ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at Noon - March 31, 2026

Episode Date: March 31, 2026

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Right now at noon, gas prices hit a new milestone. People are going to have to make decisions on what they can and cannot do. Can they pay a bill or do they get gas to be able to go to work? We're hearing from drivers as the pain that the gas pump averages $4 a gallon and where we could go from here. New at noon, the Supreme Court strikes down a controversial ban on so-called conversion therapy, what that means for young people and sexual orientation and gender identity. And countdown to lift off, an astronaut who graduated. from NC State set to make history.

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. And you are watching eyewitnesses at noon. I'm Barbara Gibbs. Amber Rapenta has the day off today. Meteorologist Cruz Medina is here tracking these warm temperatures.

Hey, Cruz. Hey there. Yeah, it's going to feel almost like summer. Temperatures are going to be in the air. 80s for the foreseeable future. And so today is the start of those 80s. And we'll see it at least through the end of the week as well. So that's going to be very warm leading up to the Easter holiday.

Let's look at the next three days. So today we have a warm breeze with those breezy conditions and the humidity staying relatively low, even though it's expected to rise tomorrow and into Thursday. We do still have that elevated fire risk. So just a reminder, there is a statewide burn ban in effect. Look at how warm these temperatures are going to be. We could be nearing records on Wednesday and Thursday. So saddle up. Those tipters are going to continue to rise.

I'll take you outside. This is North Hills looking pretty busy there for the lunch hour. Many folks probably about to head out and grab some lunch. Tipters are in the 70s right now. So if you want to sit outside today, I'd say go for it. It's a beautiful day. But if you're not going out for lunch, you might be going out for a walk on your lunch break. And so getting on the trails today or even just taking a walk in the parking lot on your break. It's going to be a really nice day for that.

Tipters in the low 80s for this afternoon dropping into the middle. in upper 70s for this evening. Now tonight is going to be even milder than last night. And if you stepped outside early this morning, you probably realized you didn't need a jacket. So you're probably not going to need one tomorrow morning either with temperatures around 60 degrees. We'll be mostly clear, but southwest winds will keep those tipters warm throughout the morning hour. So your morning drive, grab your shades.

You'll need them with some of that sunshine in the morning. Tipters reaching the upper 70s by noon. And then afternoon highs should top out well into the 80s tomorrow all across central North Carolina. So Roxborough, Raleigh and Fayetteville, all at 86. Once again, we're nearing records for tomorrow. We'll talk about what the actual records are and the possibility of breaking those coming up in your extended forecast. Barbara.

All right, Cruz, thank you. Well, right now at noon, the volatility around the Strait of Hormuz since gas prices skyrocketing, the average gallon of regular unleaded reaches $4 a gallon for the first time in more than three years. Another oil tanker in the Middle East is attacked, struck by an unknown projectile near the critical Strait of Hormuz that tanker from Kuwait reportedly carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil.

The attacks come after a new threat from President Trump warning the U.S. will be blowing up and completely obliterating Iranian energy infrastructure and drinking water plants if Iran doesn't make a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Nearly 50,000 American troops are now in the region, including 3,500 sailors and Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The president not ruling out a ground invasion. And as the warned Iran goes on, prices could continue to climb. Michael Perchik is live in Raleigh for us hearing from concerned drivers. Michael, good afternoon. What are they saying? Good afternoon. Barbara, as you mentioned, all of this happening as an ongoing military conflict in Iran has led to an

increase on pressure from the energy industry at large. This being fueled by a spike in crude oil prices, as supply chain impacts and cuts from producers in the Middle East, as caused those fast-rising prices. According to AAA, the national average price for a gallon nationally jumped more than a dollar in just the past month. Matt McLean, a petroleum analyst with gas putty, explained as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed from that war in Iran, the trend will continue. It's 20% of the world's oil supply that goes through the Strait of Burmuse every single day. And it's been in a chokehold now for over five weeks. So this is why we're seeing prices on the increase. You take 20% away from any product. I don't care

if it's bananas or beef. The remaining 80% is going to be more expensive. Here in North Carolina, the prices slightly lower, clocking in a 384 gallon that we have seen a similar ride. Barbara to your point, drivers at this point just having to kind of stomach those prices. It has increased so quickly you've kind of created a situation where it's tough to try and plan in advance,

especially as we're now right in the thick of spring break folks wanting to travel in fairly large numbers. We'll have to see if that trend continues. we do kind of hit that final price point that is going to impact day-to-day operations. Coming up at 4 o'clock, we'll have a close look at the effect this is having global supply chains, plus the one everyday product that folks use that is particularly susceptible to those wild price swings in crude oil. In Raleigh, I'm Michael Perchick, ABC 11, I'm this news.

