ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at Noon - January 8, 2026

Episode Date: January 8, 2026

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Several stories are breaking right now at noon. It's the changing of the guard in the city of Durham, the police chief in the Bull City today, announcing her retirement. Sean Coffey will join us live with the details. Also breaking right now, the police chief in Sampson County today, making his first court appearance after being charged with several felonies. And a city on edge, police and protesters facing off today after ICE agents killed a Minneapolis woman. 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 a vc 11 eyewitness news

good thursday afternoon thanks for joining us here at noon i'm amber repenta barbara gibbs is on assignment in florida she's going to join us a little later in the newscast and this warming trend will hang around for a few more days temps in the 60s today before the 70s return tomorrow. Another taste of spring. You're all to Steve Stewart's joining us now with more. Yeah, with spring weather, spring thunderstorms. We're seeing severe weather. We had tornado warnings in Oklahoma. That's pushing up towards Kansas City. Now this system is lifting north, but another one behind it will be coming our way as we get into the first half of the weekend. Got some high level clouds streaming in. Now we'll see more of those clouds as the day wears on

and a partly sunny at times, mostly cloudy afternoon, but still mild should make it to the low to mid-60s today. well above average for tomorrow and really a high above average on Saturday. A good 15 to 20 degrees above our average and then the numbers start to come down after that. Outside right now we're at 60 degrees at North Hills and mostly cloudy. That's about eight degrees cooler than this time yesterday in a breeze at about seven miles an hour. 57 Lewisburg, 60 into Durham again and Irwin Fayetteville at 63 degrees at this hour. And again, we do anticipate staying in the 60s, although flirting with 70 down in the sand hills. Harry Potter and the cursed child. 52 as you walk in when you head back to your car getting down to 48 degrees. Back to reality, our spring fleeing ends on Sunday, and we get some colder temperatures. More on that coming up in just a few minutes, Amber. Weather withlash is on the way this weekend. All right, Steve, thanks. And breaking right now here at New Durham's Police Chief today announcing her retirement.

Patrice Andrews leaving DPD after 25 years of service with the city. Sean, Coffey joins us live. So, Sean, what is the latest here? Well, good afternoon, Amber. Patrice Andrews announced her retirement, effective May 1st, following a career in law enforcement spanning nearly three decades. This is her second stint with the Durham Police Department after she spent 19 years in various roles here between 1997 and 2016. That's when Andrews then went to Morrisville to take the role of police chief there. In 2021, she returned to Durham to take the top position here where she has been now the last five years.

In a statement this morning, city manager of Beau Ferguson called it. Andrews, quote, a trusted partner for positive change while praising her leadership and her time here as the chief of DPD. But some big questions remain, however. And while the city does have several months to find the right successor for her in this role, obviously that will be a position that is watched very closely. We are set up to speak with the mayor of Durham, Leo Williams, here in the next hour. We'll have that interview later today on eyewitness news. Well, I'm in Durham. Sean Coffey, ABC 11, eyewitness news.

Back to you. All right, Sean, thank you. Also breaking here at noon, a Samson County Police Chief. on the wrong side of the law. Newton Grove Police Chief Greg Warren will face a judge today. Warren was arrested yesterday on several counts, including indecent liberties with a minor and secret peeping. Cindy Bay, who was in the courtroom.

She's joining us live now with the very latest. Cindy? Amber, we were the only camera in the courtroom as Greg Warren made his first appearance in person. Warren walked in the courtroom without handcuffs on, but was shackled. And his family was in the courtroom, but Warren stared straight ahead.

as the state prosecutor read the charges. The State Bureau of Investigation led the case detailing how the incidents allegedly happened in 2023 when a minor whom prosecutors say have a family connection to Warren found photos of her in a hidden folder on his iPad that's connected to his phone. The photographs were held in a hidden folder on the defendant's phone.

Later, he did make admissions to a. family member and law enforcement that he in fact not only possessed those photographs but took the pictures while the victim was sleeping the prosecutor says after further investigation of warren's phone with his consent agents found four apps that she says serve no legitimate purpose calling one of the apps a high indicator of another type of child abuse the public defender asked the judge to set a secured bond with restrictions however the judge ultimately said set, no bond for Warren. We'll have more on what we learned from this half hour long appearance ahead on IWitness News at 4.30 and 530 in Clinton. Cindy Bay, ABC 11, IWitness News.

