Noon News on WRAL - Friday, June 26, 2026

Shows and thunderstorms are back in the forecast. I'll explain how to plan around the storms and why tomorrow is a WRAL weather alert day. Charge with murder. The man Smithfield police say shot and killed his wife will face a judge today. What we're learning about that case out of Mike Johnston County. Holiday air travel, nearly six million people are expected to take flights ahead of the 4th of July holiday. How travelers are trying to save money while still taking their trips. Well, good afternoon, everyone. Thanks for joining us here on WRL News. I am Chris Lovinger. Renee has the afternoon off. Just a heads up. Tomorrow is a W. REL weather alert day. Summertime storms could turn severe with the extra energy from the heat and the humidity. Meteorologist Kat Campbell is in the WRL severe weather center this afternoon. Kat. You have a closer look at windstorms could disrupt weekend plans. And that is going to come in a bit of a more narrow time frame for tomorrow afternoon and evening. We'll get to that. But I also want to mention the biggest change to the forecast that we've seen today for tomorrow's weather alert day is that that zone with the highest risk for storms has actually been narrowed down a bit. So the level two threat no longer includes most of the triangle. Raleigh and Durham are now in a level one threat for severe weather and all the areas to the south shaded and green. And the level two threat here is in yellow. includes places like Rocky Mountain Wilson up toward Lake Gaston, Roxborough included in that level two threat as well. Here's the timing. After looking over the latest models, I'm going three to nine p.m. would be the window with the greatest risk. And the main threats here are going to be damaging wind gusts as well as lightning. We've got a little bit of rain out there right now. Today we're not under a severe weather threat, but there could still be gusty winds and lightning. The main event's going to come as we get into the weekend and that front moves closer. mainly dry to start the day through lunchtime. Anything would be very isolated. By 2 o'clock we may start to see our first storms moving in and then they grow in intensity. And that's why about 3 o'clock would be when they would be more likely to become severe. 5 o'clock, a pretty active radar with about half of our viewing area expected to see these storms. And then storms start to fade tomorrow night. I'll have a much closer look at the big weather maker coming after this for 4th of July coming up. I'm Laura Levine here in the WRL Live Center. We just received new information from the town of Kerry about water main break and emergency water main repairs happening right now on Airport Boulevard. This is the notification that they posted here on social media saying that that Airport Boulevard at Sorrel Grove Church Road is the impacted area. They say that the center turn lane and left lane to I-40 are now closed. The left-lane traffic mergers right and traffic on I-40 to Perimeter Park Drive is unaffected. Get this, though. They say that repairs are expected to take about 12 hours. So if you're traveling in this area, especially heading toward the airport, you want to be mindful of this. We're also getting word from a reported and viewers in our area that local businesses are also affected. Someone says that they were trying to eat at Crackle Barrel and they're now closing early because of water issues there. Well, thank you for that significant update for us this afternoon, Laura. A man charged with killing his wife at a business in Smithfield is due in court. Sky5 was above that scene of A.AF Flanders, that facility yesterday morning. And that's where police say that Jesus Bermudez murdered Lorena Paz. Let's bring in Flynn Snyder. He's live at the Johnson County Courthouse for that story. Flynn, Bermudez is being held without bond.

