ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at Noon - December 31, 2025

Episode Date: December 31, 2025

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Breaking right now at noon. Durham police on the scene of a fatal shooting in the Bull City. The information we're learning from the scene and a juvenile arrested for a triple shooting in Goldsboro, what we know about the injured victims and the surge in respiratory illness triggering a major local hospital to start restricting visitors for patients and the countdown to 2026. We've got the preparations underway for the big acorn drop in downtown Raleigh and the New Year's Eve Bowl drop in New York City. news at noon. 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 ABC 11 eyewitness news. And we begin with breaking news right out of the gate here at noon. Durham police on the scene of a

deadly shooting. The gun violence happening on Miami Boulevard. We had Chopper 11 over the crime scene and a crew on the ground. Investigators. seem to be focusing on that nearby bus stop. Durham police say an adult male was shot and pronounced dead at the scene. We're working to learn more about the victim. No word yet on suspects. With that, we say good Wednesday afternoon.

Thank you for joining us on this final day of 2025. I'm Joel Brown, Barbara and Amber have the day off. After a frosty cold start to the day, temperatures will climb into the low 50s this afternoon. Meteorologist Steve Stewart here with me with his final forecast of the year. That is right. Absolutely there, Joel. Yeah, we're looking good. Lots of sunshine around here. Any active weather's well off to the north. A lot of snow with some lake effect snow going on there. For us, we're going to be up around 50 degrees or so. That's a good 10 degree warm up over yesterday. And at times we have that chilly breeze out there. Rainfall for the most part. We've had eight days of measurable rain. We've got two inches, but that's still a deficit, right? Of about 1.3 inches or so. So we're going to end yet another month well below where we should be. That's four in a row now. So we do have some rain. coming on Saturday. New model data coming in. This is either going to go up or down as far as the probability. And then after that we're completely done. Back to some dry conditions as we go into Sunday. 44 in the North Hills right now that feels like temperature about 38 with a bit of a breeze coming in even though it's from the south and west. It still feels rather chilly. 39 Oxford, 43 and a Chapel Hill and Fayetteville currently at 45 degrees. If you're ringing in the new year, the temperature is at the early acorn drop right around 41 will cool a little.

bit, but slow cooling. We should be in the upper 30s as clouds are going to be increasing as we go through the evening hours. And then they're clear once again after that. Meantime, this rain on Saturday, it's much needed and it's good news for us. More on that coming up in the 70 forecast. Steve Stewart, all excited about the rain and we're also excited about this. We are now less than 12 hours away now from the start of 2026 and a huge crowd is expected out on Fayetteville Street for first night, Raleigh. It's an all-day carnival capped off with the acorn drop at midnight. Tamara Scott's already there. She's live on City Plaza, which will be party central in the coming hours. Tamara. Hey, good afternoon. Yes, and I'm here right at City

Plaza, downtown Raleigh, Fayetteville Street, where the roads have already been blocked off, getting ready for the festivities later tonight. And you can see right there behind me is that infamous acorn that's going to be dropping a little later tonight, of course. But this is an event that our area looks forward to every single year. They've got the stage getting ready because there will be live performances and vendors out here along the street with some amusement rides as well. But it is going to be colder outside. So you want to make sure you have places to be inside too. There will be events for that located all throughout the downtown area like a silent disco, stand-up comedy shows, even a parade later. But of course, the highlight of the night will be the acorn drop.

There will be an early one for the kiddos at seven and the iconic drop right at midnight. I actually got a sneak peek of how the crane operations work before the nut drop later. night and this is the crane company from Morelando who comes to help every single year. I'm told this process they start working on it earlier in the month. Take a listen. Usually the first or second week in December will come out. We pick the acorn up from its pedestal and it goes on the trailer I'm sure y'all saw earlier. And it goes to the artist, they clean it up, then they bring it back. Once they get the stage up, get the timers up, everything will do a couple of practice runs to get our timing down and so they have

already started doing some practice runs and that was me that you saw in the crane earlier today they gave me a little sneak peek of how things operate no worries though I will not be operating it later tonight I will leave that for the professionals for when the time comes because they're the ones who know how to do this they've been doing it for several years now at this point and they're also very excited just says I'm sure everyone else will be here we'll as well back to you no we appreciate your joystick skills they're very impressive and the acorn looks wonderful all polished up ready for its time to shine in the new year's spotlight tonight

tamra thank you as millions of americans get ready to ring in the new year security preps are also underway dozens of performers are also getting ready to hit the stage for new year's rock and eve airing right here on abc abc's rina roy reports from new york From New Zealand to South Korea and Taiwan. Happy New Year! People around the world already welcoming in the New Year. And here in America, we're also getting ready to ring in 2026. The party's just getting started.

