ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at Noon - January 26, 2026

Episode Date: January 26, 2026

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Right now on eyewitness news at noon, it is a first alert day. The storm system that brought us that wintry mix has moved out of the state, but another blast of Arctic air will cause temperatures to fall into the single digits overnight. And with temperatures that low, it will be critical for everyone to have a warm place to stay. We will have an update from Duke Energy on power outages across North Carolina. And monks on the mission, our camera crews catching up with the Buddhist monks as they continue their way toward the nation's capital. It's the 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. It is the first alert day this Monday. I went to weather advisory is in effect until 1 o'clock. And we'll start there and say, good Monday afternoon. Thanks for starting off your week with us. I'm Amber Repenta.

And I'm Barbara Gibbs. Chopper Levin gives us a bird's eye view of what it looks like across our viewing area. area and this area looks like a frozen tundra. Many neighborhoods are blanketed in a mixture of ice, snow, and sleet. The entire eyewitness news team is here committed to keeping you safe through this. The winter ice storm has, of course, pushed out, but it's going to be extremely cold over the next few days with tonight being the coldest. Meteorologist Steve Stewart joins us now with more. Steve?

Yeah, guys, that temperature is going to take a nosedive, and we're going to get down. In some areas in the single digits, it's the breeze, though, that's really going to be an issue as we have that cold weather advisory. About 37 today clouds are exiting as we speak. Many areas, including the triangle. We got the sun out now along 95 corridor, give it some time. But a biting breeze, that breeze will pick up as we go later today. It's going to make it feel even colder. Whatever doesn't dry up because we're going to get melting today.

It's going to refreeze for tonight. Most common on bridges and overpasses, watch out for that. In shaded areas, if you have your community or where you live, you have those tall pine trees, not going to get a lot of sun on those roads. They're going to stay icy, unfortunately. And be careful on sidewalks and steps as well for the next couple of days. You see how we're cleared here. We still have clouds up the 95 quarter, but give us some time.

It's moving out fairly quickly. And this sun will use its energy to melt this ice that we have on the ground. Still around freezing up in our northern counties, but you can still melt stuff with the sunshine, even if you're below freezing. We've got mid-30s and many spots now. Clinton flirting with a 40 at this hour. And as far as what it feels like a little bit colder with that breeze, feels like 20s in most areas. So bundle up if you're heading out. And it gets worse tonight.

Those feels like temperatures getting down into the teens. And by tomorrow morning, we'll be around zero with the feels like temperature in and around the triangle. And more wintry weather. We're going to watch the development of another coastal low that could move right along our coastline for the weekend. More on that coming up in the seven-day forecast. Steve, thank you. And again, what Steve was saying earlier about neighborhood streets, those could be very slick across the triangle today until the wintry mix has a chance to melt. Let's go to Bianca Holman, keeping an eye on things in Durham.

She's been driving around in our new first alert storm chaser. So, Bianca, what are conditions like around the Bull City? Hey, good afternoon, you guys. So, yeah, we are on Iridel Street, which is just a couple of blocks away from 9th Street, for those that are familiar. I'm going to turn our camera around on the storm tracer so you can see what this street looks like. You can see cars parked along the street. Very slushy. They've got their windshield wipers pointed up, and you can tell that they have been bunkers.

We've seen a lot of families out walking. They've gotten a little stir crazy. They need some fresh air. Now is a great time to go ahead and enjoy it because the sun is up and the things are melting outdoors. But I do want to show you some video from earlier today. This morning we were actually driving along NC-55 and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard there and we came across a crash where there was a van that crashed into a sedan and then steered into the retention pond. So there were crews out there trying to get that van out of the retention pond

there along NC-55, black ice, making it very slippery, making it very dicey for a lot of drivers. Then earlier this morning, there was another crash. There was actually a truck that was overturned. It had a plow attached to it. It looked like a private company that was helping out different companies and clearing their parking lots or apartment complexes and clearing their parking lots and they had a plow attached to it there on the highway. That was at 885 and 40 that interchange there with that truck turned on its side. Emergency crews responding on the highway. But back out here live again, we're on Iradale Street.

This is a neighborhood street nearby, a 9th Street here in Durham. And you can see that this street has not been plowed, but there have been a couple of cars that have been driving down this street, making it slushy, kind of pushing up that and stirring up the sleet that has been frozen on our roadways. but still, again, very dangerous conditions on the roads, even as the sun is up, you know, it can quickly be very slick. It can, you know, be a little bit dangerous for those inexperienced drivers driving these type of conditions. Back to you. All right, Bianca, thank you for that update there from Durham.