And Chris, he's expected to make his first appearance before a judge here in Johnson County at 2 this afternoon. Take a look. This was the response just over 24 hours ago outside the AAF Flanders facility off Walt Pat Road. I've asked both the company and Smithfield Police about the two's connection to the plant. We're also pressing investigators for more info about what led up to this shooting. It happened around 5 yesterday morning. Officers say they found pause shot in the parking lot where she later died. Bermudas was arrested hours later. is Smithfield home and charged with first-degree murder after investigators spoke to witnesses. Smithfield police said the investigation revealed that Bermudez and Paws were married back out here live at the Johnson County courthouse. Investigators said the incident appeared isolated and domestic in nature. Still a lot of unanswered questions, giving that this played out in such a public space. We'll keep tabs on court, bring you updates throughout the afternoon. Flint Sider, WRL News, live in Johnson County. Folks, we're talking about mass layoffs happening at SAS. Hundreds of workers at the carry base company are being terminated. We have WRL's Elizabeth Holmes here in the studio to talk more about this. Elizabeth, do we know the timeline for the job cuts? Well, Chris, a spokesperson for SAS told us that they already eliminated 300 positions last week throughout the company. And they said those employees who lost their positions will be able to apply for open positions in the company or take use of the company's transition services in order to leave. Now, Forbes reports that SAS has over 12,000 employees. And the company says it has offices and operations in more than 50 countries worldwide. Right now, it's unclear how many of the positions that are being cut are based. in the triangle. Now, the spokesperson we heard from said the cuts are, quote, targeted changes. They said they're doing this to invest in more research and development, sales, and cloud. Now, the spokesperson we heard from said that despite the job cuts, there are still hundreds of open positions at SAS worldwide. All right. Thanks for falling that forest there, Elizabeth. Well, now to Europe where the death toll is rising from an unrelenting and a deadly heat wave. Scientists say this is the worst heat stress they have found in nearly half of the largest cities there. Heat stress is a combination of temperature and humidity. And muggy conditions means less sweating to cool the body, which makes heat waves even more dangerous. NBC's Daniel Hamajadon reports from Paris. Well, some good news from the French capital. The worst here has passed. However, temperatures do remain high, not only here in France, but across Western Europe. The hospital is in the capital. at a breaking point. There have been dozens of cases of cardiac arrest and authorities do not want to put any more pressure on those hospitals. They've started banning drinking alcohol in public spaces. They've also banned takeaway alcohol starting this evening throughout the weekend. The pride parade was meant to be held tomorrow in Paris and that usually draws tens of thousands of people. That has now been delayed till September. We're seeing cooling areas for families, cooling baths in the street for people.

people suffering from heat stroke and sunstroke. Now, scientists say the stifling heat wave gripping Western Europe is the most severe ever recorded. In Spain, public health officials believe up to 500 people may have been killed by this heat wave, and that is based not on a register, but based on previous mortality and temperature records. In the UK, London's ambulance service said Thursday it recorded its highest ever number of life-threatening emergencies just in one day. day. The Netherlands issuing its first ever red alert for heat and Switzerland, registering its hottest day ever in June. Now, temperatures have started to dip here as this heat wave starts moving towards Eastern Europe. Danielle Hammam, NBC News, Paris. During the summer of 2022, more than 60,000 people died because of extreme heat in Europe. Happening now here in the WRL Live Center, we continue to follow the latest out of Venezuela right now where you can see massive rescue operations still underway as people search beneath the rubble here, sifting through all of this destruction, trying to find people at this time. The death toll has climbed to now 589 people who have died and thousands of others who are injured. We have new video that's also emerging, showing the power of the twin earthquakes that hit Venezuela yesterday. This video shows... the moment that the quake struck in Caracas. If we can get that video playing, you can hear screams in the background as windows shattered and fell from buildings. But time right now is really starting to run out to ensure thousands of survivors still buried underneath the debris of crumbled buildings are found alive. Numerous nations, including the U.S. are sending supplies and crews to the devastated nation to help provide both search and rescue and humanitarian assistance. And with that in mind, for people here in the and you're looking for a way to help. We have learned that the El Mando Supermarket on East Millbrook Road in Raleigh is now considered a collection site. They're looking for anything you can drop off, medical supplies, clothes, canned goods, and more. Fencing now surrounds the entire reflecting pool on the National Mall. National Guard members are standing guard as well. The National Park Service says the fencing and the National Guard presence were always part of the July 4th security plan. They just deployed them a little earlier than planned. And this is happening days after President Donald Trump accused vandals of damaging the newly updated pool. At least six people were arrested this week, but only one has been charged. Former U.S. Olympic athlete David Hearn says that he stopped to look at the pool, reached in to touch a floating piece of the blues. blue paint when he did that. Well, the 4th of July travel rush, it is getting started, and we are giving you a live look at RDU right now. That is where AAA is expecting a record number of people to travel through for their holiday week. And WRL's Kelsey Coffee spoke with passengers who are still traveling regardless of higher prices. The average cost of a domestic flight round trip is $830 right now. That's according to AAA, but that's not stopping folks from taking flights this July 4th holiday season. You can see that there are a few people in line here at TSA, but let's give you a look at lines earlier this morning when RDU was really packed. The official start to the July 4th travel season is tomorrow. The higher cost of jet fuel impacting flight prices is causing people.

