ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 9am - December 27, 2025

Episode Date: December 27, 2025

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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. It's Saturday, December 27th. This morning on eyewitness news, the State Bureau of Investigation, stepping in after a suspect is shot during a Rocky Mount police encounter. Plus, a custody exchange turns deadly. Two officers hurt, witnesses speaking out, and coast-to-coast chaos, snow, ice, floods, and holiday travel headaches, including here at home. We're hearing from travelers. First, let's get a live look at the Raleigh skyline this morning. We've been watching a beautiful sunrise.

Looks like that's continuing. Let's check in with first alert meteorologist Steve Stewart. Steve, you were saying it's going to be a beautiful day. And from that sunrise, we can absolutely tell you that. Yeah, we typically should start out closer to freezing and most of us were in the 40s and we're going up from here. We love that. Not bad at all. I got some clouds to our south this morning. We'll see some passing clouds at times, but really going to be a pleasant day. Hope you get out and enjoy it. Around 70 in the triangle, even warmer in the sandhills. Our northeastern counties could be quite a bit cooler in the 50s, but most of us enjoying the nice warm day. By the way, that 59 yesterday, it's misleading. That was a midnight temperature. Most of the day yesterday was in the 40s.

The deficit continues to grow. Four months in a row, we need rain, but we're not going to get much. There's a chance at a few spotty light showers, and surprising with such a temperature change that we're going to have Monday during the day as that front comes in, it doesn't have much moisture to work with. So if we get anything a few hundreds of an inch to maybe a tenth of an inch on Monday. Meantime, the numbers today getting up to the upper 60s. I bet you those shopping malls will be busy.

A lot of folks doing some of those returns and a lot of deals to be had. If you're heading out for that, you can really wear shorts and t-shirts this afternoon. We'll be fine. Let's look at Tar a day tomorrow, starting out with some clouds in the morning, and then by the middle part of the afternoon, we're still stuck in the 40s, an overcast, and maybe a sprinkle or two. So a big change from today. 48 at RDU right now, just a few passing clouds around, 50 in Lewisburg, 52 into Oxford, 49 in the Clinton and Southern Pines currently in the lower to middle 50s. Heading out to Lantern Festival tonight, not bad at all. We'll get down to the upper 40s by 9 o'clock in the evening hours.

Can't last forever. This up and down swings. More winter-like weather for next week, at least temperature-wise. More on that coming up in a few minutes, Tamara. All right, thank you, Steve. Well, now is a good time to download the free ABC11 mobile app. We send watches and warnings. You can also check the seven-day forecast and DopplerNet at any time.

Well, Raleigh Durham International Airport, seeing more than 100 flight delays last night in nearly 40, cancellations, according to Flight Aware. It comes as severe weather across the country continues to impact travel, including a major snowstorm in parts of the northeast. We're hearing from travelers at RDU who flew in from parts of that region. We were watching the weather, so we were pretty comfortable with getting out and everything went on time, so we were happy. They made an announcement that we had to fly lower than usual, and it did, you could like see it was kind of low.

Well, a major winter storm is expected to bring several inches of snow across the northeast, stretching from Philadelphia to Boston. That storm causing major headaches at airports, including at R2U. Many cancellations last night included flights to the three New York Area airports, JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark, as well as cancellations for flights to Philadelphia and Boston. And we're taking a look at Flight Aware this morning, seeing just a few flights affected, not as many as yesterday, but keep an eye out on your flight status and check with your carrier before heading out to the airport.

Meanwhile, if you are driving this holiday, AAA says today and tomorrow are expected to be very busy, so you'll want to avoid the roads from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both days. Now, the FBI is investigating after an officer involved shooting in Rocky Mount. It happened around 4.15 yesterday in the 700th block of Sutter's Creek Boulevard. Police say they responded to the area after reports of a car matching a bank robbery suspect from Zebulin. During that interaction, officers were involved in a shooting. that left the suspect wounded. That person was taken to the hospital. No word on their condition. Now, the suspect in that incident is believed to be connected to an armed robbery that happened at

the First Citizens Bank on Wakelawn Street in Zebulan. Police say around 1130 Friday morning, they responded to a report of an armed robbery. The suspect left the scene in a semi-truck. No one was hurt in that incident. We're still working to learn more about the suspect. And we're hearing from eyewitnesses after a deadly shooting at a shopping center in Mecklenburg County, left two police officers hurt. The incident allegedly began with a child custody exchange. Police say the suspect pulled out a gun, and there was an exchange of gunfire. Two Mint Hill officers were shot.

