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Michelle Mackonochie - familiar to WRAL viewers after five years as part of the morning news team - will anchor the 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. newscasts with Dan Haggerty, and the 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts with Gerald Owens. 

WRAL welcomes Michelle Mackonochie to evening newscasts beginning Jan. 5

Michelle Mackonochie

What it really means to be an organ and bone marrow donor

Stay up to date with WRAL’s Shop Local Raleigh news and reporting coverage

Shop Local Raleigh News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

Shop Local Raleigh Coverage

A Facebook comment in an online networking group is causing a stir among some of Raleigh's small business owners. 

New in the last two hours, a Raleigh nonprofit says it is addressing a Facebook comment made by the executive director of the organization. This is the comment. It starts with, quote, There is no such thing as a transgender son. And it's causing a stir among some Raleigh small business owners supported by the nonprofit shop local Raleigh. WREL's Carly Haynes is live in downtown Raleigh. Uh, Carly, this comment was initially anonymous. Until the group's administrators revealed who wrote it that there are a lot of events that happened right here on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, and they're run most often by the same organization. It's called Shop Local rally, and now it's executive director is getting attention not for the events here but for a comment she made on social media. A post in a networking Facebook group. A mom seeking advice for her transgenderson. Under it, an anonymous comment that reads, There is no such thing as a transgenderson. Blessing to you. But the sooner you help your son realize this, the more successful he, maybe a she, will be. Some group members called the comments unacceptable and unnecessary, and 100% wrong. You will not be. Able to hide behind anonymous commenting or posts, um, that we feel you are a danger to the community. As a group administrator, Gigi Stevenson saw who wrote the comment. Jennifer Martin, the executive director of Shop Local Raleigh, a nonprofit that supports local businesses and runs events like Broogaloo and the Raleigh Christmas parade. This is something that the community deserves to know. Um, they're spending money with this, um, organization. A comment online that's reached brick and mortar. It was just very unnecessary and cruel. Be like Missy owner Erica Vogel said she's pulling back her membership with shop local Raleigh. The fact that they're willing to take the money, but then not also represent that portion of our community, uh, just rings a little icky to me. Some LGBTQ plus. Businesses are doing the same on social media. The night market company said after 7 years of support, it will no longer renew its membership with Shop Local or participate in its events. We reached out to Jennifer Martin by phone and by email. She didn't immediately respond, but in an email to Vogel, Martin did not admit or deny she wrote the comment and added she works hard to be welcoming and supportive of all small businesses. And several of the board members of the greater Raleigh Merchants Association did not offer a comment when we reach out to them today though they did post a statement online. It read in part the board is currently addressing the matter. The comment made does not reflect those of the organization shop local rally is dedicated to a culture of diversity, inclusion and respect. Carly WL news.

Social media post prompts local business owners to cut ties with Shop Local Raleigh

 Several independent businesses in downtown Raleigh on Monday kicked off a special retail week designed to help bring more sales to small businesses.


NOON TO 6 EVERY SINGLE DAY. NOW LET'S TAKE A LIVE LOOK IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH, WHERE THERE ARE SEVERAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES THAT JUST KICKED OFF RETAIL WEEK, BRINGING SOME BIG SALES TO SMALL BUSINESSES. THEY HAVE STRUGGLED NATIONWIDE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. WRAL'S GERALD OWENS SHOWS US HOW RETAIL WEEK COULD HELP THE BUSINESSES IN OUR AREA. >> DOWNTOWN RALEIGH IS ALWAYS BUZZING EVEN AND JOE, ISN'T THAT SMOOTH? JOE? THE LAZY AND JOE IS THE NAMESAKE OF THE DOG AND JOE. IT OPENED 4 YEARS AGO BY OWNER JAMIE RADAR RADAR SAYS IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE GETTING NEW VISITORS TO DISCOVER DOWNTOWN RALEIGH'S INDEPENDENT SHOPS AND BUSINESSES. THERE'S A LOT OF BAD PERCEPTIONS OF WHAT'S GOING ON DOWNTOWN, BUT IT'S BEEN GREAT AND PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO GET OUT MORE AND REALIZE THAT THERE'S NOTHING TO BE WORRIED OUR SHOP IS ALL HOUSE PLANTS ALL THE TIME. MANY HAVANA GRACES COVER LINE PLANTS END UP IN THE WINDOW SILLS OF SURROUNDING OFFICE BUILDINGS AND HOMES OR BUSINESS GREW AND GREW. I FEEL LIKE WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN A GOOD PLACE. >> SO WE MOVED OUT A CITY MARKET BY CHOICE. WE JUST NEEDED MORE SPACE. SHE SAYS INDEPENDENT SHOP OWNERS KNOW EACH OTHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND HARD TIMES. SO WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND TALKING TO THOSE POWERS THAT BE ON HOW WE CAN ALL PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER TO, AS YOU KNOW, RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL SHIPS MONTH. JOE SAYS THE BAD NEWS TRAVELS FASTER THAN THE POSITIVE NEWS THAT HE SEES. WE LOST 9 BUSINESSES I THINK HAS AND LAST YEAR SOMETHING WE GAINED A 19 MONTH. JOE SAYS IT'S THE COMBINATION OF ALL OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH AS INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES WORKING TOGETHER AND SHARING THE WEALTH. >> SO, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOP HERE, YOU'RE NOT SENDING YOUR MONEY OFF TO THESE CORPORATIONS THAT ARE IT OUT OF THE CITY. >> YOU'RE SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. >> GERALD OWENS, WRAL NEWS. SO WE DO PRIME DAY IS HAPPENING THIS LET'S SUPPORT OUR INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN RALEIGH, INDEPENDENT SHOPS.

Downtown Raleigh businesses hope you will stop by during Retail Week

In 2022, the annual celebration was marred by an unexpected tragedy when an out-of-control pickup truck plowed into a dance troupe of young girls, killing 11-year-old Hailey Brooks.

Death of child dancer mars history & celebration of Raleigh's annual Christmas parade

Raleigh police investigate as an 11-year-old girl died after getting hit Saturday by a pickup truck at the Raleigh Christmas Parade. Photo courtesy of Delmas Cooper.

Today is Black Friday - and typically, that means long lines and big crowds as people rush to discover great deals on holiday purchases.

Calm Black Friday: What happened to the long lines, big crowds? 

Has Black Friday slowed down?

There's no better time to visit your local shops than National Small Business Week (NSBW), which runs through May 7! From tasty treats to unbeatable vintage finds, you're sure to fall in love with locals. 

Celebrate National Small Business Week: Snack, sip and shop these small businesses in the Triangle

The Parlour in Durham

While local businesses often rely on Small Business Saturday as the 'shop local' alternative to Black Friday, this year's event might be the most important one yet.

TRAFFIC. TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE. DOORS OPEN AT 9:00 A.M. AND IT GOES THROUGH SUNDAY. TOMORROW A SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, AND MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT EVER. SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND EMPLOYEES CONTINUE TO FEEL THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC. 60% OF VIRUS RELATED SMALL BUSINESS CLOSURES BECAME PERMANENT, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS. WRAL MADE IT EASY TO SHOP AT LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES. GO TO OUR WEBSITE WRAL.COM , TO FIND A GIFT GUIDE FEATURING

Shop local: This Small Business Saturday is critical for local businesses 

Waldo, the bespectacled star of those famous search-and-find books, will be hiding out at local shops across Raleigh and Wake County from July 1 to July 29.

