ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 4pm - December 12, 2025

Episode Date: December 12, 2025

Eyewitness News at 4pm - December 12, 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi everyone coming up right now on eyewitness news at 4 o'clock. We have your first alert to a serious chill that is heading our way. Temperatures expected to plummet this weekend and into the beginning of the week. You'll see how people across the triangle are making sure their homes are ready for that deep freeze. Yes, and new details in the upcoming trial for the teenager chores in the Heddingham mass shooting in Raleigh. New filings from the prosecution giving us a glimpse at the case they're building. And the North Carolina TikTok star ordered to pay nearly $2 million for breaking up a marriage, speaking out here on ABC 11 on national TV. Honestly, it's a lot.

It's been a lot. Not so much love, but more so hate. You'll see that exclusive interview and the new revelation about the couple's dating history right now on IWitness Use It 4. 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. I Witness News. Right now for another round of Arctic air for Central North Carolina. The chilly day today starting out with snow flurries here and there. Here is the J.C. Park and Apex, but it is about to get even colder than this. Absolutely. Here's the good news, the bright spot. Tomorrow we're expecting a little reprieve. High is expected to reach the upper 50s.

But then on Sunday, the coldest air of the season arrives and sticks around through months. They both declares we have now declared first alert days here on eyewitnesses. It is a big wave of Arctic air dipping down coming our way. We're glad you're joining us here for the news before. I'm Steve Daniels. Amber's off today. Tis the season, right? And I'm Barbara Gibbs.

If you're spending any time outdoors this weekend, you're going to want to make sure you bundle up, especially on Sunday to give you an idea of just how cold it's going to be. The first excessive cold watch of the year was just issued for Bladen and Robeson counties. Let's go to chief meteorologist Don Schwinner going to us now with a look at what is to come. Hey, Don. Yeah, good evening to you. This used to be the wind chill.

watch. It's now a cold watch, extreme cold watch for Bladen Robeson in those Southern counties. Their criteria is a little different than the rest of our viewing areas. So that's why we aren't seeing any other watches. But on a Sunday night into Monday morning, you could see feels like temperatures from 5 to 10 degrees. As a matter of fact, look at this. Watch these numbers just tumble as we go through. Saturday we warm up, but they'll start to go into the single digits as that cold air presses in Sunday into Monday. And it's going to get very, very chilly around here. Live look at First Lord Doppler net. We did have some snowflakes flying earlier. You can see them moving out of the region now. We're not seeing anything in the way of

precipitation. We're done with that for your Friday night. Current air temperatures from across the area. 39 Durham, Raleigh, 41 Holly Springs. 39 Nightdale, 40 down in Clayton. 35 in Oxford right now. 39 South Hill 40 in Rocky Mount. Slide south. 47 Fayetteville 50s down in Maxton and Lumberton. Let's first alert you. to that evening ahead in the next couple of days. Tomorrow's going to be gorgeous. 57 degrees, sunshine, perfect for all the parades. Sunday, the temperatures will tumble.

This 43, that's a 2, 3 o'clock in the morning high, and the numbers will go down throughout today. As a matter of fact, it'll be in the 30s as you head to church. By the afternoon, it'll be in the 20s, teens overnight. Monday, dangerous cold with highs just barely getting above freezing. We'll talk more about that, and we'll first alert you to a big warm up again as this up and down ride continues in your seven-day forecast. Coming up in just a bit, Stephen Barber.

It is a roller coaster ride. We've got to hop on. Absolutely. Or off. That's right. Where's the spot to get off? I'm with you. All right, Don, thanks.

We'll see you soon. As this winter chill is really sweeping in this weekend, it's also a really important time to make sure your home is ready to go for those freezing temperatures. Boy, that is important. Cindy Bay is checking in with people across the triangle to see how they're preparing. She joins us now live from Raleigh. Cindy, good afternoon to you.

What are safety tips that people need to know right now? Hey, good afternoon, Barbara and Steve Wolf from protecting your pipes from freezing to making sure there's enough insulation to keep the cold air out. Safety is on the minds of North Carolinians as bitterly cold weather moves into the triangle. It's that time of year when temperatures can get dangerously cold. And here in the triangle, Brian Nelson is staying safe. Well, I think it's just, I suppose, about being prepared. Whether you need a winter hat or you need to take more time on the on the roads that tend to be. become more ice packed than snow packed in this area. It's just kind of being prepared and taking

