ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 5am - September 22, 2026

Episode Date: September 22, 2026

Eyewitness News at 5am - September 22, 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 eyewitness news. We are on the air at 5 a.m. Good morning, Carolina. Welcome on this Tuesday, September 22nd. I'm Joel Brown. And I'm Bianca Holman in for Anna Rivera this morning. Thanks for waking up with us. All right. In a matter of hours, President Trump will deliver remarks at the U.S.

General Assembly. He's also meeting with world leaders amid the wars in Iran and Ukraine. We've got a preview straight ahead. Plus the mega merger moving forward, Wakeman and Atrium, one step closer to sealing the deal where things stand after yesterday's vote and what happens now. And there's a flood risk for parts of our area today. We're tracking an isolated severe weather threat with possible scattered storms and evening rain. It is time for a first check of our weather. We'll also do traffic together. Meteorologist Quaylin Murphy. is here and I don't know if you're watching the clock with just a few hours left in summer. I know of summer. Please don't go summer. It's going and a lot of people are like bring it on on the fall air.

We've got some cooler air coming. Today's going to be a transition day for us. We'll be in the 80s this afternoon. Your first alert this morning. Some of you have some fog to deal with on the morning commute, but most of us will be dry later today. As school is letting out, we'll have a few isolated storms. That chance goes up this evening. By the evening, we'll have that risk for flooding increasing. threat today is a level two of four. So this is more concerning than the severe weather threat. The severe weather risk is really isolated to the west of the triangle for damaging winds later. This morning dry conditions to start. There's some rain off to the west. Here's at front, settled over the region now. So that's going to help trigger more showers and storm. So through lunchtime, fairly dry for the most part. And then as we get into the late afternoon,

especially early evening hours, storm chances will climb. A live look into downtown at 69 degrees, mainly cloudy. A little switch of the wind down with that front just south of the triangle. We're cooler than yesterday by five degrees in some spots a little bit less humid as well. Temperatures in the 60s triangle north and west. 70 still from Fayetteville to Clinton, 72 degrees in Rocky Mountain Wilson. Here's the fog. It's patchy around the airport now, down to less than two miles and less than two miles for person county too. Running up and down into the triangle at this point, seeing some fog around Nash, Edgecombe into Wilson County. as well. For your evening, plan for storms, plan for slow commutes, temperatures in the 70s through nine, back to the 60s by 10 tonight. So we will be stormy later today. Fall arrives this evening, 8.05 p.m. It's going to be damp, cool, and breezy Wednesday and Thursday. I think you'll need an entirely different wardrobe as we get through the middle of the week. Jackets for sure. More of those you like that, Joel. More of those chilly mornings when I come back. Right now, weather and traffic together. Bianca, back to you. All right, Quailan, thank you. Well, you heard Quaylin.

mention the fog, so be careful when you get on the roadways. There may be some fog in your area. But right now, our roads are looking pretty good. There is a motorist assist that is happening at 440 Eastbound in Glenwood Avenue, but you should be all right. And taking a look outside. Here goes a live look at the roads right now. This is 40 and Airport Boulevard moving pretty smoothly here at 503. Global wars, AI threats, climate catastrophes, all of it, taking center stage in New York City. As President Trump delivers a major speech at the U.N. General. Assembly. He is sent to speak at 10 o'clock. Right after that, he's meeting with a list of world leaders, including from the UK, Japan, Venezuela, Gulf Arab nations and Ukraine. New video

just into the newsroom showing Ukrainian president, Vladimir Zelensky, and Iran's top of diplomat arriving in New York. Wars involving both countries will dominate discussions. Iran's president arrives today ahead of his own speech to the assembly tomorrow. Stay with us for continuing coverage. A direct assault on the First Amendment. Several news outled suing President Trump over his White House ban. CNN, MSN now and Politico are seeking a temporary restraining order, demanding the administration restore their reporter's credentials. He kicked them out of the White House Friday, citing fake news,

claiming the organizations are a threat to national security. He told reporters he supports a free press, but says the media needs to be, quote, fair and honest. In response, all five major television networks announced they would not participate in pool coverage of the president. Voice your vote, Vice President J.D. Vans slamming Roy Cooper and making his own pitch to undecided voters during his visit to North Carolina. Vance rallied for GOP Senate nominee Michael Watley and Greensboro yesterday. Sean Coffey was there for it all. He joins us now from state Republican headquarters in Raleigh. Sean, good morning. Yeah, good morning, Joel. Well, we have seen Republican leadership pull out all of the stops in the last week or so with this visit from Vance coming just days after President Trump rallied for Michael Wattley and Wattley's hometown. of Gastonia, North Carolina.

