North Carolina is month's past due on a state budget. WRAL's Dan Haggerty and state government reporter Will Doran take a look at what's causing the delay, what it means for you and when we could see a change.

A state program using ankle monitors, designed to protect victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other crimes, has proven successful in North Carolina. But confusion about how it'd be funded means it could end soon, with no back-up plan in sight. WRAL's Paul Specht shares why those in the legal field say the program has been called a 'life saver.' 

A legislative committee is reviewing the state's procedures when it comes to treating people with mental health problems after two high-profile killings in North Carolina. WRAL State Government reporter Paul Spetch shares why both cases highlight the gaps in mental health care and public safety procedures, as both the justice system and mental health care system are under strain. 

State Department of Agriculture data shows seven registered animal shelters were disciplined in 2024. The number rose to 22 in 2025. WRAL's Sarah Krueger explains the issues impacting animal welfare.

Court proceedings are set to begin in the trial of 21-year-old Issiah Mehki Ross. He's been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Lyric Woods and Devin Clark, two teens killed and found along a remote ATV path in 2022. 

WRAL news reporter Monica Casey was in court on Monday and has the latest developments and what's next. Plus, how this case created "Lyric and Devin's Law," which impacts how law enforcement agencies search for juvenile suspects.

Debates are brewing over the criminal justice system following two recent high-profile killings in Charlotte and Raleigh - crimes, police say, that were committed at random by people with mental health issues who had been in and out of local jails and prisons for years.

North Carolina is making strides toward helping people get health care, jobs and other assistance after they leave prison, Gov. Josh Stein said last week, part of a push to help prepare convicted criminals for life after prison.

WRAL digital producer Jaylin Jones and state government reporter Will Doran discuss Stein's speech, where things stand, and what can be done in 2026 and beyond. 

Several police departments in North Carolina are now using civilians, not officers, to respond to less serious car crashes. Departments say the goal is to lighten the load on their already strained staff. WRAL Investigative Reporter Sarah Krueger dug into the data to see if it's making a difference. 

If 2025 weather felt like a lot to you, you’re not alone. This year we saw quite a few extreme temperature swings, and for some communities, events that will be talked about for years to come. From the cold winter days that delivered some snow this year, to the extreme heat of the summer.

WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell joins WRAL's Jaylin Jones to look back on what the data can tell us about weather trends in North Carolina. 

Ryan Camacho is being held without bond, charged with Ravenscroft teacher Zoe Welsh's murder. WRAL Investigates found public records showing he avoided a multi-year prison sentence last year due to a plea agreement reducing four felonies to a single misdemeanor. WRAL's Randall Kerr explains what we're learning from Camacho's criminal history.

The legal defense for a teen accused of killing five people in the 2022 shooting in Raleigh’s Hedingham neighborhood has filed a series of pre-trial motions.

The trial date for Austin Thompson is set to begin on Monday, February 2nd.

The shooting took place on October 13, 2022, starting inside the Thompson family home and ending on the nearby Neuse River Greenway. Thompson was 15 at the time of the shooting. He faces 5 murder charges as well as 2 charges each of attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

WRAL news reporter Shuan Gallagher spoke with a local defense attorney to learn more about what these pre-trial motions mean.