The suspect was shot and killed. Eyewitnesses describing the aftermath following that altercation. Everything happened so quickly. Just seeing the officer and blood on his hands and another one down, our prayers just go out to them. We just, you know, wished them all the best. So unfortunate, once again, that this took place. day after Christmas.

We're shot are expected to recover. A third officer took himself to an area hospital for a mental health evaluation. And from political shocks to global crises, a powerful look back at the year that reshaped the world. And we also have your local year in review with our partners at the News and Observer. But first, good morning, Steve. Hey, good morning there, Tamara. Good morning, everybody.

Not bad at all this morning. Got some passing clouds. We're in the 40s and 50s to get our. day started and we're going to get all the way up maybe some 70s for you today and plenty of sunshine around big change though tomorrow it gets colder all the details after the break welcome back everybody good morning to you get out today take advantage it's spring like spring like early to mid april with those temperatures up around 70 be 53 and cloudy overcast tomorrow a few sprinkles are possible arctic front's going to be approaching we get prefrontal warming with a robust southwest wind gusting near 30 miles an hour, but once that front moves on through, the temperatures take a nose dive. So 67 daytime by the mid-evening hours, we could actually have wind chills in the 20s. It means business that cold air. Nice little ridge building in right now with the flow of loft coming in from the north and the west. And again, we're going to build up those temperatures later today. Look at 2 o'clock about 69. Why not have lunch outside? We don't get to do that very often this time of the year. Today is a good day to do that. Right now we're looking at 48 degrees out into RDU. Not bad at all. It's a little busy out there, though. 50 into Lewisburg, 54 into Oxford, 46 Smithfield and Fayetteau currently at 50 degrees.

Cain's in action tonight as you're walking into Lenovo will be in the low 50s. When you head home, partly cloudy skies in about 46. I think it's well after midnight. The clouds will be increasing. Still some snow and some delays in the northeast. We've got snow there in Colorado all the way up the mountain chain there on the Rockies and the bitter roots. Now tomorrow, that shifts. over towards Minneapolis. So we could have some issues across Iowa, Nebraska, Minneapolis, Chicago is going to be on the warm side. Detroit gets rain as well. So those areas could have delays for tomorrow. But look at the delays we're still seeing around LaGuardia and JFK. Pack your patience. Got you seven day coming up in a few minutes, Tamara. Oh man. Thank you, Steve. Well, a year of turmoil, tragedy and historic moments. The events that define 2025 at home and around the world coming up next.

Well, now a look back to some of the biggest headlines this year. Here's ABC's Reno Roy with 2025 and Rewind. 2025 was a year defined by a political comeback, destructive weather events and turmoil across the globe. I don't Donald John Trump, you solemnly swear. President Trump sworn in for a second term. In March, the president unveiled sweeping tariffs on Mexico, Canada, China, the EU, and other countries. Every day you go to the store, things are more expensive.

Driving up the prices for consumers on some goods. The president fulfilling a campaign promise, ordering ICE to conduct raids to deport undocumented immigrants. It's sending a strong signal to the world. Our border is close. Everyone I know is scared. People are nervous to walk their kids to school. The move sparking protests across the country. The Trump administration also sent the National Guard to major U.S. cities over local

objections as part of an effort to crack down on crime. It's a sense of intimidation and fear that is just so unnecessary. The longest government shutdown in U.S. history lasted 43 days and caused air traffic controller staffing issues, flight delays, and pause snap benefits for millions of Americans. The year also marred by political violence. The nation, shocked by the assassination of conservative activists and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, shot while speaking at a college event in Utah.