to find other ways to save, like vacationing closer to home, taking shorter trips and cutting back on expensive meals. People are also taking cruises or going to all-inclusive resorts to stay at a set price point. Joey Williams says he prefers traveling in his RV over flying to save money on transportation and hotels. Traveling with the RV, we're taking the home with us, so there's no need to flying and then have to go get a hotel when we got the hotel with us on wheels. Although we see record-breaking travel numbers every year, AAA says those numbers are not increasing as much as they used to. Just comparing this year to last year, it's only a 0.5% increase, and AAA says inflation is to blame. Kelsey Coffey, W. A. News at R2U. So according to AAA, more than 61 million of those travelers are planning to drive during the holiday period, despite elevated gas prices. Right now, the average price of gas is $3.90 per gallon. The North Carolina, the average is about 355 cents cheaper at $356 a gallon than in Raleigh, drivers can expect to pay $359. Folks, just a reminder, you can use the fuel tracker on the WRL News app, and that way you can find the lowest cost of gas wherever you go. Just search fuel. All right, the NHL draft, it begins tonight. And WRL's Adley Caddabbar shares more on our first chance to talk to the Kane's leadership about what to expect in the off season. We are just 86 days out from that first preseason game, and WRA will be speaking with head coach Rod Brenda Moore and general manager Eric Tolski tonight about what to expect between now and then. What we do know is that the canes only have four picks in this year's draft. But unlike previous Stanley Cup winners, their existing roster is not expected to get poached this year. The NHL's contract tracker shows only two players on the playoff roster who are unrestricted free agents. includes goaltender, Freddie Anderson. But other big names, including Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Jackson Blake are all under contract into the 2030s. Tulski says he's willing to be aggressive in signings and trade opportunities, and this puts them in a good position for another push toward the Stanley Cup. WRL's sports team will be live at Lenovo Center throughout our evening newscast. Reporting at Lenovo Center, Alex Padilla Time on the clock is 12-11 on this Friday afternoon, back stateside after Ebola, here from the American doctor who recovered from the illness and how he thinks he caught it while overseas. Plus, massive Utah wildfires. We're going to get you a close to look at one of the most destructive fires in Utah history as a state deals with several disasters at once. Plus firefighters injured. What we know about the two people recovering after a morning house fire in Gardner.

Coming up next, sea storms moving in with WRL's exclusive Dual Doppler 5,000. Sponsored by the WRL Weather app. Download now for live radar. Laura Levine here in the WRL Live Center. A big update on that crash investigation where three people were heard from someone crashing and stealing vehicles on Morgan Street. We are now learning new information. If we can show this picture here behind me of the victims. This is a photo that was sent to us of... Kathy and Bob Phillips, two of the victims from that crash. A family member sent us this photos and told us that they are now recovering in the surgical trauma ICU. They were both transported with life-threatening injuries, including injuries that include brain bleed. In this message, it says that they were heading to the YMCA for their favorite cycle class when the incident happened. They actually just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. So again, learning new information about that crash scene that Sky-Fi flew over yesterday on more. Street. We're also following this story throughout the day, learning more information about the suspect who was charged in this case, too. Heidi Kirk will have that update for us in our evening newscasts. Kind of gracious, that poor couple. Thank you for that update, Laura. The American doctor who contracted Ebola while working at the Democratic Republic of Congo is back in the U.S. Dr. Peter Stafford was evacuated and underwent treatment while in Germany. He has since recovered and is back along with his wife of kids. Dr. Stafford and his wife, Rebecca, worked in a hospital affiliated with the Christian Health Service Corps. And he believes he was exposed seven or eight days before when the pandemic was declared. That was a difficult time. I had a high fever. I had weakness. At times, too difficult even to walk on my own needing