your time. Cold air is starting to move into the triangle. Some safety tips include checking on your neighbors, protecting pipes from freezing, and bringing pets inside. So we'll have more on how to stay safe during cold days and nights, plus some of the common problems that experts say homeowners face and what to do to make sure that that doesn't happen to you. We're going to bring that to you ahead on eyewitness news at 5 in Raleigh. Cindy Bain, ABC 11 eyewitness News. Cindy, that's a very good point. The buddy system. Keep an eye on each other as this cold weather moves in. We'll see you next hour. Thanks. And as we prepare for the incoming Arctic air, now is a good time to download the ABC 11 app. You'll be up to date on all the current weather

conditions. And you can check the first alert, Doppler net and the seven-day forecast right there on your phone. Well, now to some of the local headlines in your speed feed. First, we're getting new insight into the upcoming trial for the teenager charge in the Headingham mass shooting in Raleigh. New court documents show the prosecution is blaming a number of aggravating factors. It includes that Thompson knowingly created the risk of death, Austin Thompson, that being the suspect there, and that Thompson took advantage of the position of trust with family members during that crime. We've reached out to the Thompson's defense team for comment on these new filings, but we know back in October, his legal team filed

a motion suggesting that they were planning to argue impaired judgment due to prescribe medication. Austin Thompson is charged with killing five people, including his own brother. and a Raleigh police officer in 2022. The trial is set to begin February 2nd. A deadly shooting in Wake County is now being ruled self-defense. This happened last month on Nightdale Boulevard. 39-year-old Corey Hansen was shot and killed during a fight with another man. Witnesses say it started with a car crash, then a fight broke out between the two men. The sheriff's office says no charges will be filed in this case. And more charges have been filed against a former UNC Health Rex hospital nurse after a third alleged victim comes forward.

28-year-old Brian Alvarez Ortiz is charged with sexually assaulting at least three patients at UNC Rex Hospital. Authorities say the victims had undergone surgery and were in the recovery when those assaults occurred. Ortiz is charged with first-degree kidnapping and sexual battery. He's due back in court on Monday. And that is your speed feed here at 4 o'clock. Steve back to heat. Okay, Barbara, thanks. Right now for a big coaching shakeup for the UNC football program after a dismal first season for coach Bill Belichick.

The school announced today two assistant coaches have been fired. Offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator Mike Preefer. Carolina's offense was actually one of the worst in the entire country this season. Let's go live to Keenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. Trayvon Miles there to talk about what this could mean for the program going forward. Trey. Yeah, Steve, the first bowl games of 2025 and the college football playoff is set to begin this coming weekend. But UNC for a while has known that their season is completely over.

seen some of their players announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal. And today, as you said, the first staff changes of the offseason with offensive coordinator, Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator, Mike Prefer, both being fired today. Both worked for the Cleveland Browns together some time ago last year. They both joined Bill Belichick's staff here. And as of this morning, both were relieved of their duties. Kitchen had been under scrutiny for months about an offense that only scored 21 or more points in three of their 12 games. The offense never got any better over the course of the season. That is why he is out.

Special teams, not a great year either. We've been all over campus today. We caught up with a few students turned fans who aren't exactly shocked by today's news. I think it's the right play. I trust Bill. I'm from New England. I trust Bill. I think he has the right vision.

But yeah, I think the OC needed to go. I think that was the right call. Yeah, I was kind of disappointed at the beginning of the season, thought maybe the team would come together after. I know we had a lot of new players coming in, but didn't seem to really mesh. So hopefully bringing them to new people, new coaches will help get the team meshing together.

The fact that the offense didn't improve shows me that something needs to happen from the top down. Earlier today, we were on a different spot on campus, a little bit closer to the football building, saw a couple of other football coaches walking out of the building for what I presume to be ex-executive. meetings with Bill Belichick and this staff will have to see if there's any more shake-up related to the staff also keeping an eye on the transfer portal and

any other student athletes interned that Steve the off-season retooling begins right now Tar Heel fans hoping season two for Bill Belichick is a big improvement from this season. Trey we'll see again at 5 o'clock thanks well now to the stunning case against former Michigan football coach Sharon Moore today Moore made his first court appearance on charges of home invasion stalking and breaking and entering or Lauren Johnson joins us now in the studio with more on what happened today in court. Hey, Lauren. Hey, Barbara Moore appearing before a judge on a video feed from jail. It's the first time we saw him as he now faces three charges, including felony home invasion and two misdemeanor of stalking and breaking and entering charges. According to the prosecution, Moore and the victim in this case had an intimate relationship for a number of years.

