ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at Noon - July 29, 2026

Episode Date: July 29, 2026

Eyewitness News at Noon - July 29, 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Several stories breaking right now on eyewitness news. The city of Raleigh preparing to lift water restrictions in the coming days. Cindy Bay will explain what this means. And severe storms in Wake County turning deadly. We have eyewitness team coverage on the cleanup now underway. And today marking one week since a carry mother was last seen while vacationing in the Caribbean, what we know about the status of the investigation. And breaking news on Capitol Hill, the showdown between Dr. Anthony Fauci and lawmakers over the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's the news at noon. Right now, live coverage from your local newsleader. 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. Breaking right now just within the last 15 minutes, we have learned the name of the victim killed during the storms last night in Wake County, the family releasing this picture of 71-year-old Mike Ferguson. Thanks for joining us here for the news at noon.

I'm Amber. Repenta Barbara is off today. Let's get straight out to Bianca Holman on Barton's Enclave Lane. So Bianca, I know that you have been talking with the victim's wife. Yes, Amber, so a very tragic incident last night. We spoke with a wife a couple of hours ago. She's sharing now pictures of her husband who was killed last night because of that tree falling on the house. His name is Mike Ferguson. He's 71 years old.

And Katie, his wife tells us about him. She says that he was a people person. And as you can tell by his recent retirement job, working at Harris Teeter and the produce department at Leesville. And so he leaves behind a wife and four beautiful daughters. Now, we're on Barden Enclave Lane, where emergency crews responded to a fallen tree on a home around 10 last night. Before deputies arrived, first responders found Ferguson trapped inside the home.

He was pronounced dead on the scene. Two of his daughters were in the home on the opposite side of the house, but they were not injured. Neighbors telling us they're mourning a loss of a father and a husband. and a truly nice guy. Many did not want to go on camera. They were very emotional this morning, of course, after this tragic situation, but we spoke with one neighbor about what happened. I didn't even know about the storm, but it was it was onset. It came along quickly. Like I said, I heard the hail and it's just very unfortunate, you know, the trees, it definitely gives me

pause. It makes me realize I need to look at some trees too, trees too, but definitely feel for the family. So again, that's just a little. that family morning the loss of a husband of a father, the entire neighborhood really being impacted by this as they woke up this morning to this very disturbing scene. Even as we went around the neighborhood this later this morning, we saw several people out clearing away trees. I'm not sure if you can hear, but there are chainsaws going right now at this hour. Several trees coming within inches of homes and also covering driveway. So this neighborhood is continuing to clean up this morning. Back to you. Yeah, our heart goes out to the family. Just heartbreaking. Bianca,

Thank you. Governor Josh Stein today posting his condolences to the family. Stein posting on X, I'm sad to share that last night's storms led to a fatality in Wake County. Anna and I send our condolences to the family. Our first responders have been working hard to keep folks safe and the power crews are restoring power as I type. I am grateful for their 24-7 service. And more breaking news right now. The city of Raleigh lifting water restrictions starting Monday. The city crediting the recent rain with improving the water.

supply. In just the past week, Falls Lake rose two feet jumping from 66 to 84% full. Let's go to Cindy Bay. She joins us live with more on these breaking details about the water. Hi, Cindy. Hey, good afternoon, Amber. Well, the recent rain has helped raise water levels at Falls Lake after months of drought. The city says conditions have also improved at its secondary water sources. The Falls Lake water supply pool is now 10% full, allowing Raleigh, to lift stage one water restrictions beginning next Monday. Officials say dry conditions still persist across the region and the lake remains below full capacity.

The restrictions have been in place for more than three months and we spoke with the J.C. Ralston Arboretum about the improvement. We followed all the all the guidelines as closely as we could. So we drug a lot of hoses this summer just to keep things watered and kind of keep an eye on things. And we're even if if and when the restrictions do, lifted we're going to continue to kind of follow that kind of guideline because you know i i don't think we're out of the woods quite yet now we're also expecting to hear from city water

officials as well as more reaction from the community as water levels improve more head on eyewitness news in ralee cindy bay bc 11 iowitness news all right and those changes are set to take effect on monday cindy thank you well after a night of strong storms the triangle received some much needed rain, as Cindy said, making this month the second wetest July on record. Let's go to meteorologist, Quaylon Murphy with more now. Hi, Quay. Hey, Amber, yeah, and it's a matter of where the rain falls. So, of course, falls, Lake seeing big improvements now. Still about 3.3 feet below full pool, but Jordan now is above full at this point. Car looking at a big deficit here, and we still have to make up some of that water in Lake Gaston. But this is the second wetest July on

