ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 5am - June 8, 2026

Episode Date: June 8, 2026

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Right now, live coverage from your local news leader, breaking stories from overnight and this morning, and your first alert forecast. Here's what's happening where you live. This is ABC 11, I Witness News. 5 a.m., brand new work week. Good morning. Carolina, welcome on this Monday. It's June 8th. I'm Joel Brown. And I'm Anna Rivera. Thanks so much for joining us today. Breaking news this morning, a car crash causing issues near downtown Raleigh. A power pole is down, and traffic lights are toppled. How this could impact your morning commute. Breaking news overnight in Durham, DPD investigating a shooting and an apartment complex, a closer look at the scene straight ahead.

And breaking overseas, Iran and Israel trade attacks threatening a new wave of turmoil across the Middle East. We'll have all of the latest updates coming up. Time for a first check of weather. We'll do traffic together as well at 5 a.m. meteorologist Quailant Murphy is here. Still not a lot of rain, but a lot of heat. Yeah, a lot of heat today. Still 90s for high temperatures.

A little bit of rain showing up this morning. We do have a cold front on the way that's going to move through later today. So we'll have a chance for some spotty showers, maybe an isolated storm like we're seeing right now. We have one of those areas of locally heavy downpour potential showing up near Scotland neck towards Hobgood. Rich Square seeing some rainfall near you. Overall this morning, I think rather quiet and dry. But then we'll have a chance for a few pop-up showers and storms this afternoon. A few could pop up around the triangle, but in general, the best chance for rain and storms today will be south and west of the triangle through the afternoon and early evening.

Here's a live look downtown. We are in the 70s right now. So a degree warmer than yesterday. It's very muggy out. You'll notice that still with dew point temperatures into the 60s right now. Temperature wise, 70s in the triangle, Faville, Clinton, Goldsboro, upper 60s for Silers City over towards Burlington. Mid-60s for Oxford, partly cloudy on the way into school. Mid-70s on the way home, isolated storm chance. Temperatures in the low to mid-90s. For your evening, we'll hold on to that heat. Still near 90 at 6 o'clock, mid-80s by 8 o'clock, and then by 10, we're at 77 degrees. By that time, the rainfall will have come to an end. Pretty much each day this week, we'll have a chance for a spotty shower or storm at least.

Heading into the end of the week. We're not tracking only rain and storm potential, but also heat building with feels like temperatures into the triple digits. We'll talk more about that and a few minutes. Right now, weather and traffic together. Anna, back to you. So, Quaylan, overall picture is quiet right now. The DOT cameras, because we're not dealing with. with many slowdowns.

This is 40 and US 1. Traffic is moving. It's frozen at this point on the DOT cameras off to give a look at that. But we are following breaking news. This morning, a car crashed into a power pole overnight on South Sonder Street near downtown Raleigh. So this is video of that scene and the car badly damaged

and traffic lights toppled. Sean Coffey is there following the latest. Sean, is this going to cause a disruption to the morning commute? Yeah, and it's possible at this point. We're still waiting to receive word on when this road reopened, but South Saunders at this hour southbound coming out of downtown Raleigh does remain closed as RAPD and emergency crews as well as the power company worked to get the debris out of the roadway and that power pole up readed as well. Now let's go back to that video from when our crew arrived earlier on scene here. We could see the serious damage to the vehicle involved in this wreck as that car appeared to leave the roadway over this grassy median before striking a power, another power pole near the Harley Davidson dealership just south of downtown Raleigh. Again, that car took down traffic. lights near the Harley Davidson just south of here. We're still working to learn more about what

led up to this crash and if there were any injuries involved as well. Now, I did just speak with the RPD watch commander a short while ago. He was only able to confirm that the road will remain closed until that power pole is out of the roadway. But behind me, you can still maybe see traffic lights are down as well. Another power company vehicle just actually arrived here in just the last three to five minutes. So they are trying to get this cleaned up as quickly as possible, but we'll provide another update for you in a half hour. This is an area you're going to want to avoid as you're starting your morning commute. Back to you guys.

Yes, Sean, we'll let us know when and if RPD gives the all clear. Sean, thank you. We're in the Breaking News Center now following a shooting overnight on the east side of Durham. I witness news on the scene at the Hoover Road Apartments. This is new video from the scene. Investigators combing that area for clues. Still unclear if anyone was hurt or arrested. Stay with us for updates through the morning.