His death deepening the political divide in the nation, supporters hailing him as a hero, while many critics denounced his past rhetoric. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Tyler Robinson, who's accused of pulling the trigger and killing Kirk. This is a political assassination. In Minnesota, a mass gunman disguised as a police officer shot and killed a state representative in her husband and wounded a state senator and his wife, according to authorities. A suspect arrested after a two-day manhunt, he pled not guilty in federal court. The Pennsylvania governor's mansion firebombed on the night of their Passover celebration.

This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society. The year started with terror in New Orleans. Fourteen people were killed in a vehicle attack the early morning hours of New Year's Day after officials say a pickup truck plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street. We watched the people actually flip in the air. And for another year, gun violence taking American lives. Four killed and one injured at the NFL's Midtown Manhattan. offices in July, sending the city into a frenzy. Two children killed, 17 others wounded at a church

during mass at a Catholic school in Minneapolis. My friend got hit in the back. I think I got gunpowder on my neck. And two people killed and nine others wounded and is shooting on the campus of Brown University. Nature also taking its toll this year. Unprecedented hurricane force winds fueled the palisades and Eaton fires the most destructive in California's history. It looks like a war zone. More than 100 people were killed in central Texas, including dozens of children from Camp Mystic. We had one choice and we had to swim out of our cabins. After heavy rain overflowed the banks of the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country, July 4th. The year also saw trouble in the skies.

67 people died after an American Airlines flight and military helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport outside of Washington, D.C. And overseas, the United States took military action against Iran, striking three nuclear sites. in an effort to cripple their nuclear program. Iran responding, attacking the U.S. base in Qatar. In early October, Hamas released the remaining living Israeli hostages, as well as the bodies of most of the deceased. After two years of war and reaching a tenuous ceasefire agreement with Israel, Palestinian streaming back into parts of the demolished Gaza Strip

that were controlled by the IDF during the war. Over 70,000 have been killed during the conflict, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Fifteen people killed in what officials called an act of terror at Australia's famous Bondi Beach during a celebration for the first day of Hanukkah. And a brazen theft at one of the world's most famous museums. This is the highest of the decade. Authorities say four masked men stole eight pieces of jewelry from the Louvre in Paris.

The jewels valued it more than a hundred million dollars. For the first time in the 2000 year history of the Catholic Church, an American elected pope. It's groundbreaking historically. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost who became Pope Leo the 14th, succeeding Pope Francis, who died in April. I'm really hopeful that this is something really good for us for some unity, some hope, love, and peace. Rina Roy, ABC News, New York. My oh my, what a year we've had. Goodness gracious, so much happened.

Go by fast, too. It does go by very fast. Yeah, really fast. Wow. Hopefully we have a better 2026. I know. Here's the 2026. Yeah, all right year.

And weather-wise, it's been this roller coaster. Like, it's crazy to have such swings in just one day, but every day is just complete opposite. We're going to do there a couple more days. Okay. And then we get back to a little bit more normal weather for you. Outside right now, we're looking pretty good, though. It's warming up nicely. A good day to get out.

Please take advantage of it. It'll be brighter. A fantastic day with temperatures likely in many spots in the 70s, albeit low 70s, but that's going to be a good day to get out. Maybe little pickle balls in order, some golf. Overcast tomorrow, a lot colder, maybe nearly 20 degrees. colder and maybe a few sprinkles as well. We warm right back up on Monday. The wind's going to be strong. An Arctic front is approaching by late in the day. The temperature is really dropped. By the late evening hours, we could have wind chills in the 20s. And that blast stays with us as we go into our

Tuesday. We get a glancing blow of it. The coldest is going to stay up to the north. That moves away. But another reinforcing shot of cold air potentially as we head into the end of the week. So I dropped this a little bit here. But the big shot is going to be coming on Tuesday. from 67 down to 43 degrees. That's a big change. Meantime, we're looking great. Just a few clouds out there right now. Should be mostly sunny for today.

