed. The county now wants to develop the property with some other projects. And footwear to tech, the echo-friendly shoemaker Allbirds says that it is becoming an AI company. Allbirds sold its footwear assets to a brand management company last month. And now the company says it's changing its name to New Bird AI and essentially will rent computing power to tech startups. And SEC filing shows that it also won't focus as much on the environment. And Starbucks is testing a new AI-powered feature that suggests drinks based on how you're feeling.

The tool now in beta inside chat, GPT, lets users ask for recommendations based on mood, cravings, or even a photo. It is one of the first examples of a major restaurant chain using AI to shape how customers decide what to order. The move reflects a broader push toward personalization, but also raises questions about how much consumers rely on AI to make everyday decisions. And that's the news you can use. Barbara, back to you. All right, Amber, thank you. you coming up we continue to see the impacts of the war with iran europe says they're running out of jet fuel what this could mean for your summer vacation plans we are local news abcc 11 eyewitness news continues now and we are back with more on that breaking news we showed you at the beginning of the

show here out of wake county chopper 11 over lake crab tree where a brush fire has forced the park to close we're told at least three acres have been burned the carry morseville and nc forestry all working to contain this fire. We're told there's no public threat. But again, this is happening at Lake Crabtree and the park in the area is closed. We'll continue to follow this and bring you more on this breaking news as we get more information.

All right, we are here in the weather center because everyone's talking about the drought condition. So we're taking a deeper dive into the impact of all of that. The many areas under our viewing area under an extreme drought level. So Steve talked to us about the severity of reaching this level. So we're hoping we can see some rainfall here. Yeah, we really need it, obviously. We're going to get a little bit on Sunday, but not enough that's really going to help.

I mean, it's going to take a significant amount. You're talking nine to 12 inches of rain over a 30-day period. And to get two, three inches a week, that just doesn't happen. So it takes a long time to get this bad, and it's going to take a long time to likely get out of it. Here we go. Yeah, here we go. So it's going to be a while. Yeah.

Okay, the temperatures, we've been talking about how hot it's been as well. And the numbers are actually going to be a little bit cooler for tomorrow, probably in the 80s and then around 93 as we get into our Saturday. And then look at the dip in temperatures. It's going to be nice. We'll get a little bit of rain as we go into Sunday, but not a whole heck of a lot. But there's that drought monitor.

This is what's changed there. So 85 and all the way down in parts of Wake County, that's what we're now seeing extreme drought. Back in 2007 and 2008, it was in that exceptional range. We're not there yet. But this is going to continue to expand fairly rapidly until we start getting more significant amount of rainfall. And we really just don't see that anytime soon.

You can look, you know, beyond two weeks, but the odds of that being accurate are pretty slim. So we need to get used to this for the short term. Unfortunately, yeah. Unfortunately. All right, Barbara, we'll keep searching for the rain. All right. Thank you so much, y'all.

And we hope you'll join us this weekend for the eyewitness news special, your first alert to severe weather. The first alert team breaking down everything the season can bring from tornadoes to flooding and even the ongoing drought. Tune in Saturday night at 7 o'clock here on ABC 11 and wherever you stream, eyewitness news. Right now, for one of the world's top energy officials says the continent is running out of jet fuel, six weeks left at max.

Michael Perchick joins us outside RDU with the major impacts here in North Carolina. Michael, what's this about? Yeah, Barbara, that official referring to what's happening in Europe. With the street of her moves blocked, it is blocking and limiting that global supply of oil. We have felt it here with those rising fuel prices. Now there is concern, even greater. headaches could be on the horizon. For those looking to hop a flight overseas this summer, it's better to take extra caution.

I'm not noticing a trend in people, you know, being apprehensive about travel. I am receiving a lot more calls, you know, do I have travel protection? Stacey Gray, owner of adjusted the Good Life Travel reacting to remarks made by the executive director of the International Energy Agency, who warned a possible flight cancellations if the current situation continues. It used to be that we would recommend at least flying in one day early so that you can spend the night and be there, you know, whether the cruise or the tour starts the next day. But now we're suggesting two days. Looking for routes that have direct flight from RTAU, such as the new Dublin route, London, Paris, or Iceland could help avoid some of those travel headaches.