support. There was worry for Peter on one side. And then. watching the world kind of mobilized to help my husband and seeing my Congolese friends and knowing that they would not get the kind of care that Peter did. And so that was holding those two things together was really overwhelming. More than a thousand cases have been confirmed in the DRC, and at least 277 people there, and two in Uganda have died. All right, the cottonwood fire, it could end up being the worst catastrophic wildfire in Utah history. A particularly dangerous situation has been issued for the first time for parts of southern Utah because of the serious fire conditions. Warning means that a fire could start in seconds and spread at an incredible pace with fire embers traveling long distances. A PDS warning can be issued for a variety of natural disasters or weather events. However,

This is the first time it has been issued for a red flag event in Utah. Now, a similar warning was issued ahead of last year's deadly palisades fire in LA. Today, jurors in the trial of the man charged with setting that fire will continue deliberations. The panel deliberated for about 14 hours yesterday before sending a note back to the judge. It read, quote, we cannot reach a unanimous verdict on any of the three charges. Jonathan Render Neck is charged with intentionally setting the fire. A dozen people were killed in it. and it destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. Well, we are already expecting hotter temperatures this weekend, but the heat will be even more intense next week. Meteorologist Grant Skinner says that we could experience a record-breaking heat wave ahead of the 4th of July. We get some very intense heat into the back half of next week. So let's talk more about the upper level pattern and how that will change in the next week and why we'll see that intense heat. So an upper level range will build over the area into this weekend. That's why highs push into the mid-90s this weekend. But as this upper-level high builds moves from southwest to northeast, temperatures will really climb into the end of next week. High is already in the triple digits by Wednesday and even hotter by the end of the week. So temperature is trending above average for the entire eastern U.S. for the back half of next week, all the way through the 4th of July. You can see by Tuesday, we already have a lot of the country under an extreme heat risk, including parts of the Upper Midwest, and the parts of the Ohio Valley down through the Tennessee Valley along the Mississippi River. And then you can see into Wednesday that expands to more spots, a large portion of the Upper Midwest down through the Ohio Valley, now under extreme heat risk. And then you'll see for our area, we're at a major heat risk by Wednesday, up to an extreme. extreme heat risk for the majority of our area by Thursday. So it's going to be really important to continue to check the WRA weather app. Click the forecast tab at the bottom of the page. You'll look at the seven-day forecast here. We've clicked the forecast tab. You'll look at more details. You can see on Wednesday and Thursday already pushing over 100 degrees. And all the latest details will be found on the WRL weather app. It's going to get very hot. So make sure to stay hydrated. Tate breaks in the shade and AC whenever possible. AC Grant updates that app. So does meet our just Kat Campbell because we want you to be the most informed when it comes to why we are issuing important alerts, including tomorrow's WRA weather alert day. Yeah, if you click on that forecast tab, like Grant mentioned, all that text that's written there, we write ourselves sitting back in the WRL Severe Weather Center. So we're able to give you a bit more context, especially during the summer months. A lot of folks want to know, you know, is this just afternoon and evening summertime rain, or is this like an all-day rain event? And we tell you generally in that tap. A level one risk for severe storms now from the triangle point south and west. We were previously under a level two threat for Saturday yesterday. but they've trimmed that back now to areas just north and east of the triangle. And that does include many of our northeastern counties, especially between about 3 and 9 p.m. That's one of the big weather headlines. The other one is this and it is the major heat wave that Grant was telling you about for July 4th weekend. We're closing in on the holiday weekend and we want to be very clear about this well in advance because this is a holiday that a lot of people spend outside and this will be an exceptionally hot 4th of July.