They claim Moore had been contacting the victim after she broke up with him this past Monday. He also allegedly showed up at her apartment on Wednesday. barged his way into that apartment immediately then proceeded to a kitchen drawer, grabbed several butter knives and a pair of kitchen scissors, and began to threaten his own life. I'm going to kill myself. I'm going to make you watch. My blood is on your hands.

You ruined my life. And a series of very, very threatening, intimidating, intimidating, terrifying, quite frankly, statements. Well, as you know, Moore was fired this week after the school said in a statement that credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, Moore's defense, telling the court the 39-year-old has no criminal history and poses no threat to the public. The judge ordering Moore to be released on a $25,000 bond. He also is under court-ordered GPS monitoring, cannot leave the state. He has not yet entered a plea, and his next hearing is now set for January. Barbara and Steve. Yeah, stunning turn of events in Ann Arbor.

this week. Lauren, thank you. Still ahead here on eyewitness news. Five months after Tropical Storm Shantal hit Chapel Hill's East Gate Shopping Center with all that flooding. Some businesses are now able to reopen just in time for the holidays. While they're worried about potential flooding in the future. Also coming up here, you'll see the new pictures from what Democrats in Congress say are from the Jeffrey Epstein estate. I'm ABC's Perry Russell in Washington. House Democrats releasing new pictures from the Jeffrey Epstein estate, what they show and who's in them coming up. And we're taking a live look at I-40 at Airport Boulevard right now. You can see volume is heavy, at least on the right-hand side.

There's some sunshine breaking through. We'll talk more about that coming up. As we hit a break here, your traffic hotspots brought to you by the first alert weather team. Your first alert that we could have some low visibility. Warmer air working in. More clouds around tomorrow. The next chance of rain that we're watching. Always tracking, always alerting.

Wind gust will be up around 30 miles an hour. Your first alert forecast team. ABC 11, I Witness News. Canada's Wonderland is bringing the holiday magic this season with Winterfest on select nights now through January 3rd. Step into a winter wonderland filled with millions of dazzling lights, festive shows, rides, and holiday treats. Plus, Coca-Cola is back with Canada's kindness community, celebrating acts of kindness nationwide with a chance at 100,000 donation for the winning community and a 2026 holiday caravan stop. Learn more at canadaswunderland.com. It's not been five months since Tropical Storm Chantal hit our area.

And one of the hardest hit places you'll remember was the Chapel Hill Eastgate Shopping Center. Remember it well. This afternoon, eyewitness news returned to the area today where we found businesses preparing for the holidays. Akela Davis joins us now from Chapel Hill. Akela, good afternoon to you. Those businesses honoring this holiday season will, will they help them rebuild? Mm-hmm. So Barbara, here we are five months later in some businesses here in Eastgate Plaza.

still haven't reopened, but those that have tell me they're worried about potential flooding in the future. Honestly, logic says we're going to flood again. That's reality. I don't think they can stop floods. We all know that, but they can reduce the level of the flood. It's a real concern for Johnny Maria Kakas, who grew up in this plaza. Over the years, he's seen minor flooding, but nothing to the extent of what he saw with Tropical Depression Chantal. This was a devastating flood for Eastgate, for Chapel Hill University Mall, and for our Plaza. He reopened the day after Labor Day. The Chapel Hill Post Office reopened November 7th after being closed for months.

But around the corner in Eastgate Plaza, there are several businesses still closed from flood damage. Johnny says, while he's thankful to be open just in time for the holidays, this impacts his business. People that used to eat at Kippos restaurant, they love Greek food, and they want a bottle of Greek wine. They ask the waiter or the bartender, where can I get this wine? They say, Mario Cacchus is a Greek store.

You can get your Greek wine there. It's a benefit. And ahead at five, what the town of Chapel Hill is telling me about how it plans to support businesses in Eastgate Plaza, just in case this area floods again. Reporting live in Chapel Hill, Akela Davis, ABC 11, eyewitness news. Yes, it's tough for those business owners. It's a low-line spot. We've seen flooding repeatedly over the years. We hope for the best in the future.

But now, at least, Akila, we know where to get some Greek wine. if we need it right there. We'll see you again, see. Thanks. Well, new this afternoon, the nation's top historic preservation group is suing the Trump administration. It's seeking to block construction of President Trump's massive new White House ballroom

until review boards weigh in on the project. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a congressionally chartered non-profit that's tasked with preserving historic buildings. It said it was bringing the suit because its previous letter urging a pause on the project was disregarded. The group claims the construction project

is unlawful as asking a federal court. to halt further activity until the administration complies with review processes. The president, among many other presidents who have done renovations to the White House announced months ago his plans to replace the East Wing with the new ballroom. Also in Washington, Democrats in Congress releasing some new pictures today from what they say is the Jeffrey Epstein Estate. They include images of President Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and England's Prince Andrew. There are a small portion of the more than 95,000 pictures handed over by the Epstein Estate. Here's ABC's Perry Russum with the latest from Washington.