New Year's Rock and Eve with Ryan Seacrest kicking off on ABC just a few hours from now. With a special performance from the iconic Diana Ross. She's joined by more than 40 other performers. including Post Malone, Mariah Carey, and Piffle. The NYPD expecting nearly a million people to gather in New York's Times Square,

so security is tight. The nation's largest police force says thousands of its officers will be in the air, on the water, and in the subway system. Rest assured, the entirety of the New York City Police Department is going to be working between December

31st and January 1st. Rina Roy, ABC News, New York. And if you plan to stay home tonight, make sure to join us 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 right here on ABC 11. In Fayetteville, the annual Cool Spring District, New Year's Eve, spectacular returns tonight for its fifth year.

Festival Park will be the place to be to ring in 2026. There's going to be food trucks, activities for the kids, and lots of live performances. ABC 11 together is once again a proud. sponsor. And don't forget about the pickle and egg drops happening today. The town of Mount Olive will continue its tradition of dropping a giant glowing pickle to ring in 2026. But the celebration happens a few hours early at 7 p.m. Over in Nash County, Braswell Family Farms is holding its third annual New Year's Eve, egg drop, and you don't have to stay up until midnight

for that celebration either. The egg drop and the fireworks happen at 8 o'clock. New at noon, Goldsboro Police have charged a juvenile in connection to a triple shooting. A shooting happened Monday evening at Tanglewood Mobile Home Park in the 3,200 block of Central Heights Road. The victims range in age from 21 to 23 years old. The juvenile suspect was arrested yesterday and now faces charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. The investigation continues. Police telling us more arrests are expected. In Wake County, Sheriff's deputies have located the driver who ran away on foot after a police chase and crash in Raleigh. The sheriff's office says Joshua Bauer was captured around 1.45 this morning.

Investigators say he sped off during a traffic stop on Lewisburg Road, crashed into two other cars, then ran from the scene. No one seriously injured. Charges still pending. Now to the overnight water main break at a major intersection in Kerry. Part of Kerry Parkway remains shut down as crews work to repair the line. It happened to the intersection of Kerry Parkway and Kildare Farm Road. Water service has not been impacted, but the town says repair work is impacting traffic the cause of the broken water pipe. New at noon, Duke Health becomes the latest local provider to implement restrictions on hospital visitors amid a surge in flu cases. The CDC says flu numbers spiked in the last week, and Duke says cases have doubled there. Sean Coffey live at Duke Raleigh talking to a pediatric infectious disease specialist about what families need to know, Sean. Hi, Joel. Well, as you just mentioned, Duke Health just implementing a temporary ban on visitors under 12 years old unless they receive.

prior approval. Infectious disease specialist, Dr. Melissa Campbell, says that cases are spiking across all age groups, and unfortunately, that is likely to get worse in the coming days. Per the CDC, we have seen a very active flu season. More than seven and a half million flu cases already recorded, including 81,000 hospitalizations across the country, more than 3,000 deaths, and North Carolina is one of 20 states with a high level of flu activity right now. Doctors are warning people not feeling well to stay away from others as this high volume of cases starts to have wider impacts. With people returning home from the holidays

and kids returning to the classroom, even more spread is expected. We're seeing positive test rates double over the past two weeks, mostly related to more folks gathering, right? There's more travel, more gathering. We are at the peak of flu season. We are also seeing other viruses,

not just influenza, but also RSV, COVID, and other respiratory viruses, as well. Those new visitor rules at Duke Health go into effect January 6th and include a limit of only two visitors per patient. It follows a similar measure recently taken by Cape Fear Valley Health. And while we are at the peak of flu season, doctors say it's not too late to get your flu shot. Again, if you feel any of those symptoms that we know, fatigue, fever, chills, coughing issues,

they're recommending that you stay home and really limit your interaction with other people. Back to you. There's new restrictions going in the place at Duke next Tuesday. Sean, thank you. The Calvary is not coming to save the Affordable Health Care Act's enhanced premium subsidies, which will expire after today. And while the House is expected to vote in January on a Democratic proposal to extend them three years, the effort facing significant hurdles in the Senate. This means millions of Americans will likely have to shell out more in some cases and a lot more for coverage in 2026 or go uninsured. You'll remember Democratic lawmakers refuse to fund the federal. federal government this fall unless the subsidies were renewed leading to a record long shutdown that only ended in mid-November with an agreement to hold a vote in the Senate on the matter.