and that stretch of heat makes it more dangerous when you can't really cool off much at night. And the high pressure is going to be situated right over the Carolinas. And this means not only the big heat is centered right over the Carolinas, but also we may have less in the way of rain and storm chances as well. So, you know, drier, but definitely hotter for Fourth of July weekend. In the meantime, we're slightly above normal for temperatures low to mid-90s. And then Wednesday and Thursday, triple-digit temperatures return. That is not the heat index. That is the actual air temperature. So try to find a lake, a pool, some way of keeping your body temperature down. You can see some people enjoying White Lake out here. It looks like the place to be today. Absolutely gorgeous view there. We've got some rain to our west right now. This has not reached most of us yet. And it's going to be spotty when it gets here. But there have been some spotty showers around Chapel Hill, Durham, and even North Raleigh, especially around and north of I-540. Lunch today, we're going to. We're going to see rain chances go up a bit. 1 o'clock. We go up to about a 30% chance for rain with temperatures in the upper 80s. Future cast, this is the model I chose because it updates every hour. You can see that area of steadier rain to our west. It moves in, but it'll be spotty as it moves in. And I don't expect a huge impact for the evening commute. What I have seen on run after run of this model that updates each hour is that the radar becomes more active with those scattered storms around 7, 8, 9 o'clock tonight. expecting this to be a widespread rain event tonight. It's definitely going to be more scattered. Saturday, about half of our viewing area will see rain and storms. Some of those could become severe with damaging wind gusts prompting the weather alert day. Sunday, pretty similar to Saturday. And then Monday, it's just a smaller chance for rain next week. Rain chances go down, but boy, do temperatures come climbing up, Chris. Looks like it, Kat. And folks, this is not a shameless brag, but please download the WRA weather app. Be informed and turn those notifications on, okay? All right, here's a look at what we're working on for this evening. Planning for development. We're going to get an update on plans for UNC's Carolina campus, or North Campus, and we'll bring you a story that you'll only see on W.REL coming up at 4. Then at 5.30, a change in immigration policy. How recent Supreme Court rulings and a new North Carolina law are affecting enforcement practices, local jails, and immigration communities across our state.

from WRL News headquarters in Raleigh, your number one source for local news. WRL News, coverage you can count on. All right, the 4th of July is next week, and folks, the holiday travel rush, it is already on. Experts say millions of people will be traveling for the holiday, including through RDIU, where you're looking live right now. NBC's Maggie Vespa spoke with travelers dealing with long lines and little patience. This morning, the countdown to fireworks and festivities is on, a booming July 4th surge amid the summer travel rush. I've never seen so many people at an airport in my entire life. This is your sign to get pre-check because that's the line. With Americans eager to celebrate the nation's historic 250th birthday, AAA estimates more than 72 million people will take to the roads and the skies. American Airlines predicting a new July 4th travel record with some 8 million passengers and 80,000 flights expected from now through Monday, July 6th. A particular squeeze expected in D.C. Flights through Reagan National Airport scheduled to halt after noon on the 4th to make way for celebrations. TSA vowing checkpoints nationwide will be fully staffed and prepared. The July 4th surge comes after government shutdowns and TSA staffing shortages snarled air travel earlier this year. I've been in line for two hours and I think I have one and a half hour ahead still. Experts add rising ticket prices have prompted more flyers to drive instead. Domestic airfare is averaging $515 per ticket, up 10% from last year amid high jet fuel costs. What we've seen in the last six months has definitely shaken the airline industry and maybe has caused some hesitancy. A whopping 60 million Americans are expected to drive to their destinations, many celebrating the fourth with loved ones. We have so many things going on domestically this year that fall around the fourth. You have the World Cup going on, so it's really going to be more of a backyard holiday this year. Now, as for driving, AAA projects more than 72 million Americans will be on the highways between tomorrow and July 5th. Even though gas prices have come down a bit, they are still the second highest they have ever been for the 4th of July holiday. Investigators are trying to figure out what caused a fire that entered two firefighters. This happened at a home on Old Cascade Drive and Garner. And WRA's Kirsten Clark was there and shares what she learned after spending hours on scene. I spoke with Garner Fire Chief Amy Coney Barrett Penny who told me that two firefighters were injured, one of them needing stitches, the other treated for exhaustion, and they are expected to be okay, thankfully. But I want you to take a look at what we're seeing when it comes to the damage here at this home. You can see the front of the house significantly damaged as well as the top of the home. Investigators are on scene right now exploring what was the cause of this fire. And Chief Penny also told me the call came in at 612 this morning. The homeowner was actually inside the home at the time.