House Democrats today releasing pictures they say are from the hard drive of one of Jeffrey Epstein's personal computers and one of his email accounts. It includes a rare image of former President Bill Clinton standing alongside Epstein and his associate Elaine Maxwell. Another image shows President Trump with six women whose faces were redacted and former Prince Andrew with Bill Gates. The context, time frame, and location of the pictures are not known. Appearance of these men in the photos is not evidence of wrongdoing. House Democrats releasing 19 pictures and all, a small portion of the more than 95,000 the Epstein estate handed over. I think people should be able to make judgments on their own as to what they see in these photos. For us, this is about transparency.

The Department of Justice now has one week left to comply with the new Epstein Files Transparency Act. It was passed by Congress signed into law by President Trump, requiring the DOJ to release any Epstein records they have. It's a crime if they don't. It's not like they're in contempt. of Congress because they didn't respond to a subpoena, this is a new law with, you know, criminal implications if they don't follow it. The DOJ is also expected to release documents from the criminal case against Galane Maxwell, a federal judge this week granting the DOJ's motion to release grand jury materials and other evidence. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of helping Epstein and his abuse of underage girls.

Back to the pictures. A spokesperson for the Republicans in the House Oversight Committee is accusing the Democrats of cherry-picking photos to make President Trump look bad. Perry Russell, ABC News, Washington. The state of emergency is declared in Washington State after atmospheric river is dumped more than 15 inches of rain on parts of the state in the last few days, sparking historic river flooding and submerging neighborhoods. Officials say up to 100,000 people could be ordered to evacuate. The National Guard has been deployed to the area.

They are having such a tough time out of the Pacific Northwest with all that flooding right now. That video says at all, is that? Yeah, it does. All right. Let's talk about the weather around here. And Don warned us about this yesterday. We had several hours of snow flurries in Raleigh. But it's the best kind of snow. Didn't cause any trouble. That's right. I mean, I saw like maybe one or two hit my windshield on the way in. Yeah. And some of the northern counties had it accumulated in some of the cars and grassy areas like we talked about. It is now gone. The sun has returned. But let's talk about the extreme temperature swing we're going to see. Now these are feels like temperatures for tomorrow. The time's on the tidal there. And you'll notice at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Temperatures you're in. 50s so not too bad watch what happens as we walk into Sunday by Sunday morning 8 o'clock if you're headed out those feels like temperatures have dropped into the 20s still in the 30s down in Fayetteville then as we head toward the afternoon we see teens in Roxborough 20s in Raleigh as we go into Sunday night we're talking single digits across the region for those feels like numbers and it will

stay cold through the overnight let's talk about what we're seeing right now live look on your first alert Doppler net scanning the sky's not seeing any rainfall out there gorgeous sunset going to happen on the self-help sky cam as we're looking into downtown Fayetteville 47 degrees sunny skies on a northeast wind at eight we'll go from the 40s into the 20s tonight a few clouds pretty typical temperatures for this time of year if you're headed out to any of the parades tomorrow in the morning those temperatures are in the 20s there'll be cold start for the holly springs parade I know that's at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning or 10 o'clock tomorrow morning we'll see temperatures around 40 but they quickly climb by lunchtime we're up to

degrees. Satellite radar shows the snowflakes that were here. Looks a lot worse than it was because the lower atmosphere was extremely dry. So a lot of this moisture really got absorbed into the atmosphere. Looking back to the west tonight, we're not seeing much in the way of precipitation headed in. Here's your first alert predictor forecast model. By 11 o'clock tonight, we're down around freezing. Any Friday night plants will be just fine. You don't have to worry about any precipitation. Now tomorrow, 7 o'clock, we start today around freezing. By the afternoon, we recover into the 50s. It'll be a nice day out there for all of the plans on Saturday. Sunday that changes. By Sunday morning, these are air temperatures. We showed you the feels like temperatures earlier. It's going to be windy, and that'll knock those numbers down. But Sunday morning, we'll see those numbers falling. By 11 a.m., we're down into the mid-30s.