Maybe around a golf's in order. We'll climb up to near 70 by 2 o'clock. By 4 o'clock, we'll start to see the numbers coming down. Really low sun angle. This time of the year, limited daylight. To get to 70, that's pretty impressive. Now, a lot of clouds around tomorrow. Keep in mind that we're probably gonna be stuck

in the 40s to near 50, even at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. So it's a big change from what we're feeling today. If you're going to the Panther game tomorrow, numbers are going to be near 50 degrees for the game. So seasonally chilly and overcast skies. So be prepared for that. Boy, that is a big game for us. I think if we win that game, we do make the playoffs. Forty-eight degrees at RDU right now. We're looking at fair skies out there with widespread upper 40s and some low 50s. The cool spot Roanoke

Rapids currently at 43 degrees. Evening out, we got two more nights left of the rink downtown Raleigh. Get some ice skating in. Numbers falling down. down to around 50 or so by 8 o'clock in the evening under mostly clear skies. The clouds come back late tonight and they'll be with us during the day tomorrow, maybe a sprinkle or two. And then we're going to warm right back up. This is prefrontal warming. That robust southwesternly wind could gust of 30 or 35 miles an hour. And then the front moves in. Again, moisture starved, maybe a spotty shower. It's a cold air that filters in behind it. It is going to be a shock to the system after so warm again. Look at the feels like temperatures.

As we get to 6 p.m. already falling down to the 50s, 30s in Rocksboro, but closer to midnight or one in the morning, the data went away, but very cold indeed could feel like the 20s. All right, so we're going to have numbers today in the upper 60s to around 70 in the triangle, low to even mid-70s in the sandhills. Tonight, low temperatures in the 30s, clear evening. And once we get to 3, 4 in the morning, clouds will start to increase. And that paves the way for a cloudy day tomorrow and a lot cooler. right back to a warmer day Monday, although cloudy, windy. There could be a sprinkle or two or a spotty light shower. Front moves on by.

Temperatures crashed behind it. A bright brisk Tuesday, mostly sunny Wednesday. Ringing in the new year with a few clouds, it'll be season. It'll be chilly, we'll call it. We'll probably have temperatures in the mid to upper 30s around midnight. And then those numbers are going to be pretty seasonal to start the new year on Thursday and a touch cooler Friday. Tamara? Sounds great.

Thank you, Steve. Well, looking back at 2025, the top stories in our state that's shaped this year coming up in two minutes. Eyewitness News is bringing you tomorrow's headlines today. And this morning, we are taking a look back at some of the top stories of 2025. Joining me from the Raleigh, Iwitness News Center is Thad Ogburn with the news and observer, Thad, good to see you. Thanks for joining us. In this week's report, I know staff members, they wrote about stories that had the most impact this year. Tell us about your annual year and review project.

Yeah, we like to do this each year. They're not just the big stories, though some of them will be, but it's stories that really impacted the members of our staff. We have everyone from reporters, editors, photographers, take a look at the things that made an impact on them, may have made them mad, may have made them hopeful, may have brought a smile to their face, may have actually brought a tear, but they're the stories that really just will remember after the year is gone. Not just the big stories, all the impactful stories. What are some of the stories that stood out this year? Well, we had weather, again being an impactful story.

Of course, Tropical Depression, Chantal, came through the triangle area, did a lot of flooding, damage, particularly around Carborough and Chapel Hill. So that was a big story. That turned up a couple times. We also at the same time were following up on weather from last year, on Helene, a year after, and sort of how the rebuilding and the mountains are going. So weather was always something. And of course, sports is a big deal here, and no sports story was probably bigger than the UNC football situation,

both on the field and off with Bill Belichick. Yeah, Bill Belichick, certainly a big story of 2025. and looks like it'll be in 2026 as well, that anything readers will be surprised to learn? I'm always amazed when we do this. We don't give anybody any guidelines. And so we do see some of the big stories. And then there are always things that I had forgotten about.

So we have stories about 42nd Street Oyster Bar, which closed. And then by the end of the year, there was hope that it may be coming back in 2026. We have photos that really stood out to people. There's a couple of wonderful photos in the package. We have when Tom Tillis and Donald Trump basically broke up. And so that was something that I had forgotten about.

So it's really just a good, it's a good way to look back, but you also really learn a little something about each of our staff members, sometimes the people behind the scenes and the things that will really stick with us. So we hope readers will enjoy it. It's online now. You can read it digitally, and there'll be a big package in Sunday's print edition of the News and Observer. It's a five-part series, right? There's five parts online, so it's not just one big chunk, but you can easily go from one to another.