Both Democratic and Republican health care bills failed to pass the chamber in mid-December. Duke football going bowling later today. The Blue Devils play Arizona State in El Paso, Texas, and the Sun Bowl on this New Year's kickoff is at 2 o'clock, less than two hours from now. And NFL football returns to ABC 11 this weekend. It's a double header on Saturday. starting with the Panthers and buccaneers at three, the NFC South Crown on the line. That's followed by the Seahawks and the 49ers at 7.30. And be sure to stick around for eyewitness news right after the game.

With the new year comes new laws, including changes to Raleigh's much-talked-about-noise ordinance. We'll have that story just ahead. And in financial news, the U.S. economy strong as we head into 2026. In two minutes, I'll look at the stock market and the jobs market. And the autopsy report for actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife have now been sealed. We'll explain what's behind the move, new at 1230. Watch Lauren Johnson tonight on ABC 11, I Witness News. 13 minutes past now on the Labor Department says fewer Americans applied for unemployment last week.

It's a sign layoffs remain low despite a weakening job market. On the last day of 2025, we're getting a reality check on the economy. ABC's Perry Russo in Washington. The last weekly jobless numbers of the year just out today show fewer Americans applying for unemployment benefits. One hundred and ninety-nine thousand Americans applying last week, down 16,000 from the previous week. It's a sign layoffs remained low,

despite a weakening job market. The opening bell ringing this morning for the final time in 2025, capping off a solid run for the stock market. The S&P 500 is up 17% this year. It tracks most Americans' retirement accounts. Fidelity says the typical 401k balance is up nearly $25,000. If you're looking to buy a home in 2026, mortgage rates are dropping. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.2%, down from 7% a year ago.

If you're taking out a $400,000 home loan, your monthly payment is now $2,289 versus $2,473 at the start of the year, saving you a few hundred dollars a month. Gas prices have gone down, but prices have gone up for gas utilities, daycare rent, restaurants, and groceries. Most analysts expect the impact of tariffs on higher prices will fade toward the middle of next year. When it comes to your money and your health at midnight, subsidies tied to the Affordable Care Act will expire after Congress failed to act. Health care premiums for millions of Americans will skyrocket. Perry Russell, ABC News, Washington. We are just hours away from a new noise ordinance in the city of Raleigh.

The new rules only apply to amplified sound coming from commercial businesses, think bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Under the new rules, decibel levels will vary based on time of day, day of the week, and location. Glenwood's South's designation as a hospitality district will allow for higher decibel limits than other parts of the city. The rules take effect tomorrow, January 1st. And the new year bringing new toll prices for commuters starting tomorrow. Toll rates will rise on the Triangle and Monroe Expressways and see QuickPass customers will pay up to 12 cents more while those without an account face higher costs. Full rates and account info are posted online. Hong Kong is canceling its traditional New Year's Eve fireworks display following that devastating fire that killed more than 150 people last month.

That story just ahead. And the U.S. Postal Service making changes to how it postmarks the mail, how it could cause you. your mail to start arriving later. That story in two minutes. Hong Kong ringing in 2026 without fireworks over Victoria Harbor after the deadliest fire there in decades. The fire in November killed at least 161 people. The city's tourism board will instead ring in the new year by hosting a music show featuring soft rock duo air supply and other singers. Down in Australia, fireworks in Sydney. lighting up the harbor bridge is one of the first countries to welcome in the new year but this

year Sydney remains on the edge in the remains on edge in wake of the Bondi terror attack a record number of police officers were on patrol last night some in uniform others in plain clothes to help people feel safe less than three weeks ago police believe two men killed 15 people at a honica festival the postal service is now changing the way mail is postmarked and that could affect your bills and other important documents mail is typically postmarked on the same day you drop it in the mailbox but now the postmark date will reflect the day the envelope is processed at a mail facility and that could be a day or more later and that means time-sensitive material like bills and election ballots could miss deadlines if they're not sent in ahead of time the postal service says the change is