We'll hit our high temperature on Sunday around just after midnight. We do see a possibility of a few flurries out to the east, but I don't think it's going to be much. The bigger story will just be this cold air pouring in as we have. into the afternoon. By Sunday afternoon, those are air temperatures, not feels like numbers, and they're in the 20s. Forecast for tomorrow, though, a warm one, 57 degrees, mostly sunny on a south wind at five miles an hour. Your first alert seven-day forecast, powered by ACU weather. Sunday blustery is the word. It's going to be chilly, 43 degrees. First night of Hanukkah, a very cold one. Notice that temperature down to 16 in the overnight. Feels like numbers in the

single digits on Monday morning. Monday afternoon, we only recover under the 30s. But, hey, if you don't like the weather in North Carolina, just wait a day or two. 49 on Tuesday, Wednesday, 57, Thursday, 65, one of the warmest days we've seen in a while. Could see some rain, not snow, as we head into next Friday morning. But extremely cold night, Sunday night into Monday, the best news is one night only, and then we start to warm back up. Yeah, wow. That's a lot to juggle there.

right the blustery the temperature in the teams on sunday 65s like a roller coaster that's the good side yeah yeah thank you thanks on next year for one triangle city is among the top travel destinations in the entire country we'll tell you which one right after the break only one all right well if you're giving gift cards this holiday season we've got tips on how you can avoid getting scammed we are back now with a live look at the bull city from our tower cam in durham and a new report shows durham is actually one of the top travel destinations anywhere in the country for 2026. That's according to home to go.com. Durham is ranked among the top rising urban travel destinations in the country. The ranking highlights so-called second cities with activities and arts and other creative events as a

main attraction for travelers in the new year. Other cities making that new list include Baltimore and Detroit. Well time now for some news you can use. There is a new snack coming for people who are trying to cut down on sugar. Oreo zero sugar cookies are scheduled to debut in January. Oreo's parent company says it's worked on this treat for the past four years. Each sugar-free cookie has about 45 calories. That's nearly 10 fewer calories than a traditional Oreo. The sugar-free option will also be available in a double-stuff version. All right, it is the gift-giving season, and while gift cards are convenient,

it's important to protect the money you put on those cards from fraudsters. Here are some tips to do so. Always inspect a physical gift card. The pen should be concealed when you buy it. If the card's protective covering has been scratched off, revealing the pen, whoever stole the pen can drain your money from the card. So put it back. Check for a sticker with a fake barcode covering, the real barcode. The fake code is linked to a card account that the scammer controls.

And do not buy gift cards from online auction sites. Your safest option may be to buy a card online from a reputable retailer. Well, Raleigh's Seaboard Station has a new bakery, French-Asian Bakery, and French-Asian Bakery. and cafe to la jour that means every day in french officially opens its first location in the city of oaks the bakery features different coffee drinks baked goods specialty cakes and more our crew stopped by the business today is it hosted its grand opening it's located at seven seaboard avenue that's a tough assignment for news you can use right steve that's right hey that french just rolled off your tongue oh well you know i took it for eight years

that's all okay you need to speak some more french to us and french and asian at a bakery That sounds amazing. That's worth checking out in Raleigh. All right, still ahead here on eyewitnesses. The city of Fayetteville is getting ready to kick off the holidays, and we're checking in with leaders on what you can expect to see during tomorrow's Christmas parade as the Sandhills gets ready to kick off the holiday season. And the push to make an elite private school in Wake County more accessible to more kids. How leaders at Carey Academy are helping families cover the cost of tuition.

You and Santa? Best rappers out there. But Reese's wants to know What about the best unwrapping moment? Reese's peanut butter cups Put your unwrapping skills to the test And with three cups of creamy peanut butter And smooth chocolate per pack You get your practice in

Experiencing that sweet and salty satisfaction Again and again and again Santa gets cookies You get Reeses Nothing else is Rees All right if you're looking for something festive to do this weekend and tomorrow kicks off the 26th annual Fayetteville Rotary Club Christmas Parade. And Penelope Lopez spoke with one of the organizers to find out how they're bringing Christmas magic to downtown Fayetteville.

The beloved Fayetteville holiday tradition is returning to Hay Street, and you can feel the excitement across the city. Here's what you need to know ahead of the big celebration. It's like one of the hallmark events for our community, and it always brings everyone out and everyone's always in the Christmas spirit. The city of Fayetteville is gearing up for one of its largest parades this Saturday. Coordinated through the efforts of the Fayetteville Rotary Club, the parade attracts several thousands of people each year. Yes, I think it really just captures the true spirit of Christmas. Fayetteville Rotary Club chair, Brandon Price outlines what you can expect. The floats coming down, listening to the great bands, our high school bands, do a fantastic job of entertaining the crowds.

