ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 9am - April 25, 2026

Episode Date: April 25, 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 eyewitness news. Good morning, Carolina. I'm Tamara Scott in for Bianca Holman. It's Saturday, April 25th. This morning on eyewitness news, we begin here in the Breaking News Center, tracking several news stories this morning. In Chatham County, deputies say a man is behind bars after a road rage incident on U.S. where they say a driver fired a gun during a confrontation.

Authorities say it happened around 6 p.m. on Thursday along the U.S. 64 bypass near exit 385 in Pittsburgh. We're told deputies responded after a driver reported another driver shot at them while traveling westbound. Investigators say Seiler City Police later located and arrested the suspect. 22-year-old James Hunter Ralph of Wilmington is now facing multiple charges, including assault by pointing a gun, carrying a concealed weapon, and an open container violation. And right now we're following breaking news out of Cumberland County.

This morning a man is behind bars after a shooting back in March at an apartment complex in Fayetteville that killed 46-year-old Tony Chance. We're told 33-year-old Jordan Whipple turned himself into police. Whipple is charged with first-degree murder. Right now, he's being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center without bond. Also breaking, a man is dead after a shooting in Fayetteville. Around 245 this morning, officers responded to the scene at a home in the 600th block of Borwick Drive. When crews got there, police say they found one. man inside with gunshot wounds. He later died at the scene. Right now this is an active investigation.

Police say it's an isolated incident and there's no threat to the public. And breaking overnight, one person is dead after a crash involving a motorcycle and a car in carry. Police responded to the scene around 10 last night near NC Highway 55 and Edgemore Avenue. Police say the motorcycle has died at the scene, we're told the other driver stayed at the scene is cooperating with officers. This is an ongoing investigation. Well, let's take a look at the the Raleigh skyline this morning. It's beautiful and I know we've been needing some rain and we're probably going to get some. Let's check in with first meteorologist Steve Stewart. Okay, thank you very much there, Tamara. Listen, today, yeah, we've got high clouds that are streaming in right now. We'll probably make it up to the mid-upper 80s today. More clouds around this afternoon. Maybe a spotty shower late in the afternoon. It's really more like this evening. We're going to get some rain coming in. The low's going to be 60 on and off showers, maybe isolated thunder, but mainly just some rain around. Yesterday was a hot one, got up to 90 degrees. That's a fourth time. We're We've hit 90 this month.

That's only happened three times before since we've been keeping records. And of course, this is the driest month so far to date. We don't like that. And also it's the warmest to date as well. So two things not necessarily good. So there you see the high clouds that are drifting in. Couple spotty showers now moving into the mountains. As that front gets closer, it should help get some lift and bring some showers to the area.

The walk's going to be fine. The ALS walk. What's going to get going around 11 o'clock this morning? Temperatures at the 80s by 1 o'clock we're at 84. It's later today. Around 5, 6 o'clock, we'll start seeing some showers coming into play. Then once we get to the evening, expect to have rounds of some showers around at times light, but you might get a pocket of a heavier shower, and that'll continue into the early morning hours tomorrow. High clouds and 69 degrees of North Hills right now with a breeze at about 8 miles an hour. Feels really good. Due points up a little bit, though. 69 Durham, 66th in the Chapel Hill and southern pines currently at 70 degrees.

Those dew points will come up into the 60s and spots with the showers around. And then once the system moves on by behind it, the dry air plunges in once again. And the dew points were lower down to the lower 40s late tomorrow. If you're heading to Red Hat this evening, be advised. There's that risk of a showers. We get later into the evening. Alabama shakes in town. They start the concert at 7 o'clock.

More rain. There's a decent chance midweek. More on that coming up in a few minutes, Tamara. Hey, thank you, Steve. And as we get ready for this weekend's possible shower, now is a good time to download the ABC 11 mobile app. We'll send all the weather headlines directly to your devices. You can also check the first alert, Doppler net, and the seven-day forecast.