Outside tourism, there's the economic angle, particularly from businesses reliant on overseas goods. It could have a really major impact if air freight starts to be. interrupted. A lot of goods are shipped via air freight, including a lot of pharmaceutical products, a lot of high-end electronic products, semiconductors. Coming up at 530, you speak with a Raleigh grocery store, which imports products from Europe, the steps they're already taking to try and mitigate the impact of any jet fuel shortage. From R to you. I'm Michael Purchick. ABC 11, eyewitness news. Thank you. The Methodist University community is in morning this afternoon. The school announcing the passing of student athlete Vondre Nelson. They say that he lost his life in a car crash. He was originally from Georgia and enrolled in the business management and accounting programs. According to the 2024 football roster, Nelson was a wide receiver for the team. The school is offering counseling services for students through Friday. The Wake County SPCA is expanding. The center is set to hold a ribbon cutting next week for its new Peggy Garner, Brit.

resource center. The 27,000 square foot facility is located on PetFinder Lane and Raleigh, officials say it is designed to address pet overpopulation and increase access to community education of resources for pet owners. The ribbon cutting for this new building is next Thursday morning at 11. All right, a new child care option is available for working parents in Wake County. Little by little preschool is opening its doors in downtown Raleigh. The school will be located at the former side of the historic former Smith Temple Baptist Church at Davy. and East Streets just down the street from Moore Square Middle School. Eyewitness News stopped by the building today, which is still under construction.

Owners tell eyewitness news, although the school isn't open yet, they are already at 70% capacity and addressing a growing need for daycare downtown. There's a tremendous need for child care all throughout the state, but especially in downtown with all the businesses growing and people moving closer to downtown. So we've heard over the last nine or so years before we even started, this that there's a tremendous need for for child care and for high quality child care so that's kind of what we hope to provide the school is set to open in June applications are currently open they'll also offer special weekend

care once a month so mom and dad can get out for a date night if they want in Harnet County Dunn Elementary has a new family resource center it's designed to provide vital support and resources for students families and the surrounding community leaders held a ribbon cutting this week in celebration of the addition to the school. Still ahead on eyewitnesses at 4. A hiker is rescued after falling down a North Carolina waterfall. We are getting a look at the operation to get that woman to safety. And Hornets player Lamello ball hit with a hefty fine after he seriously hurts another player on the basketball cart will tell you just how much he's been ordered to pay. And as we had to

break, we're going to take a live look at the Raleigh skyline from our Pendo Skycam. As we've been saying, it is just hot and dry, not a lot of rain in sight. And there are some restrictions that are headed your way when it comes to water. Covering the Carolinas now a woman seriously hurt after falling down a waterfall in western North Carolina. That happened Wednesday in the Pisgah National Forest. The Linville Central Rescue Squad shares these photos from the rescue. They say that the woman slid down a low angle waterfall and ended up with multiple injuries. Pisgian National Forest has more than a dozen well-known waterfalls, but officials say this one,

where the incident occurred, is not on a designated trail. A South Carolina man is facing more than 100 charges in connection to a nearly $1.4 million auto loan scam. Investigators say Kieran Murray would use small dealerships to get fraudulent car loans. They say Murray would then steal the loan proceeds. He faces 125 charges on seven separate indictments across South Carolina. Charlotte Hornets player Lamello Ball is hit with a hefty fine for a play that injured a player with a Miami Heat. The NBA fined ball $35,000 for making unnecessary and redirelanders. reckless contact with the heat player. The incident happened Tuesday night. Ball is also facing an

additional $25,000 fine for using profane language during a postgame interview. Up next, the historic people visit. Hope Leo continues his 10-day Africa trip, his message he's sharing with the world. And commencement season is coming up. We'll tell you which big name is set to speak at North Carolina A&T this year. It is cool. Plus, fight or fly to police officer forced to put his training skills to the test against a loose goose that decided to attack. ABC 11 First Alert Weather on eyewitness news every day. We're back now with more on Pope Leo's trip to Africa. Speaking today in Cameroon, the pontiff blasting leaders,

who he says use religious language to justify wars. ABC's Melissa Adon is in Cameroon with more. Mass here in Bemenda, there are so many people that have come out. They're estimated 20,000 that are just here to listen and see Polaroon. But outside, tens of thousands of people have lined the streets. It is something really special to this community. It's a community that struggled for decades as we are in the epicenter of essentially a civil war. At this point, the officials tell us that there is a ceasefire in place due to the pontiff's visit.

But still, the people tell me despite the struggles they've been dealing with, despite the hardships of living out here, Pope Leo's visit gives them so much hope. We pray. We pray that as he has come, we will have peace. Yes, that is all we want. We want peace. That is all we want. He is like God.

So we know that with him here, things will change. And it's so important because his message today at the peace meeting was encouraging mediation between those parties at large. He said this is exactly the message that leaders all around the world should pay attention to as he continues to promote peace and build up. and build bridges. This is the moment to change, to transform the story of this country. The time has come today and not tomorrow.

Melissa Adon, ABC News, Cameroon. Now today's top trending stories in real news. First, a vet concerned about an elderly pug that might have something stuck in his nose successfully teaches the pooch had a sneeze. Do it. Good job. Ready? Bless you.

