ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at Noon - December 22, 2025

Episode Date: December 22, 2025

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Right now at noon, tracking a cool start to your week, but a big holiday warmup meteorologist Cruz Medina coming up to show you just how high the temperatures are headed. And a 13-year-old shot and killed here in Goldsboro, what police are telling us at this hour. Also at noon, we are tracking seasonal illnesses and the local hospital taking extra steps to prevent the spread. And happening right now, a toy giveaway in Durham, the story behind this good deed just before the holiday. right now live coverage from your local news leader today's top stories you need to know and your first alert forecast here's what's happening where you live this is abcc 11 i witness news i'm amber repenta barbara gibbs has the day off thanks for joining us here at noon let's get right to the weather meteorologist cruz medina is here cruise it's christmas week a big holiday

week but the temps are still going to be feeling more like spring this week yeah we got middle and upper 60s forecast for the middle of the week and that's kind of the wave that we've been on so tipters have been above average over the past several days so let's actually take a look back at what we've seen so far this month and obviously we started out the month on a cool note so tipters were much below average and then toward the middle of the month we've seen those warmer days with above average days now at a seven for that count for the total month now as we go through the next few days watch these tipters sore above average the average is 53 and raleigh for this time of the the month. You can see low 60s by tomorrow, middle and upper 60s as we go into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. But all in all, we are going to see some big changes as we go through the next few days. Now this is downtown Raleigh. It's obviously not super warm today. So tipters are struggling to get out of the 40s right now. We're seeing mid 40s across the region. Those highs will push into the low 50s for this afternoon. So if you have plans to be out and about, you probably want at least a light jacket for those low 50s. And then by this evening, if you have

evening plans. Tipters then should be falling into the 40s. Now overnight, we will see lows above freezing in most locations. Tipters do go down into the mid-30s. We'll also see the clouds increase, and by tomorrow morning, there could be some spotty sprinkles or light showers around in the morning. After that clears by about 10 a.m. We'll actually see some late-day sunshine, and like I said, tipters are going to push into the low 60s. So tomorrow is the start of that warming trend. It's obviously going to be above average, but it keeps getting warmer. That seven-day forecast is coming up in just a few minutes you don't want to miss it ember back to you that's very important week for so many crews thank you for that and we want to get right to

the breaking story that we're following out of goldsboro this noon a 13-year-old girl shot and killed three other young people now in custody for her murder akila davis is joining us live from goldsboro akila what can you tell us about this horrible tragedy hi there amber goldsboro police haven't identified a motive behind this shooting that left a 13-year-old girl dead just days before Christmas, but they tell us three teenage boys have been arrested in connection to this shooting. That's two 16-year-olds and one 15-year-old. So we know the shooting happened here on Alpha Court in the Alpha Arms Apartments Community. Police said it happened just after 430 yesterday afternoon. They say when Wayne County EMS arrived on the scene, the 13-year-old

girl was pronounced dead. Police are not releasing her name or the suspect's names because they are all minors. Of course, they are still a lot of unanswered questions here. We're still working to learn more about what led up to this shooting and should have more ahead on eyewitness news at 4. Reporting live in Goldsboro, Akela Davis, ABC 11, eyewitness news. Akila, keep us posted there from Goldsboro. Thank you. We are also getting new information on a deadly shooting in Durham this morning. It happened around 5 a.m. on Ardsley Drive. Police telling eyewitness news that one of the people that live there shot someone they lived with. The investigation is still underway. We will bring you any updates just as soon as we get them. We're also following breaking

sports news this noon, ESPN reporting that the University of North Carolina football team is working to hire Bobby Petrino as the program's next offensive coordinator. Petrino most recently served as interim coach at Arkansas, where he was offensive coordinator for the past two years. Offensive coordinator, Freddie Kitchens, was fired earlier this month after the Tar Hills ranked 131st nationally in head coach Bill Belichick's first year at Chapel Hill. And happening now, another busy day for the holiday travel rush. We have a live look at the traffic along I-40. AAA is predicting 3.7 million North Carolinians will travel through January the 1st. That is nearly 3% more than last year. And if you're driving, traffic is expected