While U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers facing federal charges accused of using classified military intelligence to place bets and profit on a prediction market. Federal prosecutors say Gannon Van Dyke, whose base at Fort Bragg, helped plan and execute the operation to arrest Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro and use that inside knowledge to place bets on polymarket. According to court documents, Van Dyke made just over $400,000 between December of last year and January of this year. He's now facing five federal charges. It's a case many people don't know yet how to prevent. This is actually the first time the Department of Justice has ever charged insider trading case on a prediction market. And in part because the law and regulation is kind of catching up to this technology. Now, Van Dyke appeared in federal court in Raleigh yesterday.

He received a $250,000 unsecured bond, and he's due back in court next week. Well, this morning we're getting a better picture of the timeline and technology used to help locate a man from the triangle who's accused of planning to carry out an attack on black people at a festival in New Orleans. Christopher Gillum was a longtime law enforcement officer with the Chapel Hill Police Department and Orange County Detention Center. He was arrested in Florida two days ago. Jimmy's Price is learning more about the technology credited with preventing what police are calling a mass shooting event. We were truly blessed by the information that we received from North Carolina. Information that proved to be life-saving. And it started with a phone call from family members of this man, Christopher Gillum.

The tip from them about Gillum's state of mind and well-being prompted Alamans County Sheriff's Office to reach out to Project Nola, a crime camera program based in New Orleans. We were blessed to know from out of the gate that we had at least several hours before he could put. possibly reach New Orleans. Authorities had reason to believe Gillum was headed there to target black people. Given the nature of the possible threat, we went straight to Louisiana State Police. Brian Lagarde is the executive director of Project Nola. He says this is a case where time mattered most, so they quickly alerted surrounding agencies. They in turn made notifications to New Orleans Police Department, to the FBI,

and things got rolling from there. But Christopher Gillum never made it to New Orleans. was tracked in Florida using another camera system, flock cameras, which capture still images of your license plate, helped determine Gillum was headed south towards Florida. The initial alert came into Project Nola on Wednesday afternoon. By 6 that evening, Gillum was in handcuffs arrested by the Okalusa Sheriff's Office at a hotel in Destin, Florida. He was arrested as a fugitive from justice.

Deputies say he was found with a handgun and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition. were in his hotel room. If we would not have received that information, then there's a very high likelihood that something would have been carried out here that could very well have involved multiple people, injured, killed, and then, of course, the suspect themselves apparently wanted to die, suicide by cop. It would have been very tragic. And that was Jimmy's Prize reporting.

While Gillum was caught en route to New Orleans, Brian says their real-time crime center's facial recognition cameras were set to recognize Gillum. the minute he stepped on New Orleans streets. Right now, this is being celebrated as a collaborative effort from North Carolina to Florida to New Orleans that potentially prevented a mass shooting. And right now, a burn ban remains in effect across North Carolina. We'll break down the key safety reminders you need to know.

And cleanup is underway after a severe tornado outbreak swept through the Midwest, including Oklahoma. We'll take a look at the devastation. But first, good morning, Steve. Hey, good morning there, Tamara. Good morning, everybody. High clouds out there right now. Temperatures are in the 60s, flirting with 70 already.

Ready in Raleigh and Durham. Highs today, likely in the mid to upper 80s, mainly to some clouds rolling in, and then this evening we'll talk about some rain. All the details after the break. Amazon presents Jeff versus Taco Truck Salsa, whether it's Verde, Roja, or the orange one. For Jeff, trying any salsa is like playing Russian roulette with a flamethrower. Luckily, Jeff saved with Amazon and stocked up on antacids, ginger tea, and milk. Habaniero?

More like Habanier, yes. Save the everyday with Amazon. This is First Alert Weather from ABC 11, I Witness News. Welcome back, everybody. You made it to the weekend. Most of the day is going to be fine. Temperatures in the 80s. A better chance at a shower this afternoon is in our northern counties.

But everyone should get some rain as we go into the evening to overnight to 4. The system's still out here. I know it doesn't look like it has a lot of moisture. Likely going to be a quarter inch or less around here. Get the yard work done today as those numbers climbed to those upper 80s. Again, it's later in the day in the evening when the rain chances will be increasing. 69 degrees of North Hills right now with some high clouds around filtered sunshine. So pretty nice out there. 66 Oxford, 70 to Lewisburg. Southern Pines also at 70 degrees at this hour. Baseball this evening down in Fayetteville. Keep in mind there could be a showers we get later into the game. so B-Advisor could be a delay.