part of a plan to modernize systems so get your mail for the post office a little bit earlier remember the old days but you know on april 15 trying to get your taxes in you got to get it postmark by april 15 yeah i remember yeah yeah what are we looking like tonight for new year's eve You know, not bad. Temperatures upper 30s to near 40 and leave some clouds around, but not bad. It's been a lot worse than that for sure. So we'll call it chilly out there for tonight. Downtown looking pretty good. Got a couple high clouds in the sky. But more clouds around as we get into the evening hour. So it will be rather chilly as we ring in the new year. Pleasant mid-50s, first day of the new year tomorrow. And then rain over the weekend, at least the first half. Chances have been going up. A lot of the guidance is suggesting that low will be close enough to us to bring some rain to the area. Winter precipitation up in Virginia. but we'll be cold. We'll likely have temperatures in the 40s with the rain. There you see the clouds. Around 5 o'clock, we'll see a few of them, but it's really later in the evening we could get some clouds rolling in. That'll keep us from getting too cold, and then those clouds will start to thin out once we get past, say, 3 o'clock in the morning, and turning partly cloudy once again. 44 to North Hills right now. The wind is about 12 miles an hour, so a little bit of a chill feels like upper 30s.

It's 40 in Oxford, 45 in Smithfield, and 46 into Southern Pines. Heading out for this evening to ring in the new year. Again, 41 for the early acorn drop. Later on, we'll be in the upper 30s and mostly cloudy by that time, and a light southwesternly breeze will continue. So this front's going to be close by. We'll see a lot of clouds around, especially later in the day on Friday. Temperatures mid, maybe upper 50s, and we'll watch this little wave of low pressure moving along that front. That should help enhance our rain chances for the first half.

weekend by Sunday. This is going to be off the coast and we'll have some drier air punching in and back to brighter skies. Getting away this weekend, Sunday's a better day by far. We'll have rain up in the mountains, but Sunday looks good if you want to get some skiing. And the same thing at the coast, Sunday's going to be the better day as it's a high likelihood of getting rain, but more than likely later in the day on Sunday, not so much, or Saturday rather, not so much in the morning hours. Upper 40s to near 50 today for a high temperature. nice and sunny out there. We'll have some evening clouds around, otherwise becoming partly cloudy and low temperatures in the low to mid 30s, not nearly as chilly as it was this morning. First alert seven day, 54 tomorrow. Clouds increase later Friday. Risk of showers now. It looks more likely as we get into our Saturday during the entire day, especially in the morning hours. Better half of the weekend is going to be Sunday, partly cloudy Monday. Then we start to warm up again. And we could be flirting with 60 for Tuesday. And that trend continues into Wednesday. Joel? Thank you. Brown University is unveiling new safety measures after that mass shooting on campus. In two minutes, some of the changes, students and staff will see there. And a driver loses control of her car going airborne before crashing into a homeowner's swimming pool. This is wild video you got to see. We'll show you that. Plus, the American Kennel Club adding three new dog breeds.

We'll do that story coming up all new. 1230. Watch Steve Daniels. Tonight on ABC 11, I Witness News. It is 1225 now, and Brown University is hoping to calm some nerves on campus after the shooting there earlier this month. The university is implementing new security measures designed to keep students and staff safer, along with an elevated, visible police presence on campus. Card access is being added to all buildings, as well as security cameras being installed in key areas like the Berson-Hawley building. That's where two students were killed and nine others were injured on December.

number 13th. Staff members at the school will also undergo enhanced public safety training. The Justice Department is now suing the state of Virginia over a law regarding tuition at its public colleges. In 2020, the state passed a law allowing immigrants in Virginia to qualify for in-state tuition. They had to live in the state for two years to qualify. The DOJ argues the program's illegal because it discriminates against U.S. citizens living in other states. The Trump administration filed similar lawsuits in California and Illinois. Music legend in icon Diana Ross will headline tonight's Dick Clark's New Year's Rock and Eve. That story brand new at 1230 and a warning about the flu outbreak from the family of an infant who is now fighting for his life.