record at RDU this year with 12.1, 6 inches of rainfall. The wetest was 19.1.1.6 inches of rainfall. The wetest was 1931 and that was 12.36 inches of rain. Also for perspective, so far in July, we've picked up more rainfall than January through June of this year combined. So those are some impressive totals. That front well offshore along with the storm. So statewide today, good cleanup efforts can continue as long as assessments continue as well. 83 degrees at RDU were warmer than yesterday, but a couple of degrees at this point. Winds coming in from the north at seven. Temperatures 70s and 80s, but it feels hotter in Clinton, 91, when you factor in that humidity this afternoon.

That wind from the north, though, brings lower humidity values. And I think you'll feel more of that through the evening and tonight. You have lunchtime plans outside, 86 degrees, around 187 at 5. And then tonight we drop into the 60s, so some refreshing air tomorrow morning.

You may notice a little haze to the sky. That's Canadian wildfire smoke, but we'll clear all of that out late tonight into early tomorrow morning. So brighter skies coming our way Thursday. How long this coolish, Set up sets up. That's coming up. When I come back, Amber, back to you. Coolish is the word of the day. All right, Clay, thanks. Back now to the cleanup that is underway after severe storms turned deadly

overnight in Wake County. A line of thunderstorms slammed the area, dumping heavy rain, triggering a tornado warning. Trees came crashing down onto roads, cars, and onto homes, and there were many power outages. Sean Coffey is joining us live now with more on the damage right near Leesville Road. I drove through that area last night and today, Sean, and it is really wild to see. Yeah, it was a real mess this morning, Amber, really bad in the overnight hours. Crews have obviously been hard at work getting to clear some of the tree out of the roadways and the debris as well. We have seen scenes like the one you see behind me here throughout Northwest rolling this morning. This home damaged by a tree that was down from its front yard, the owner of the home who did not want to appear on camera, but spoke with me, said that a tree came through the roof of the home.

You can see the gash in the roof. That's actually his daughter's bedroom. Fortunately, he said she was just dropped off at college or she was not in there at the time. So they are counting their blessings this morning. Another part of that tree going through the garage. They have had crews out here all morning long with chainsaws working to break up pieces of that trunk and clear debris from the front lawn. But obviously significant damage to this home, as we have seen at other homes throughout the area here today. This morning we were over on Pinecrest Road, not far from here, less than a mile away,

where a tree was downed over the roadway blocking traffic in both directions. So it was a real mess out here all morning long, and it is going to be a while before this work is completed. Driving around this neighborhood, there are still lots of branches in the roadway. So if you do live in Northwest Raleigh, you should take some extra time and be careful. Make sure you're not driving over any potential road hazards because the work is still very much in progress today. We'll have more for you later today on eyewitness news. Back to you. Glad no one was hurt in that scenario and power was out for many of this area until just maybe like a lot a little over an hour ago, Sean.

It's been a long night for a lot of folks. Yeah, thank you. And we were not the only ones dealing with these storms. This is video from Asheville where a tornado warning interrupted last night's city council meeting. You can see the scramble here as they work to get to safety as people evacuated the chambers. And this time lapse shows the heavy rain moving through Charlotte, the Queen City skyline coming back. of view as those storms pushed out. Take a moment to download the eyewitness news app. It will help you track changing weather conditions on the go.

The ABC 11 app is free for both Apple and Android devices. And new at noon, today marks one week since Carrie mother Liz Waddell disappeared in Grenada. Her family releasing new video from the Airbnb where she was staying. They say it shows the 43-year-old jumping off a jetty into the water. There's a splash and then she swims out of France. She was never spotted returning. ABC's Andrew Dimburt has the latest. American tourist Elizabeth Liz Waddell was last seen one week ago while on vacation in Grenada with a friend. Her family releasing this surveillance video from the Airbnb where they were staying,

claiming this was the last time she was seen. Last Wednesday at approximately 1145 a.m., she can be seen walking near the pool in the backyard. About a minute later, Waddell grabs a towel, makes her way toward the jetty, then jumps into the water at 1147 and swims away from the shore. Six minutes later, Waddell's friend is seen on the sand adjusting a beach chair. Mrs. Waddell was not seen on surveillance footage returning from the water. Investigators have also received several eyewitness accounts indicating that she was seen swimming in the open water. Waddell's husband, Kalin, who's assisting with the search in Grenada,

sharing an update Tuesday online, addressing those reports from people on jet skis saying they saw Waddell in the water, writing, quote, the police are working to connect with these people and determine a more precise location. They are also working to collect security footage from all hotels along the beach. Waddell's husband also says she was wearing blue and white striped shorts and an orange top in the water. Authorities in Grenada say the investigation is still being treated as a missing person's case. All of the electronic devices, we are now in possession of those, and we are going to continue our interrogation of those devices. Waddell's family and friends asking anyone with information to come forward.

