ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at Noon - May 13, 2026

Episode Date: May 13, 2026

Eyewitness News at Noon - May 13, 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Next at noon, more than a million gallons of untreated sewage spilling in Raleigh. The cleanup now underway, the creeks the city is now advising people to avoid. Breaking news, Alec Murdoch's double murder convictions overturned what this now means for the disgraced former South Carolina attorney. And UNC taking the next steps in the massive Carolina North Project. We're live in Chapel Hill with the new developments and the largest expansion in UNC 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.

Good afternoon. Thank you for joining us for the news at noon. I'm Barbara Gibbs. I'm Amber Repented. We are tracking more changes coming to our weather. We could see some showers tonight and also some cooler temps our way tomorrow. All right. Let's get the latest from meteorologist Clayland Murphy and the first alert forecast center. Hey, Kway. Hey, good afternoon. Yeah, that shower chance is really limited around 20 to 30 percent beginning around 8 9 o'clock tonight it'll continue overnight into early morning hours of Thursday and then we'll see drier conditions and it will be cooler tomorrow seasonable today though the average high 79 that's will be in raleigh this afternoon 81 in fayetteville mid 70s around roxboro this afternoon we're looking at some clouds passing overhead

right now increasing from the south this is the cold front we're tracking for tonight limited moisture with the front by the time it reaches us even weaker with that limited moisture movement moving through. Now I can't rule out a thunder shower towards eight o'clock for our northwestern counties, but this line will be decaying as it works through. Some of you will see a stray shower. Others will stay completely dry overnight. Will we dry by daybreak tomorrow. Here's a live look downtown Carrie Park. Some activity out there. Looks like some families enjoying the weather out there and also the sunshine. Temperatures are in the 70s for most. 67 and oxford 71 in Durham. So again near 80 this afternoon, mainly sunny to partly cloudy, 75 at 7. There's your spotty shower chance tonight. By tomorrow morning, we are drying out. We'll be in the 50s to start 60s by 10, and that's really what we'll hover for most of the day. Upper 60s, near 70 degrees. Your first alert that we have a hot stretch on the way.

Starting Saturday, temperatures will be climbing. We could see some record highs as well. In addition to the heat, we're also tracking humidity values climbing, so still quite pleasant through Thursday and Friday. But you see how humidity values start to climb into the weekend. Approaching that tropical range early next week. We'll talk for about that 7-8 forecast. If you back to you. All right, Quaylan, thank you. The city of Raleigh releases its weekly water supply report as the drought conditions continue to be an issue. Chopper 11 over Falls Lake, which is the city's primary drinking source. Lake levels are pretty low. The city reports the current water supply pool is at 77%. That's down 1% since last week. The city reporting the water restrictions implemented last month are working. Last week's water usage averaged about 60 million gallons a day compared to about

69 million gallons daily before the restrictions were put in place. Happening right now, utility crews with the city of Raleigh are currently on the scene of a massive sewer spill of more than 1.1 million gallons. According to the North Carolina Department, DEQ, that is, the spill originated in the 2,800 block of John Brantley Boulevard and is being blamed on human error. Apparently a contractor was doing some work there on a sewer pipe when a temporary pipe that was being used to buy it. passed the sewage flow broke. It is estimated that more than 1.1 million gallons spilled, although the exact amount is still being investigated. Crews are on the scene behind the auction direct on Glenwood Avenue, currently cleaning and assessing the situation. I witness news is working to learn more details. The South Carolina Supreme Court overturns Alec Murdoch's murder

convictions and orders a new trial. The disgrace former attorney from South Carolina made international news. In his case is the subject of documentaries for the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul in June of 2021. The court now says the trial was marred by the improper influence of the county clerk, Becky Hill. Murdoch received two life sentences for the murder charges. He separately pleaded guilty to dozens of financial crimes in his serving concurrent state and federal sentences of 27 and 40 years. We will continue to follow this case and bring you new updates as we get them. Well, new at noon, the UNC Board of Trustees has approved the the firms that will lead master planning and infrastructure design for Carolina North.