In print, it's going to be one big package. You not only see the story from each person, but you'll see a photo of all the members of our staff. Well, I am already digging into the digital version of part one right now. on the news observer website and i am enjoying that thank you so much for joining us you can read more of this report on the news and observer website like me or in sunday's paper well from snowed in cities to flooded streets dangerous weather nationwide causing travel headaches for thousands of americans and a henderson family morning after a mother is killed on christmas eve the family now demanding justice.

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. And we are getting a live look at downtown Durham this morning. It's shaping up to be a beautiful morning here.

Good morning, Carolina. It's Saturday, December 27th. camera Scott you're watching eyewitness news now on ABC 11 and wherever you stream the top stories in all of the day's news is just ahead but first we're going to check in with meteorologist Steve Stewart this morning and we were talking about if you got a new pickleball set for Christmas maybe this is a good day to go out and start you're telling me that I got a pickle ball I didn't get no pickle ball said I know somebody did though I know someone I'm so sure absolutely and it's a great day to do that anything outside please take advantage of it because tomorrow's going to be nearly 20 degrees colder so big changes are coming our way looks like today is going to be fantastic, especially from the triangle on point south, up around 70 or so. Our northeastern counties could be a touch cooler, but still going to be a nice one today. That 59 yesterday, that's kind of misleading. That was midnight. Most of the day yesterday, as you know, was in the upper 40s, a very cold day indeed. Tiny chance at a shower on Monday, it's basically a moisture start front. If we get any rain at all, it'll be light, a few hundreds of an inch.

We need a good old-fashioned soaking. That's not in the cards for this next week. So we're going to end December with another fairly large deficit. So we get to those upper 60s today. I bet you the shopping centers are going to be pretty busy with all the returns. Typical, you know, after Christmas, numbers falling down to 50 by the time we get to 8 o'clock in the evening hours. Now, tomorrow we'll start out with clouds and they stay with us all day. It could be an overcast day. And even by the afternoon around 2 o'clock, we're still in the 40s, a far cry from what it's going to feel like today. We're 48 right now at RDU. That's a couple degrees warmer than this time. Yesterday, widespread up for 40s and 50s. out there, even Rocksboro and Oxford in the mid-50s at this hour. Evening planner going to the Lantern Festival. Numbers falling down to 50 by 8 o'clock. Seasonably chilly should be clear through the evening. I think it's after midnight the clouds start to build in once again. And winter comes back next week.

We have a couple shots at some Arctic air. More on that coming up in just a few minutes, Tamara. Well, thank you, Steve. Santa has come and gone and is leaving a trail of winter weather in his wake. Whiteout conditions are expected across the northeast. in one of the busiest travel stretches of the year. ABC's Johnny Fernandez has the latest. This morning, millions of people hitting the roads

and the skies will cross paths with major winter weather. Make sure you have good tires. New York City seeing the biggest snowfall of the season. This is the most significant snowfall New York City has seen in years, and we're encouraging all New Yorkers to take it seriously. New York and New Jersey, both declaring a state of America. emergency. In the Midwest, drivers navigated through rain and ice. The Zilwaukee Bridge in Michigan was shut down in both directions after it froze over and led to a series of crashes. In California,

L.A. County fires says it rescued more than a hundred people from flooded vehicles on Christmas Day alone. In San Bernardino County, neighborhoods washed out in the mountain town of Ritewood. Many losing power. Some have lost much more. As far as, like, just impact on the town as a whole, this is probably the worst I've seen. The weather's ripple effects being felt coast to coast with flights canceled or delayed, heading into two of the busiest return travel days this holiday season. Johnny Fernandez, ABC News, New York. Well, now is a good time to download the free ABC 11 mobile app.

We send watches and warnings. You can also check the seven-day forecast and Doppler net at any time. And now to a heartbreaking story. Henderson family is coping with the loss of a beloved mother who died on Christmas Eve. Police say 37-year-old Tiffany Lassiter was allegedly shot and killed by her boyfriend at her home on Dabney Drive. The boyfriend, 52-year-old, Mahalan Hebron, is facing a murder charge and is being held at the Vance County Detention Center without bond. We're angry. We're very angry. The kids are very angry.