Looking forward to that next report, Michael, thank you. Well, here in North Carolina, the statewide average of a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.83 a gallon. is near the coast in Hyde County, where prices at the pump are averaging more than $4 a gallon. To find the cheapest gas in the state, you'll need to head west to the mountains where prices are averaging $3.61 a gallon in Clay and Yancey counties. Well, Prime now offering its members some relief at the gas pump from April the 3rd through May 29th. Amazon Prime members can now save 10 cents a gallon or more at more than 7.5.000. D500 BP Amico and participating APM and Thornton's locations across the U.S. Members can also double their savings to a total of 20 cents per gallon on fuel purchases

made each Friday. Well, it is not just drivers feeling the pinch jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the Iran War began. Airlines have been responding to the increased fuel costs through higher fares by reviewing flight routes. And now to breaking news from the U.S. Supreme Court. In a three to eight to one decision, the court strikes down Colorado's ban on so-called conversion therapy for minors. ABC's Devin Dwyer breaks down the decision from Washington. Conversion therapy or the practice of trying to change someone's sexual orientation or gender identity has been widely discredited by major American medical groups for decades. Half the states in this country have restricted the practice. But today, the U.S. Supreme Court

in an eight-to-one decision said that many of those laws may very, violate the First Amendment protection for free speech. Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the court's majority, said a law in Colorado forbidding a Christian counselor, Kaylee Childs, from speaking to her patients about their desire to change their identity, quote, censors speech based on viewpoint. The ruling effectively strikes down the law and prohibits it from being enforced in the state. In dissent, Justice Katanji Brown-Jackson took a different view, saying the state of Colorado and other states should be able to regulate talk therapy like any other medical practice. This ruling now calls into question those similar measures in 27 other states, which LGBT rights

groups say are critical to protecting young people from harm. Devin Dwyer, ABC News, Washington. Happening now, new data on the use of cell phones and schools. A researcher from UNC presents her findings to state lawmakers. Plus, we're learning about new math standards as well. Bianca Holman is at the legislative building in downtown Raleigh with more on that. The joint session talked about a few big issues. One, the state mass standards being revised for the state,

and then also research regarding student use of cell phones in the classroom. The Joint Education Oversight Committee hearing from the Department of Public Instruction, the changes would emphasize real-world applications of math that would replace math three and four with various classes that students could choose from. The changes are a part of a national. movement to revise standards in a similar way. Educators want more students to remain interested and connected to math. For these revisions, position North Carolina to deliver a rigorous, responsive, and student-centered mathematics instructional system. This slide gives you some links

to the strategic plan, the internal procedures manual, which step by step walks through every content area's revision. Every content area follows the same process. Our list serves, and then our website in which we provide updates on where we are in the standards revision process. The committee also heard from an assistant professor at UNC that helped to co-author a study, published in a medical journey, tracking middle and high school students' behaviors. They found teens spent one-third of the school day on their phones, checking them dozens of times, often for social media and entertainment purposes. The study shows frequent checking is linked to weaker attention spans and lack of self-control,

and this data could be used to shape future policies. Researchers say the findings show that frequent phone checking undermine skills students need to actually succeed in the classroom. A new state law passed last year requires all school districts to have a cell phone policy in place. In districts like Wake County, students must silence and store their phones in their backpacks or lockers during designated times. Researchers say this is that objective evidence-based information that state lawmakers and education leaders can use when crafting policies and also when creating digital literacy programs moving forward. In Raleigh, Bianca Holman, ABC 11, eyewitness news. Right, Bianca, thank you.

Happening now, South Carolina lawmaker, Jim Clyburn is bringing his book tour to Durham. Clyburn's book is the first aid, a personal history of the pioneering black congressman who shaped a nation. Clyburn will be at Durham's Haytie Heritage Center today until two, and we're going to have a live report on his visit coming up at 1230. So stay with us. Coming to America, the foreign head of state that will help bring in our 250, bring in our 250. anniversary celebration. And also, tigers take the former number one golfer disputing the charges against him after that rollover crash. Also, we're counting down to lift off that historic mission that will take a local astronaut around the moon. When Westchap first took flight in 1996,

the vibes were a bit different. People thought denim on denim was peak fashion. Inline skates were everywhere. And two out of three women rocked, the Rachel. While those things stayed in the 90s, One thing that hasn't is that fuzzy feeling you get when WestJet welcomes you on board. Here's to Westjetting since 96. Travel back in time with us and actually travel with us at westjet.com slash 30 years. Eyewitness News. We are Local News weeknights 4 to 630 and 11. NASA is counting down to an historic return to the moon.

