ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 6pm - September 20, 2026

Episode Date: September 20, 2026

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Right now, live coverage from your local news leader, investigating new information tonight, and your first alert forecast. Here's what's happening where you live. This is ABC 11 eyewitness news. All right now at 6'A live look at Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, the summer temperatures did not keep thousands of people from coming out today to enjoy La Fiesta del Pueblo. We are expected to get some relief from the summer sizzle this week. I want to say thank you so much for joining us. For I went to students at 6 on this Sunday evening. I'm Dewan Hogarth. Now fall arrives this Tuesday, which means cooler temperatures and rain will follow. It's been a while, crew, since we've said those two words or phrases together. So what

exactly can we expect and win? Yeah, we could definitely use some rain and the cooler temperatures. I'm a fan of it being a little warmer, but I know a lot of people look forward to this time of the year. So we're going to start the week off, still feeling like summer. Fall starts Tuesday, so we cool down just a little bit. And then look at that. We're talking over at the 20 degree drop in temperatures between Monday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon. We will see 70s as we go through the middle of the week and that will last all the way through next weekend. So if you've been looking for a cool down, I certainly have one for you in your seven day forecast. For today, though, it's been another hot day.

We got up to 92 at RDU. You can see showers and storms back to our west. Those are not expected to make it into central North Carolina. So you actually get a nice, beautiful sky this evening. It's blue and sunny out in Durham. Just a few fair weather clouds out there. And dining out should not be a problem. It's just going to be warm and muggy, just like it was yesterday evening.

So 80s for the next two hours, then we drop into the 70s later tonight. When you wake up tomorrow, we should be in the 60s. It'll be warm and muggy when you step out the door. We'll also have a decent amount of sunshine when you step out the door. So tipters are going to heat up quickly. We should already be in the upper half of the 80s by noon. Afternoon highs should push into the low 90s for areas like Raleigh and Fayetteville, 92 and 93, respectively.

Slightly cooler in our northern counties, 88 and Roxborough. We could see some late-day storms. Maybe a strong one, isolated, strong storm in the mix. We'll track out those storm chances with first still a predictor coming up in your extended forecast. Back to you. All right, Cruz, we'll see you in a bit. Well, tonight, after months of back and forth, the vote is expected for a proposed merger between WakeMed and Atrium Health and a move that would reshape health care across the triangle.

And tonight, Governor Josh Stein now says he does not oppose. the plan. Tom George is live for us tonight from the Rale AWitness News Center with more on this brand new development. Tom. Yeah and that is big news coming from the governor ahead of that crucial vote by Wake County Commissioners tomorrow. If this deal goes through, it would bring WakeMed under the umbrella of Atrium, which is the largest health care system in the state. And supporters have argued that that would mean a $2 billion investment. But from the jump, opponents have worried about the potential cost. Ever since the deal was announced, some patient advocacy groups, some health care advocates have all opposed the deal, saying first of all,

that it was not been transparent. They also argued that the merger could lead to higher health care costs, reduce competition, and costs going up for members of the state's health plan. Rebecca Seriz, with the North Carolina Justice Center, says that hospital systems, often larger hospital systems, often drives up costs for the patients. Hospital consolidation leads to rising health care costs, usually worse patient care. And, you know, from our perspective, Atrium or Advocate Health, which is their parent company, you know, it's one of the most expensive systems in the country. And we believe that it will actually make prices go up at Wake Mad and also that patient care could get worse. But in a statement that was just released ahead of this vote, Governor Josh Stein now weighing in saying that the proposed deal has gotten significantly better in recent days.

Governor Stein says that Atrium has agreed to cap price increases at Wake Matt. for the next five years and to fully fund the promised $2 billion capital investment that we've been hearing about increasing indigent care spending and creating $150 million community fund. Stein says that those changes address a number of the concerns about the merger that we've been hearing and because of that the governor says he does not oppose the combination. Again, that all comes ahead of that important vote. And meanwhile, despite the support from the governor, a lot of groups opposing that move, they're going to be having a rally against the proposed merger tomorrow at 1230.

and that all comes before Wake County commissioners are having that crucial vote tomorrow at 2 p.m. We'll, of course, continue to be watching and have full coverage of that when it happens. Reporting live, Tom Door, JBC 11, Iwoodis News. All right, Tom, thank you. Also tonight, the Triangle Central Labor Council, a democratically elected body representing more than 20,000 union members across the triangle, says it continues to have serious concerns about the revised proposed hospital merger. The group releasing this statement late this evening, saying, quote, there is still no protection against higher commercial health care prices.

There is still no guarantee protecting existing staffing levels or jobs, and there is still no labor neutrality agreement protecting wake-med workers who choose to organize. The group is urging Wake Commissioners to vote against the agreement. IWitness News will have full coverage of tomorrow's vote on air and where you stream. Also tomorrow, Kerrytown Council is meeting again to discuss that scathing audit report exposing how the town was spending your money. It comes after the state auditor blasted the town for a culture of extravagant spending and what they say was lack of oversight. It all stems from that investigation into the town's former town manager who was found in that report to have used public funds for high-end expenses.