and the smoke detectors alerted him. He ran out the house, saw the house was on fire, and then went to a neighbor's house to call 911. Now, I want you to take a look at this sky five video, just showing the scale of this response. Firefighters, when they arrived, they saw the fire was visible from the front of the house. There was a tanker shuttle operation as well as a dump tank. The Garner, Cleveland, Jay Clayton, Nightdale, and Swift Creek fire departments were all involved. We also saw Wake EMS on scene, as well as a Wake County Sheriff Deputy. We were told that majority of the fire was under control in about 20 minutes, so it didn't take long at all. But when we arrived on the scene, we saw them still addressing some smaller fires and hotspots. So again, Chief Penny said that those two firefighters are expected to be okay. And at this time, we're just working to learn what was the cause of that fire as well as the full extent of the damage as this investigation continues. In Garner, Kirsten Clark, W. RAL News. And happening me here in the WRL Live Center. About 30 minutes ago, we reported on the trial underway regarding the Palisades fire in Los Angeles that killed so many people caused a lot of destruction. What we have now learned after two days of deliberations, a federal judge has the case concerning the origin of the devastating January 2025 fire. So. Yesterday, jurors were told to return to deliberate today after they sent a note to the DA, stating that nothing could be done to reach a unanimous verdict on all of the counts against Jonathan Renderneck. Now, the 30-year-old former Uber driver faces three federal charges of destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set fire, of course, for the Palisades fire. We now know that because they could not come to a decision unanimously today, the DA has moved for a mystery. trial. Well, the city of Raleigh is considering selling one of its parking decks in a popular area downtown, and families are worried about the cost they may have to pay. We're talking about that deck on Wilmington Street across from Marbles Kids Museum. The city says it was presented with an offer to buy the deck before it was even made public. Downtown Raleigh Alliance President Bill Keen says the deck has been a huge economic driver. Since the two-hour free parking program started, usage of that deck, it has gone up more than a third. Marble CEO Jonathan Frederick says that many of the museum's visitors use that parking deck. Say, oh, which could lead to paid parking? Well, it could change that. We want every child to be able to play at Marbles. And to have free parking right across the street, it's hugely impactful. You probably wouldn't see us here as often. That would be a big deciding factor. Please don't think about the kids and the families who can't afford $25 to park. Now, the city says there are plenty of parking options downtown to consider, including on the street, private decks, and more square deck just around the corner. It will continue, though, to seek beds for this property. Time is 1235 this Friday afternoon. Patch production. Millions of women rely on estrogen patches for relief. And now some fear they might have a harder time filling their prescriptions. My experts recommend having a backup plan. Plus, sun safety. There is much, much, much more to it than just applying sunscreen. By the type of sunglasses you wear could help protect your eyes from dangerous UV rays.

Folks, our team is working to bring you exclusive stories. For coverage you will only find on WRL, visit WRL.com and search only. Getting a live look outside right now at the WRL Azalea Gardens. I'm looking here. I don't see anybody out there. If you are, you're probably on the pathway enjoying the lovely outdoor space we have here. You're watching WRL News. Available on YouTube TV and the WRL app on your TV or streaming advice. More than one million women in the U.S. begin menopause each year. And the FDA has not designated estrogen patches as being in short supply, but the agency is working with companies to boost production. Some patients use estrogen patches to treat symptoms of menopause. The FDA approved new labeling that removed warnings related to breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and dementia, which has sparked new interest in the patch. As demand surges, some patients might find them harder to find. But a leading expert warns against rationing your supply or trying alternatives without guidance from a medical professional. We need to really kind of go back, check with our doctor, check with the nurses to find out before we start trying something different. You don't want to try something really different without checking with them because that could actually cause more harm than good. And clinical research experts advise that... women to they advise women to advocate for themselves if you hear or see your supply diminishing reach out to the clinician and come up with a plan Well, today is the last day of the Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis. And athletes from North Carolina, they have been racking up medals. Way County athlete Lorenzo Stansell earned three medals competing in athletics. How about that? It includes a gold medal in the 100 meter walk and bronze medals in the 400 meter walk in shot put competitions. Franklin County's Sabrina Keaton won a silver medal and the 25-yard backstroke in swimming as well. Lots and lots of women. Well, today the Raleigh Police Department is holding its Hoops Night event. It's happening at the Barwell Road Community Center from 6 to 8. Basically, this event, it gives Raleigh kids and teenagers a chance to play some basketball and connect with officers in a safe environment. You can register for Hoop Night. That's on the city's website. We are talking about American artifacts. The countdown is on for America's 250th birthday, where you can see some priceless items for free. And summer, summer glasses, sunglasses, I guess you could call. They don't just enhance your style. They're a must when it comes to eye safety. What one doctor says you should prioritize when making your purchase.