The Artemis 2 mission is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral just before 630 tomorrow night. Let's show you a live look now at the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, where the four-member crew is now in isolation, including astronaut Christina Cook, who is a graduate of NC State. The 10-day journey will travel 685,000 miles around the far side of the moon. It is the first crude lunar flight in more than 50 years and seen as a critical step toward a future moon base and eventual missions to Mars. Well, Tiger Woods offering his own explanation for last Friday's rollover crash in Florida, the former number one golfer saying that he was looking down at his phone and changing radio stations when the truck in front

of him slowed down, causing him to swerve and lose control of his own car. The series of events contradicts, however, law enforcement on the scene who say that Woods was sweating profusely and was lethargic and slow. Woods has been charged with driving under the influence and property damage and refusal to submit to a urine test. Well, who saw this coming back in 1776? 250 years later, the King of England is coming to America to help celebrate the anniversary. of American independence. King Charles, the third's trip will be to mark the close ties that exists between the two nations. During his trip, the king is expected to go to Washington and address Congress as well. Well, getting back to work, the new numbers from airport security

lines as TSA agents finally getting paid. And the signs of spring, the local outdoor attraction opening its doors for the season. Well, this is a happy ending for one of the nation's most iconic birds trapped on a triangle waterway. A bald eagle had to be rescued after getting tangled up in a fishing line near the Jordan Lake Dam. NC Wildlife officers traveled more than seven miles by boat to free the bird. The eagle was taken to American wildlife refuge for care. The all-American bird is said to be recovering well and expected to be released into the wild in the next week. Well, spring is here and so is Duke Gardens. The beloved Durham landmark reopens its main entrance next week after more than a year of renovations. The newly completed Garden Gateway Project

adds a welcome center complete with a cafe, classrooms, and gallery space, plus new outdoor gathering areas and expanded green spaces. The Doris Duke Center also got a makeover. The garden's main entrance on Anderson Street reopens April the 8th with on-site parking. It is a beautiful area, so take advantage. Well, if you're heading to the North Carolina Coast, Spring Ferry schedules begin today. The NCDOT, service on four of its seven routes, including from Okrakoog to Hatteras, Swan Quarter, and also Cedar Island, as well as the Southport to Fort Fisher route. You can find the full schedule on the DOT's website. All right, let's go to meteorologist Cruz Medina here with the forecast.

Here's so much going on. People wanted to get out and about, and boy, it is warm, isn't it? It really is, even at the coast. So I know it's spring break for Wake County public schools. And so for those families that are off, they might even be wanting to venture out to the coast. So whether you're staying here, whether you're going to the coast or to the mountains, this is widespread warmth all across the state. So you really can't go wrong with any of those plans. But I can tell you for our local forecast, we're going to be near record the next few days as tipters climb into the mid 80s. And then we're going to continue on this dry pattern. So any rain chances are very limited.

They really exist toward the back half of the week and Easter Sunday, especially for the second half of the day. But just a reminder that statewide burn ban does remain in effect. And so it's super dry outside. Definitely don't want to be tossing something like a cigarette butt on the ground or anything that involves any outdoor burning for sure. All right, going into Easter weekend, it's going to be breezy. Highs will be in the 80s, the rain once again thing for later in the day. So as you plan ahead, we'll talk a little bit more about the exact timing of that. For this afternoon, if you're stepping out for lunch soon, a great day to be outside for lunch.

I mean, the sun's shining. It's very warm. It's not overly humid this time of the year. And we will see that humidity rising over the next few days, but that's actually going to be a good thing, especially with such dry conditions and elevated fire risk. First alert predictor, this will walk us through this evening. And so 4 p.m., it'll be partly cloudy then.