All of the local businesses that are handing out candy. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Pearson Street it's best to arrive early as the roads leading to downtown will be closed. One we're going to start on time so that's important and we have one of the larger parades in the Carolinas and so it'll be very tightly secured we do a bomb sweep at six in the morning and so at that point there will be no more vehicles in or out of the perimeter of downtown so get here early plan to get here early because it will certainly be packed and get this this year's there's more than 100 entries, including nine marching bands and the crowd favorite, Santa Claus.

Coming up at 5.30, hear from one local business owner about how they're preparing for the big day. Reporting in Fayetteville, Penelope Lopez, ABC 11, eyewitness news. All right, Penelope, thank you, and a number of other communities are getting in on the holiday fun tomorrow, holding parades of their own and our own ABC 11 team members will be making appearances at all of them. In addition to Amber Penelope and the ABC 11 Storm Chaser in Fayetteville, our Steve Daniels will be at the Durham Holiday Parade, which steps off at 10 a.m., and while Don will be popping up at both the Holly Springs, Happy Holidays Parade, which starts at 10 a.m. and the Carrie J.C.'s Christmas parade, which starts at 2 p.m. He is all over the place tomorrow, so we hope to see you all out there. Yeah, it's going to be a big day parades tomorrow. All right, let's take a look at some other headlines in your 4 o'clock speed feed. First, it's time to celebrate in Durham's graduation day at NC Central University, the 140. 106 commencement exercises taking place at McDougald-McClendon Arena. The ceremony for the graduate professional and doctoral students took place this morning.

And the undergraduate ceremony was at 2 o'clock this afternoon. NC State and UNC also holding graduation ceremonies here in the Triangle this weekend. Let's go to Wake County now where Mills Park Middle School and Kerry is celebrating a special honor. The school was named one of four winners of the inaugural North Carolina Blue Ribbon School Award. It's new recognition from the State Department of Public Construction honoring exceptional academic achievement and student growth. Apex Friendship Middle School, also honored with that same recognition. And Gardner Police holding a fundraiser benefiting the Special Olympics of North Carolina. Take a look, the Gardner PD taking over the Chick-fil-A drive-thru there.

Accepting donations at the same time. All the proceeds do go directly to benefit our friends at Special Olympics. That's the Speed Feed. Barbara, back over to you. All right, Steve, thank you. Well, new this afternoon. Carrie Academy is working to make private school more accessible by the covering of the cost of tuition for some families. The school announced its initiative called the Charter Charger Promise that would cover the full cost of attendance, including tuition, dining, transportation, before care, and extended day programs for families earning $100,000 or less a year.

We hope that this opens up the realm of possibilities, and more families realize that private schools and a school like Carey Academy could be in their financial future. Carrie Academy offers other financial assistance as well. The new initiative is an expansion of that financial assistance program. Applications are currently open for charge or promise. The financial aid would be offered for the 26-27 school year. We are covering the Carolinas right now, and we're learning some new details about a fight and a deadly stabbing at a North Carolina high school this week. Authorities in Forsyth County now say no charges will be filed in the case. The district attorney says the 16-year-old student who died is the person who took the knife to school on Tuesday.

The other 18-year-old student was injured while defending himself. the teens were actually friends. Students at North Forsyth High did return to school today. The search for a missing Charlotte mom comes to a tragic end. The body of 31-year-old Frisia Baker's body was found yesterday afternoon inside her car. Her family reported her missing last Thursday after she left her home. They say she called them that night, saying she was an hour away, but they didn't hear from her after that. Her body was found inside her car yesterday morning behind a Charlotte church. Police are now investigating the death as a homicide. No arrests have been made.

Grocery stores have announced they're no longer carrying North Carolina Sycamore Brewing products. It comes after the owner of the Charlotte Brewery was accused of statutory rape. According to court documents, Justin Brigham broke into a Stanley County home and raped a 13-year-old girl. The judge calls the allegations egregious and set bond at $10 million. Brigham is the co-owner of Sycamore Brewing and Charlotte South End. His wife Sarah released a statement after the arrest saying he will have no further involvement in the company. Coming up all new at four, Christmas is only days away. ship those holiday gifts yet the window for your presence to arrive on time is closing yeah clock

is ticking after the break eyewitness news going one-on-one with local postal workers who are working to make sure your packages do arrive in time for the holiday plus the north carolina tic-tok star ordered to pay nearly two million dollars for breaking up a marriage is setting the record straight about her relationship what she said this afternoon when it comes to paying that hefty fine important tips from some of the busiest people in the area this time of year. We're talking about the people at the Postal Service. Busy like nobody's business. All right, here's what the experts tell you to do if you want to avoid lost mail,

porch pirates, and missing those important shipping deadlines. Antoine, welcome. A 22-year veteran with the United States Postal Service is in the middle of his busiest time of year. We're extremely busy. This is a frantic part of the year, but the perfect time for the Postal Service to shine and do what's best for the customers and providing an excellent service.