East Coast, a bit of a mess today with showers and thunderstorm. Severe weather again in and around Oklahoma where there's a level four risk. Could have another round of some large tornadoes already seeing some delays today in Chicago. Got you seven day in a few minutes, Tamara. Thank you, Steve. Well, WakeMed is ranked among the best maternity care hospitals in the country. That's according to a national ranking by Newsweek based on data from Statista. The ranking is based on a nationwide survey of medical professionals, key performance indicators,

patient survey results. This is the fifth year in a row that all three Wake Med hospitals have been named to Newsweek's list of America's best maternity hospitals. Well happening today, the annual walk ALS triangle bringing together people impacted by the disease. It's an event that's very important to all of us here at the ABC 11 family as we honor the memory of our friend and co-worker Larry Stogner who lost his battle with ALS in 2016. The ALS walk is happening this morning at Halifax Mall in Raleigh. You can still join the ABC 11 Stogner strong team. just head over to ABC11.com for details.

In making Raleigh safer, straight ahead at 7.9.30, the new steps, the mayor says the city is taking to improve Go Raleigh's Moore Square bus hub. And an update on a triangle man detained by ICE, what we're learning about his deportation fight. Well, a dangerous tornado outbreak leaving a path of destruction across the Midwest, a powerful EF4 among them, damaging homes and injuring several people with millions still at risk. Here's ABC's Michelle Franzen with the latest. Clean up underway across parts of Oklahoma after powerful tornadoes tore through. Families now sifting through the damage as millions across the Midwest remain alert

for more severe weather. ABC's Oklahoma City affiliate, KOC, tracking a violent EF4 twister live as it moved south of Enid, a city of 50,000 people. There's a house right there. There's a house right there. And I am just, I am at a loss for work.

right now at what I'm seeing on TV right here. This is this is as bad as it can get. The storm packing winds up to 170 miles per hour, cutting a path nearly nine miles long, according to the National Weather Service. Oh, that massive stovepipe tornado bearing down on Vance Air Force Base, emergency crews racing in with reports of people trapped in their homes, at least 10 people hurt. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt touring some of. of the damage. Usually when we come to, we come to a neighborhood like this has been hitting this

hard, there's one or two deaths that have happened. And so the fact that that there hasn't been the major injuries, I think that's where we can all be very hopeful and very thankful. Near Brayman, Oklahoma, another tornado touching down, leaving behind damaged homes and debris strewn across streets. A survey team confirming at least EF1 level damage. The threat is far from over, millions continue to be on alert across the plains and Midwest through the weekend with severe weather. At least 19 reported tornadoes in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa in just 24 hours. And conditions are still in place for more storms. Michelle Franzen, ABC News, New York. And North Carolina farmers hit by natural disasters in 2023 and 24 are now in line for more

federal relief. The USDA announced it's releasing a second round of payment. through its supplemental disaster relief program. Initial payments were calculated at 35% of eligible losses. But now the USDA is raising that to 70%, meaning farmers who already received payments will get an additional 35% on top of what they've already been paid. The deadline to apply has also been extended from April 30th to August 12th.

Well, don't light it, don't burn it, and watch what you drag across dry grass. The NC Forestry Service is working to remind everyone the statewide burn ban is still in effect. No campfires, no open burning, period. Forestry officials say the danger goes beyond a match or a lighter. Mowers, farm equipment, even a cigarette can set off a wildfire in these conditions. One spark and it's gone.

Well, here's a live look at Bayaville Street and downtown Raleigh. This is where the Bruguloo Festival is happening this weekend. It's going to be a wonderful day of people already out there getting set up and it's looking already really nice too. Yeah, yeah, it should be fine. I mean, a little bit warm today. clouds will increase later on. The rain should hold off until the evening. Well, that's good to know for those wanted to drink outside. You got that right. Yeah. Take a look at downtown right now. You got a little haze in the sky. That's probably some smoke a lot from the fires down in Georgia and also some high clouds that are drifting in as well.