If you have any, any information, no detail is too small. We are trying not to leave any stone unturned. Local investigators say they're now seeking help from the FBI to track down any potential witnesses who may have seen Waddell after she entered the water. Andrew Dimburt, ABC News, New York. And new here at noon, Senator Lindsey Graham being laid to rest in his home state of South Carolina following a procession and public funeral service. It comes after an emotional day of tributes in Washington, including a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol and a service at the National

Cathedral. President Trump delivering a eulogy remembering the Republican as a, quote, true American original gone far too soon. Graham served in Congress for more than three decades before his sudden death earlier this month at the age of 71. And new this hour, we are working to learn more about a crash involving several cars in Harnett County. This This was the scene earlier this morning on I-95, right near the Jonesboro Road Bridge and the Hodges Chapel Road Bridge in Dunn. Officials tell our crew on the scene, six cars were involved. At least one person was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The crash blocked both lanes of traffic on the northbound side, and the cause of that crash is still under investigation.

Drones being deployed inside schools across the country is part of the plan to stop a potential school shooter. We'll have the details just ahead here at noon. And breaking right now this showdown on Capitol Hill, Dr. Anthony Fauci clashing with members of Congress, Fauci invoking the Fifth Amendment more than 50 times that story in two minutes. And a doorbell camera capturing the moment the wife of the Kansas City Chief's assistant coach was rushed to safety after being allegedly shot by her son. We'll have that new for you at 1230. Eye witness news. We are Local News Weeknights 4 to 630 and 11. At noon, Dr. Anthony Fauci testifying today in the Senate, Fauci being questioned about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The chairman of the committee, Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul, has long argued Fauci should shoulder the blame for the COVID pandemic and the nation's response. ABC's Olivia Rubin has the story now from Washington. Dr. Anthony Fauci called back to Washington today to testify before a Republican-led Senate committee about the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci, though, declining to answer questions. On the advice of counsel, I respectfully declined to answer. But Senator Rand Paul, who chairs the committee and has referred Fauci to the Justice Department for prosecution, grilling Fauci, excoriating his recommendations on lockdowns and masks. The COVID lockdown, however, could never have been inflicted without you aiding and abetting the crime. Dr. Fauci's personal lawyer escorted out of the hearing after trying to make a statement before the committee.

Security, please, remit in from the RAM. Now 85 years old, Fauci telling the committee he's testified or brief congressional committees more than 200 times in his 38 years as the nation's top infectious disease expert. But he says this body is merely trying to incriminate him. Given Senator Paul's obvious obsession with calling for my prosecution, his repeated slanderous comments about me, the only conclusion of, I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something, anything that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up in his words, quote, behind bars. Before the hearing, Senator Paul releasing more than a thousand pages of Fauci's diary excerpts,

which he says Fauci wrote in the pandemic early days. Fauci's diaries revealing his thoughts on the most likely origin of the outbreak. He's long believed publicly and privately that a, quote, natural spillover from an animal to a human is the most likely explanation. Paul, though, has argued the virus may have leaked from a lab. And Dr. Fauci received a preemptive pardon from President Joe Biden last year on his way out of office over fears of political prosecution. In Washington, Olivia Rubin, ABC News. Olivia, thank you. Mosquito seasons in full effect and Durham County is helping residents control pests around their homes and yards. We have more on the free mosquito dunks now available and severe storms leaving behind damage across the country.