Customers have to do their part, too, especially if you want your letter or package delivered on time. Don't procrastinate. Make sure the address is legible and the zip code is correct. Tape your package securely and be mindful of porch pirates. Obviously, there are a lot of people that's just riding through different neighborhoods, canvassing to see if people are picking up their packages. And it makes a challenge if you don't have a covered porch or a safe place to put your package.

Welcome suggests getting informed delivery. That's a free USPS service that provides a lot of help, including showing images of your packages and when they'll arrive. The Postal Service is trying to modernize, especially in the highly competitive space of package delivery services. So over the past five years, we have really invested in modernizing our network. We've installed 600 high-speed package sorting machines in the last five years. Our daily capacity to process packages is $88 million per day across the country. So we've installed a lot of high-speed packet sorting machines here in the triangle, throughout North Carolina, and throughout the country.

With 14,000 seasonal employees nationwide, look for postal carriers delivering earlier in the day and later in the evening. So maybe you could leave a porch light on and a clear path to the mailbox. All right, the mail-by dates are December the 17th. If you want to send something first-class mail, UPS Ground Advantage. December the 18th for USPS Priority Mail, December the 20th for USPS Priority Mail Express. If you have any additional questions,

you can call 1-800 Ask USPS. So really only have like maybe one more week to get that shopping done and sent out. A lot of shopping being done this weekend, I know for sure. And that was a really enlightening view of what they're dealing with and ways we can make sure this stuff is getting words going to. Yeah, they're trying to modernize.

There's a lot of competition in that space. Yeah, very interesting. Getting those packages shipped. Up next, get ready to relieve relive Taylor Swift's Aeros Tour, one last time. Yeah, the pop star has a new docu series coming to Disney Plus, and it's giving fans a closer look at a record-breaking world tour. Plus, the heartwarming moment of women.

was surprised with an early four-legged Christmas present. Uh-oh. All right, it is Taylor Swift's World, and we're apparently just living in it. The pop superstar is giving fans one last gift before closing the curtain on her record-breaking era's tour. Not one, but two new projects dropped today on Disney Plus. Entertainment reporter Joelle Gorgullo has details. It's the era that keeps on giving.

We have done something that no one has ever done. The question now. Are you ready for it? Taylor Swift dropping not one but two new Disney Plus projects. First up, the end of an era, a six-part docu series, pulling back the curtain on her record-breaking eras tour. The first two episodes out now with new ones dropping weekly, leading up to the finale on December 26th,

a Christmas gift for Swifties everywhere. The series gives fans a never-before-seen look at the inner workings of what it took to create the phenomenon. Oh, my God. This is the biggest challenge any of us have ever done. And an inside look at her life as the tour made history and headlines.

I'm going to thank every single one of you for being a part of the most thrilling chapter of my entire life to date. It features Gracie Abrams, Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Shearin, and Lawrence Welch, along with her band, dancers, crew, and family. Very early on, she just knew she was going to have to work hard.

But I don't think you, ever for a split second thing, it will become this. The doc, dropping a day before her 36th birthday, also sees the superstar discussing a thwarted terror attack, targeting one of her concerts in Vienna. I'm gonna, like, meet some of these families tonight. Also streaming today, Taylor Swift, the Erez Tour final show, the full concert film captured in Vancouver during the tour's final night.

It features the entire Tortured Poets Department set, which was added to the tour after the album's release earlier this year. We've had so long to prepare for the end of this tour. And we get to play one last show for you here tonight. And while this may be the end of this era, for Swifties, a blank space, just means they're ready for whatever Taylor does next. It was the end of an era at the start of an age. And you can watch it now on Disney Plus, Joel Gajulo.

Thank you. All right, let's check out today's top trending stories in real news. First, Christmas came a little early for a woman in Florida when her husband unveiled the ultimate Christmas gift she was not expecting. inside that bag with us. That's Aaron and inside there, she's going to pull it out here for us. Her new Persian kitten, as you can see, she was nearly brought to tears when she opened the gift. She says she hasn't named the kitten yet, but she is taking all recommendations right now. All right, a dog's Christmas tree Tugawar may have just landed this guy on the naughty list. Look at what he did in the house. The video shows the dog pulling on the tinsel on the fully decorated tree. Eventually, the tree comes crashing down right there. And yeah, he gets on out of there.