Today's warm. We're going to be in the 80s. The rain should hold off until the evening hour. So your daytime should be fantastic. Much cooler tomorrow. 60s damp and breezy. Now keep in mind there could be a spotty shower. It continues tomorrow in the morning until around midday. or so, but the clouds are going to hang tough tomorrow. More rain next week? Well, Wednesday afternoon, looking a little better now. So I up that into the likely category. Most of the global models hinting at that and likely we're going to get rain around for this evening. The system's well out to the west right now. Not looking that impressive, but as it gets closer, we'll get some lift and squeeze out some rain. But if you look at the guidance, it's not that bullish on amounts. Any one location I picked R to you, generally about a quarter inch or less, unfortunately.

But I wouldn't be surprised as some areas south and east pick up a little bit more. Head down to the Dogwood Festival. Nice afternoon for that. Clouds increased later on. It's really in the evening when we have a better chance at getting some showers down there. Predictor shows a spotty shower or so as we get into 6, 7 o'clock, and then the rain starts to fill in as we go into the late evening hours and overnight as well. There's one, 2 o'clock in the morning. You might hear a little bit of thunder. And then by early tomorrow morning, the rain along the 95 corridor. I can't rule out a spotty shower in that night. north flow or drizzle around tomorrow in the morning hours into the early afternoon, but it won't be much.

Again, the lion's share of this rain event is really going to be tonight. 69 into North Hills right now, a breeze about eight miles an hour, due points up a little to 52, 60s up in our northern county, 68 into Sanford, 70 in our southern pines, and 70 also in the Goldsboro. Heading out this evening. Again, this is the time those rain chances start to elevate a bit for some passing showers and numbers falling down to the 60s, maybe just have an umbrella. if you have date night plans tonight to be safe.

Low pulls away. Monday is going to be a decent day near normal highs, about 72 or so. And then as we go into our Tuesday, clouds increase, likely dry. Shower should stay out to the west. But as this front gets closer to us, that should give us that chance of rain and maybe some thunder around on Wednesday. Meantime, the mountains today, a little damp with some showers, not a washout if you want to head out there. But tomorrow's going to be a better day. Flip-flop that for the beaches. Today's fantastic.

It's really tomorrow. They'll get showers and maybe some thunderstorms around. So our highs in the 80s flirting with 90 in spots. So a very warm day today. We'll get more clouds around this afternoon. Best bed of a shower, triangle north and west. And then we'll have some rain coming into play this evening. Low temperatures likely in the 50s to near 60 with low 60s down in the sand hills. First of all, seven day, not going to warm a lot tomorrow, likely going to stay in the 60s. Clouds are going to be stubborn. It'll be breezy with that flow out of the north. make that 68 feel cooler and a few spotty showers, especially early in the day. Brighter Monday, Tuesday clouds increase.

Wednesday, next best chance of getting showers and maybe a thunderstorm about 77, a little bit cooler to finish the work week with plenty of sunshine. We'll be back after this. I witness news. There's more to life than finding the perfect car. But finding the perfect car can help you get the most out of life. Like the SUV that handles everything from drop off to off road. and the car that hulls groceries and hockey teams,

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good to see you this week you wrote about moises benitez diaz he was arrested during operation charlotte's where we saw this uh at the end of last year he was working at his construction job in carry what's his story and why was he detained yeah so um moises he's been in the triangle area for over two decades now um he came with his parents um to the the United States from Mexico when he was five years old. He was a senior at Wake men's, Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy when his father was detained by ICE. And so somebody had to look after his eight siblings

and his mother. So he took a job in construction, took a lot of his dad's old construction projects. And it was splitting time between school and work. Eventually he did graduate, but he had to defer his college plans. He works his way up in construction and eventually comes to owning his own business. He's been owning that for about five years.

