Published: 2020-06-22 16:09:00Updated: 2020-06-22 19:59:06Local NewsTags:By Cullen Browder, WRAL reporter — The Confederate statues that stood outside North Carolina’s State Capitol are gone.Now, Frank Powell, a spokesman for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, says his group is contemplating legal action against the removal of the monuments.A 2015 law was passed to protect against removal of such monuments. In 2018, the North Carolina Historical Commission cited that law when it voted to keep the statues in place.What happened over the weekend ."We're just outraged and angry, especially at...…Published: 2020-06-22 16:09:00Updated: 2020-06-22 19:59:06Local NewsTags:By Cullen Browder, WRAL reporter — The Confederate statues that stood outside North Carolina’s State Capitol are gone.Now, Frank Powell, a spokesman for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, says his group is contemplating legal action against the removal of the monuments.A 2015 law was passed to protect against removal of such monuments. In 2018, the North Carolina Historical Commission cited that law when it voted to keep the statues in place.What happened over the weekend ."We're just outraged and angry, especially at...WW…

Published: 2020-06-12 16:30:00Updated: 2020-06-12 18:38:12WRAL InvestigatesTags:By Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter — Since the late 1970s, more than 1,000 law enforcement officers in North Carolina have had their certifications revoked for criminal or unethical behavior. In many cases, the public never finds out why.Following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police last month, the Minneapolis Police Department released partial records on Officer Derek Chauvin, who faces murder charges in Floyd's death, revealing a history of complaints.That information is leading to more calls...…Published: 2020-06-12 16:30:00Updated: 2020-06-12 18:38:12WRAL InvestigatesTags:By Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter — Since the late 1970s, more than 1,000 law enforcement officers in North Carolina have had their certifications revoked for criminal or unethical behavior. In many cases, the public never finds out why.Following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police last month, the Minneapolis Police Department released partial records on Officer Derek Chauvin, who faces murder charges in Floyd's death, revealing a history of complaints.That information is leading to more calls...WW…

Published: 2020-05-27 10:36:00Updated: 2020-05-27 19:19:50NC CapitolTags:By Travis Fain,WRAL statehouse reporter, & Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter — Gov. Roy Cooper's administration changed out the top leader in the state's unemployment office Wednesday in a surprise announcement.Assistant Secretary for the Division of Employment Security Lockhart Taylor, a career employee at DES, is out. Pryor Gibson, a former lawmaker who had been directing a rural development program for the administration, is the new assistant secretary, effective immediately.Taylor will "assume a different...…Published: 2020-05-27 10:36:00Updated: 2020-05-27 19:19:50NC CapitolTags:By Travis Fain,WRAL statehouse reporter, & Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter — Gov. Roy Cooper's administration changed out the top leader in the state's unemployment office Wednesday in a surprise announcement.Assistant Secretary for the Division of Employment Security Lockhart Taylor, a career employee at DES, is out. Pryor Gibson, a former lawmaker who had been directing a rural development program for the administration, is the new assistant secretary, effective immediately.Taylor will "assume a different...WW…

Published: 2020-04-15 15:28:00Updated: 2020-04-15 18:31:53WRAL InvestigatesTags:By Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporterNon-essential business in North Carolina were ordered to shut down March 30 in the effort to stop the spread of coronavirus. After the governor’s executive order, thousands of businesses across the state appealed to the North Carolina Department of Revenue in an effort to stay open."We’re one of the largest training facilities on the east coast. Last year, we were named actually one of the top ten facilities in the country," says Paul Smith, owner of Frontline Defense...…Published: 2020-04-15 15:28:00Updated: 2020-04-15 18:31:53WRAL InvestigatesTags:By Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporterNon-essential business in North Carolina were ordered to shut down March 30 in the effort to stop the spread of coronavirus. After the governor’s executive order, thousands of businesses across the state appealed to the North Carolina Department of Revenue in an effort to stay open."We’re one of the largest training facilities on the east coast. Last year, we were named actually one of the top ten facilities in the country," says Paul Smith, owner of Frontline Defense...WW…

Published: 2020-04-08 18:49:00Updated: 2020-04-08 19:03:35WRAL InvestigatesTags:By Cullen Browder, WRAL Anchor/reporterState health officials say Governor Roy Cooper​'s stay-at-home order is slowing the spread of the coronavirus outbreak in North Carolina. But it could also slam the brakes on road construction projects across the state.North Carolina collects $0.36 for every gallon of gasoline sold in this state. In the last fiscal year, stations sold more than 6 billion gallons in North Carolina.The gas tax generates about $2 billion dollars a year for the state's Highway Fund and Highway...…Published: 2020-04-08 18:49:00Updated: 2020-04-08 19:03:35WRAL InvestigatesTags:By Cullen Browder, WRAL Anchor/reporterState health officials say Governor Roy Cooper​'s stay-at-home order is slowing the spread of the coronavirus outbreak in North Carolina. But it could also slam the brakes on road construction projects across the state.North Carolina collects $0.36 for every gallon of gasoline sold in this state. In the last fiscal year, stations sold more than 6 billion gallons in North Carolina.The gas tax generates about $2 billion dollars a year for the state's Highway Fund and Highway...WW…