Cindy, thank you for that breaking news update. And more breaking news right now. Tensions are extremely high in Minneapolis this noon after a woman was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent while in her car. Protesters clashing with law enforcement outside a federal building this morning as there are calls from the public and local leaders for ICE. to leave the city. ABC's Armando Garcia is in Minneapolis with more on the unrest and the investigation. A clash between protesters and law enforcement outside a federal building in Minneapolis today. Pepper spray deployed at demonstrators demanding immigration enforcement leave their city. One man seen overcome kneeling on the ground while getting medical help. The unrest

coming one day after an immigration agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good. In this disturbing video good behind the wheel of this maroon Honda SUV in the street appearing to block the road. Federal agent shouting demands an ice agent grabbing the door. She backs up and puts the vehicle and drive. Then an agent standing in front of her firing multiple rounds, including through the windshield. From this other angle, you can see the officer in front of the SUV. As the car turns away and moves forward, shots fired. The Trump administration saying the shooting was justified that the agent feared for his life. She then proceeded to weaponize her. vehicle and she attempted to run a law enforcement officer over it will this appears as an attempt

to kill or to cause bodily harm to agents an act of domestic terrorism some local officials saying good posed no threat two thousand federal officers have been deployed to minnesota in recent days it's outrageous it is a predictable foreseeable outcome of the dramatic escalation of forces by the president The schools remain closed here today and tomorrow. Tensions are very high as the shooting remains under investigation. Armando Garcia, ABC News, Minneapolis. Armando, thank you. Now to a wild story in East Durham, a family rescued from their home after a dog attack.

It happened around 3 this morning along East Main Street. According to the Durham Sheriff's Office, the victims reported that the dog, a pit bull mix, was in a bedroom with an adult female resident. when her adult son entered that room and the dog then attacked the son, biting him multiple times on the legs and arms. The mother was also injured while trying to separate them. And a juvenile male in the home was similarly bitten during the incident as well. The family was eventually able to secure themselves inside the bedroom, leaving the dog in the main portion of the home while they waited for emergency responders. Durham's Sheriff's Office says the dog owner has surrendered their pet to authorities following the attack.

And a Durham restaurant is asking for help identifying a man who they say broke into their building. The burglary reported at the federal restaurant on West Main Street Tuesday night. The owner is saying it is the second time in week someone's broken in and they're looking for any information that could help them figure out who did it. So if you recognize this person here pictured, you are being asked to message the federal on Facebook. Happening today, the first community meeting on the future of Liggin Magnet Middle School in Raleigh, County Schools deciding whether to renovate the current building or to construct a new one. The plan has drawn some backlash from the community with some saying the former all-black school is worth preserving. Tonight's meeting starts at 6 o'clock. It is at the school.

Happening now, investigators working to learn what caused a Fayetteville house fire. Eyewitness news on the scene last night. As flames shot from the roof of the home on Dragan Road, firefighters were able to rescue one dog from inside this the house. Relative of of the person who lived there said they were not home at the time, but there is another pet yet to be found. Today, people in Fayetteville are invited to learn more about the city's new fire station. Station number 16 is being built at the corner of Cedar Creek and Fields Road. Residents can get an update on construction plans, ask questions, or provide feedback on the project. Today's meetings happening at Fayetteville State University's Entrepreneur and Business Hub,

it runs from four to six. Also happening today, a public hearing. hearing in Garner focused on a new wake med hospital. The town's board of adjustment hearing comments over the new hospital's design, including transparency, roof and bicycle parking. And tonight's public hearing starts at 7 o'clock. It's in council chambers at Garner Town Hall. Members of Congress are taking an important vote today to renew subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. We'll have that story just ahead here at noon. And runners from around the world are lacing up their running shoes in the most magical place on. Earth. The Walt Disney World Marathon weekend is underway with various races. Over the next few

days, the race has been held since 1994. Barbara Gibbs is going to join us live from Orlando. Plus this. A month every day, you got a little bit worse. Living in fear, an elderly man tried to get help when his caregiver allegedly started abusing him. After she took his phone, he went Old school to get help new at 1230 here, how a mail carrier may have saved his life. Watch Lauren Johnson tonight on ABC 11, I Witness News. As we've been saying, Barbara is on assignment, so let's get to it.