He had a job at Lightbridge Academy in Kerry, daycare and preschool. They wanted him to install chalkboards into the walls. And he went that day even though there had already been warnings that ICE was or that Border Patrol was coming to the triangle from Charlotte because everybody else was scared to go and he felt responsible as the owner to go that day. So while he's working the job with his brother to suburban pull up and outcome border patrol agents. He asserts his right to remain silent and because he was deemed to not be cooperative,

he was detained. He ended up at this detention facility in Georgia. How did he describe his treatment to you and the conditions inside that ice facility? Yeah. So, you know, when he comes over, he's seeing that people are having to sleep on the floors because there are so many people being processed that they're being packed in tight quarters. He's in tight quarters with about 70 other people. People got sick very often is what he told me.

Toilets clogged frequently and overflowed. Water had a weird taste. The showers didn't really work. And oftentimes there were actually worms and worms and fly droplets in their food. He tells this story of finding maggots in his food. Yeah. And the story actually even just starts out with a point where he got, know, very sick to the point where other detainees are trying to call help from from a guard.

Guard says he'll be there in a minute. He never comes. And he doesn't receive medical attention until about two weeks later. I did reach out to DHS, ICE, and the GEO group, which manages that ICE facility. DHS and ICE did not get back to my comment, did not respond to my request for comment, but the geo group did not directly address the allegations that he made, but did say that whatever concerns that are brought up by ICE, they address. It's great reporting, Chumasi. Thank you so much for coming in. We'll continue to follow the story.

You can read more of Chumasi's reporting on the News and Observer website or in Sunday's paper. Expanding Internet access, the new project to get thousands of homes and businesses connected to high-speed internet over the next four years. Plus, what's next for a Triangle Mall as two of its biggest stores prepare to close? Triangle NC CARES, sponsored by the Richie Law Firm. We're excited to bring you the winner of Triangle NC CARES, sponsored by Brian Ritchie and the Ritchie Law Firm.

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Good morning, Carolina. It's Saturday, April 25th. I'm Tamara Scott in for Bianca Holman. Right now we're following more breaking news from overnight. Three people are left without a home this morning after a house fire in Kerry. Around midnight, Cruz recalled to the 100th block of Ethan's Glen Court. When Cruz got there, officials say they found the source of the fire and worked quickly to put it out. They say three people inside the home were able to get out, but they were treated for minor injuries. We're told all three are now displaced because of the damage. Firefighters say they're working to determine what sparked the fire. Well, let's take a live look outside at the Bull City. It's going to be a beautiful day out here, but maybe some showers.

Let's check in with first alert meteorologist Steve Stewart. Good morning, Steve. Good morning there, Tamara. Good morning, everybody. Yeah, more than likely as we go through the day today, we'll see more and more clouds, especially later on this afternoon. Getting up to the high 80, some areas flirting with 90. I can't rule out a spotty shower today.

That southwest breeze is going to help not only boost the temperature up, but also humidity values are going to start to increase. And then out ahead of the front, we should get some showers around this evening and overnight. And the low tonight's going to be around 60 degrees. Hit 90 yesterday. Keep in mind, we've done that four times this month. Since we've been keeping records, that feat has happened four times. No, three times.

So it's pretty rare for us to get that many 90-degree days in April. High clouds are drifting in right now. More clouds will increase later today out ahead of that front. The walk for ALS is going to be fantastic. It gets going around 11 a.m. will be in the 80s. So pretty warm and partly cloudy skies at that time. Notice predictors showing again a spotty shower here and there as we get to five, six o'clock.

The rain really comes in as we go into the evening to overnight hours. And then the showers should push off to the south. Still maybe a spotty shower will be with us tomorrow morning until around midday or so or some drizzle. And the clouds are going to hang tough tomorrow. 69 right now and high clouds out there with southwest breeze at eight miles an hour. Most of us in those high 60s, few areas now touching 70, including Roxburgh, southern pines and into Goldsboro. Those dew points will come up to the 60s with the showers, and then once that system moves

on by, we get that dryer to come punching in during the day tomorrow, and the dew points may get to the low 40s by the time we get to tomorrow evening. Red Hat tonight if we're heading out for the concert there with Alabama Shakes, keep advice, be advised, be advised. There could be a few showers around. Coming up, more rain? Yeah, decent chance midweek. More on that coming up in a few minutes, Tamara.