And certainly with the temperatures dropping tonight, you know, there's still a concern, secondary roads. Absolutely. Well, we're keeping a close eye on all the road conditions. Absolutely. Many, as you've seen, remain slick on what remains of the sleet and forth. freezing rain that we've got. We have team coverage beginning now with Tamara Scott in Wake County for us. Tamara, where are you and what are you seeing? Hey, good afternoon to you guys. We are on Polk Street. This is in the University Park area near an NC State downtown Raleigh. Take a look here.

This is that's one of those streets that we're talking about those neighborhood roads that are just so very icy and still very slushy. It's because some of that is trying to melt there. You can see, but it's not going fast enough. There are people out here walking, but we did get video actually earlier this morning. Take a look at this video that we got in several different areas that they had already started plowing those main roads and interstate that we have been talking about that they we know that they were going to put as a priority because those are the ones that most people travel those are the ones that are going to lead to most places where people are working or eventually going back to school so they definitely put priority on that we were around on i40 we

were also downtown raleigh p street but we also got around to the village district area where We saw some folks that were walking around because of their neighborhoods were still very icy and slushy. Take a listen. It was still really slushy. Definitely wouldn't want to take my car out on it, but I think they're coming through with the plow truck soon. Disappointed. I was hoping that we'd get a little bit more snow, but it's mainly ice at this point. So it's just a little more risky.

Yeah, we know a lot of more people were hoping for some more snow rather than the ice. But it's okay. We're going to have to sit with us just a couple of more days here. as we wait for things to thaw out. We're on Clark Avenue now, going back towards the village district. And you can see there's some folks out here. This guy's walking his dog. I think we've seen this guy out for about an hour now,

just trying to get some fresh air maybe. But we know a lot of folks are going to be out and about more today because the sun is out. You see the sun coming down on my face. The sun is out today, so hopefully it'll melt a little faster. Back to you guys. Tamara Scott, in Breaking News 1. And Raleigh, near NC State and Village District.

Thank you so much for that. It's so good to see what the roads look like. Well, new at noon, there's still a number of power outages across the Carolinas with most in the Sand Hills, Charlotte and South Carolina, also the northern part of our state. Duke Energy reporting about 33,000 customers in the dark right now. Jeff Brooks with Duke Energy gave us an update. The vast majority of outages that remain are in the western part of the state, in the mountains, in the upstate of South Carolina. Henderson County in particular next to, you know, Buncombe County Nashville, Hendersonville there. that saw the brunt of it and it's that combination of a large amount of freezing rain that came

in last night along with some pretty gusty winds they're dealing with out there. So it's a bit of a mess there, I would say. There's still probably 500 plus outage locations that our crews are going to have to go to, broken poles down lines to make those repairs.

Brooks says they're also keeping an eye on the possible snowstorm in the forecast for this weekend. We'll keep you updated. The next afternoon, the journey continues for those beloved Buddhist monks trekking through North Carolina bound for the nation's capital. Despite the bitterly cold weather, the monks walk for peace has not missed a step. Today, the group is in Franklin County after trekking through snow-covered roads in Raleigh yesterday. The monks are making a 2,000-mile pilgrimage from Texas to D.C. in an effort to promote peace and national unity.

And eyewitness news is committed to keeping you safe during this winter storm. Our entire team is working around the clock to keep you updated on the changing weather conditions. Make sure you have the free ABC 11 mobile app to stay up to date. Police and Fayetteville are investigating a deadly shooting and a stabbing. Officers responding to North Sumac Circle last night, finding four people injured. Two victims pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. No word yet on arrests.

It is, however, an active homicide investigation. A man is in custody after a standoff with police in Garner. eyewitness news on the scene Sunday on Alta Crest Lane. Authorities say the suspect assaulted a woman and then confronted the officers who responded. The suspect allegedly tried to hit the officers with a cyber truck. That suspect then ran on foot or ran to a neighbor's home and then barricaded himself inside. Police did eventually get inside and took the man into custody. Garner Police have not released the man's name.

The FBI is investigating a deadly shooting involving a deputy in Johnston County. It happened on Madden Rose Loop off Pierce Road and the Cleveland. Cleveland community, deputies were called to the home after a woman reported her family member was shooting a gun inside the home. That man reportedly confronted deputies when they arrived and would not follow the commands to drop the weapon. The suspect was shot and killed. No deputies are injured. The deputies involved are now on administrative duty, which is standard policy. We're still working to find out more about that person killed. Well, today is the start of the IRS tax season. We'll explain why refunds will be larger than expected. All right, already here.

and Minneapolis on edge after a second shooting involving ice. In two minutes, we'll walk you through the several videos we've seen about what some points of view are reporting. And Patriots quarterback Drake May, a North Carolina native, will represent the state in the Super Bowl 60. He'll also make history at UNC Chapel Hill. Let's do at 1230. Watch Lauren Johnson tonight on ABC 11, I Witness News. Welcome back. We want to let you know. We just heard that Wake County School, will have remote day for all schools and Wake County tomorrow so just as you prepare and this may not be such a big surprise but Wake County schools all remote tomorrow.