It'll stay very warm through the evening hour. So if you're heading out to something like the Durham Bulls game today, Tipters will be in the 70s for that. Going into tomorrow morning, we should start the day near 60 degrees. So a very mild start. We will have some clouds around in the morning, and some of those will stick around through the afternoon as well. Temperatures will reach the mid.

mid 80s. There's an outside chance of seeing a spotty shower that'll favor areas northwest of Raleigh for tomorrow. But most of us stay dry and temperatures at 10 p.m. tomorrow still in the low 70s. So all around a warm day tomorrow doesn't matter where you're watching from. Tipters will be in the mid 80s as we go into the afternoon for those highs. And then with those mid 80s, that's where we have that chance to be near record. So I told you had to start the newscast, we would talk about how close to record we could be. So we forecast 86, for Raleigh and Fayetteville. The old record in Raleigh is 89,

so we'll have to see just how quickly those tipters warm tomorrow. Without a whole lot of thick cloud covered tomorrow, it's possible we go a degree or two over what we forecast, but in Fayetteville, the old record is only 87, so it's a good possibility we at least tie the record there. With this dry, warm heat that we're dealing with,

though, the pollen counts are gonna continue to soar today that pollen count very high, and it's for tree pollen once again. So that'll peak sometime in the next week or two, at least for pine pollen, but also there's other allergens you got to watch out for. So hardwood trees, oak, birch, sweet gum, and even cottonwood this time of the year are a big problem. Now going forward in time, I mentioned the rain chances were limited to tomorrow at best a spotty shower northwest of Raleigh. As we go into Thursday, warm fronts lifting to our north. This is going to

keep us very warm in those mid-80s and that warmth will linger through this weekend. All right, a live look outside for North Hills at this hour. It's, 74 degrees in the city of Oaks. And your first alert seven-day forecast has plenty of 80s in it all the way through Easter weekend. So Saturday, if you're planning ahead, that's a beautiful day to be outside. 84 degrees, going to feel almost like summer. Sunday, Easter Sunday, looking very warm as well, low 80s there. I have to watch out for some evening showers.

Those could linger overnight and should start to clear all as we go into Monday morning. Barbara, back to you. All right. Thank you, Cruz. Well, a first for American Idol, eight contestants were supposed to be. supposed to be sent home last night, but no one did. We'll show you why. Well, we have a first on American Idol stage.

20 contestants started the episode, and eight were supposed to be eliminated by the end, but that's not exactly what happened. George Pinocchio has the surprise as American Idol returned to Hollywood. Tens of millions of votes coming in at a rate we have never seen before, truly unprecedented. And to ensure complete accuracy with the numbers, I was lit, Just told, we are not going to announce elimination tonight. As the credits rolled an American Idol first,

with voting available five different ways, texting online in three social platforms, it was just too much to calculate during the show's last commercial break. They handed me the card and they said, there's no results on that card for you to reveal because there's so many coming in for a social vote. And to get it right, we've got to push him to next week. Go.

The show began with 20 finalists, quickly whittled down to 14 based on prior voting. And with no eliminations at the end of the show, all 14 returned next week, all impressing the judges. I mean, it's not your neighbor, Billy Bob, saying, great job, man. You know, it's great. Great for Billy Bob to say that, and I appreciate it,

and I love Billy Bob, but this is the judges of American Idol. Voters have got to pull this together because it is so amazing, the different types of voices, that whoever falls in love the most is going to get it. It's fun watching these kids really dig down and get better week after week, and they showed up tonight. I feel like everybody really rose to the occasion, and that's pretty amazing when we have a lot of people

that have little-to-know experience being on a stage. That would include Braden Rumfelt, the 23-year-old substitute teacher from North Carolina. I basically just performed at church. And it was just like one or two songs at a time. I've never felt like I fit in anywhere. And I've always felt been anxious. And so to kind of see that people want me there was like, okay.

Next week, all of the American Idol contestants take on music from the 1990s. In Hollywood, George Pinocchio for ABC News. Very exciting. All right, Taylor Swift, not so exciting, being sued over the name of her latest album, life of a showgirl. A performer in Las Vegas claims that she had the showgirl title trademarked since 2015 as part of her live shows, writings and content on digital content on digital media and claims that Swift's album infringes on her title and can confuse consumers. So far, Swift has not commented on that lawsuit. A local nonprofit is having a pop-up concert to support local food pantries.

Open Arms Community Fellowship is inviting the public to Barbers Grove Park on 4th. for Oaks on Saturday, they'll have live music and free food. Admission is two cans of food. All donations go to local pantries. The event runs from 3.30 to 7 p.m. Well, a U.S. Congressman brings his book tour to The Triangle. We'll have a live report next. Also, back on the job.

What we're learning about wait times at airport security lines, now that the TSA agents are getting paid. And the next step to NC State search for a new head men's basketball coach.