And that shows the premium that the Republican leadership, even in Washington, is placing on this coveted Senate seat and this race. As recent polling shows that Roy Cooper continues to lead. And Cooper was a big part of the message yesterday with Vance, Watley, and other Republican leaders like Ted Bud and Congresswoman Virginia Fox, calling him a radical and the type of career politician

North Carolina voters cannot afford to elect. It is common sense versus craziness. It's about keeping taxes low, It's about rooting out fraud. It's about making it easier for hardworking American families to buy a home, to buy the medications they need to put food on the table. In response to North Carolina's Democratic Party said, quote, while Michael Watley is busy cozying up to his fellow DC insiders, North Carolinians are paying outrageous prices for gas thanks to Watley's war in Iran. Watley is looking out for his bottom line at the expense of North Carolinians, and that's exactly how he would abuse a seat in the Senate. And this election is already well underway with absentee ballots already out to those who had requested them from their county boards of election.

And for the latest on this U.S. Senate raid as well as those other races across North Carolina, state with eyewitness news. Live and Rowley, Sean, thank you. The proposed mega merger between Wake Med and Atrium Health now one step closer to becoming a reality for tens of thousands of people across the area. Wake County Commissioners voted five to two approving the controversial deal despite protests. Tamara Scott tracking all the latest from Wake Med. Tamara, good morning. Hey, good morning, Bianca. Many people protested this vote.

Eventually, deputies had to clear the room out before the vote actually happened. But ultimately, the Wake County Commissioners did vote to approve and move this merger forward. That's some of the tension that was started even before the commissioners took up the deal with folks urging them to vote no. There were concerns over what combining two major health systems could eventually mean for the cost of care. But commissioners who supported the deal pointed to several new protections added before the vote. Those included a five-year cap on price increases at WakeMed, along with a $150 million from atrium over 10 years for community needs, including mental health care, homelessness, and food insecurity. But repeated interruptions brought the meeting to a halt. Later, the board voted five to two to move forward, despite the concerns from some.

Honestly, I feel deeply mournful. It really is like I really wanted to plea with them. Just one more time to reconsider. I believe that they will come to regret the decision that they made tonight. And despite the vote last night, this merger is not final yet. It still has to go through regulatory review before WakeMed and HM can officially combine. Back to you. Still some work to do, but a big hurdle cleared last night.

Tamara, thank you. It is 507. And religious exemptions at public schools back in the spotlight in Wake County today. Everything we know about today's policy meeting. It's coming up later this hour. Well, it's the latest on a major airport outage impacting RDU. Stay with us for updates. Good morning, Quayland.

Hey, good morning. Storms could impact RDU later today. This morning, your commute will be on the drier side, even squeezing in some golf this morning to get out early. Highs in the 80s today. We'll talk about how much rain we could see in the next 24 hours in my forecast. All right now, here are your traffic hotspots. Brought to you by the Fred Anderson family dealerships on Glenwood Avenue.

Fred Anderson Toyota. Fred Anderson, Nissan. All home of the Fred Anderson Family Plan, including Lifetime Oil Change. 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 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, all on Glenwood Avenue. 511 is the time, your first alert that we do have a higher flood risk for today as we see some stronger storms, especially into the evening hours. today. So please keep this in mind ahead of travel. ABC 11 app is a great tool to see where the rain is at the time you're heading out. Here's our radar on satellite composite dry this morning, but we have clouds and some fog around as well, especially around the Roxborough area. Here's a live look here. So kind of dark, but as we get close to the sunrise, we'll start to see more of the impacts with the lower visibility. As far as 8 o'clock this morning is concerned, temperatures in the 60s and 70s will still be on the drier side by lunchtime today, mid-70s north into the 80s and the triangle. the sand hills 80s for the sand hills and the triangle highs today but only 70s for areas north and rain chances will be climbing this evening is going to be soggy stormy at times rain will be locally

heavy will be in the 60s and 70s between 9 and 10 o'clock tonight in terms of rainfall in the next 24 hours most of us will pick up under one inch that's the GFS really surging those rainfall totals here in the next 24 hours there will be some downpours and wherever we see a setting up of training that's where we could see some heavier rainfall potential and accumulation. Rip current threat is low for the most part along the coast. We get towards Hatteras, Kill Devil Hills. That's where the threat is a bit higher. Scattered storms at the coast today, highs lower 80s, 70s and 80s in the mountains and scattered showers and storms there as well.