Meantime in Minneapolis outrage is growing over the second deadly shooting this month of an American citizen at the hands of a federal immigration agent. In the past 30 minutes the White House announced its sending borders Tsar Tom Holman to Minneapolis. The White House also confirming its support for Homeland Security Secretary Christine Nome. This is graphic new video shows a man now identified as 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Prattie in a struggle with federal agents. ABC's Aaron Kuterski walks us through the video step by step. At least three minutes before Alex Prattie was shot and killed,

he is seen at 8.58 a.m. Saturday holding his phone at a distance from immigration enforcement officers in an apparent attempt to record a nearby arrest. An eyewitness captured this video of Prattie filming the arrest. At no point does he appear to display a weapon. A minute later, Prattie appears to be using his phone to record two. bystanders interacting with a federal officer before that officer is seen shoving one of them across the street another camera angle shows the officer shove one of those individuals into Prattie you can see the two holding onto each other the confrontation escalates both of

Preti's hands are visible one holds the phone the other he held up seemingly to protect himself from pepper spray whoa pretty is seen being pepper sprayed three officers grapple with him until he's taken and held on the frozen pavement. Another group of officers then surrounds him. At 901, the federal officer in a gray jacket emerges from the scrum with a gun that appears to match the one Preddy had a permit to carry. Almost simultaneously, the first shot is fired. Officers step back.

Within five seconds, nine more shots. And soon after, the officer is heard. Freddie died at the scene. Aaron Keturski, ABC News, New York. In Congress are calling for a deeper investigation in that deadly shooting. North Carolina Senator Tom Tillis is urging a thorough and impartial investigation. He says, quote, any administration official who rushes to judgment and tries to shut down an investigation before it begins are doing an incredible disservice to the nation and to President Trump's legacy. And gun rights advocates are some of them are blasting some Trump administration statements about Saturday's ice shooting death in Minneapolis.

The man, the man an immigration agent killed had a gun permit, they say, and was lawfully carrying a concealed firearm in Minneapolis. Videos do not show, though, Alex Pretty brandishing the weapon, but some top Trump administration officials suggest merely carrying it was wrong. The NRA, Minnesota gun owners, caucus and gun owners of America denounce that viewpoint. they point to the Second Amendment or Minnesota's permissive gun laws. Temperatures in North Carolina will be dangerously cold tonight just ahead. The shelters that are open to provide warmth to those in the... And the weather impacting travel, of course, at airports all across the country, and it could be days before airports return to normal.

Well, we are tracking major flight disruptions nationwide as the winterstorm continues to cripple airport operations. I want to show you a view from Chopper 11 over RDU crews clearing the snow and the ice from the runways. This is actually Terminal 1 right now. There are 96 cancellations as at this last report we got from them. 21 delays. Nationally, we're seeing nearly 4,000 cancellations so far today. So if you have travel plans, be sure to double check for any changes before you try to go to the airport. The public transit system is still impacted by the winter weather.

Today, Go Raleigh will operate on a Sunday schedule. Those services started today at noon. And departures will finish for all services right around 6 o'clock. today. Go Triangle and Go Triangle Access has also suspended all services today and Go Durham has also suspended services for today as well. Well, cities and towns across the triangle are adjusting trash and recycling pickup this week as you can imagine because of all this winter storm weather. In Wake County, the trash pickup in the Raleigh Central Business District is canceled for tomorrow and the Yardway Center is closed in Durham so there's no trash pickup today. It will resume tomorrow.

In Orange County, there's no trash pickup in Chapel Hill today. So be patient with those guys. In Durham, residents can seek shelter at Northern High School on North Roxborough Street. There will be cots, meals, showers, charging stations, and transportation. People are asked to bring their medications and hygiene items if they can. In Johnston County, they've activated white flag shelters. People in need of a warm place to stay can go to street reach of Johnston County in Smithfield. The Smithfield Rescue Mission or the Salvation Army, you are asked to call ahead for the shelters. It's got a meteorologist Steve Stewart today.

I know we're trying to, you know, jump ahead. But let's just talk about today because I think the positive thing is that we're going to see some warmer temperatures, some sunshine, get some melt. We'll get a lot of melting going on today. That's some good news. And not all of it's going to dry up, though. That's unfortunate. So we're going to have some icing concerns overnight tonight. And my goodness, is it going to get cold?