Also developing from over the weekend, Durham police investigating another shooting that sent one man to the hospital. This one happens Saturday night at the intersection of Queen and Liberty Streets. We're told the victim is expected to survive. No word on suspects, arrests or a motive. Happening today, Durham County leaders set to vote on their budget plan amid growing criticism. Officials say they're focusing on education funding, public safety needs, and maintaining core services. But that comes at a price. Tamara Scott is live from the Durham County Commissioner.

building following all of the details. Tamara, good morning. Hey, good morning and a Durham County commissioners are set to vote on a more than one billion dollar budget spending plan that includes proposed increased property tax and millions more for Durham public schools, but it's still far less than what school leaders had originally requested. Now the county managers proposed budget includes the two cent property tax increase and nearly $11 million in additional funding for Durham public schools. School leaders had asked for a much larger increase about $28.5 million for things like staff pay raises, classroom resources, and building improvements. Now previously, school employees packed commissioner chambers urging them to fund a minimum wage

increase to just over $19 an hour. County leaders say they are facing a difficult balancing act with less than $1 million in new revenue available this budget cycle, while county departments submitted roughly $68 million in funding request. Commissioners have also pointed to slower property and sales tax revenue growth as they work to finalize that spending plan before tonight's deadline. Now public education remains Durham County's single largest expense in this budget plan and tonight's vote is expected to determine not only how much money goes to the schools, but whether those employee raises will stay in the budget. Back to you. Durham County Commissioners meeting at 7 p.m. Tamara, thank you. The former Raleigh High School teacher

accused of sexually abusing children over nearly a decade is back in court today. That is Stephen Coles, A career and tech teacher brought in high school now facing 19 charges involving three victims. Coles has been in jail without bonds since his arrest last month. He's now banned from any contact with anyone under 18. The school says none of the alleged abuse happened on campus. As concerns over immigration grow across the country and here in the triangle, local faith leaders are coming together to support immigrants with critical resources. Hundreds gathered at Edenton Street United Methodist Church in downtown Raleigh yesterday.

for the Interfaith United for Immigrants meeting. The group which was formed by religious leaders hopes to educate immigrants about their rights. Organizers say the group was started after many faith leaders began hearing stories of people being afraid to go to work or school and unsure about their legal rights. It isn't one faith community. It's many faith communities which often do not share a lot in common coming together, all saying no, we are a welcoming nation and we want to live in a way that it respects that tradition of America, but also what our faith calls us to do. There will be several more events like this over the summer. Organizers say they're also planning training sessions for people to understand their legal rights when dealing with immigration enforcement. Time now 507 and happening now. Authorities intensifying their manhunt for two

escaped inmates in Vance County. They're still on the run. We've got the latest details coming up next half hour. Plus the Carolina Hurricanes gearing up for game four of the Stanley final tomorrow night. Head coach Rod Brindamore weighing in after Saturday's devastating double overtime loss. Good morning. Good morning. That was a tough one. This morning we're tracking some really isolated showers north and east. Today we'll have a 30% chance of rain and storms in the triangle a little higher for area south and lower north. But all of us getting in on the 90s today, changes tomorrow. More than that by forecast. And here your traffic hotspots brought to you by the first alert, the Fred Anderson family of dealerships on Glenwood Avenue. Fred Anderson Toyota. Fred

Anderson Kia, Fred Anderson Nissan, all home of the Fred Anderson family plan, including lifetime oil changes, lifetime car washes on all new Toyota's Kia's Nissan's and hundreds of used cars. The Fred Anderson family plan saves your family thousands while giving you lasting value with every mile you drive. Thinking of selling or trading your current vehicle, Fred Anderson Anderson wants to pay you more even if you don't buy from us. Get the family plan at Fred Anderson, Toyota, Fred Anderson Kia, and Fred Anderson, Nissan Nissan, all on Glenwood Avenue. 511. Welcome back on this Monday. A live look from RDU. You can see a bit more cloud cover around this morning, but we're completely dry around the triangle. Right now, we do have some spotty rainfall north and east, mainly into eastern Halifax, Northampton County.