Sunglasses don't just enhance your style. They're a must when it comes to eye safety. Well, one doctor says you should prioritize when making your purchase. We're going to talk a little bit more about that as there is a, sorry, I'm a little ahead on that story there, a free exhibition of rare American historical artifacts. That's now on display at Rockefeller Plaza. It includes a rare 1823 engraving of the Declaration of Independence, as well as items tied to presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. Christie's gave NBC's Gilma Avelos a look before the items go up for auction. As the nation gets ready to mark 250 years, Christie's is showcasing artifacts that help us look back. A piece of furniture from Camelot, a chair belonging to President JFK, and this top hat worn by Harry Truman during his 1949 inauguration. These are just some of the 70 items from the personal collection of Jim Ursay, the owner of the Indianapolis cults. going up for auction. We also had a great deal of interest in American history. We thought offering it here, coinciding with the nation's 250th anniversary, would be an appropriate venue to offer this remarkable collection. Some tell the story of this country's beginnings, including a representation of the document that birthed our nation. A stone engraving of the Declaration of Independence, an extremely rare piece, only 50 known, maybe 12 in private hands. And this letter penned by George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, first printing of the United States Constitution for his review. You get to be in the moment with them, and when you do that, you realize that you're just like them. You have no idea what's going to happen tomorrow, and neither did they. And so you catch them in the moment. You'll also see first editions of the novels that made Mark Twain a household name. Some artifacts mark periods of mourning for the nation. A pair of green tickets to Ford's theater stamped for the night that President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. And this sets a... had a planned gift from the governor of Texas to JFK during the president's fateful visit to Dallas, a gift he would never receive. The exhibition opens to the public today. It runs through Tuesday ahead of a July 1st auction that Christie's believes will fetch a lot of interest. We're very superstitious here in New York, but we have high hopes. This is excellent material. Mr. Irse bought very, very well. He bought quality pieces, pieces that told stories. North Carolina's founding documents will be on display next week as part of the state's 250th anniversary celebration. The July 4th exhibit, it is part of Freedom Fest at the State Capitol. It features family-friendly activities, live entertainment, and historical displays throughout the day. You can find a list of events on our website. Just search America 250 once you're there. All right, tomorrow it is National Sunglasses Day. So a cool pair of shades can upgrade your summer style, but also kind of important to provide protection from the sun. There are many types of conditions that can be caused from significant UV exposure. Particularly the most concerning is skin cancers. And so it's so important to make sure you're protecting that area. Photocartitis, solar retinopathy, all these things can also be affected.

Yeah, it helps when you don't look at the sun, right? Well, the Cleveland Clinic recommends choosing a pair that have 100% UV protection. Sometimes it's called UV 400. This will offer the best protection. You can also opt for polarized lenses. Athletes tend to like those since it can help reduce sun glare. I know that, Kat, you have your own pair of sunglasses. I think I have a couple. Actually, my other pair are transitioned. So I walk from outside, inside to outside, bam, sunglasses immediate. Oh, yeah. I do the big ones. And I know it looks crazy, but then they protect my cheeks, too, from getting sunburn and freckles and all that. You got to be careful this time of year. And, you know, today you still need your sunglasses. You still need your sunscreen, even if you were seeing more clouds like Pittsburgh currently. is as there's some rain to the west here. So make sure that you are prepared for the week ahead with sunscreen. And boy, are you going to need a lot of it for 4th of July? Just pick up an extra bottle if you're doing some shopping. Pittsburgh looks nice there from Doherty's Pub. No rain at the moment coming your way, but there are some showers to the west that may impact the western part of our viewing area. We also have a little bit of rain right now moving closer to Tarboro, a rumble of thunder there, and just some sprinkles up in the triangle at this point. We'll see rain chances continue at about 30% during the early afternoon hours. We go up to 40% a bit later this evening. And then the weekend heat and humidity returns 96 tomorrow, 94 Sunday. Tomorrow is a WRAL weather alert day, and that's due to the storm threat. And that will primarily come during the afternoon and evening hours. Any storms that develop could have damaging wind gusts. A reminder, a 50% chance of rain and storms, especially during the summer months, means that a About half of our viewing area is going to see rain and storms, while the other half will be missed by some of those summertime storms tomorrow. That's the kind of pattern that we'll be in for the weekend. And, you know, we're not in the bull's eye for the rainfall, like some areas to our west are. However, at least the map has some rain on it. You know, there was a time period where we were kind of in a hole of rain like this just a month or two ago. So at least we've got something to show in terms of rainfall potential. Today, the storms are going to be spotty. Very typical summertime storms. They pop up. They fade. And as we get into tomorrow and Sunday, there will be a bit more organization and juice for those storms to strengthen because the front itself will be moving in from the north. Tomorrow morning, likely to be pretty dry. just a 20% chance for rain in the morning, but not a 0% chance. Once we get to lunchtime, still that 20% chance. But the chance for storms goes up during the afternoon and will last through dinner time tomorrow night. After dinner time and especially after sunset, the storms begin to fade. There could still be a little rain left, but it would be less likely that anything would be severe. And with this front still hanging out on Sunday, we will see additional scattered storms move through the area on Sunday. Over the next seven days, the heat only next week. We'll see a brief dip in temperatures early in the week. And then major, major heat is coming back just in time for 4th of July weekend plans. This is going to be a dangerous heat for us. Make sure that you are prepared for it before you have head outside with your families next weekend. Try to find a pool, a splash pad, a beach. Get in the water and keep your body temperature down because people are going to be spending a lot of time outside in that 100 degree heat.