All right, that is Dr. Zoe Pimlot, trying to get the pug to mimic her. She joked after sharing the moment on Instagram saying six years of veterinary school led to this moment. Hey, but it worked. Super cute. All right, one dog, Walker in Australia

does a double take on her morning walk. Stacey Hughes, walking home after dropping her son off at school, sees this. a man walking a goat on a leash, just casually strolling around. You can see other people stopping to look at the pair, certainly not something you see every day. All right, let's go now to Loves Park, Illinois,

where a police officer on the way to work is ambushed by an aggressive suspect. The Loves Park Police Department sharing this hilarious video online, which shows the officer leaving his car and being attacked by a goose. The department says they train for a lot of things, but this has not been one of them. them on the list. And that is real news. Sam, we're back to you. All right, Barbara, thank you.

Well, it's almost that time of year, again, college commencement. And this year, North Carolina, A&T University is bringing the star power. The HBCU announced that Queen Latifah will serve as its keynote speaker for this year's graduation. The award-winning entertainment artist will serve as the keynote speaker for two undergrad ceremonies on Saturday, May 9th. A&T alum, Dr. Nea Banks will also serve as this year's keynote speaker at the grader. student ceremony and she will give her address Friday May the 8th. And East Carolina University also bringing in a big name for its spring commencement as well, ECU alum and award-winning writer, creator, director, and

producer Kevin Williamson will deliver the keynote address during the spring commencement ceremony. Williamson is best known for being the creator of the Scream movie franchise and TV show Dawson's Creek filmed right in Wilmington. The ceremony is happening May the 8th. Every time this year when those kind of things up I try to think who spoke at my graduation like I can't even remember I would know if it was queen Latifah right absolutely tell me to you know how cool is that yeah that's really neat I know all right so dry dry dry dry hot and dry yeah we need to get some changes in here and right now that's just not in the cards the expansion right now of the extreme drought is does include parts of

Wake County and with little to no rain coming over the course of the next week this is likely going to expand. Again, we get a few showers on Sunday. I know you get a 50% chance, but it's going to be rather anemic, probably a tenth of an inch or less. There will be some areas that might miss out altogether and maybe just enough to get the streets damp. We're in the 80s to around 90 right now, fairly uniform temperatures, low 90s down in the sand hills at this time. Got some baseball. It's bark in the park out at the Bulls Stadium there at the Dabap. Norfolk's in town. Hot start time at 90. But again, with lower humidity values, not bad. Should be a nice evening by time you head home under fair skies in about 78. As the front gets closer to us, prefrontal

warming, we'll get to the low 90s flirting with a record high of 95 degrees. Front moves on through. We got some moisture on the backside, some annafrontal precipitation. Again, very light amounts. That's 73s early in the day. Temperatures will fall down to maybe the low 60s by the afternoon. And we'll get this chilly air to come in. Not that chilly. It'll modify, but definitely going to have some cooler temperatures coming as we get into Monday and Tuesday. So we're in the 60s for tonight. Another mild night. We should be in the high 40s. And then tomorrow's high temperatures, upper 80s to around 90, partly cloudy skies, maybe a sprinkle. There's a little trough moving through. We can't rule it out, but not going to be much at all. First, our seven day then,

89 tomorrow to a 93 Saturday. Canes playing playoffs at 3 o'clock. Can you imagine the tailgating in those 90s? Woo! 73 degrees on Sunday. Light rain around. It will be breezy again, probably less than a tenth of an inch. Temperatures fall during the course of the day. Then as we go into Monday and Tuesday, some cooler weather. Matter of fact, Tuesday morning, a little chilly outlying areas could be in the 30s. Now here's Steve with what's coming up at 5. I see. Thanks a lot. New at 5.

The Artemis 2 astronauts held a big news conference this afternoon at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to talk about their historic mission around the moon. And you'll see North Carolina astronaut Christina Cook's reflections on that trip coming up here, new at five. Hundreds of new jobs are coming to the global trans park in Kinston. We'll tell you what the Navy is planning to do there for the entire U.S. military. And if you shop at Trader Joe's, you might be getting some cash back after they made a mistake on the printed cash register receipt. Also, the Cains now know when their Stanley Cup playoff run begins. Barbara, I'll see you for the news at five here in just a few minutes. Steve, thank you. Coming up, a chance at a fresh start.

How one local business is helping give people a second chance after incarceration or recovering from addiction. Here's tonight's ABC primetime preview. At 8-7 Central on 9-1-1, Buck and Eddie are picked for the National Firefighting Games in Nashville. Then on 911 Nashville at 9-8 Central, Ryan and Don show their competitive sides, and when Don injures his hand, Blue is forced to step in. Blue's a little wild, but he does a lot of things for the people he loves. He's very loyal, and he has a lot of skills and talents as well.

But he's just figuring out life like the rest of us, you know, so exciting. Then at 10-9 Central on RJ Decker, RJ helps a young woman uncover the truth behind her boyfriend's sudden deaths. I think that maybe I just can't move on, but it turns out I'm not the only one with questions. That's followed by your late local news. Then Jimmy Kimmel Live with Molly Shannon and Weird Al Yankovic.