I'm just numb right now to it. I think a lot of us are still in shock, but we are determined to make sure that we get justice because this, like I said, this is something that should not happen to anyone, especially in front of their children. So I hope justice is served. And Lassiter leaves behind five children, four of whom are staying with Stevenson, who who says the family is doing everything they can to stay together. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Lasseter is being remembered as a great mom and amazing person. And if you are a victim of domestic violence and need help, advocates are available 24-7 at this number on your screen. That's 1-800-799, Safe or 7-233. You can also text Start to 8-8-7-88. And Governor Josh Stein is inviting the public to sign a book of condolences. for the late Governor Jim Hunt. The book is lying at the North Carolina State Capitol

in the Routunda. You can write a brief message to Hunt's family from now through next Friday, January 2nd. Governor Stein will then present the book to Governor Hunt's family on behalf of North Carolina residents. Well, familiar voices, unforgettable moments,

a look back at the legends who left their mark coming up. Plus, a possible breakthrough, Ukraine and the U.S. nearing a peace deal. And don't just toss your Christmas tree, County will recycle it to do some good. But first, good morning, Steve. Hey, good morning there, Tamara. Good morning, everyone. Now, pretty nice out there right now with temperatures in the upper 40s and some low 50s on our way to maybe some 70s today. Hope you get

a chance to enjoy it. Big time drop in the temperature tomorrow. Details after the break. Welcome back, everybody. Good morning to you. A nice one today. I hope we get a chance to enjoy it. Big changes tomorrow. It's the clouds will increase. That's a lot colder. Be lucky to get to that 53, maybe even a sprinkle or two, maybe a light shower Monday. The winds are going to pick up. Gus could be to 30 miles an hour. Now it's a southwest wind that'll boost that temperature up. And then an Arctic front comes in and by the evening hours, that 67 is going to be dropping like a stone. It feels like temperature could be in the 20s as we get closer to the midnight hour. So it's a big change that's coming away during the day on Monday. Nice little ridge building in for now,

keeping things up pleasant. It'll be a warm one for us today. Why not have lunch out? Don't get to say that that often this time of year. Midday temperature is 66. If you wait till one or two, upper 60s to near 70. Not much of a breeze. So really a good day for it. Forty-eight at RDU right now, partly cloudy out there. A couple degrees warmer than yesterday. Widespread temperatures in the upper 40s and low 50s, fairly uniform out there. Going to the Keynes game, it'll be fine. Temperatures in the low 50s as you're walking into Lenovo Center when you head back home, partly cloudy and about 46 degrees. So New York's been dealing with delays in snow this morning. Chicago's good. The bitter roots and the Rockies are getting snow. Now that snow is going to shift tomorrow from Minneapolis, all the way through Wisconsin and Iowa and Nebraska. Rain and Chicago and Detroit, these are areas that could have delays tomorrow. So far this morning, it's LaGuardia and JFK with some awful delays there. Other major hubs are looking just fine.

Got your 7.8 coming up in a few minutes, Tamara. Sounds great. Thank you, Steve. Well, Ukraine's President Zelensky says he's meeting with President Trump tomorrow to finalize. a draft peace deal with Russia. Zelensky says a 20-point plan is 90% complete. But he and President Trump need to discuss finalizing the most sensitive elements of this latest draft that's being worked out between Ukraine and U.S. negotiators, and that would include security guarantees for Ukraine. However, the Kremlin shows no sign of accepting the new proposal. And Russia's deputy foreign minister saying Zelensky's plan is radically

different from what Russia has discussed with the U.S. And new details emerging about the U.S. strikes in Nigeria on Christmas. The Pentagon releasing this video of a U.S. warship firing a Tomahawk cruise missile from the Gulf of Guinea. President Donald Trump says he ordered the strike on Islamic State terrorists. In a truth social post Thursday, Trump accused ISIS of killing innocent Christians in the country. It's unclear how many people were killed. Nigeria's foreign ministry confirmed its country worked with the U.S. to hit terrorist targets. The strike comes as the Trump administration focuses on the ongoing plight of Christians in Nigeria.