Get in the water and make sure you're drinking water. Stay hydrated, folks. All right, we're talking about ship and dip. International World Cup fans are head over heels for an American condiment, a special deal that lets them send it home at a fraction of the cost. Well, as you wrap things up, here's a look at a few of the headlines that were following today. A man charged with killing his wife at a business in Smithfield is due in court today. Sky Five was above the AAF Flanders facility yesterday where police say that Jesus Bermudez murdered Lorena Paz. We reached out to both the company and investigators for the couple's connection to this plant and a possible motive. Bermudez is being held without bond. And the NHL draft, it begins tonight, folks. And with it, Kenyaks are going to look for the future there. The Cains only have four picks. And WRL will be speaking with Cain's leadership today to get their insight on their offseason prep. We'll have live coverage during our evening news starting at four. And the 4th of July travel rush, it starts tomorrow. As a record, 72 million people are set to take a trip this holiday. And RDU is preparing for big crowds. AAA is predicting nearly 6 million people will fly. And if you're going to be driving, you're likely going to see some traffic there because AAA projects a record 61 million Americans will drive to their destinations between tomorrow and July 5th. So it turns out World Cup tourists are falling in love with America's ranch dressing. And now UPS is offering to help them send it home with a new ship and drip discount. Diff discount that is. Its website is offering a 20% coupon that is good through September. Ranch is so popular with tourists, the TSA is reminding them that larger bottles must go in checked bags. Kraft says it is working on a TSA compliant version of the famous dressing there. There are different types of ranches out there, folks. Make sure you pick the right one. Well, police near Houston went above and beyond to make a small rescue. Look at this. A baby alligator was trying to find its way to a nearby lake, but crashed a construction site and said, well, officers say that it kind of took a wrong turn and ended up in the work zone. Workers called 911. An officer arrived and found the confused baby gator and took it to a nearby body of water. Experts say alligators become more active as the weather warms up, and locals are urged to stay alert and not feed the gators. That's important. Okay, so let's get to our next pet the day, not an alligator, pinky promise. Meet Gavin. This one-year-old boy is fully grown at 48 pounds. Gavin is super friendly with a little worry on the side. He loves people, wants to be friends, but doesn't understand why he's at the shelter. Gavin has done great things with other dogs, and he has an adoption fee of about $120. This includes his neuter, microchip, vaccines, and other wellness care. You can contact the SPCA of Wake County if you would like to make him part of your family.

Well, we have plenty of other stories that we're following today. Of course, to bring you stories you will only see on WRL. But just a reminder, tomorrow is a WRL weather alert day. You saw Kat Campbell talk about the severe risk. This is why I want to make sure that you have the WRL weather app downloaded, but also turn on notifications. And that way you can be updated the moment things start to pick up. NBC News Daily is next on WRL with your next local news update in about 30 minutes. And of course, for breaking news updates for any time, you can use our WRL News app. Hope you have a blessed day today. Have a great weekend. Keep watching WRL News over the Air Channel 34 and Spectrum Channel 1257.