That's the largest expansion in UNC Chapel Hill history. The board voted to move forward with four designed firms. Cindy Bay is live in Chapel Hill with the very latest. Hi, Cindy. Hey, good afternoon. Well, the project is now gaining momentum with designers officially selected. Board members approved four firms this morning, including Ayrs St. Gross. UNC Chapel Hill's lead planner and architectural advisor for nearly 30 years.

The firms will help develop a master plan for the 230-acre mixed-use site at the former Horace Williams Airport property, which is about a mile and a half away from campus. Board members said the top-ranked firm stood out for its experience in campus planning and mixed-use development. It is our recommendation of the committee approved selection of the top-ranked firm Air Saint Gross with approval of the remaining three firms in priority order. The selection of the top firm was a near unanimous decision with the firm being ranked first by 10 out of 11 participants.

Teams showed extensive and meaningful experience in campus, campus, and institutional environments along with mixed use development. Additionally, teams demonstrate strong, local, or regional experience, including knowledge, the UNC system. Now, it's still unclear how plans for the Smith Center could factor into the project, but phase one of Carolina North is moving forward regardless. The board previously approved an $8 million advanced planning budget in January, and so we're going to have more on what comes next for Carolina North

and speaking with the Tar Hill community ahead on eyewitness news tonight in Chapel Hills. Cindy, Bay, ABC 11, eyewitness news. All right, Cindy, we'll see you later with more on that massive expansion at UNC. Thank you. Well, now to that budget breakthrough in the state legislature, A framework is now in place to end the months-long stalemate between Republicans and the statehouse and Senate. One of the main sticking points has been education funding and now we're learning that teachers will be getting a raise. The two sides agreeing on an 8% raise with a starting salary of $48,000 a year.

North Carolina remains the only state in the country without a new budget. A potentially major economic blow to Cumberland County, the Goodyear Tire factory plant in Fayetteville could close by next year. Goodyear is one of the largest employers in the county. If the plant closes, more than 2,000 people could lose their jobs, and it would end more than 50 years of manufacturing at the site. New details in a troubleshooter investigation involving a Raleigh wedding photography company accused of ghosting brides and then shutting down. This afternoon, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is scheduled to give an update on his investigation. After our investigation, Jackson filed suit against Holly Christina photography and its owners earlier this year. The court documents alleged that the owners and their wedding photography company, Holly Christina photography,

misled and defrauded brides, engaged couples and their families. The Department of Justice has received more than 200 complaints against Holly Christina photography. Despite several attempts, Holly Christina photography and its owners have not gotten back to us for comments. So stay with eyewitness news for Troubtshooter Diane Wilson's update on this case later. High stakes talks in China. President Trump arriving in that country this morning for his multi-day. bilateral trip with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The White House wants to focus on trade and investments. But with the Warren and Ronsel underway, President Trump says it could be part of the

discussion. ABC's Olivia Rubin has the details on what to expect. This morning, President Trump touching down in China to a lavish welcome, complete with a red carpet. Trump kicking off a multi-day, high-stakes visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This is going to be a very exciting trip. A lot of good things are going to happen. The trip initially delayed due to escalating tensions involving the war in Iran. And now, with no deal secured to end the fighting, the war once again overshadowing the trip. China, a key trading partner of Iran expected to be part of those discussions. Trump says he doesn't need President Xi's help, ending the war, but that they will discuss it.

We're going to have a long talk about it. I think he's been relatively good, to be honest with me. The White House hoping the visit will focus on trade and securing investments in the agriculture and energy sectors. A host of high-profile CEOs from some of America's largest tech and finance companies joining Trump on the trip, including Elon Musk and Tim Cook and CEOs from Boeing, City, Goldman Sachs, MasterCard, Meta, and more. And notably, the CEO of the world's dominant AI chipmaker, Nvidia, also on the trip. CEO Jensen Huang recently granted permission from the administration to sell its less advanced chips to China, a move some critics say could give China a leg up in the global AI race. And the subject of AI also expected to be on the agenda here, one senior U.S. officials saying they have security concerns and would not be surprised if the leaders touch on them.