He doesn't want to get hit by that thing. His owner shared the video on social media saying it looks like the dog won the game of Tug of War. And now the owner's saying, all right, we got to get this Christmas tree back up here, get back in business. That dog's not only getting out of the way. He knows he's in trouble too. Oh, big trouble. He better go hide in the corner right now. Absolutely.

All right, I think the dogs are going to have to be bundled up along with the rest of us for some walking on Sunday and Monday. Yeah, you're going to have to watch it. Maybe put their little jacket on if you're going to take them for a walk. It's going to be so cold out there. Absolutely. Now, tonight's not too bad. It will be a little chilly. Our pet of the day, you can see this is King Kane out of Sanford.

And just before the cold weather, getting ready for it. If you're walking your pup tonight, temperatures across the region will fall through the 30s. By 10 o'clock, we're down to 32 degrees. So they may need a jacket tonight. They'll definitely need one as we head through Sunday night. Live look on your first alert Doppler Network, we're dry. All the snow is out of here. We'll head live out to the cocabooth in the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival underway.

Look at that big commoto dragon, sitting its eyes on the little kid walking through. They're 40 degrees right now. Feels like temperatures aren't too bad, but that will change by the end of the weekend. For tonight, though, if you've got plans, those numbers stay in the 30s all the way through 10 o'clock. We'll talk more about that cold air on Sunday in your first alert forecast coming up. Let's find out what else is coming up at 5 o'clock. For more on that, we check in with Lauren Johnson. Well, Don, North Carolina continues to be a hot spot this time.

It's not for being a great place to work or to live millions of dollars coming in grant money for three productions to shoot films and movies here. With that cash, nearly 5,000 new jobs are coming. More on those projects, including one set to air right here on ABC. And we have an update tonight on the Tropical Storm Chantal recovery efforts that are happening in Chapel Hill. Akela Davis is talking to town leaders around what they're doing to support businesses in that Eastgate Shopping Center in case of any future flooding. Okay, before you crank up your Christmas music, we have a warning for you tonight, and it does not affect the humans in your home, but the precious pups and their sensitive hearing, which songs are pets find to be pretty problematic. And let's stick with the Christmas theme and talk about your holiday packages that are coming to your front door. The porch pirates have up the ante and gotten a little more advanced this season, why their sights are now set on your key fobs and your ring cameras.

And speaking of shopping, the clock is ticking to cross more items off your list. But before you do, you might want to pay closer attention to those tariffs that could change your price tag. We have some tips so you can keep more of your cash. When we see you next here at 5 o'clock. I'll see you then, Steve. Barbara. All right, Lauren, thank you. All right, right now at 4, the North Carolina TikTok star found responsible for breaking up a marriage and in order to pay nearly $2 million.

She's now speaking out. Yeah, her name is Bray Montague. She appeared exclusively on the Tameran Hall show this afternoon right here on ABC 11. She was alongside her current husband, Tim. The two revealed they dated for a year back in high school when they were 15 and going to school growing up in Raleigh. And their romantic relationship began last July after Brune, who was going through some marriage problems, stayed at Tim's home, along with his former wife Akira for about a week. How did you feel when you heard those words? She lost her husband and the father of her children because of you.

It's easy to paint out a villain in someone's story, and I was that villain, sadly, but I know that I didn't cause a happy home to break. I know I didn't take the children from their dad. I know I didn't do those things. I can take accountability for the things that I've done, especially, you know, I made that clear in court. I wasn't the best husband. I know that. However, the things that are being said, you know, things, it's kind of hard to really. get into without saying too much.

Because this is still ongoing as you see it. Right, correct. This was an unprecedented amount of money that you are now responsible to pay. You've said you're not paying it? Yes. You're not paying it. I can say it's hard to.

It's hard to. I don't have that kind of money. The two said they've been navigating a rocky time with a lot of negative reaction to their case, but it's actually brought them closer together. The $1.75 million judgment is the third highest ordered in North Carolina. Akira and her attorney said the case is not about money but confronting betrayal. You can watch that full interview with her.

She did here with eyewitness news last month. It's streaming right now at ABC11.com. It's a story that we've been covering very closely here at eyewitness news. And now people across the country are aware of what unfolded right here in the trial. You know about the law, but some of the people who are involved in it, you don't always get to hear about it. Absolutely. We have now. making a change one tractor at a time. Coming up next and four, we're taking you to L.S. Tractor in Rocky Mount,

why the South Korean company chose Nash County for its U.S. operations.