So the front is stretched across our state. There's more unsettled weather possible around the Great Lakes and also back west of the Rockies too. Severe risk from Mississippi to Alabama and up into North Carolina as well. 80s for Tampa for high ice today. Atlanta 88 could be some storms there. New York City and Pittsburgh and the 60s today with showers. Check out our morning lows in the days ahead. 50s for all of us. Saturday morning, maybe some 40s to the north. This is going to be really chilly around here, but it's going to feel like fall. 70 forecast coming up. Joel back to you. See you then, Kwayland. Thank you. Happening today. A new effort begins to help women and children across Way County. The Raleigh Rescue Mission is celebrating the grand opening of a brand new campus in Nightdale. It's called The Garden. and it will serve up to 350 women and children experiencing homelessness, providing living accommodations, on-site daycare, life skills training, and job readiness programs. Also happening today in Wake County, Apex Town Council members will vote on grass clippings. The collection could end January 1st because of disposal concerns with town leaders citing capacity issues.

Even if the measure is voted down today, finding alternatives will be a major concern. officials now urging people to leave clippings in the yard and use it as a mulching mower in a process often called grass cycling. Yeah, get a mulching mower. It seems really good for your lawn. Okay. That's what they say. 513 is the time. Breaking news out of Southern Wake County right now. There's a major investigation underway outside of a school in Garner.

Updates on that coming up later this hour. And Durham's mayor now weighing in after a juvenile allegedly shot at officers, everything we know coming up. And a reminder, you can find. I witness news live on ABC 11 Disney Plus and wherever you stream. We are local news. ABC 11 eyewitness news continues now. Time check is 517 and a big win for prosecutors in the faith Hedgepeth murder case. A judge siding with the state during yesterday's final pretrial hearing in Durham,

deciding to limit certain evidence from third parties. Defense attorneys for murder suspect Miguel Solgaro Alvarez tried pointing the finger at Hedgepeth's roommate, Karina Rosario, arguing she. She may have been responsible for the Carolina students' death back in 2012, but the judge wasn't buying it. The only evidence about what we know about Ms. Hedgepah, when she was alive when she went into that bedroom with Ms. Rosario. And that when Ms. Rosario left,

he was in the bathroom, never hear from Ms. Hedgepeth again. The state and one of his courtroom here today is here for the case of the state of North Carolina versus McGal-Severa. while there is. Not the state versus for the area, not the state, anybody else, but this defendant. And I do agree with the state, therefore the state does prevail. Investigators say DNA from Solgaro Olivares matches DNA found at the crime scene. The trial is

expected to begin on Monday. A Gano County man is facing more than 20 charges after allegedly sexually abusing several minors online and in person. Investigators are now searching for information. on possible additional victims. 20-year-old Timothy Fox is accused of kidnapping and raping a 13-year-old in February and engaging in a sexual relationship

with a 16-year-old, both on Snapchat and in-person. Fox is being held in the Chatton County Jail. He also has pending charges in Moore County for motor vehicle theft. Meanwhile, students across the Sand Hills are exploring mental health through art with a little help from Jay Cole's Dreamville Ventures team. Yeah, 30 students from 10 different schools took part in the

In this multi-day course, they learned all about art, dimensions, and how to adapt their work for social media and album covers. The idea from the program started about a year ago when Jay Cole connected Cumberland County Judge Tony King with his creative director. Talked about the trauma that some of these kids face and a lot of the experiences that they go through. And so we thought we wanted to do it from a mental health aspect of it. So they're able to draw out their feelings, their emotions. The experience does not end there. students are getting a printed copy of their album cover that they created and a reminder of Jay Cole's message to love yourself. Wow that for them. Yeah. Jay Cole continues to give back.