Well, no, at 6 diesel fuel hitting a new record high today, North Carolina, as the war with Iran rages on. The state average now sitting at 627 nationally. The average price for diesel is even higher at 651. The skyrocketing price is taking its toll on so many sectors that depend on diesel from farmers to truck drivers. Price is also soaring as the war with Iran enters its seventh month. This morning, President Donald Trump claiming in a phone interview with Fox News that he is in what he says is deciding mode on new action. As Iran's parliament, parliament speaker vows to vows the Strait of Hormuz will not reach. reopen until conditions they've conveyed are met.

Donald Trump took us into a war that's now got price of gas at five bucks, price of diesel at six bucks, and it seems to be going north of that. Groceries, everything you want to buy in automobile because of tariffs and the trade wars that he's taken us into. We've been working to try to bring gas prices down. They are down from the peak that they were over $5 a gallon under Joe Biden. But they can be lower, and they will be lower, by the way, when Iran gets resolved. Now tensions are escalating and expanding Iran-Bakhthuthis in Yemen,

launching air attacks on Saudi Arabia Saturday, the U.S. State Department issuing an urgent warning for Americans in the Middle East to exercise heightened vigilance and warning this military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly. Meanwhile, in Moscow, a massive attack there this morning. Ukraine launching new drones and missile attacks on the city with one of the targets, a major oil refinery there. The attack comes just a week after President Trump blamed Ukraine in Russia, attacking energy infrastructure for rising diesel costs in America.

Well, back here at home, we're working to learn more about a house fire in Southern Wake County. This was the senior looking at this is on Perthshire Drive in Fuqua Arena. It all started around 8 o'clock this morning. Investigators say the family was home at the time. They were able to make it out safely, thankfully, thankfully, and the cause is still being investigated. And of investigations, there is a shooting investigation playing out in Cumberland County. Our breaking news crew was there on the ground here on River Road overnight.

One person was shot, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, and a word on any suspects at this time. One person is facing charges in Durham tonight after police responded to a car meetup involving about 600 cars last night. DPD, along with the Durham County Sheriff's Office and their deputies, as well as highway patrol, responded to the 2000 block of Avondale Drive near Fushi Street and the U.S. 501 business split. Police say they found several people performing dangerous stunts. One person was cited for reckless and careless driving. However, no arrests were made.

Well, happening tomorrow, the final court hearing before the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial begins. New court filings show the prosecution plans to call six expert witnesses to the stand. They include SBI investigators, forensic scientists, and a sexual assault nurse examiner. The UNC student was found dead at her Chapel Hill apartment back in 2012. Miguel Saragero Olivas was arrested for the murder back in 2021. A jury selection is expected to start next Monday, September the 28th. Well, next tonight, your voice, your vote. The all-important midterm elections is just weeks away in North Carolina's U.S. Senate race

is bringing heavy hitters to the state. Vice President Jady Vance expected in the triad tomorrow. We're taking a close look at the race, pitting former Governor Roy Cooper against former RNC Chair Michael Whiteley. And later in the week, you could be trading in your shorts for actual jackets. So you might need the jackets with some of these cooler mornings on the way. We'll talk about how cool it's going to get coming up in your seven-day forecast. Well, welcome back.

We are now 43 days and some hours away from November 3rd and the midterm elections, as all eyes are on North Carolina and the U.S. Senate race, heats up. Now, just last week, our President Donald Trump was here in the state rallying for Republican Michael Watley. And tomorrow, Vice President J.D. Vance is scheduled a headline a rally in Greensboro. A political expert is giving Bianca home an insight into why this race is so important for the GOP. But North Carolina is a state that the Republicans need to defend. Senator Tillis, this is a Republican seat that Senator Tillis is vacating. And there's got to be a message over and over to those Trump voters, we really care about this race.

This is important. So Trump comes in one week. J.D. Vance comes in the next week. I witness news speaking with Duke Professor Emeritus of Public Policy, Mack McCorkle, about the midterm elections. The Republican Party striving to influence voters to turn out for the midterm election and cast their ballot on November 3rd. Michael Wattley, the former chair of the Republican National Committee,

is facing North Carolina former governor and Democrat Roy Cooper in the U.S. Senate race. Cooper has decades of experience with winning statewide races. However, Watley has not held an elected state office. The latest Elon University polls shows Watley trailing Cooper by double digits. The support from national political figures is important. We're seeing from Vice President Vance a certain message different from the president, which is also, at least in some areas, he's been saying, give us another chance. We're better than the opposition. With high profile visits like President Trump in Gostonia and Vice President J.D. Vance visiting Greensboro, Professor McCorkwell says the strategy seems to be more about turnout rather than persuasion.