to be busiest between 1 and 7 o'clock. So the agency says it is best to leave after 10 a.m. And if you are hitting the road, gas prices are cheaper compared to last year. The average cost in North Carolina is $2.65. That is down 18 cents from last year. And a reminder, the annual Booz-It and Lose-It campaign is underway. Authorities in all 100 counties in North Carolina increasing patrols and sobriety checkpoints trying to catch impaired drivers. The campaign runs through January the 4th. WakeMed issuing new restrictions on visitors as we enter the peak of respiratory illness season. As of today, children younger than 12 will not be allowed to visit patients in wake-med hospital units, patient care areas, and waiting rooms. The restrictions

taking effect at all wake-med facilities. Officials say the move will help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses like flu and RSV. Happening today, the Durham School Board holding a special meeting. District leaders gathering remotely to discuss personnel and school security. The meeting starts at 4 this afternoon. The public can view open sessions of the meeting using a live feed on the DPS YouTube page. There will be no public comment. And another event postponed after the fire at the Raleigh Convention Center. Animate Raleigh will no longer be held January 9th through the 11th.

Instead, the annual cosplay takeover has been moved to March 13th through the 15th. And right now, repairs are underway on the building downtown. After the fire on the roof earlier this month, the damage is estimated to be $2 million. A city spokesperson says they do expect some events, happen at the convention center though in January. And today we will be watching for an announcement from President Trump, but the White House says Trump will be joined by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy to make a shipbuilding announcement.

It's not clear yet what that will be. This comes as tensions rise in the Caribbean, the United States intercepting and seizing oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela. American officials saying the vessels are evading sanctions, Venezuela calling it theft and hijacking. New at noon, Japan is restarting the world's biggest nuclear power plant 15 years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The plant has sat dormant for more than a decade after a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011 triggered a nuclear meltdown. Japan has taken a cautious

approach to nuclear energy since that disaster, but is looking to reduce its reliance on costly imported fossil fuels. Happening today, the Durham Rescue Mission preparing for the annual Christmas community dinner and toy giveaway. Today, volunteers begin passing. packing toys and groceries and start cooking the food for tomorrow's meal. Volunteers will be back at 5 a.m. tomorrow to begin slicing turkey, cooking vegetables and setting up. Doors at the rescue mission on East Main Street will open at 11 in the morning and the meal

begins at noon. The Department of Justice is facing growing pressure after releasing only a portion of the Epstein files. What critics say is missing? That's ahead. And what we're learning about the tragic plane crash that killed a NASCAR legend and his family. Watch Lauren Johnson tonight on ABC 11. I Witness News. Iwood News is counting down to the holidays and happening now a big toy giveaway in Durham.

It's all part of the 27th annual Toys to Kids Outreach Initiative. Jemise Price is joining us live as those volunteers work to make sure children will have a Merry Christmas. This is so great, Jemise. Hey, Amber, we're going to have a lot of happy kids here in Durham. I am in Santa's Durham Workshop, okay? So take a look behind me. You can see all the tables here filled with toys. And these are just some of them.

Take a look at this toy here, okay? Check out Mickey, of course. So you have some of the elves over here. They're packing up those goody bags for the kids here. And these are all toys donated by people in the community. It was a part of a big toy drive that happened on Friday. Now they're getting the toys ready to make sure that kids here in Durham will have will have a very merry Christmas.

I love it. I'm just so excited. Katisha Burns is in the holiday spirit. The mom of three stopped by Santa's Durham Workshop to pick up toys for her kids, two boys and her three-year-old little girl. She likes all things, colors, rainbows, all the girls stuff.

Katisha is not working right now and like many families across the triangle. Things are tight, so the help goes along well. I need all the help I can get because I'm in school. I'm not working. That's the goal of Toys to Kids' annual toy drive that started nearly 30 years ago by three Durham attorneys.

Sharaw Banks, James Butch Williams, and James Rogers. Rogers stopped by today to see the families who appreciate the community's generosity. We take the generosity of the community and these partners and turn to the families. it into joy for kids and create kind of one smile at a time during Christmas. The Toy Drive is a partnership with several community groups including the Hay Thai Reborn Justice Movement, which identify the families who need extra help this year. And all, about 150 children receive bags full of toys and clothes. Every year, there are going to be a lot of kids who may not get gifts at Christmas.

In addition to creating a smile for the kids, we think it helps, it impacts the whole family and the whole family is more seen when their gifts at Christmas time. And parents like Katitia feel seen. I'm just blessed, honestly. Amber, so joining me here, we have a very special guest. I am here with Santa. Say hello. Oh, Merry Christmas. Okay, so for the families who could not make it down to Santa's Durham Workshop, Santa, along with organizers, will deliver their gifts to them directly. So again, the goal here is just to make sure that the kids here in Durham have a very Merry Christmas.