It's, of course, always a very special time at the most magical place on Earth. Disney right now is no exception. It's the 33rd annual run Disney Marathon weekend. And it's a big weekend at Walt Disney World in Orlando. That's where Barbara Gibbs is joining us live at Epcot to tell us more about it. Hey, Barbara. Hey, Amber. So how cool is it to be in front of Spaceship Earth here at the iconic Epcot theme park in Walt Disney World?

I heard Steve Stewart saying it was like 60-something degrees. Well, I'm going to beat you there because it is sunny and 75. And when in Rome, you must wear your ears here at Walt Disney World where it is, marathon weekend. We just met a viewer here from Raleigh right before we went live. So it's so much fun. Thousands of runners are here. They're going to run four races over four days, not all four, some of them will run all four, but there are races every day. Many here for fun, others here to raise money and hope for a host of charities. This is the reason runners come back year after year, four days of family fun, fitness, and philanthropy at the most magical place

on Earth. Run Disney, one of the largest race organizers in the country, puts on an unforgettable show, four races and four days, a 5K, 10K, half marathon, and full marathon, winding through all four theme parks, sprinkling in 94 lovable Disney characters, 30 DJs playing music, 15 giant video screens around the course and beyond, 13 high school bands and choirs. Many runners raise money for a host of charities. The official Disney World Marathon charity partner, this This time is Blood Cancer United's team in training. Blood Cancer United, formerly the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, changed their name to include all blood cancers, but not their mission.

There is so much hope on the horizon now. Because what we are working on is really to turn one blood cancer after the other into a treatable disease, into a chronic disease that, you know, ideally you can take a few pills, you can continue your life, you can continue to be productive in your job, to live a fulfilled life with your family, your friends, and your community. For some patients and their families,

the treatments won't come soon enough. Very personal. Melissa Sledge from Raleigh started with Run Disney in 2022 in memory of her parents. She lost her mother in 2020, and a year later, she lost her father, she says, to a broken heart. Run Disney was an event that I saw in 2020

and told my mom, about three weeks before she passed that I wanted to do it, not knowing that she was obviously going to pass away. Very brave, very inspirational woman. She's not only running in memory of her parents, but also raising money for a charity that helps children with cancer and also gives nurses, scholarships. So inspirational woman, she's also doing something extremely inspirational. She's doing something called the Dopey Challenge.

She's running all four races this week. the 5K that was this morning, the 10K tomorrow, the half marathon on Saturday, and the full marathon on Sunday. So we're going to tell you more about that coming up at 4 today. Also, I'm going to be running tomorrow. Bless my heart in the 10K. So, and I've got a very, very, as you know, Amber, a very special personal reason for doing that. So until then, live from Epcot, Barbara Gibbs, ABC 11, eyewitness news. Yeah, Barbara's going to tell us more about her why coming up at 4. But Barbara, before I let you go, I have to see. say, happy anniversary.

Today is Barbara's 25 years with WTVD, ABC, Love in the Walt Disney Company. What an accomplishment. What an accomplishment. Congratulations. How you feeling? Thank you. I was only a baby when I got hired, so, of course, you know. Yeah.

Anyway, but thank you very much. It's such a special time and a special accomplishment. And to do it here, to mark that here at Walt Disney World is beyond special. I know. It is a wonderful celebration. and what a way to mark that huge milestone. We are so lucky to have you here at ABC 11. I know that so many viewers have watched you for so long

and they just love you as well. We will see you live again at 4 with more on why you're running. Have a great day. Have a magical time and we'll see you later. Congratulations, Barbara. Bye. Bye.

It has been three years since Tyree Nichols died after being beaten by police following a traffic stop. We'll have that story new here at 1230. And the staggering amount the U.S. spent on. on natural disasters, even without a single hurricane making landfall. We'll have that in two minutes. Disasters across the United States caused about $115 billion in damage last year. Today, the nonprofit group Climate Central released new data reporting a record 21 thunderstorms

hit the U.S. in 2025, each causing at least a billion dollars in damage. Wildfires in Southern California accounted for more than half of the year's total damage. The report said 2025 was the least costliest year for disasters since 2019. Interestingly, the report did not include damage costs from hurricanes since not a single hurricane hit the U.S. last year. Climate Central started what's known as the billion dollar disaster database last year after the Trump administration dropped it. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had been maintaining it. And it might not feel like winter this week, but we know we're not done just yet with the cold. It's North Carolina after.