Well, icons who shaped music, movies, sports, and culture, remembering the influential figures that we lost this year. Coming up. Well, we lost a number of great people in 2025. And now we're going to take a look back at some of the famous celebrities and noteworthy figures who passed away this year and how we will best remember them. I have to say you play well, oh, oh God, Annie. Good afternoon, everyone.

You won't be Mr. Ross. You can keep a secret. I'll tell you how my first three has... Bonasera. Just a bit outside. Oh, my God, it's so lovely. I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game, in my book, we're going to be winners.

I, Richard Bruce Cheney, who solemnly swear. We take the Lakers back to the big board. From now on, I'm number one, me, Margaret Houlihan. Afternoon, everybody! No! I'm killing me softly. Pugh. I was just wondering if you had the chance to check Gossip Girl recently.

I was made for loving you, baby, you were made for love in me I want to fight him. They'll kill us. Maybe you want to die? Do you? Love is never having to say it. Gosh, it's always so wild to think back on everything that we lost this year. Yeah, a lot.

Yeah. That's all right. Right. We're going to have a good day today for weather. We are. Yeah. If you want to get out to enjoy it, it's really going to be pleasant because tomorrow could be nearly 20 degrees cooler. So that's a little shock to the system for sure. Looks good out there right now. I just seen a few passing clouds overall. Really a fantastic day today. Get out and enjoy it. Maybe some pickle ball. Any outdoor activities that you would typically do in late March or early April. You can do today. Really going to be a nice one. Back to overcast tomorrow. It'll be colder, maybe a sprinkle or two. And then warm and windy on Monday during the day. time, but by the evening that Arctic front moves on by and temperature is absolutely a tank. And that will be with us overnight into early Tuesday. We're just getting a glancing blow of this Arctic air, but you're going to notice it in a big way. We go from 67 Monday and a big drop off to 43 on Tuesday. We'll moderate a little bit, but not the big up and down swings that we've been dealing with day after day after day of what it feels like a whole week now. Got some passing clouds off to our south, but otherwise fair skies out there. Good day to maybe get a around to golf in? Why not? We're going to get to those upper 60s to near 70, around 3 o'clock, and then the numbers are going to come down after that, obviously. Now, tomorrow features a lot of clouds around, and notice the 2 o'clock temperature. We're still stuck in the 40s, albeit upper 40s, but still, that's pretty chilly during the day tomorrow compared to

how warm it's going to be today. Seahawks in town tomorrow, taking on the Panthers. If you're going to the game, it'll be seasonally chilly with temperatures in the low 50s and cloudy skies. Boy, that is a big game for the Panthers. If I did my math right, if they win the game, I believe they're in the playoffs. 48 degrees at the RDU right now, temperature. Overall, we're just looking at 50s in our northern counties like Lewisburg, Rocky Mount Wilson and Burlington, Chapel Hills at 50, and so is Fayetteville as well, right up that 50 degree mark. Meantime, this is two nights left of the rink downtown Raleigh.

Numbers falling down to 50 by 8 o'clock under mostly clear skies. The clouds don't come back into play until around three or four in the morning. day tomorrow. And then that front's going to be approaching. Again, limited moisture, maybe a spotty shower. Temperatures could fall in the afternoon. Depends on the timing of the front as it moves on by. The one thing we know that Arctic air is going to be coming and our feels like temperatures are going to take a nosedive. This is by dinner time already feeling like 30s and the mountains and the single digits and it gets colder from there. Upper 50s now Henderson and Roanoke Rapids, so it's cooler up here. But once you get to the triangle on point south, likely going to be in the 70s, 30s tonight with clear skies early, clouds late tonight after three in the morning. And then the first alert seven day shows a cloudy day tomorrow and a lot cooler. That's about normal temperature, but a big draw from the 70 today. Back to 67 and windy on Monday, it's a warm south. The west wind, when the front moves through, temperatures take a nosedive, cold on Tuesday.

Wednesday, the last day of 2025 should be sunny and chilly. We're going to ring in the new year with a few clouds around midnight. temperature is likely in the mid to upper 30s at that time. And then Thursday, first day of 2026, not bad, low 50s and partly cloudy. Sounds good. Thank you, Steve. Well, as we wind down the year, ABC News is looking back at its biggest breakout stars and heroes and newsmakers that had everyone talking. Join Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts for the year in special the year 2025. It airs Monday, December 29th at 8 p.m. here on ABC 11 and streams the next day on Disney Plus and Hulu.

