ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at Noon - July 27, 2026

Episode Date: July 27, 2026

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Right now at noon, we have your first alert to the chance for severe storms tomorrow. We're timing out the biggest threats. And the search continues for a carry woman reported missing in the Caribbean what her husband is saying about her disappearance. We're following breaking news in Chapel Hill. UNC announces the general manager of the football program has been placed on administrative leave. What we're hearing from the university leaders. 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. I Witness News. And clouds over downtown Raleigh and Durham this afternoon after some storms moved through overnight. And rain chances are increasing for tomorrow. Severe storms could impact much of the area this Monday. Thanks for joining us here at noon. I'm Amber Repenta. And I'm Barbara Gibbs. Tomorrow's storms could bring damaging wind and hail.

Let's begin with meteorologist Quaylan Murphy and our first alert forecast center. Hey, Kuea. Hey, good afternoon. Yeah, tomorrow, a level two of five. risk for severe so we do have tomorrow as a first alert day Wednesday is going to be a beautiful finish to the middle of the week at least temperatures climbing to near 90 degrees right now we're fairly dry do have some spotty rain into Halifax Northampton County most of the rain though is still well off to the east but we had some storms overnight this morning if you were in the triangle points west and south some of this thunder and lightning may have awakened you early this morning we had a good soaking at RDU over an inch of rainfall just early this morning we won't see much of that activity through the afternoon just a spotty shower, maybe a stray storm. Here's a live look from North Hills right now. There's a nice suncloud mix and temperatures on the way up. Upper 70s, low 80s right now. It does feel hotter, especially for areas south where the humidity is mixing in bit higher. So Clinton feels like 95. 95 in Goldsboro, 90 to the feel in Fayetteville. Highs today near 90 degrees. Again, I'm going to hold on to that rain chance at 20% this afternoon. Low's drop into the 70s again tonight. Into tomorrow, we have another disturbance working around that strong, ridge of high pressure. It's going to bring some strong and severe potential to the area, a level two of five risk, as I mentioned. Tomorrow afternoon and evening is the time frame we're

looking at at this point with scattered to numerous storms. Mainly from north to south is also how the movement looks too. Main threat will be winds. Damaging wind will also have some hail potential and maybe an isolated tornado threat as well. When I come back, we'll dive into that timing, how much totals we could see in terms of rainfall and we'll get into that weekend forecast, too. It's coming up. Back to you. All right. See in a few quick. Thanks, and as we said tomorrow is a first alert day. And as we prepare for more rain, now is a great time to download the ABC 11 app. It's a great way to stay up to date on current weather conditions.

Well, now to the search for a missing woman from Carrie who vanished while on vacation in Grenada, a story now getting national attention. Her loved one speaking to Good Morning America. As her husband is now in the Caribbean to help in that search, Elena, Athens is following the story for us in Carrie with more. Elena, good afternoon. Good afternoon to you. Yeah, we do know that the husband of this Carrie mom is on the ground right now, helping with those search efforts.

So Elizabeth Waddell, who goes by the name Liz, disappeared while vacationing in Grenada. Her family says she went missing Wednesday after going for a swim. She's a mother, physical therapist who operates her own business here in Carrie, according to that website. She graduated from UNC Chapel Hill and earned a doctorate in physical therapy. Grenada authorities there asking for help locating her. My wife is a loving, free-spirited person. She could make friends with anyone. Yes.

She often did. She placed great value for intuition around people and was always willing to help someone. So the United States State Department says it is aware that a tourist from America is missing right now in Grenada and that they will help the family assist in filing that missing persons report, however, would not comment any further, citing privacy. We're live and Carrie, Elena Athens, ABC 11, eyewitness news. We'll continue to follow this. Elena, thank you.

We turn now to breaking news in Chapel Hill this noon. UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi has been placed on administrative lead. The university says the leave is effective immediately, but has not said why. Cindy Bay is live in Chapel Hill with the latest on the story that's getting national attention. Hi, Cindy. Hey, that's right, Amber. Well, the university isn't releasing many details, saying in a statement as is standard with personnel matters, leadership staff and student athletes are prohibited from discussing the situation and that the leave does not reflect the merits of the case. The reason for the leave remains unclear, but ESPN reports the decision stems from a human resources complaint filed by a former UNC front office employee. That's according to what a source told ESPN's Pete Thammel, that source, also says there is a pending investigation into the matter. Now, Lombardi has been one of Bill Belichick's closest advisors during his first season at Carolina.