We're hearing from one woman who says she was trapped by fallen power lines. Starting today, the Durham County Health Department's offering free mosquito dunks to local households. It's a safe preventative tool to control mosquito populations around your home. A dunk contains a naturally occurring bacterium that's found in soils that kills mosquito eggs. It is harmless to pets, birds, insects, and other wildlife. The dunks can help control mosquitoes for up to 30 days. You can pick up a pack of six dunks at Durham County Human Services Building. And of course, after all the rain that we saw, there's probably likely some standing

water and then we see a surge in mosquitoes. So it's a good idea for that. A good idea to dump that water to anywhere you see it standing in containers around the house. I'm going to have some really nice weather to finish the week, Amber. below average. Our normal high is 91 will be in the upper 80s today and tomorrow. Friday is the closest we get to that actual average 90 degrees and then next week temperatures drop even lower mid 80s because we're going to have some rain and storm potential into early next week. We're finished with the rain for the rest of the week for the rest of July to cold front is offshore. A lot of sunshine

mixed in with some clouds right now and a little haze to the sky. As I mentioned, we do have some of that Canadian wildfire smoke that has made its ray into the region. No big issues on air quality, but we will have some that haste to the sky through early evening before we clear out tonight. 80s on temperatures out the door will be at 87 at 470s by 10 tonight with clear skies. And then in tomorrow morning, temperatures will be in the 60s to start. Nice northwesterly flow. This helps bring down that less humid air, which is why we will see some comfortable conditions through the day today. Due points back into the 60s.

We have the Durham Bulls with a double header today after yesterday's game was postponed. Both games will be seven innings. The first starts at 5.30. The second begins shortly after that around 30 minutes or still after the first game. 88 beforehand, 79 degrees afterwards. A perfect evening for baseball. Tomorrow we jump to the 60s at 6 a.m. 81 at noon. Mid-80s at 3 in the afternoon with upper 80s for highs. More 60s Thursday night into Friday mornings. Some pleasant mornings on the way.

Maybe windows open weather during the nighttime hours tonight. The front that came through today stays south of us through Friday. high temperature Friday around 90, but then that same front lifts back north as a stationary boundary into the weekend. So I just have a spotty rain chance on Saturday at 20 percent, but then Sunday, as our next to some approaches from the West, we'll have a chance for some rain in the morning and storms in the afternoon is how it looks right now for Sunday, 87, the high Sunday afternoon. Rain chances lead the way into early next week, too, so we'll stay unsettled. You'll want to keep your rain gear handy through next week. Rain totals, though, through the next seven days, about an inch or less.

So no major super soakers on the way. High temperatures today, mid to upper 80s, close to 90 with 60s tonight under clear skies across the board. And the tropics all quiet in the Atlantic Basin. No development expected in the next seven days. There's your first alert seven day forecast powered by ACUweather. So around the 80s today and tomorrow up to 90 Friday. But each morning through Saturday, lows will be in the 60s. August 1st, Saturday, the high 89 degrees.

And then we'll see some showers and storms to start next week. High is Mitch Wopper 80s. We get back to the 90s by the middle of next week. Back to you. Quay, thank you. Tens of millions of seniors may soon be paying more for health insurance. The Trump administration is ending a key Medicare subsidy program later this year. We'll have that story just ahead here at noon. And a new FIFA plan to create a billion dollar company, including some of President Trump's in-laws, is sparking some pushback. And the governor of Kentucky now demanding Senator Mitch McConnell provide proof he is fit to serve or resign. Major changes are coming to the Medicare program that helps millions of people afford prescription drugs, Medicare Part D. The Trump administration now says subsidies in the program will go away at the end of the year.

That could mean premiums going up for some people by as much as $20 a month. About half of enrollees will see increases in less than $10 and some premiums may go down. Senator Mitch McConnell's office has released a photo and an update on his health. It shows the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican with his wife, Elaine Chow. But Kentucky Governor Andy Bashir is demanding more in a blunt letter to McConnell. Either verbally address your constituents and demonstrate your ability to serve or resign from the seat. It's been six weeks, and we've had two formal statements and two pictures, six weeks away from work. That's a pretty significant thing.

And so I don't think it's a lot just to say, if you're communicating with your staff, communicate with the public. According to the statement, McConnell is undergoing physical therapy at a rehab facility after a fall at his home last month led to a nearly month-long hospitalization. He has not yet been medically cleared to return to the Senate. In his own statement, McConnell said, quote, I'm still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky. The frantic search underway to find survivors of the strong earthquake that rocked Japan will have that story just ahead here at noon. And we're following new developments in the shooting of the wife of a Kansas City Chiefs coach. And the countdown is on to football season teams all across the triangle,

preparing now for their season opener less than two months away. We have a look at how Wolfpack is gearing up for kickoff today. And a reminder, you can find Iwood News live on ABC 11, Disney Plus, and everywhere you stream.