Olivia Rubin, ABC News, Washington. Olivia, thank you. Well, with the impact of the war with Iran continuing to be felt here at home, Kalshi traders report gasoline prices are expected to go over $5 a gallon in response to President Trump turning down Iran's counterproposal to end the war. All prices jumped on Monday and nationally, the average gasoline price per gallon rose by roughly six cents from a week ago to $4.52 on average. According to data from AAA, it has risen about 38 cents from a month ago and has gained about $1.38 from a year back. Well, those higher gas prices sent wholesale inflation up last month. The producer price index increasing in April to 6% on an annual basis from 4% in March. That is the biggest increase

since December of 2022. Well, exceeding economist's expectations. On a monthly basis, the index decrease or increase 1.4%. That's twice the pace that economists expected. Well, new at noon, a new era at North Carolina Central University. We're live on the Durham campus as leaders introduce the new women's basketball coach. And despite outcry from the community, Cumberland County school leaders vote to close to elementary schools. We have reaction after the controversial votes. New here at noon, North Carolina Central University officially introducing the school's new women's basketball coach. Olivia Gaines will take over the Lady Eagles and she's already a proven winner. Trey Miles live on the NCCU campus, Trey a big day for the HBCU.

Hey Barbara, it is indeed a great day here on the campus at North Carolina Central. The nest just got a little bit bigger, as you said, as the women's basketball program welcomed their newest head coach. She's a coach with a lot of pedigree. Olivia Gaines is somebody that this fan base should get behind and get excited behind. She has an interesting story. She's a former standout on the basketball court, got her career in coaching started on the high school level. She's also coached at the Juco level in division two levels before making her way here. So she's earned her Stripes. Quite the pedigree, as I said, she played for the legendary Dawn Staley at South Carolina. She's a South Carolina native. She also sees this moment as full circle and one she wants to win right away at.

My first head coaching job was a Jucco job, and now I'm coaching a D1 school. This is my first goal as being a head coach at the Division 1 level, but I'm forever grateful. NCCU is going to be a special place. We are going to win basketball games. I don't want to take a long time to win basketball games. I really don't, okay? I don't want to get too big, but I'm just telling y'all is truth. I'm just not used to losing as a player or a coach. So I'm going to stand on business. I'm going to be all gas, no breaks. That's a lot like to say. So you can hear the folks in the room.

We're very excited to hear that this program will be all gas, no breaks. Like coach said, you've got to really be excited about a player who played for South Carolina. We know what kind of winning that program in Dawn Stanley has built. She said she's not used to losing. That's what North Carolina Central wants to bring. Let's do a little bit more about that experience with Dawn Stanley at South Carolina and how she can bring that here to Central. We'll have that in the later shows, guys. All right.

That sounds like an exciting day. Trey Miles, thank you so much for that report, NC Central University. Coming up next at noon, a budget deficit in Benson the tough cuts. The town manager is proposing as some residents question, his six-figure salary. And we have the latest on the race to contain the haunt a virus as officials are monitoring 18 people across 10 states. One of those passengers is from North Carolina. Two Cumberland County Elementary Schools are shutting down, and the families who call them home are not happy about it.

The school board voted five to three last night to close Manchester and J.W. Kuhn Elementary Schools ahead of next school year. The board says this move will save money on aging buildings, but parents and teachers say that it will up in the lives of kids who are finally settled. I love my families, and I also love my principal and my coworkers. We're a small school and we're family. So to hear that, when we knew that it was a possibility, but hearing now that it is a reality, it stung. And students from both schools will be reassigned when the new school year begins. The Fayetteville City Council is holding three work sessions to discuss the proposed budget for the next fiscal year.

The sessions will happen over the next three Thursdays. The first one is tomorrow, May 14th, followed by the 21st and the 28th. Each session is at 10 a.m. at City Hall, city manager Douglas Hewitt will present his proposed budget at that first work session. This Thursday, a public hearing will be held Tuesday, May 26th. Well, it's Hump Day, and we're getting closer to the weekend. And two popular festivals are happening in the Triangle. Artsplosure is happening in downtown Raleigh, Saturday and Sunday. And in Durham, the 56th annual Bembe Cultural Arts Festival is returning to Rock Corey Park.