And we asked ESPN's David Hale, what Lombardi's absence could mean for the program. Michael Lombardi was definitively someone he trusts. And so whatever happens with Lombardi moving forward, I think it's a blow to what Bill Belichick is trying to do it, Carolina, just because there's not a lot of people that are inside that circle and certainly not as far inside of it as Michael Lombardi had been. Now Hill says Belichick has publicly stood by Lombardi. He also says that this appears to be an HR matter and not a football one.

And so we'll continue to follow the story and its impact as UNC prepares for its upcoming season in Chapel Hills. Cindy Bay, ABC 11, eyewitness news. All right, Cindy, keep us posted throughout the day. Thank you. Well, now to a fresh look at one of Chapel Hill's biggest projects, the advisory committee for Carolina North heads out on a. site tour this evening as plans take shape for the 230-acre mixed-use development on the former Horace Williams Airport property. Trustees have already signed off on the farms to lead the design

work. Groundbreaking could come as early as next year. Also happening today a town hall on the proposed wake-med atrium health merger, patients, health care workers and the community gathering at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church to discuss the proposal. Several community groups argue the deal could hurt the triangle, but the health system says it's a win. pointing to billions of dollars and new health care jobs headed to Wake County. Tonight's meeting starts at six. Well, now to the push to improve safety on a busy Wake County road. Today, the mayor of Garner joined by Congresswoman Deborah Ross to celebrate $850,000

in federal money to widen Jones Sausage Road. The project will add new sidewalks, turn lanes, and upgraded intersections and crossings. Deborah Ross says it's all part of the county's efforts to increase safety on local roads. We have a responsibility to ensure that it is safe. efficient and built for the future. Whether it's a child walking to school, a commuter heading to work, or a veteran driving to the Garner VA clinic, the improvements we're highlighting today will make the community safer. The project will also connect the Greenway to a local park and a new housing development. New this hour, temporary protected status for more than 300 Haitians is set to expire today,

along with protections for thousands of Syrians. It comes after the Supreme Court's ruling last month, which cleared the way for the Trump administration to end TPS for Haiti and Syria. The Department of Homeland Security claims Haiti is now safe to return to, even as the United Nations and the U.S. State Department warn of frequent gang violence and kidnapping. Coming up next, new breaking details in the investigation

and a former FBI director James Comey. And a temporary pause in fighting in the war with Iran, the latest from the Middle East, as the U.S. and Iran remain locked in a standoff over the strait of Hormuz. My name is Peter Parker, but I'm also... Spider-Man. This Thursday, we're faced with a threat.

That can be anyone. The world may have forgotten Peter Parker. I'm just a neighbor, friendly neighbor. But he hasn't forgotten them. Sometimes Spider-Man has to do the hard thing. That's my responsibility. Talk to Banner? I didn't know you could get that big.

Spider-Man, brand-new day in theaters Thursday. with Wayfair. Ever order furniture online and wonder what if? Like, what if it doesn't hold up? That sofa was four days old. You should have ordered from Wayfair. With Wayfair, there's no what if. Just style you love and quality you can trust. Visit Wayfair.ca. Wayfair, every style, every home.

Breaking now at noon, attorneys for former FBI Director James Comey filed their first motion today seeking to dismiss the indictment against him. Comey is charged over a picture posted to his Instagram account last year, spelling out 86-4,000,

in seashells. There's the picture there. Federal prosecutors claim that constituted a threat against President Trump's life. In their filing today, the attorney said the indictment targets protected speech at the heart of the First Amendment. Comey has maintained his innocence in the case. New information today on the war with Iran. Sources tell ABC News, President Trump is held off on a major escalation of the war. But now the administration hoping for diplomacy amid questions about the U.S.'s weapons stockpile. ABC's Olivia Rubin has those details. After unrelenting strikes against Iran for weeks, a quiet night in the Middle East. As sources tell ABC news, President Trump has put off a major

escalation with Iran for now. The sources saying Trump was prepared Friday to okay a series of attacks. But Trump holding off after a meeting with top advisors, sources say to explore diplomacy. sources saying top officials also discussed the impact a major escalation could have on the Pentagon's depleting stockpile of air defense interceptors. I think this is more of a tactical pause, meaning that it's about re-arming, refueling, and refitting rather than any kind of indication that we're going to make a breakthrough here. President Trump denying depleting munitions or a problem, telling the Wall Street Journal, quote, we have far more munitions than anyone in the world and far more than we need. But despite the administration's hopes for diplomacy, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson today claiming publicly there are, quote, no negotiations with America. Iran, meanwhile, saying it made progress after talks with Oman over managing ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Oil ships there have faced repeated attacks from Iranians throughout the war, driving up prices.

