ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at Noon - July 28, 2026

Episode Date: July 28, 2026

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Several breaking stories right now at noon. Police and Grenada giving an update on the search for a missing Carrie mother. What they're saying about her disappearance. Also breaking at noon, it's the first alert day. There's a risk of storms this afternoon. See how the much needed rain continues to improve local drought conditions. Remembering Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina lawmakers and world leaders attending services today in our nation's capital. And as families in the triangle struggled to buy groceries and gas, a new food bank opening today in the Bull City. 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, I Witness News. And good Tuesday afternoon. It is the first alert day. I'm Amber Repenta. Thanks for joining us. And I'm Barbara Gibbs.

Strong to severe storms are possible today. Take a look at this, the entire state under a level two risk. Damaging winds are expected to be the biggest threat. Let's got a meteorologist Quailan Murphy. She joins us now with the latest on the forecast. Hey, Quayette. Hey, good afternoon. I'm adjusted the timing a bit more to showcase that window from 4 p.m. until 10. So it's a little bit later. We do have some rain and storms right now. None are severe. The threat level today will be highest for damaging winds. But there could be an isolated tornado, of course, some heavy downpourns, and maybe even some hail in a few locations, too. Here's first alert, Dopplernet. Again, none of the severe, but some heavy rain and thunderstorm activity over person county right now. Rocksboro proper down towards Bush. fork and into Mount Tears. A two putting a tracker on this. It's moving at around 30 miles per hour to the southeast. That'll put it towards the Eno area at 1218 into dorm around 1230 today and Lee's what 1254 it holds together.

Looking at Alamance County all the way into Orange County around Hillsboro, we're seeing some light to moderate rainfall there. And also some light showers over Vance County, Northern Granville into Warren. In Mecklenburg County, you have some light to moderate rainfall as well. So this complex moving through and weakening right now will catch a break. And then this front moves closer later. this evening that's going to bring the higher storm threat with that severe weather potential that'll come into the evening hours today and we'll continue with this through around 10 11 o'clock tonight the severe weather threat will be over and we'll move into the

overnight hours with dry conditions this is the view into Roxborough right now where the storms are happening so you can see the visibility is much lower here temperatures in the 70s with rain cooled air 80s in the triangle mid to upper 80s for the sand hills where it feels even hotter more like the 90s right now because you saw a bit more of a clear sky earlier to Today. Wind's coming in from the west. Those will pick up as the storms get more active later today as well. 90 degrees towards 3 o'clock unless we have the storms that will knock those temperatures down. And then overnight the rain chances will drop. On top of that, also a little ozone to the sky, a little hazy, smoky conditions from Canadian wildfires, but not a big issue. We'll talk about the drop in temperatures coming our way and lower humidity as well when I come back right now. Back to you.

All right, Quay, thank you. And breaking at noon, today's newly released report shows just how much the recent rain has helped Lake Love. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Falls Lake is now up two feet since last Thursday. That's a major improvement. The lake's water supply went from 66% full last week to 84% full, but more rain is needed to, of course, eliminate the drought, forcing cities to keep water restrictions in place. And with another round of severe storms in the forecast, now is a great time to download the free ABC 11 eyewitness news app. It has live radars so you can track the wet weather to get started. Search for ABC11 in your phone's app store. And breaking right now here at noon, police in Granada today giving an update on the search for a carry woman missing in the Caribbean. Liz Waddell vanished Wednesday after going for a swim at a beach while on vacation with friends. Elena Athens joins us live with what police are saying about the investigation. Elena, good afternoon. Good afternoon to you. Yeah, Grenada authorities stressed this morning during that press conference that they have not reached a conclusion that this matter is continuing to be investigating as a missing person's case and that the search is going to intensify.

So here's what we know. We learned this morning that there's surveillance video as well as eyewitness accounts that Liz Weddell was seen this past Wednesday swimming near a jetty. She was not captured on video coming out of the water. About a half hour after the Kerry resident initially went swimming. Grenada law enforcement says Waddell's family female traveling companion was seen walking towards the jetty and then later walked back alone. Authorities say several things have been done since she vanished, including underwater searches, canine, employment and a review of recurrence. It is our hope that Elizabeth will be found and found alive and well. The Royal Bernard Police Force remains equally hopeful that she would be safe and that she is safe. And we continue to appeal for cooperation to us. Any bit of information will do at this time. And we do hope that we can locate Elizabeth very soon. soon. So Adele's husband is in Grenada now as those search efforts are underway. We're live outside

the Raleigh, Eyewitness News Center. Elena, Athens, ABC 11 eyewitness news. Elena, thank you for that update. Meantime, the North Carolina Gang Prevention Task Force is meeting today. The task force focusing on reducing the presence and impact of gang activity across the state, including keeping young people off the streets. Today's discussion includes talks on intervention and enforcement tactics. New at noon, the nation says goodbye to Republican United States Senator Lindsey Graham. Leaders from all around the world, including President Trump, are gathering to honor his life.