That's Saturday. And this year's headline performer is hip-hop legend, Dougie Frey. Oh, that is a lead in to quay. Yeah. Looking good this weekend and it's going to feel like festival weather. It's going to be hot. It's going to be humid. I don't have any rain in the forecast for the weekend. Yeah, we're talking record high temperature potential too. On Sunday, Saturday will be below records. Record high is 94 at RDU. I think we'll top out around 87 and then Sunday's record is 92. I have us right at that mark. Monday's record 95. I have us at 93 for the forecast high. So we're going to be hot anyway you slice it. If you're heading to the mountains,

70s and 80s here to spotty rain only 20%. And then at the coast, a lot of sunshine with high temperatures in the 70s and 80s as well. Today will be warm but not record warm, seasonal warmth, with high temperatures in the upper 70s. We'll have more sun than clouds, a little breezy at times too. And then a spotty shower chance tonight, maybe a thunder shower, but that will not be for everyone. So we're going to be watching these showers closely as they fall apart really upon approach. Here's the cold front out to the west right now. It's still west of the mountains.

We're seeing some cloud cover ahead of that because we have high pressure offshore, helping to bring in a bit more cloud cover at times today. This is 9 o'clock tonight. By this time, we could have some scattered showers for our northwestern counties, maybe a thunder shower here. But notice how the one line really weakens as it works through. So we could end up with some areas seeing no rainfall at all. I think we'll see some clouds in the area.

And then by tomorrow morning at daybreak, we're dry and we're clearing out as well. Rainfall totals, this is it. Measley. 1 tenth of an inch or less. Here's a live look into downtown. We have clouds. We have sun and tips in the 70s out the door. Here's that breeze from the south,

5 to 15 miles per hour sustained. So high is today, mid 70s, north, upper 70s in the triangle, low 80s south. Tonight will be in the 50s with some spotty showers possible. Tomorrow, 60s to the north, right around 70 in the triangle and mid 70s in the sandhills.

So we'll be below average tomorrow afternoon with some breezy conditions behind that cold front. Some gusts could be as high as 20 to 25 miles per hour through late. morning and afternoon tomorrow. Here's your 70 forecast and we're tracking some 40s Thursday night. So as we cool down during the day Thursday, we'll also get another push of chillier air Thursday night. That'll take us below average. But Friday highs will climb to the mid to upper 70s, 50s Friday night. There's your weekend heating up into the upper 80s on Saturday.

60s Saturday night Sunday. The record high is 92 so we could tie that at RDU. 60s at night. We'll continue with those low to bit 90s right through Tuesday. I don't have any rain. fall in the 7-8 forecast outside of tonight. And then I think we'll see a better shot at some rain, maybe later next week, but we have a lot of time to watch those trends. Back to you. All right, Clay, thanks so much.

Well, Judgment Day has arrived for a mother convicted of killing her husband and then writing a book about coping with grief. Coming up, how long she could spend in prison and what authorities say was her motive. Happening today, the Utah mother who published a children's book about grief after the death of her husband

and was later then found guilty of killing him, finds out today how, how long she will spend in prison. Corey Rickens was convicted in March of aggravated murder for lacing her husband's cocktail with five times the lethal dose of fentanyl at their home near Park City in 2022. Prosecutors said Rickens, a 35-year-old real estate agent

with a house flipping business was millions of dollars in debt and planning a future with another man. She had opened numerous life insurance policies on her husband, Eric Riggins without his knowledge. Cory Riggins is facing 25 years to life in prison. It's also sentencing day for a licensed drug addiction counselor who delivered friends star Matthew Perry, the doses of ketamine that killed him. Prosecutors are asking for two and a half years in prison for 56-year-old Eric Fleming,

one of five people who pleaded guilty in connection with the actor's 2023 death. Defense attorneys are asking for a sentence of three months in prison and nine months in a residential drug treatment facility. And a man arrested for stealing hard drives, containing unreleased Beyonce music has pleaded guilty. Kelvin Evans was arrested in Atlanta last year in connection to a July 2025 car break-in where two suitcases containing Beyonce's music and tour plans were stolen from a rental car. Evans accepted a five-year sentence of which he will serve two years in custody.

And breaking ground on a new affordable housing development in Durham. Coming up next at noon, how this new project could be a game changer for so many people. And solo tripping, how this trip to Italy. is a major milestone for Princess Kate three years after her cancer diagnosis.