Amber? Very sweet. Tell Santa, we said hello. We'll be leaving lots of cookies and everything out. They're doing great work there at the Elks Lodge. James, thank you. Now to the growing outrage this noon over the partial release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, the Department of Justice

started releasing the files on Friday, but sources say it is less than half the records, and many are heavily redacted. Here's ABC's Rena Roy. Growing questions after the Department of Justice released just a fraction of the Jeffrey Epstein files from the hundreds of thousands of files the department allegedly has at its possession.

The DOJ releasing a limited portion on Friday and into the weekend. Friday was the deadline to do so under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. And several pages that were released were heavily redacted. The photos released without context explaining what's depicted. The lawmakers who wrote that law now say they're pursuing inherent contempt charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi for not complying with the law to release all the files. Republican Thomas Massey speaking on CBS's Face the Nation this weekend. They're flouting the spirit and the letter of the law, and I won't be satisfied until the survivors are satisfied. Attorneys for multiple Epstein survivors say the DOJ has violated the law and are demanding immediate congressional oversight, including hearings.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche telling ABC News, more files will be published soon, insisting the DOJ is complying with the law and the releases about protecting victims. And that there's no effort to protect President Trump after one image of him was taken down. and later restored. President Trump has certainly said from the beginning that he expects all files that can be released to be released and that's exactly what we're doing. Other photos released show former President Bill Clinton with Epstein, though no Epstein survivor has ever accused Clinton of wrongdoing. A Clinton spokesperson writing, this is about shielding the White House from what comes next or from what they'll try and hide forever. Some Epstein survivors say they've seen their names or other identifying information in the files and they're

urging the DOJ to take those pages down until they're further redacted. The DOJ says the agency will be responsive to those concerns. Rina Roy, ABC News, New York. Rena, thanks. And new details this noon about Thursday's tragic plane crash in Statesville. The crash killed seven people, including NASCAR legend Greg Biffle and his wife, Christina, and their two young children. Officials say the Cessna Citation hit the ground short of the runway and then burst into flames. Federal investigators say someone on the plane sent a text message to a family member on the ground

saying, quote, emergency landing. They're still trying to determine who was flying the plane and what caused the crash. A cockpit voice recorder has been recovered. New at noon, singer Barry Manilow confirming he is battling lung cancer and will have to have surgery. Manelow says he happened to have an MRI after suffering from weeks of bronchitis

and that is when the spot was discovered. Manilow was treated for throat cancer back in 2020. He was scheduled to be on tour in Greensboro in January, and that date has now been rescheduled for April. More time for victims of Hurricane Helene, the important deadline that has been extended. That's ahead here at noon. And we have a live look at the roads as we track the holiday travel rush.

A lot of folks out there. The good news is the weather's cooperating around here for it. We'll be right back. Well, take a deep breath. You are taking in some of the cleanest air in North Carolina in decades. That's according to a new report from the State's Department of Environmental Quality. Analyzing the most recent data from the EPA, the report says carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide emissions reached all-time lows in 2022. DEQ says it expects to see further reductions in the future as more North Carolinians buy electric vehicles.

And homeowners still dealing with damage from Hurricane Helene are getting an extension to apply for help through the single-family housing program. Renew NC, North Carolina's long-term disaster recovery effort announced the deadline has been extended to January 31st. Western North Carolina homeowners can submit applications for help with repairing, reconstructing, or replacing homes damage during the deadly storm. Since the program launched in June, the Renew NC Single Family Housing Program received more than 6,500 applications. repairs and reconstruction began this fall and take a look at this oh m g dogs at a daycare in new hampshire all decked out and they love it it looks like in full costume for an adorable nativity scene the pups taking the place of key christmas characters including jesus mary joseph the angel gabriel and a cute lamb we should just sit on that put that on repeat put that

Would your dog let you do something like that, Ember? Yeah, he likes me and put him in costumes, at least I think he does. See, mine doesn't, and I've been trying to get him on board, but I was thinking of getting him some kind of Christmas sweater, and I just think it's going to be too warm. Yeah, it is going to be warm. You can do the chat GPT picture with him, though. It puts him in a sweater. I saw yours and Don's.