Some of it reported here on TV, but much of it not. For sure. You know, he does a lot. Yeah, there and all over. I appreciate it. Well, I think you were saying we can expect some flooding later on today. Potential. Potential for some flooding. The threat is a little bit higher today. So we definitely want to keep this in mind for that storm potential later. Fall arrives at 8. 05. So as we deal with rain and storms, we'll be transitioning seasons. Damn cool and breezy tomorrow and Thursday. I think you'll need some jackets in the mornings ahead because those temperatures are headed down. We're going to have a fall feel around here. Rain chances early part of the day will be on the lower side. And as we start moving towards late afternoon, early evening, that's when the storm chances will start to build. Today, the flood risk is higher than the severe threat. We have a level 2 of 4 risk for some flash flooding today. Severe threat is isolated for areas. to the triangle for damaging winds. You can see we're pretty dry this morning. I have a little sprinkles showing up in Northern Orange County in person, but most of the rain is still off to the west. We have that stationary boundary overhead. Here's a view into downtown Raleigh. We have limited of visibility, not so much around the downtown area, but we are seeing some fog in a few spots. 69 degrees in the triangle and Sanford 68 in Roxford, 70 and Goldsboro Faville out the door

to 71 degrees. Fog is becoming more of an issue at this point, so down to a quarter mile Rocky Mountain Wilson, more of this will continue to spread around the triangle of north. This is where we saw the heaviest rainfall yesterday. 74 degrees at 9 o'clock, 80 degrees at noon. We're mainly cloudy. I think you can still sneak out for lunch at that time with dry weather. As we get into the afternoon, isolated storms into the 80s for highs today. That's it.

And then more storms through this evening. And tonight will be in the 60s tomorrow morning. Here's that stationary boundary. Still in the forecast with us tomorrow as well. So that's why rain chances will hang around. This is the early afternoon to three o'clock scattered rain and storms. But by the evening, we're setting up with the locally heavy rain potential and training concerns for the area. As far as rain goes, tomorrow morning, I think we'll still have some showers around in spots.

And then by the afternoon, still some scattered rainfall across the area. Thursday, we'll have some shower potential early, I think, in the day. And then some of the drier air starts to work in as a front slips south and as a low pressure tracks up the eastern seaboard, becoming more of a nor'easter, getting more powerful and larger with the. It's wind field as it moves to the north. Rain totals for us through the next seven days, and a lot of that coming between today and tomorrow. We'll be around two inches or less for most.

Some spots coming a little higher. We'll be unsettled through Thursday, and then Friday through your weekend, dry conditions. Some of the rain could be locally heavy in spots too. In the tropics, the Western Atlantic is quiet. It's the eastern Atlantic Central where we're seeing some activity. There's tropical storm fade, no impacts to land. And then this disturbance center of the Kabul Verde Islands,

that's a low shot to develop. 85 today with storms developing late, cloudy, some locally heavy rain possible. 60s as we headed to the overnight hours and some of the rain still locally heavy at times. Here's your first alert, 7-day forecast, powered by ACC weather. We're tracking 60s for highs tomorrow and Thursday,

so it's gonna be really chilly with some 50s at night. 72 the high Friday with sun, mid-70s on Saturday, closer to 80 on Sunday, we're back to 80 on Monday. Weather and traffic together, Bianca, and Joel back to you. Quaylan, I'll take it. No major problems on the road.

all green on the real-time traffic map right now. We did see a crash just pop up in Zebulin. Zebulin fire responding to a car overturned on US 64. We'll watch that one. Here's a look at the DOT camera at this hour. This is I-87 and New Hope Road. Everything moving fine there. We'll be right back after this.

Back at 526 and X rolling out a new transparency feature telling users when their posts have been limited because of local laws. Here's ABC Sophie Fleigh with this morning's TechBytes. In today's Techbytes, X will now tell users when they've been shadow banned. The company announced an expansion of its transparency tool called Under the Hood. Users will also see when their posts were shown to fewer people or blocked in a country because the government demanded it. Next, Meta's latest artificial intelligence app called Muse is outpacing chat GPT. Researchers say Muse was downloaded more times than chat GPT after their first 12 days of availability. They also say Muse had more daily active users.

than its competitors over that time. And Google unveiled its new AI-powered laptop in May. Now we get to see the price. The Android device dubbed Google Book can be pre-ordered for $900. The company is hoping it will help move former Chromebook users to Gemini AI. Those are TechBites.

I'm Sophie Flee. Have a great day. Well, the toys are coming home after bringing in over a billion dollars at Worldwide at the box office. Toy Story 5 hits Disney. plus tomorrow. The film focuses on toys versus tech and the battle for Bonnie's attention. And Toy Story 5 is the third highest grossing movie of the year behind Spider-Man brand new day and The Odyssey. We'll be right back.