Published: 2020-08-17 09:34:00Updated: 2020-08-17 19:38:35EducationTags:By Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter, Leslie Moreno, WRAL multimedia journalist, & Maggie Brown, WRAL multiplatform producer — A statewide online education system that students and teachers use for online learning went down Monday on the first day of school in North Carolina, with many districts holding only remote classes because of the coronavirus pandemic.NCEdCloud experienced technical issues for a few hours, returning to service by 11 a.m.The state Department of Public Instruction said Monday afternoon that...…Published: 2020-08-17 09:34:00Updated: 2020-08-17 19:38:35EducationTags:By Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter, Leslie Moreno, WRAL multimedia journalist, & Maggie Brown, WRAL multiplatform producer — A statewide online education system that students and teachers use for online learning went down Monday on the first day of school in North Carolina, with many districts holding only remote classes because of the coronavirus pandemic.NCEdCloud experienced technical issues for a few hours, returning to service by 11 a.m.The state Department of Public Instruction said Monday afternoon that...WW…

Published: 2020-06-09 16:56:00Updated: 2020-06-10 12:26:17NC CapitolTags:By Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor, & Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief — Following more than an hour of partisan debate Tuesday, the Senate voted in favor of a measure that would reopen gyms and bars during the pandemic, despite restrictions put in place by Gov. Roy Cooper.With the 36-13 vote, the bill heads back to a House for a final vote before it could go to Cooper, who by allowing them to set up outdoor seating to serve customers.In the wake of that veto, , which also would allow...…Published: 2020-06-09 16:56:00Updated: 2020-06-10 12:26:17NC CapitolTags:By Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor, & Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief — Following more than an hour of partisan debate Tuesday, the Senate voted in favor of a measure that would reopen gyms and bars during the pandemic, despite restrictions put in place by Gov. Roy Cooper.With the 36-13 vote, the bill heads back to a House for a final vote before it could go to Cooper, who by allowing them to set up outdoor seating to serve customers.In the wake of that veto, , which also would allow...WW…

Published: 2020-12-01 18:22:00Updated: 2020-12-04 19:53:03Local NewsTags:By Adam Owens, WRAL anchor/reporter, Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter & Kirsten Gutierrez, WRAL reporter — Health officials are worried a large, three-day girls soccer tournament that kicks off Friday in Raleigh will contribute to the spread of coronavirus.At least 325 teams from 35 different states are expected to participate over the weekend, bringing hundreds of people to the WRAL Soccer Park on Perry Creek Road in Raleigh.When asked about the tournament, Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy...…Published: 2020-12-01 18:22:00Updated: 2020-12-04 19:53:03Local NewsTags:By Adam Owens, WRAL anchor/reporter, Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter & Kirsten Gutierrez, WRAL reporter — Health officials are worried a large, three-day girls soccer tournament that kicks off Friday in Raleigh will contribute to the spread of coronavirus.At least 325 teams from 35 different states are expected to participate over the weekend, bringing hundreds of people to the WRAL Soccer Park on Perry Creek Road in Raleigh.When asked about the tournament, Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy...WW…

Published: 2020-10-26 16:31:00Updated: 2020-10-26 18:26:19WRAL InvestigatesTags:By Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter — North Carolinians have taken more than 3 million coronavirus tests during the pandemic, with PCR testing accounting for 97 percent of the positive results.Polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests involve rapidly making millions to billions of copies of a specific DNA sample through a process called cycling, amplifying it enough to study in detail. While the test is widely regarded as accurate when it comes to positive or negative for coronavirus, some in the scientific...…Published: 2020-10-26 16:31:00Updated: 2020-10-26 18:26:19WRAL InvestigatesTags:By Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter — North Carolinians have taken more than 3 million coronavirus tests during the pandemic, with PCR testing accounting for 97 percent of the positive results.Polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests involve rapidly making millions to billions of copies of a specific DNA sample through a process called cycling, amplifying it enough to study in detail. While the test is widely regarded as accurate when it comes to positive or negative for coronavirus, some in the scientific...WW…

Published: 2020-10-06 17:32:00Updated: 2020-10-08 00:09:35WRAL InvestigatesTags:By Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter, & Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter — A California woman on Tuesday confirmed to The Associated Press that she had a physical relationship with Cal Cunningham, North Carolina’s Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. Both are married to other people.Cunningham last week admitted to texting Arlene Guzman Todd, a public relations strategist. His campaign initially didn't comment on the AP or WRAL stories about the affair, pointing instead to a statement released Friday...…Published: 2020-10-06 17:32:00Updated: 2020-10-08 00:09:35WRAL InvestigatesTags:By Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter, & Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter — A California woman on Tuesday confirmed to The Associated Press that she had a physical relationship with Cal Cunningham, North Carolina’s Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. Both are married to other people.Cunningham last week admitted to texting Arlene Guzman Todd, a public relations strategist. His campaign initially didn't comment on the AP or WRAL stories about the affair, pointing instead to a statement released Friday...WW…