Tomorrow, Graham's body will travel home to South Carolina for a procession, funeral service, and a private burial. ABC's Olivia Rubin is at the National Cathedral in Washington. Today, late Senator Lindsey Graham remembered in the nation's capital. His casket brought to the place he served for more than three decades, the Capitol Rotunda, honored by his fellow senators.

And Delinsey, rest in peace, my friend. I look forward to the days when you make us all laugh again. Then a funeral service at the National Cathedral, expected to be attended by leaders from around the world. There, he'll be eulogized by President Trump, who became a close, personal friend of the late senator after the senator initially spoke out against his 2016 presidential run. Who is our friend?

He was a friend of all of us. He was a great guy. He was a great politician, actually. Also attending the funeral, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodomir Zelensky. A testament to Graham's hawkish foreign policy influence. He was a staunch ally of both countries, both leaders now meeting with the president while in town too.

And now a bipartisan group of senators continuing that work Graham championed just before his death, sanctioning Russia. over its war in Ukraine. That bill now named after Graham could be taken up as soon as this week. And after the funeral here concludes today, the Senator's Casket will then return back

to his home state of South Carolina on Wednesday for memorial service there as well. Olivia Rubin, ABC News, Washington. Today we will also get an update on the cyclo-sycholiosis cases in Wake County. County health officials reporting 409 cases. yesterday, that's seven more since Friday and statewide. There were more than 560 cases as of last week. Meanwhile, House Democrats are moving forward with plans to investigate Taylor Farms, the company

reportedly at the center of the cyclospora outbreak. Representative Robert Garcia, the House Oversight Committee's ranking Democrat, has called on Taylor Farms to provide information about its connections with the White House. Garcia is questioning whether the company's CEO used its influence on the FDA's investigation into the outbreak. In his letter, Garcia wrote that Taylor Farms had donated a million dollars to President Trump's Super PAC in 2025 and donated more than $2 million to packs tied to the president and other Republicans. WakeMed leaders face tough new questions from patients and neighbors over the hospital system's proposed merger with Atrium Health. I witness news at last night's crowded community meeting in Raleigh, as people demanded answers about local control, transparency, and what the merger means for the care they get. WakeMed CEO, Donald Gensig, pushed back on the critical.

insisting the deal is about securing the hospital's future, not just the bottom line. It really is about what we know in our heart is the best thing, not just for today, but for the next 50 years. The deal is far from sealed. Someway County Commissioners say that they're not convinced yet and won't green light a vote until the community says or gets more of a say. Downtown Raleigh parking rates go up starting Saturday. Street meters now $1.50 an hour, but on street parking stays free. on the weekends and after 6 p.m. on weekdays. Garages will see a dollar hike as well. Non-event rates climbed to three bucks an hour. First two hours are still free on weekdays. And event garages, including the convention center, jump to $4 an hour. In your voice, your vote. Roy Cooper hitting the campaign trail today, making his make-stuff cost-less

tour to Wilson. Cooper's Senate campaign team says he'll focus on lowering costs for North Carolina families. Cooper is running for U.S. Senate again against or he's running for U.S. Senate. U.S. Senate against Republican candidate Michael Watley in a race considered one of the most consequential battlegrounds showdowns in the entire country. Whatley has held similar campaign events across the state in recent weeks. And now to the ongoing fight and hunger in the triangle as grocery prices climb and snap benefits take a hit. The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is stepping up, opening a new location in North Durham today on Hamlin Road. That's where we find Bianca Holman this noon. So Bianca, good afternoon. This could be a game changer for families here.

Yes, most definitely Amber. North Carolina faces a major hunger crisis and a million dollar investment from Food Lion has been able to be invested here in this warehouse to be able to meet that food insecurity. So here's some of what we've learned. We know that since last July about four million Americans were dropped from the federal government food assistance program known as SNAP and according to a new analysis from a nonpartisan group that includes around one million children in 19 states. This new facility on Hamlin Road is 16. 64,000 square feet and it's a hub for food sourcing, distribution, and volunteer engagement. We are facing the worst hunger crisis that our communities have seen in at least a generation.

