www.youtube.com – WRAL – 2025-03-06 03:40:39

SUMMARY: Two men, Elue Martin Merer and Austin Lee Cole, were arrested and charged with kidnapping and human trafficking of a 15-year-old girl from Harnett County. Warrants revealed that the teen arranged the meeting via Instagram, where Cole instructed her to delete messages. Using flock cameras, investigators tracked the car to find the girl in fair condition. Experts highlight the increasing danger of social media for teens and the importance of parents monitoring online activities. The men are being held on a $5 million bond, with a court appearance scheduled for March 11th.

A teenage girl who was the subject of one of two Amber Alerts last week made plans on Instagram to meet one of the suspects. Suspects in this case and another out of Siler City face kidnapping and human trafficking charges. WRAL’s Willie Daniely talked to the Executive Director of the Child Advocacy Center about how parents can protect their kids.

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ncnewsline.com – Ahmed Jallow – 2025-03-05 09:01:00

SUMMARY: The North Carolina Senate passed a bipartisan bill, SB 55, with a vote of 41-1, mandating public schools to restrict student use of “wireless communication devices” during instructional time. The bill bans the use and display of devices like cell phones, tablets, and laptops in class, aiming to reduce distractions, cheating, and bullying. Senator Joyce Waddell proposed amendments to allow device use during non-instructional times, but these were tabled. The bill, similar to House Bill 87, requires school districts to implement new policies by the 2025-2026 academic year if passed by the House. Key sponsors include GOP Senators Michael Lee, Jim Burgin, and Lisa Barnes.

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www.youtube.com – WRAL – 2025-03-05 08:31:17

SUMMARY: A tornado watch is in effect for the entire viewing area until 1:00 PM, with severe thunderstorm warnings across the Triad indicating potential wind damage of 60-70 mph. A tornado warning near Greensboro is imminent, expected to arrive around 10:00 AM. Light rain is currently falling, but the severe storms are approaching quickly. Residents should prepare for potentially dangerous conditions. Meanwhile, Duke Energy is ready to respond to possible power outages, utilizing advanced self-healing technology to minimize impacts. This system has significantly improved outage response times, aiding over a quarter of a million customer outages in the past year.

WRAL News has team coverage all day Wednesday as severe storms move across the state on this Weather Alert Day.

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