Then join us next Wednesday night as we ring in the new year. Tune in for Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking Eve with Ryan Seacrest. The fun starts at 8 on New Year's Eve here on ABC 11. And we cannot forget Manny Diaz and the Duke Blue Devils. Duke is headed to El Paso. They'll tango with Arizona State in the Sun Bowl on New Year's Eve. That kickoff is at 2 p.m. And then today, John Wall Tournament features North Carolina basketball teams.

All the action happening this weekend. Well, happening this weekend, if you are a high school basketball team playing in a holiday tournament, it's pretty normal occurrence. But if you're a high school basketball team with an invite to the play in the John Wall tournament, you must be pretty special. The self-proclaimed best high school basketball tournament in America and the premier high school groups tournament and our state happening this weekend. A few local teams, though, on the wrong side of the scoreboard on Friday, Southern Durham takes a six-point loss. from Highland from Virginia. Washington beats defending state champion Reedsville, and Reedsville Senior Deontay Neal

had 42 points in the loss. Garner Falls to Coronado out of Nevada. And today, there are more games taking place at Southeast Raleigh and Broughton. Matches start at 9.30 this morning, so they've already begun in the last game starting at 8 o'clock tonight. So you can catch

the full schedule and watch the games live on the John Wall website. Also, don't miss a full day of college football bowl games here on ABC 11. It starts at noon when Clemson takes on Penn State in the pinstripe bowl at Yankee Stadium. Then at 3.30, BYU faces Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. And at 7.30, it's the Gator Bowl with Missouri playing Virginia. And 10-time pro bowler and Super Bowl, 48 champion with the Seattle Seahawks, Russell Wilson, now delivering hope off the field this holiday season. He has been bringing

smiles to the pediatric patients at Mount Sinai-Cravice Children's Hospital in New York. Wilson and his wife, Sierra, donated $3 million for therapeutic play and creative art spaces. For many patients, coming to a play space like this is one of the most healing offerings we can provide. I want them to be inspired, and I want them to take their mind a little bit off of maybe the pain they're going through. When I come here, it's been probably been the greatest thing I've been able to do in my career so far, is go to the Children's Hospital and see the kids and see kids overcome. And I think if I can be just a small glimpse of joy, it's better than any touchdown or any trophy. Well, the facility upgrades will include a facelift to the hospital's holiday shop,

a tradition where kids in treatment get to choose donated gifts for themselves and their families. And Kwanza celebrations have begun. Today is the second day of the seven-day cultural holiday created to honor African heritage and values. The Haitai Heritage Center in Durham hosted their annual Kwanza event with cultural dances. educational exhibits, and a candle lighting ceremony. The holiday is observed from the day after Christmas through New Year's Day, with each candle representing one of seven principles, including things like unity, self-determination, and faith.

You can find a full list of Kwanza events on our website at ABC11.com. Now, Wake County is accepting your Christmas trees. The Happy Trails Christmas Tree Recycling Program last year turned 3,800 trees into 83 tons of mulch. So if you would like to donate your tree, make sure to remove all your decorations first before dropping it off at the nine designated sites listed there on your screen between today and January 31st. How long is the tree stay up for, though? That's the question. I leave mine up for an absurd amount of time. February? Maybe a little bit of March.

I just like to keep the joy. Yeah, it's a couple weeks maybe. Okay. All right. Listen, 70 degrees today. Big drop in temperature tomorrow right back up, but it's cloudy, warm, and windy on Monday. That's an Arctic front. it moves through. It means business. It's going to get cold Monday night and Tuesday and then

ringing in the new year. Not bad. Low 50s. Sounds great. Well, from the Eyewitness News Center, I'm Tamara Scott for Steve Stewart, the entire eyewitness news team. Thank you so much for watching. IWitness News continues online right now at ABC11.com. ABC 11 eyewitness News is sponsored by Ruggin Home of Raleigh. Experience the Extraordinary.