So we are asking you to join us this weekend for an eyewitness news special, your first alert to winter. We're breaking down what to expect for the rest of the winter months, plus how the changing temperatures can really take a toll on your body and how the state's largest school district decides on a snow day or a school day. You can join the first alert weather team this Saturday here at 7 p.m. on ABC 11 for that first alert winter special, but it doesn't feel like winter around here. No, sir. It's hard to think about snow when it's been in the 70s and it's nice. It is nice. A little break. If you like it warm, and we're going to have a couple more days of this.

And then we get back to reality as the numbers are going to come down. Got those mid and high level clouds streaming in right on time as advertised this morning. So overall, it's still going to be a decent day, partly sunny skies to mostly cloudy. Still in the mid-60s for highs, but cooler than yesterday. Could make it to the 70s tomorrow. And again, as we go into the first half of our weekend, a spotty shower during the afternoons. More likely Saturday evening and overnight is a band of rain and maybe some isolated thunder rolls in. Cooler next week, more seasonable temperatures. We go from those 70s. We start dipping down.

The coldest day is likely going to be Monday with a high temperature of about 48 degrees. We'll watch this front as it gets closer. The European model really slow doesn't bring that line in until we get later in the evening hours. Once it does, we'll start to see some cooler temperatures. We need rainfall. Last week's drought monitor, look at the new one. Now we're seeing severe drought show up. many areas, including the triangle and moderate drought elsewhere.

So we need a soaking rain and we're going to get some, but it doesn't look like a whole heck of a lot of rain will be coming our way. The best chance is going to be Saturday evening. And after that, we'll be dry for a stretch. Our in-house model, not too excited at all, the America model, the most bullish on the amounts. Hopefully that one's right. I think north and west of the triangle, that's where we have a better opportunity of getting a half inch to maybe three quarters of an inch. 60 right now in North Hills and the clouds out there. That's eight degrees cooler than yesterday, but still mid-60s in Clinton, 61 into Smithfield,

59 into Lewisburg and Roxburgh, also at 59 degrees. Cain's in action tonight, take it on the ducks, about 56 as you're walking in when you head home, dipping down to the upper 40s and mostly cloudy. A second wave of low pressure moves along this front. Again, it'll take some time for this front to move through. When it does, we'll get cooler. This is a reinforcing front of some colder air. That 58 on Sundays early in the day.

Temperatures fall during the afternoon. The coldest air is going to stay up to the north, but we're going to get a glancing below of it for sure. Headed up to the mountains to do some skiing this weekend. Sunday's the day to go. We'll be getting some showers around and mild on Saturday, but Sunday much colder and the wind's going to kick up too. All right, so numbers in the 60s for highs,

upper 60s in the sand hills. Clouds are rolling on in. Tonight, mostly cloudy. We'll have low temperatures in the low to mid-40s. Your first 11 day then, 71 tomorrow, a cloudy warm day and evening showers possible. And by the way, there can be fog tomorrow morning. And then as we go on to Saturday, during the day a spotty shower, the wind's going to pick up.

And by the evening, maybe an isolated strong thunder shower will cool down on Sunday. Temperatures fall in the afternoon. Monday's cold, but Tuesday and Wednesday we'll moderate again in Wednesday into Thursday. Maybe another chance of rain, Amber. I feel like we could use some rain around here. We need a lot. Yeah, all right. Steve, thank you.

Police are investigating a mass shooting. outside of a funeral in Salt Lake City, Utah. The search underway now for the gunmen. And the state of Florida becomes the latest state to take steps towards redrawing districts to add more Republican seats. We'll have that new at 1230. And the Trump administration moving forward

with plans to build a new 90,000 square foot ballroom. We turned out to a shooting outside of a funeral in Salt Lake City, Utah, leaving two people dead, six others hurt. Police are now searching for the gunmen. Authorities say a fight broke out in a parking lot just outside of a church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel. Shots were fired, eight people were hit. Police are still trying to determine if there was one suspect or multiple suspects. To Capitol Hill now, where the House is set to vote today on Affordable Care Act subsidies. The bill includes a three-year extension, which will make Obama care coverage

more affordable for the 24 million Americans who rely on it for health care. The measure cleared a procedural vote last night, with nine Republicans crossing the aisle to vote in favor and final passage could come as soon as tonight. And a potential game changer in the housing market details on what the Trump administration is considering to add more housing. Plus, an airline that was being used for ICE deportation is now ending that operation after months of backlash. Thank you.