They're so cute. And Don's. I got to talk to him about that one. Yeah, that was funny. That was too doggone cute. Yes, it was. too warm for some, right? But for me, I actually like the temperatures this week.

It's going to be above average. Not today, of course. So if you are looking for the cooler weather, today is kind of your day. Tomorrow morning, we could start out a bit chilly, but also with a few spotty showers. The best chance is before 10 a.m. Then the second half of the day is dry. And that's really the only significant or even somewhat significant rain chance that we have in the seven-day forecast. As we go into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, much warmer, temperatures in the middle to upper 60s.

and then still as we end the week and go into the upcoming weekend, still expecting to be above average. So how much above average are we talking here? This is a look at Tuesday, so the start of the warm up. We'll be in the low 60s then, but that's already 9 degrees above average because our highs this time of the year are in the low 50s. Now as we go into Wednesday and Thursday, those temperatures could be 15 to 20 degrees above average across Central North Carolina. So significant changes on the way. Now for today, like I said, today's the one cool day that we have this week. So temperatures only make it into the low 50s this afternoon.

It's not necessarily cold, but chilly enough to warrant a jacket for sure. And we'll at least have some sunshine before the clouds roll in later today ahead of that disturbance that could bring us some rain tomorrow morning. So first alert predictor takes us through this afternoon. Here's us reaching our highs. And by the time that we hit that 3 or 4 p.m. hour, it's going to turn mostly cloudy. So those clouds will continue to build in through the night as that disturbance passes through. And then like I said, it's just a few very spotty light showers. So some sprinkles possible tomorrow morning.

you know, are commuting into work. You don't have the day off. You could run into one of those for your commute. Second half of the day is dry and tipters are going to be warmer. So we end up with sunshine and highs in the low 60s for tomorrow. But the morning itself, still a bit on the chilly side. You'll probably want the jacket for the morning hours. In the afternoon, you could probably get away with just long sleeves.

And then once again, we will have those clouds kind of departing the region as we go into the second half of the day. Now, as we go into the middle of the week, our warm up is going to be brought on by two things. First of all, our winds will be out of the south-west. So that is coming in from a warmer air mass. That's going to push those highs into the 60s. But as we go into Wednesday, a big dome of high pressure is going to be building to our south. That's going to boost those temperatures up. Once again, that's kind of the peak of the warm-up.

And those tipters will stay in those upper 60s as we round out this upcoming week. So if you're just joining us now, tipters are a bit chilly outside. We are in the 40s. Tonight we go all the way down into the 30s across the region. but the good news is with cloud cover in place we likely stay above freezing and then for tomorrow we start the day with some clouds some showers around in the morning by the afternoon we're back to sunshine and highs will top out in the lower 60s your first alert acuether seven-day forecast shows those warm conditions Wednesday and Thursday as well by the time we get into the back half of the week still staying warm there's some question marks as to Friday how warm we're going to get we've brought those tipters down just a little bit as we could get another front in here but staying my as we go into the next weekend. Amber. Look at that, pushing 70 on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. And it keeps going. Okay. All right, Cruz, thank you.

Well, pump the brakes, Ford issuing a recall on nearly 300,000 vehicles. What owners need to know is ahead. Plus, did you hear this? The Powerball jackpot, now the fourth largest in game history. How much is at stake in tonight's drawing? Watch Steve Daniels. 11 eyewitness news. All right, well, it's time now for some news you can use this Monday and we start with a recall alert from Ford.

The automaker recalling more than 270,000 electric and hybrid vehicles due to a glitch with a parking function. The company says the malfunction could cause cars to roll away. The recall includes certain 2022 to 2026 F150 lightnings, 24 through 26 Mustang mock ease and 2025 through 26 Maverick vehicles. So Ford will update the park module software for free. Now to a warning from major tech companies, Apple and Google, telling their workers on visas to avoid leaving the U.S. And this message comes as the Trump administration cracks down on immigration with new rules. The tech companies say some foreign workers could face long delays for visa appointments

and risk being barred from returning to the country. A big Monday night football game here on ABC 11 tonight. The Colts looking for their first win since November the 9th, They host the Red Hot San Francisco 49ers. Kickoff is at 815 here on ABC 11. And if you're traveling this holiday, beware. Doctors are warning about a rise in holiday illnesses, the steps you can take to avoid getting sick.

And do you have any last minute shopping to do? We will show you what malls are opening late.