Well, thank you, Steve. We've got to talk now about Raleigh's Triangle Town Center. and taking a closer look at its future. It comes as two of its anchor stores. Macy's and Saks Fifth are set to close next month. We aren't just seeing this problem with stores closing up shop at Triangle Mall, but malls all across the country. Here in the Triangle, Cary Town Center closed its stores back in 2021,

and Durham's Northgate Mall closed in 2020. Elena Athens has more on this growing trend. This is your closest spot. Yeah, yeah, it's the closing mall, yes. Mark Williams and his sister Cordelia tell me Triangle Town Center, is their closest mall. They say the experience this afternoon felt different. I was just telling my brother that I was like what is going on at the mall I was noticing that a lot of places were closing in there. Anchor stores Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue are closing. It comes as the latest

data from pacer.a.I finds foot traffic at indoor malls is actually up 4% from a year ago. We're still working to learn what will go into Triangle Town Center spaces. The mall is owned by New York-based company's Summit Properties. I reached out and inquired about the future of the property. I asked about possible plans for new tenants. I have not heard back and also tried to speak with someone at the mall. It's like you said, it's dying down, which is kind of sad. But I think they should just like, you know, maybe get somebody else like in the development to maybe like spruce it up a bit. I know most people just come like for the food there from being honest.

And that was Elena Athens reporting. There are also safety concerns for some shoppers. Three people were shot at the mall a week ago. No arrest have been made. In now to North Carolina teachers, school bus drivers and other school workers heading to the legislature in Raleigh next week. And they're already getting prepared. Groups from across the Durham area gathered last night to make signs and organized for a rally at the General Assembly on May 1st. At the center of their message, North Carolina is the only state in the country without a new budget,

leaving teachers without raises and classrooms without resources. Several school districts statewide have made May 1st a teacher workday. And attendance numbers for kids in Durham public schools have. not yet rebounded from the pandemic. New data shows at least 37% of students in Durham County are frequently missing class. District leaders say the problem spans all student groups with factors like family instability, social issues, and mental health playing a role. Most of the times what we are doing is helping them to navigate even parenting issues, sometimes there are health issues, sometimes we are linking them to community resources to

help them with some of the societal issues that are factors as well. The district has missed attendance goals for several years, signaling a need for stronger action. Officials say they're taking a more proactive approach, focusing on early intervention and student wellness to improve attendance. Durham Public Schools wants to reach a 95% attendance rate by 2028. And a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives who lost her primary is now leaving the Democratic Party. Charlotte Representative Carla Cunningham has switched her party affiliation to unaffiliated. That ends seven terms as a Democrat in the North Carolina House. Cunningham lost her primary last month after breaking with Democrats to help Republicans override Governor Josh Stein's veto of an immigration enforcement bill.

The switch has direct implications here in Raleigh. Republicans are currently one vote short of the supermajority they need to override vetoes on their own. And Cunningham is still serving out her term through December. But how she caucuses as an unaffiliated legislator in her final months, that remains unclear. Well, Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell is announcing a major push to crack down on crime and clean up the go-up. Raleigh bus station downtown. Cowell says the city is taking direct action after complaints of crime, loitering, and the filth at the station. Starting now, there will be more police on bus routes, private security posted at the station, and new rules for riders who cross the line. And that's just the start. The city is also upgrading surveillance cameras and lighting up

dark spots where trouble can hide. Overnight, when the doors closed, better security will stay on watch. The stakes are high. The mayor estimates up to 17,000 people pass through that HUB daily. Well, some big news for North Carolinians without reliable internet. Governor Stein rolling out a new statewide high-speed internet project aimed at connecting more than 90,000 homes and businesses by 2030. The governor says $319 million has been approved from the state's broadband equity access and deployment program. We're told the funds will help start the first wave of projects expanding high-speed internet access to rural areas. In a statement, the governor saying, these new projects will move us ever closer to connecting every household and community in the state with broadband.