And, you know, that trend ever since the pandemic, we have seen as government support has declined, we've seen the food insecurity rate steadily tick up year after year after year, to the point where at this point in time, we have more people facing hunger than we've seen in 15 to 20 years. So you can see just how big this warehouse is. It extends back even further and there's so much space for volunteers and for staff and for organizations to come and pick up food to help those who are food insecure in the area. So they're having a ribbon cutting later on this afternoon. We'll have continuing coverage throughout the evening. Back to you.

It's going to help a lot of people. Bianca, thank you. The Manhunt expanding after the deadly shooting at a food festival in Seattle just ahead here at noon, why police are now looking for a third. gunman. A new audio from the final moments of the life of a Mississippi teenager who died on the 4th of July. The latest on the investigation into the death of Nolan Wells in two minutes. And Apple launches a new leasing plan for some iPhones, watches, and other items. We'll explain how it works new at 1230. Car shopping this civic holiday weekend, most car dealerships are closed and all you'll find are

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We are Local News, weeknights 4 to 630 and 11. There are new details this afternoon on the deadly Seattle shooting from over the weekend. Authorities now believe it may be gang-related. Officials are focusing their investigation on three suspects. One of those identified as a 19-year-old was killed during the violence. A 15-year-old has been charged with a third suspect on the run. It happened during a crowded food festival near Seattle Space Needle Sunday evening. Two other people were killed.

Several others, including a toddler, are injured. Well, now to new developments in the death of the Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells. We're hearing new audio this afternoon of a frantic call for help by Wells' friends as their boat was taking on water just hours before he disappeared. ABC's Aaron Kuturski has more. Hey, we're at the west tip of horn and our village stopped working. We're sinking. This morning, more audio of the frantic call from the boat. Nolan Wells was supposed to have taken to shore after celebrating July 4th with friends on a remote barrier island.

off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. And what do you want to do? Do you want to be towed back? I want to get this boat on sank and towed back, yes. The caller told the dispatcher, everyone aboard was unhurt and noted he and the passengers were young. There are zero adults on board. Nobody here is over the age of 21. Documents obtained by ABC News show that boat set off for Horn Island just before 10 a.m.

The morning of July 4th, Wells and his friends arrived at 1114. For the next five hours, the boat was stationed. until it left at 4.31 p.m. without wells, moving at no more than four knots. Whatever problem the teens reported was resolved about an hour later at 525 when vessel regains normal operation and begins accelerating at 30 to 35 knots. Friends said they did not abandon Wells. Rather, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources reported his friends saying Wells was in the company of an unknown female and that he chose to remain at the island. As searchers began scanning the island and surrounding

waters. This email obtained by ABC News shows the preliminary information they were given, describing Wells as a black male 6-1-180 pounds wearing shorts only. The Marine Patrol listed his alcohol intake as heavy. The state's autopsy, including the results of toxicology tests, is pending. As long as we continue to remember him, his light will continue to shine through us all. Nolan, we love you. We'll continue to fight for you. Wells was laid to rest last week. A source tells ABC News on the day of the funeral, his mother sent his friend's legal notice to expect a lawsuit,

instructing them to preserve evidence and not to delete anything on their phones. Aaron Keturski, ABC News, New York. A massive earthquake rattles Japan. A number of people are unaccounted for after a shopping mall partially collapses. We have those details ahead. And Johnson and Johnson offering billions of dollars in an effort to resolve thousands of baby powder cancer lawsuits. That story in two minutes. And too hot for takeoff.

I'll explain why extreme heat could ground your next flight. Critics slamming President Donald Trump accusing him of targeting voting rights ahead of the midterms. He's asking the Supreme Court to approve his executive order that would restrict mail-in voting. A federal judge blocked the move after 23 states, including North Carolina, sued the administration. And appeals court upheld that decision over the weekend, but now the president wants the nation's high court to decide. He claims, without evidence, that mail-in voting leads to voter fraud. Johnson and Johnson now says it has agreed to pay an estimated $5.5 billion to settle tens of thousands of lawsuits connected to its talc products. The claim says that talc led to cases of ovarian cancer.