I think it's overall middle of the state. Greensboro is a way that cameras can get there. And Greensboro City is, of course, a democratic stronghold outside of Greensboro in what I call the country-politian counties or the less urban counties. will get through. Those who plan to attend the event in Greensboro must register in advance. Bianca Holman, ABC 11, eyewitness news. And as we count down to the midterms, here are the important dates you need to know about. The early voting period in North Carolina starts Thursday, October the 15th and ends at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 31st. There will be no early voting on Sundays in Chatham, Nash, Wayne, and Harnett counties. Election Day is Tuesday, November

the third. Polls across the state will be open from 6.30 in the morning until 7.30 at night. And whether you vote early or on election date, make sure you bring your identification. Well, New at 6, an annual family event in Fayetteville put on pause. The zombie walk will not happen this year. Coming up, what we're learning about the decision that was made to cancel it. Well, New at 6, a fake out leading to some laughs in carry. Animal services posting these pictures on social media after workers responded to a call about a coyote. near a busy intersection. And they found that coding just where the caller said would be, but it didn't take long for them to realize why the animal was not moving. It was actually

a realistic cutout that was placed there by a business to scare off geese. Well, spooky season is right around the corner and we're learning an annual Halloween event in downtown Fayetteville is not happening this year. The cool spring downtown district posting that this year's zombie walk is taking a hiatus after 15 years. Now while the event is paused, the downtown District is expected to transfer control of the zombie walk back to its creators. Nowhere tonight, if it will resume next year, the Cold Spring downtown district is inviting the public to come out on Halloween for trick or treating downtown. Well, ABC 11 is marking National Hispanic Heritage Month, and one of the largest Hispanic

cultural events took over downtown Rale today. We are talking La Fiesta del Pueblo. Now, this event, this festival features music, dancing, food, art, as well as activities for the family, all celebrating Hispanic heritage. IWenus News is a proud sponsor of the event, and several of our reporters spent the day greeting attendees there. La Fiesta del Pueblo has been a tradition for more than 30 years. And the coffee shops have already brought back there, PSL's pumpkin spice lattes, but now pumpkin patch season is officially here. IWitness News, topping by Page, Farns, and Raleigh, we found families enjoying the weather picking out their

favorite pumpkins and enjoying a ride on the tractor. And a cruise is here to take a look at our forecast. He says fall officially starts this week, which means a lot of folks out there will be grabbing those pumpkin spice lots. You're one of them, right? Well, maybe later this week, I have yet to have one, but now that it'll finally be cool enough, maybe so. Yeah, there's a permission slip. Yeah, that's right. All right. So throughout this week, we are expecting it to cool down. Tomorrow's still going to be hot. So it'll feel like today, Tuesday, we drop into the low 80s. And then from there, we have a stretch of below average days, basically through early next week before we start to heat back up above average again into the 80s. So this is going to be a big change of pace.

So far this month, we've been much above average. We've had 18 days so far above average, only one below and a few that were right at the average mark. And so with all of these below average days, a little bit of a shock to the system. But I have a feeling a lot of you watching this evening are actually looking forward to these cooler temperatures. Now you're not going to get the cool down this evening, so it will be very warm if you're stepping out for an evening walk, but it's been a beautiful day. At least you'll get a decently clear sky this evening other than the humidity, not much to slow you down outside. Through tonight, we'll see a mainly clear sky, a few clouds passing through at times. Tipters will be in the 60s as you start your day on Monday.

A lot of sunshine that will carry into the afternoon. Tipters will push into the low 90s in some areas, upper 80s and others, and then late in the day we'll be watching for some storms to develop. These will mainly favor our northern counties, the triangle north toward the state line and back to the west. So in those areas, could there be an isolated strong storm? It's possible in time. Right now, level one risk for severe storms to the west of Raleigh. If this is expanded farther to the east or the timing of that changes, that could become an alert day in time. But right now, we're going to hold off.

So enjoy the dry conditions while we have them. Obviously tomorrow's still going to feel like summer. The cool down is going to get here, and it comes with rain. chances as well. We know that we've been needing some rain around here with the drought still in place in central North Carolina. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will all feature scattered showers. Tuesday, there could be a few storms in the mix as well. By Wednesday and Thursday, it's too cool to even support storms. But what we will see is a decent amount of rain out of this. We're talking anywhere from one to two inches of rain over the next five days here in central

North Carolina. You can see it all here in your first alert, acuweather seven-day forecast. Again, Tuesday, the first official day of fall. And then as we go into Wednesday and Thursday, it's actually going to be feeling like fall. So you might even need your jacket. I talked about that before the commercial break. Look at some of those mornings, DeWan. We will see tipters in the 50s and then even into next weekend. I know for the state and app game, that's going to be a bit cooler.

And we're going to see those hoodies finally make an appearance after months in the closet. Good season. Thanks much. All right. Kate Rogerson is here to talk all things sports. The Panthers were back on the field again this time at Atlanta, Kate. And they actually handle business again this week. Quite the bounce back win for the Carolina Panthers beating the Falcons.

34 to 3, of course, down at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. We show you the highlights. I'm here from head coach Dave Canales when we come back with sports. Less than two months ago, it feels like we're already back in it. Short us off season ever, but we're ready. All right, thanks so much, Kate. All right, the three of us as well as Tom, George. We'll see you later on tonight for Iowanus News at 11.

Have a great night. Thanks again for watching.