And with this fighting pause, oil prices sinking back down nearly 8%. But the price for a gallon of gas still averaging above $4 a gallon, according to Gas Buddy, up more than 10 cents since last week. Olivia Rubin, ABC News, Washington. Olivia, thank you. And happening tomorrow, President Donald Trump, sitting down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The two will hold talks at the White House on the latest in the Russia-Ukraine war. Zelensky will already be in Washington to attend South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral. The two leaders were close.

Graham had just met with Zelensky in Kiev just days before the Senator's death earlier this month. Coming up next in your health check, cyclosporiasis cases continue to rise, including here in Wake County, the latest from health officials. And we have details on the funeral plans for Senator Lindsey Graham as the tributes continue to pour in. Eyewitness News. We are Local News Weeknights 4 to 630 and 11. In your health check, several states, including North Carolina, are now facing a large and growing outbreak of diarrhea caused by cyclospora. And health officials say the cases have now reached a record high.

So far more than 11,000 people have gotten sick across the country. Way County is reporting seven new cases today, bringing the countywide total to 409 cases. At least seven people are hospitalized. Statewide, there are more than 560 cases. The CDC recommends washing all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating. And notes, washing alone cannot guarantee that the parasite will be removed. but cooking can kill the parasite. Make sure you're not eating lettuce that has been recalled.

For the second year in a row, the United States has set a new record for the number of measles cases in the country. The CDC data showing the number of measles cases so far this year is 2,318. The cases are spread across 43 states and D.C. This is the highest number of cases since 1991. And the record numbers come as vaccination rates have been steadily declining over the past few years, now leaving more than 285,000 kindergartners in the U.S. without protection from the disease. Doctors are urging parents to consider the MMR vaccine, which after two doses is 97% effective. No at noon, a federal consumer agency is demanding millions of personal emergency room records from hospitals across the country.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission wants at least 100 hospitals to hand over sensitive patient data to private contractor by the end of the year. The CPSC is usually tasked with tracking and recalling dangerous products. now. Its new program aims to collect medical records for thousands of conditions, even when the injuries do not involve consumer products. Some hospital executives and legal experts are raising concerns about patient privacy and questioning whether the agency has the legal authority to make that demand. This week, the nation says goodbye to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham with two days of funeral services. It starts tomorrow with a special ceremony at the US Capitol,

followed by a funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral. President Trump is expected to deliver a tribute. And from there, Graham's body will travel home to South Carolina for a procession Wednesday, followed by a funeral service and a private burial. Graham died earlier this month at the age of 71. Turning now to first alert weather, drone 11 over Dix Park today in Raleigh. And you can see it's great weather to run around in the park and play fetch with the pups, dry today, but the triangle could be impacted by severe storms tomorrow.

So let's get the latest on that for meteorologists playing the break. It wouldn't be fun to be in the park today? I just going to say I know those pets are so happy. You have all that space to run out there too. You're going to have a lot of dry time today, which is good even through tonight. But tomorrow is the first alert day and we'll have that storm risk, level two of severe for the entire area tomorrow.

This does look like an afternoon and evening set up at this point. Main threat, damaging winds, but there's a low end non-zero risk for an isolated tornado, maybe some hail, and we do have the flash flooding concerns too because some of those downpours will be quite intense tomorrow. Right now there's some rain mainly east of 95 around the sounds and the coastline. We have dry weather so far for most areas at this time. A few spotty sprinkles run Halifax County popping up in the sand hills too.

But this is the big weather maker. This is the big ridge of high pressure. You've probably been hearing about all the heat out west, triple digit temps and fields. That's that ridge. But around the ridge, the periphery, which we generally haven't found ourselves under so far this season. That ridge is going to help bring those storms into the area. We'll be tracking this batch, particularly through the evening hours, to see how it behaves tonight. What kind of boundaries it leaves into early tomorrow morning, and that will help also determine what kind of storms we could see tomorrow afternoon and the timing.