The company stopped using talc six years ago. Johnson and Johnson says the settlement covers some 76,000 claims. A powerful earthquake rocked southern Japan this morning. The 7.1 magnitude quake damaged roads, buildings, and bridges and left dozens of people missing or injured. A tsunami advisory was issued but quickly. lifted. Authorities say that there were no reports of damage to three nearby nuclear power plants. Officials say more quakes may strike the area in the coming days. All right, around here, it's the first alert day because we have a severe weather risk. Yeah, the risk is a little bit later,

so we still have a few hours, but we're going to get wet. Some of us seeing some soaking downpours already with some thunderstorms. 4 p.m. to 10 o'clock tonight risk for severe storms scattered, mainly wind, the main threat, but we do have an isolated tornado risk hail and some flash flooding possible too. Right now, again, again, none of the severe. Here's our latest first alert Doppler view and we have some heavy downpours now just south and east of Roxburgh over Mount Tiersa. That's where the thunderstorms are at this time. Approaching Butner right along I-85 into Oxford, Durham. You're up next. We have the rainfall working closer. So I think here in the next 10 minutes or so, we're going to get some light showers and then some downpours for you. That's the case along highway 501. This will continue south and east. It will have impacts into Leesville around 1238, carry probably quarter to 1. And then Raleigh proper closer to 1 o'clock this afternoon. Towards Nightdale, if this holds together a little after 1 o'clock this afternoon. Some showers over Warren County in advance.

And we have some light to moderate rain over Mecklenburg County, too. So we'll see scattered rain into the afternoon. Heist today will be upper 80s, low 90s. 83 at 7 o'clock with scattered storm, 70s at 10 tonight. By that time, I think the rain winding down over the triangle, we'll still have some showers and storms to the south. Tomorrow morning, lots of sunshine out the door early. So we have this complex weakening that's going to help keep.

us in check, I think, and a bit stable early this afternoon. But then as this front approaches later today, helps to kind of get things rubbed up again. So I do expect to break late afternoon by the evening. Things turn a little funky around here. We'll get some storm action. And that's where the severe threat comes into play. By midnight tonight, that risk is over. We'll see the skies clearing out. Humidity values will be dropping. Beautiful weather behind the front tomorrow. Upper 80s on Wednesday, we'll have highs near 90 in the sand hills. Humidity a little bit lower tomorrow but I think we'll have the best feel on Thursday with high temperatures in the upper 80s and humidity values settle with dew points into the 50s. Consider that right now our due points are 60s and 70s so much different feel. Dry weather to finish the week and then the same front coming through tonight and early tomorrow lifts back north as a front into Sunday and Monday so that will trigger some scattered showers and storms early next week. But in general today I think we're looking at about an inch of rain or less. We could come in a little bit higher of course. with some stronger storms. And for the record this month so far, we've had 11.13 inches of rainfall.

The all-time wetest July was in 1931, 12.36 inches. So we only meet 1.24 inches today to have the wetest July on record, but we're still in drought. So we're looking at some decent weather for July in terms of rain. Live look downtown mainly cloudy skies, 70s and 80s out the door. Highs today will be jumping with low visibility at times as the storms come through. Upper 80s, low 90s for highs today, 60s, 70s tonight. Tropics, all good, no development in the next seven days. At the coast, the recurrent threat today is low to moderate. Here's your first alert, seven-day forecast, powered by ACUweather.

So upper 80s tomorrow through Thursday and Friday, lows in the 60s, August 1st, back to 90. Scattered storm Sunday and Monday with highs in the 80s. All right, Quaylon, thank you. A judge rules that there is enough evidence to go to trial in the murder case surrounding the singer David. is just ahead. And Dr. Fauci is being called to testify on Capitol Hill. That story new at 1230. An American 60 and older are often the victims of scams losing billions of dollars every year. We'll explain how you can protect yourself and your loved ones. A judge in Los Angeles says she will allow the case against singer David to go to trial.

That ruling indicates the judge found probable cause that the 21-year-old whose real name is David Burke killed 14-year-old Celeste Hernandez. Her decomposed dismembered body was found in the trunk of his Tesla. The ruling comes after five days of graphic testimony. A trial date has not been set yet, but the judge did order Burke to be held without bond. Happening today, a final vote to confirm the next director of national intelligence or DNI. Jay Clayton's nomination advancing in the Senate last night. Sun Democrats had initially supported him before Clayton refused to say Joe Biden won the 2020 election during his confirmation hearing. If confirmed, Clayton will be joining a smaller department.

That's because acting DNI director William Pulte announced, that his office has completed a fourth batch of layoffs. President Trump chose Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to serve as acting DNI as well, following the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard last month. Breaking right now, we're getting an update from officials in Grenada about the search for a carrywoman, Liz Waddell, who went missing while swimming on vacation. And incredible video of a man and his nephew making an emergency landing on a beach in California. And a reminder, you can find eyewitness news live on ABC 11, Disney Plus.

and wherever you stream.