Well, cold as it's been in a long, long time, folks. All right. So as we go throughout the day, it's a biting breeze this afternoon. We're going to be in the 30s above freezing, but that wind is really going to make it feel up. pretty bad. We'll have gust in here 25 or 30 and we refreeze later on tonight. Frid tomorrow morning feels like around zero in the triangle, even colder in our northern counties, probably sub-zero. So we have that cold weather advisory. Staying very cold. Highs in the thirties for the next six days and possibly beyond as we have a lot of cold air coming in.

And if we get down to 12 or lower, the last time we did that was 1,029 days ago. It's been a while, so we've been that cold. There's a cold weather advisory for basically the entire area, just here locally, but all the way across the entire state is the wind chills will be a big factor. It goes into effect at 7 o'clock this evening, and you see the feels like numbers already dropping down very quickly. And by the time we get to tomorrow morning around zero in the triangle and subzero up in our northern counties, very cold airs coming in. And the daytime highs are not much better. We're going to stay in the 30s for a while in a big dip as we head into the weekend. And yeah, you see some snowflakes there.

Hold on. We'll get to that in just a second. Meantime, there's the clearing line now. So we have sunshine. Still some passing clouds. And what you see here, that's all the sleet and snow that's still on the ground, visible picking that up. But the clouds as they move away, we'll get a lot of melting here. And you can see the sunshine out at North Hills. 34 degrees. Feels like 27, though, with that breeze only at nine miles an hour. These are the feels like temperatures in our northern counties in the mid-20s, upper 20s to near 30 down around Fayetteville. And it's going to get worse as we go later on the day. Front's going to be. settle to our south. We'll be 39 with a few high clouds around on Wednesday. Upper 30s for highs and then more high clouds will come into play. Lows near 20 high staying in the 30s. Our focus, though, is going to be down here near Texas. Here in the Gulf, there'll be an area. Well, we'll see an area of low pressure develop. And the question is, where is that going to track? And typically, if it's close to us, it could be an ice storm. If it's just offshore in the sweet spot, we'll have enough cold air. It'd be more like snow. And if it stays even farther away we could be dealing with nothing at all. Just cold temperatures and no precipitation. This one is looking a little bit more likely now. Some of the new models coming in. We have a lot of time to watch this and fine-tune as we get closer. Clearing skies, cold 30s, that biting northwest breeze will be with us for today and dangerous cold tonight with temperatures in the teens,

even some single digits in a few areas, but it's going to feel even colder with that wind by tomorrow morning, sub-zero in our northern counties and around zero on the triangle. So your first alert seven-day, extreme cold for tomorrow, even in the afternoon, and it feels like temperature is going to be in the 20s. A few clouds on Wednesday, more high clouds come in and play Thursday. Clouds thicken on Friday, especially later on the day. And big question marks here, lots of uncertainty. Is that low going to be in the right spot?

Too far away, we get nothing at all, but we have to introduce the fact that we could be talking about potentially some snow as we head into the weekend. and staying cold as we go into Sunday and then Monday a little bit warmer. All right. Steve, thank you so much. We're starting to hear from some of the school systems. As we told you at the top of the newscast, Wake County Schools will be on a remote instruction day tomorrow. We just heard from Chapel Hill Carborough schools as well.

Same goes there, a remote instruction day for Tuesday. All right, keep it here because we'll give you all the updates on the closings and the remote days as we get through this winter storm. A sense of closure this noon for Israeli families waiting for the release of all hostages in Gaza since 2023. We'll have that story here in two minutes.

And the unusual reason why the cost of health insurance is going up. That's the story new at 1230. And court hearing today for the former Olympic snowboarder who was on the FBI's most wanted list.

Watch Steve Daniels. Tonight on ABC 11 I Witness News. New at noon, Israel has recovered the body of the last hostage in Gaza. The Israeli military announcing today the remains of an Israeli police officer who was killed

on October the 7th, 23 and abducted to Gaza and has now been returned. This marks the first time since 2014 that there are no Israeli hostages in the enclave. In California, a court hearing today for former Olympian turned FBI's most wanted fugitive. Ryan Wedding, a Canadian snowboarder, allegedly behind one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations was captured in Mexico. He was allegedly hiding there for more than a decade, according to FBI director Cash Patel. Patel says wedding shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and Southern California to the United States and Canada as an alleged member of the Sinaloa cartel. Wedding is also accused of

orchestrating several killings. And we are still experiencing the impact of the weekend winter storm. Some school systems have already moved to remote learning, Wake County, Chapel Hill Carborough. Plus we have live team coverage including an update on the NC DOT crews.