Well, this morning, a scam alert about a text claiming an item you purchased on Amazon has been recalled. We'll break down what to watch out for. And in a rare interview, Michael Jackson's son sat down with ABC News to reflect on his father's legacy and seeing his cousin, Jafar Jackson, portray his dad in the new film, Michael. But first, good morning, Steve. Hey, good morning there, Tamara. We're pretty mild, already 60s to around 70 degrees. Some high clouds out there.

clouds later on near 90 in the sandhills rain tonight all the details coming up hey well we turn now to the new movie about michael jackson his life and legacy a biopic not without controversy and now jackson's son is speaking out this morning michael jackson's son is speaking with abcc news about his father's legacy as a new film about the king of pop hits theaters i hope that it contextualizes the growth and the rise to stardom and the hard work and effort that my father put into it, my father and my family. Prince Jackson is executive producer of the new biopic Michael. He says the film taught him a lot about the father he lost when he was just 12 years old.

I had always heard from my dad and from the family how much work it took to get to where they are and where they were. And for me, hearing those stories, seeing them and seeing it emulated in my cousin Jafar, and him taking all of that work and dedication and time, really put it in a perspective. He says, seeing his cousin Jafar Jackson playing his dad in the movie brought up a wealth of emotions. It was really an emotional shock because I had not seen my father in a long time. And it was difficult to maintain and keep composure because I really just wanted to give him a hug in that moment. But I had to tell him like, Jafar, I'm proud of you. You're going to do great.

But I need to take a little step outside and get some air. Excitement has been building for the film since the first trailer attracted more than 100 million views. in its first 24 hours of release back in November. The movie follows Jackson's life from the Jackson 5 through his bad era in the 80s. But critics say the film leaves out a critical time period that included his financial troubles, his appearance changes, and multiple child abuse allegations. One reviewer saying, ending the film with a successful tour is kind of like ending an O.J. Simpson biopic with him winning the Heisman trophy. The film has 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it is on track to make 100,000.

$50 million worldwide in its opening weekend. Sophie Fley. ABC News, New York. And I'm excited to see this movie. I'm going to be jamming all the way there and all the way back. You got that right. Yeah. It's going to be good. It's going to be good. A lot of people love, Mike, as they should. All right. Pretty nice out there right now. It's going to be a decent. The lion's share of the day is going to be great. Great. Clouds come in later on. There could be a spotty afternoon shower, but folks, it's really going to be this evening and overnight.

We're going to get some much-needed rainfall. Not a drought buster, but at least we're going to get some rain around here. later on as we get into the evening. Much cooler tomorrow. It'll be damp. It'll be breezy. It's only gonna be in the 60s for highs and that breeze out of the north will make it feel cooler.

Don't expect much rain tomorrow. There could be a few spotty showers here and there. And more rain next week. Well, it's looking a little better now. On Wednesday, a lot of the global models and agreement. So I up that chance to about 60%. And obviously we're gonna get that rain around for tonight.

So we feel good about that. The front's still out here. And that continues to move our way out ahead of it. We got some showers. And we're gonna get more of that activity. activity later on. But again, as far as amounts, well, this one's compiling its data, but it was about a quarter of an inch. So we're thinking a quarter of an inch or less in any one location, although what that said, south and east of the triangle might get a little bit more,

maybe upwards of a half inch of rain. We'll take that anything we can get at this point in time. 80 is out there, the Dogwood Festival in Fayetteville. Numbers coming down the evening hours and notice the later you're out, the better chance at catching a shower. Here's a predictor, our forecast model, spotty little shower later this afternoon. to the early evening. But once we get to mid-late evening, we'll have showers move in. You might even hear a little bit of thunder here. Our model has the rain pushing to the south fairly quickly. But even on the back side, we could catch a couple showers or drizzle in the morning until around midday or so. But notice the clouds are going to be stubborn tomorrow and kind of hang on most of the day. The farther west you are might get some late-day sun. Sixty-nine into North Hills right now. The southwest breeze at eight miles an hour. Most of us in those upper 60s, what a few 70s now showing up here. and there with low 70s and Goldsboro, both at 72. If you have date night plans,

just maybe have an umbrella as we get later in the evening hours, probably better chance we'll catch some of those showers as temperatures fall into the 60s. Really nice on Monday, 72 degrees with some sunshine, a bit breezy. And then notice the rain as it comes close to us on Tuesday, it kind of fizzles out.