This is our high-res model, has us dry still for the most part through the morning. And then by the afternoon, we'll see those storms developing three, four o'clock is looking most likely north into the triangle, probably around five, six o'clock, which is your prime commute time that will continue into early evening, pushing into the sandhills, two through the evening. hours. Most of us should be dried by midnight or so Tuesday night to Wednesday. Rain totals look to be around one inch or less for most. Of course, coming in a little bit higher with some of those stronger storms. But ahead of the storms tomorrow, it's going to be hot and humid. These are triple digit, feels like temperatures tomorrow afternoon. And then you can see how the storm chances begin to climb, especially during the evening hours. Once we get past Tuesday, we dry out into midweek and through the end of the week, too. And then your weekend brings another chance for showers and storms. Right now, it looks like Sunday will be. the wetter of the days for your weekend. Here's a live look into downtown. We have temps in the 80s in the triangle upper 70s north, nice mix of sun and clouds. It's a little humid out there,

but it doesn't feel too bad overall. Highs today near 90 in the sand hills, upper 80s to mid 80s from the triangle and north this afternoon. Loes tonight will be in the upper 60s, low 70s again. Could see some fog tomorrow morning just like we saw this morning.

Tropics nice and quiet over the next seven days, no development expected there. At the coast, a low to moderate threat of rip currents for today high temperatures around the mid 80s maybe a stray storm we're already seeing some of those pop at this time in the mountains pretty gentle with the air there a little less humid we'll see temperatures in the low to mid 80s here's your first alert 70 forecast powered by acuethers so just a spoty shower to today lows in the 70s low 90s tomorrow on your first alert day for tuesday afternoon and evening look like the prime times for severe storm potential and heavy downpours wednesday less humid 89 with 60s Thursday and friday morning so that will be a nice little break. We're back to the 90s Friday through your weekend with storm chances increasing gradually. Back to you. All right. Quaylan, thank you. We want to remind you there's still time to give to our stop summer hunger campaign. Your donation can help families facing food insecurity across the area.

Every dollar donated will be matched up to $100,000 and we're getting closer to our goal of funding seven million meals. So far, thanks to your generosity, five million meals are paid for. And you can donate now through Friday. We've put everything you need to know on ABC11.com. Let me up next. Fans reacting to LeBron James' decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers, what his agent is saying about the Philly pick and the latest reaction. And the countdown is on to the MLS's All-Star game just two days away. Major League Soccer Stars will be taking over the Queen City. More about the event and the special performance is lined up.

Now to the basketball world still buzzing over LeBron James' is. LeBron James picking the Philadelphia 76ers as his next team. Yeah, the basketball superstar's longtime agent, Rich Paul, provides new insight into the decision on his game over podcast. Paul says it was the team's recent trade to get another NBA champion, Jalen Brown, that tip the scale. It was just like you can see from the end of the season, the emotional attachments, and how hard it is to go away from a Miami and go away from a Cleveland. And, you know, who wouldn't want to play with Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Ultimately, Philadelphia makes a move and boom, now you got Jalen Brown. Now, hold on, now wait a minute now.

This looks a lot different, right? LeBron James' number 2376ers jersey is sold out almost immediately after the announcement. And he has scored the most regular season points in NBA history, of course, and holds the record for the most seasons played. An upset to the women's long jump event during last weekend's USA track and field championships in New York. Olympic star Tara Davis Woodhaw lost the gold medal. jump of 23 feet and 6 inches is the farthest officials recorded during the event, but a review showed she committed a foul. That disqualifies the jump and makes Alyssa Jones the top finisher. This is now Davis Woodhaw's first loss in this event in nearly three years. The 27-year-old

is the raining long jump winner from the last Summer Olympics. New this hour, we now know who will hit the stage in Charlotte this week for the Major League Soccer All-Hastar Half-Time show. Grammy Award-winning singer Sierra will headline the show during the 2026 MLS All-Star Games. Shea says she's excited to be a part of the experience as a proud MLS team owner. She is a part owner of the Seattle Sounders FC. The MLS All-Star game will be held this Wednesday at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Tickets are still available. Lottery lovers might be in for an exciting week.

The Powerball jackpot is about $633 million and the next drawing is tonight. There's also the Mega Millions jackpot estimated at $800 million after no one snagged the winning numbers of the weekend. The drawing for that is Tuesday. And your voice your vote. We are just four months away from the 2026 midterm elections. We have a look at races heating up here in North Carolina and what voters can expect when heading to the polls. And a reminder, you can find Iwoodist News live on ABC 11 Disney Plus and everywhere you stream.