It's a bit more cloud cover to the south as well, but we'll see some breaks in the clouds at times today. There is a cold front coming in from the north, so we will introduce a chance for spotty showers and storms, mainly this afternoon, and the best shot in general today, south and west of the triangle. in the triangle. I'm going to hold on to a 20% chance of rain and storms and pretty isolated for areas to the north. But we all get in on 80s by lunchtime today, close to 90 in the sandhills by noon and low to mid 90s for high temperatures this afternoon. We're looking at some rain and storm spotty really through the end of the week. So each day we'll have a chance for showers and storms. At the coast, there is a moderate to high threat of rip currents. So that hasn't changed much since last week. Temperatures climbing into the low to mid 80s today, even some upper 80s

at the coast this afternoon. And 70s and 80s in the mountains, a chance for a few showers in storms as well as a cold front works through. Pretty quiet on early traffic in the skies this morning. No delay showing up on our major hubs, but that of course could change later today. You already see some unsettled weather

for central parts of the country down to the Gulf South. Best risk for severe storms today will be over the plain states this afternoon. Temperatures will be around 92 in Orlando for highs, 80 in Atlanta, mid-70s, New York City and rather dry here. But for the century, United States, especially mid-Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley. There could be some flash flooding occurring there with slow-moving storms.

93 in Dallas, 73 degrees in Los Angeles. A small heat break for us tomorrow. It doesn't last. I'll have more on that when it comes back. Joel, back to you. Quaylan, thank you. We're back on the Breaking News Center. Tensions escalating to new levels across the Middle East.

Israel and Iran trading strikes overnight, appearing to shatter an already fragile ceasefire. Israel struck military targets in Iran. Despite warnings from President Trump to stand down, we've also learned Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels targeted Israel after Israel hit Beirut's southern suburbs yesterday. President Trump insisting this latest wave of unrest will not impact peace talks with Tehran. And also breaking this morning, at least 19 people are dead and hundreds of others are injured after a massive earthquake hit the Philippines. It happened in the southern part of the country triggering a three-foot tsunami along nearby coast. New video showing the devastation across the region.

The 7.8 magnitude quake destroyed buildings and damage critical infrastructure. Crews are now searching for survivors buried beneath the debris. 14 minutes passed and we are only a few days away from the World Cup kickoff. How officials are working to protect massive crowds across North America. Plus a few teams training here in North Carolina. And Chapel Thrill, living up to its nickname, all of the highlights from UNC Baseball's epic win. U.S.C.

517 and it was a violent weekend across parts of the country. First in New York City, at least five people stabbed at Penn Station yesterday evening. Officials say they arrested a suspect experiencing homelessness shortly after the attack. Security is already tied in New York City right now ahead of the NBA finals at Madison Square Garden tonight with President Trump set to attend the game. Meanwhile, in Ohio, authorities intensifying their search for several gunmen involved in a shooting from over the weekend. Officials say at least 12 people were injured during the attack. It happens Saturday in an outdoor festival in Toledo.

The victims ranging in age from 14 to 61. Police believe at least two shooters were involved. President Trump isn't ruling out the possibility of providing payouts to January 6th rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol, including those who pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers. The president continues to advocate for a so-called anti-weaponization fund that would compensate people, he says, were wrongly targeted under the Biden administration. However, the acting attorney general announced they are scrapping the fund after rare revolt from Senate Republicans. Trug defending the plan today in an interview with NBC News.

The people were destroyed by dirty cops and by weaponization. Many of those people should be compensated. More than 1,500 people tied to the January 6th attack were charged in federal court, according to the Department of Justice. The countdown to kickoff is on. we are only a few days away from the World Cup and final security props are underway at stadiums and cities across North America, from California to Georgia to New York to Canada. Law enforcement will use hunter drones that can shoot nets over objects in restricted airspace. They'll also use robot dogs that can inspect bags and giant X-ray trucks along with AI powered cameras. This all comes as several World Cup teams are training across North Carolina right now, including Germany and Winston.

In Salem, Norway and Greensboro and Scotland over in Charlotte, the World Cup begins on Thursday. It's getting close. I know. It's exciting. This is a fun time to be rooting for soccer. That's it. Which I know nothing about. What I do know about is these 90s.

Yeah, they're here pretty much all week long. We get one little break tomorrow. It's a really small break. Looking at some spotty rainfall this morning, north and east. Eastern Hampton, Northampton County in Halifax counties, seeing some really isolated rain right now. But our focus remains the heat this week. Our average high is 86.

Today will be around 94 degrees. Tomorrow there's a little break because we have a front coming through today. So it pulls down on some of that heat level. 93 though on Wednesday. Then we're back to mid and upper 90s for high Thursday and Friday. But when you factor in humidity right through the end of the week and into the weekend, it's going to feel like closer to 100 plus degrees. Over downtown Raleigh, we have mainly cloudy conditions.