All the guidance are suggesting that will be in the lower 70s, just mainly a mostly cloudy day. But as this front gets closer, That should give us some more showers and thunderstorms as we get into our Wednesday. Fingers crossed that holds the form. Showers are in the mountains today. Tomorrow's a much better day.

You can flip-flop that for the beaches. Tomorrow's going to be a day we get showers and maybe some thunderstorms, not a complete washout, but just keep that in mind if you are heading to the beach tomorrow. We'll be warm today in those 80s. More clouds around as we get later in the day. There could be a spotty shower, but again, it's really this evening and overnight. We'll get some rain around. Temperatures in the upper 50s and some low 60s.

So mild overnight for this time of the year. And then about 68 below average tomorrow, clouds are stubborn. It'll be breezy and there could be a couple of spotty showers. Monday back to sunshine. Clouds increased Tuesday. Wednesday, risk of showers and maybe some thunderstorms around. That system moves on by. We should clear out and we stay in the 70s for Thursday and Friday.

Camer. Thank you, Steve. And as we get ready for this weekend's possible showers, now is a good time to download the ABC 11 mobile app. We'll send all the weather headlines directly to your devices. You can also check the first alert Doppler net and the seven-day forecast. Stay with us. We'll be right back after this short break. This morning from the I-Team, a scam alert about a text message claiming something you bought on Amazon has been recalled. Troubyshuter Diane Wilson is here with what we need

to watch out for. The text claims this is an urgent safety notice regarding your recent purchase and it's from the Amazon product safety team. It goes on to state it's one of your purchases from 2026 includes an order number that is subject to a voluntary safety recall and strongly advises you to stop using the product immediately. The text includes a link that claims to be the recall notice and how you can request your refund. You don't know where that link is going. They may ask for sensitive information, huge red flag. Never give that information, especially over text message, and especially if you don't

know who you are actually texting. The link takes you to what appears to be Amazon and wants you to put in your account information, but how you can tell this is not Amazon. at the URL. It's not Amazon listed there. Instead, it's a fake that could be after your personal and account information, such as your password and payment information. Amazon says if a product sold by one of their selling partners is recalled, they provide affected customers with personalized notifications via email, push notifications, and your recalls and product safety alerts page in your Amazon account. In a statement, a spokesperson says, in part, scammers that attempt to impersonate

Amazon put consumers at risk. We will continue to invest in protecting consumers in educating the public on scam avoidance. And that was Diane Wilson reporting. Amazon goes on to say they encourage customers to report suspected scams. And we can't say this enough. It's key never to click on any links.

Instead, verify recalls at recalls.gov or on the Consumer Product Safety Commission's website if you ever have any questions. Well, right now we're following breaking news out of Cumberland County. A woman is dead, another is hurt after a late-night crash in Fayetteville. Officers responded just before midnight to a single vehicle crash at Rayford Road and the I-295 south entrance ramp.

Investigators say a 2013 Dodge Charger was traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound on Rayford Road when the driver failed to make the right turn onto the ramp. Police say the driver, 36-year-old Tyronisha Sheney Sherlock Benton of Fayetteville, was found dead at the scene. We're told a passenger in the car, 26-year-old Michaela Love Langert was rushed to the hospital and is expected to be okay. this is an ongoing investigation. Well, it's going to be beautiful outside today. Yeah, yeah, yeah. There's several festivals for you to tap into and go outside and enjoy them. It'll be good today.

Warm, though, in the 80s, near 90 in the sand hills, maybe a spotty shower, but it's really tonight. The rain's going to move in. We need it, too. First of all, seven-day, spotty shower tomorrow, but the clouds are stubborn, much cooler. The next chance of rain midweek on Wednesday. Sounds good.

The second hour of Good Morning America is next. From the eyewitness News Center. I'm Tamara Scott and for Steve Stewart and the entire news team. Thank you so much for watching. Eyewitness News continues online right now at ABC11.com. ABC11 eyewitness News is sponsored by Ruggin home of Raleigh, Experience the Extraordinary.