There'll be enough breaks in the clouds to see some sun this morning. Out the door temperatures in the triangle, low 70s, mid-60s in Roxburgh, Sanford, 69 degrees, low 70s, Goldsboro, and Fayetteville. So you'll feel the warmth and humidity out the door this morning. Winds have a bit of a westerly component this morning, so the air is still rather dry early on. If you have some tea time set up for today, you'll risk the chance for spotty storms this afternoon about early on. Just humidity you'll have to deal with in the warmth. 84 at 10, around 90 degrees at lunchtime today, highs mid-90. So here's that cold front. Moving closer for us today. Moistures starved in general. Best shot at rain and storms will come by the afternoon and evening and really best south and west of the triangle. I'm not rolling out spotty storms in the triangle this afternoon. All of us finished with the rainfall before midnight. Tonight tomorrow morning may be a spotty shower in the morning, but otherwise most of the day will be fairly dry. I'm going to hold on to a 20% chance of rain Tuesday. And then into Wednesday our next disturbance approaches. So that's going to bring some spotty rain in the morning, but a better chance for a few showers.

and storms by early afternoon before we start to see drier conditions on Wednesday. So we'll bank on rain potential, sort of spotty through Wednesday. And then by the end of the week, a pattern changed. So I've bumped the rain chances up starting Friday into the weekend to 40 percent. Rain totals through the next five days will be under one inch for the area. In the tropics, the Atlantic Bayes and no development expected in the next seven days. So we're looking all good as far as that goes. High temperatures today, low to mid 90s from the Triangle South, 92 Clinton, Fayetteville,

95 this afternoon. Tomorrow morning we start off mainly in the 60s so we'll also be a little bit cooler in the morning tomorrow closer to average. Focus on the temps this weekend. That chance for spotty storms near 90 tomorrow, 93 Wednesday by Thursday through your weekend. Feels like temperatures will easily be at 100 plus degrees Sunday. Late day showers and storms possible with high temperatures close to the mid 90s. Weather and traffic together, Anna, back to you. So, Quaylon, overall picture does look good. Of course, we do have Sean coffee live on the scene of that crash on South Saunders. We'll have an update on that in just a few minutes, but we also have another crash. This one's serious at 40 eastbound in South Saunders Street.

Right now, not causing any delays. Unfortunately, the cameras are not working in that area. I'm going to keep an eye on this. Hopefully can get that cleared pretty quickly. Let's take a live look outside now with the DOT cameras. This is 40 and Wade Avenue. Traffic is moving nicely as it slowly starts to fill in. We'll be right back after the break. Alerting you first. Hey, y'all, it's Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair. Ever order furniture online and wonder, what if? Like, what if it doesn't hold up?

That sofa was four days old. You should have ordered from Wayfair. With Wayfair, there's no what if. Just style you love and quality you can trust. Visit Wayfair.com. Wayfair, every style, every home. First alert weather on ABC 11. OpenAI is reportedly overhauling chat GPT.

Here's ABC's Hannah Battaugh with this morning's Techbytes. In today's Techbytes, OpenAI is reportedly sprucing up chat GPT before going public. The Financial Times says the company is looking to turn the chat bot into a super app to boost revenue. The overhaul is expected to include a redesigned chat GPT interface with new coding tools and other features. Next, a new device helps you stay cool in the extreme heat. The therobody cryotherm palm cools the palm and helps lower core body temperature. It can also be used for heat therapy. The device costs about $400.

Finally, this OG Green controller and console are meant to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Xbox Series X. Microsoft says they will be available together or separately when they go on sale and select markets in November. No word on pricing. Those are your TechBites. I'm Hannah Vita. Have a great day. Shmikadoon is Broadway's big winner. The musical comedy took home the Tony Award for Best Musical. at Radio City Music Hall last night, along with three other awards. It's an adaptation of the hit Apple TV show Smigadoon parodies,

a classic golden age musicals, and beats out a competitive field of new Broadway productions for the top honor. Happening today, tennis legends Serena Williams making a major comeback. She will compete in doubles at the Queens Club alongside her Canadian partner. The 44-year-old never officially retired from the game, but it has been nearly four years since her last match. And months later, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champ gave birth to her second daughter. 527 now. And the proposed WakeMed Atrium merger that sparked major controversy back in the spotlight today.

We'll tell you why coming up after the break. And breaking overnight a car crashing into a power pole near downtown Raleigh, toppling traffic lights, causing possible problems for your morning commute. We'll get a live report straight ahead.