Professional Experience:

I have been a national TV journalist for more than a decade, spending most of that time with the NBC News Channel Specials Unit, where I specialized in enterprise reporting on tech, consumer, feature, medical and environmental stories for nationwide distribution to NBC affiliate stations. I have also been a national correspondent for NBC News, MSNBC and NBC News Now providing live coverage in the field at breaking news events.

RIAS German Exchange Fellow, RTDNA Artificial Intelligence Fellow, 2x NBC GEM award winner, Documentary Shortlist 16th Annual Webby Awards, Online News Association Award Finalist, SXSW Interactive Award Finalist 2012, ABC & Walt Disney Scholarship winner

In an age of divisive rhetoric, I think it’s important to remember that we have far more in common than that which divides us.

UNC-Chapel Hill – Hussman School of Media and Journalism

Hobbies, Interests, Community Involvement:

I love being active and getting outdoors, including surfing, dirtbiking, snowboarding, sailing, paddleboarding, wake surfing and free diving. I love roller skating and spent the better part of a decade as a jammer and captain for a nationally competing roller derby team (my derby name was “Total Lizaster!”)

Outside of the chaos of the news world, I love to find calm as a certified yoga teacher and meditation instructor.

My wonderful husband, Jason Arthurs, is a documentary filmmaker and award-winning photographer who has been an incredible driving force behind my growth in the visual medium over the years. We both have an unhealthy obsession with our elder pug, Ruckus.

Everything Everywhere All at Once, True Romance, Death Proof, Amelie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Best in Show, This is Spinal Tap, Donnie Darko, Little Miss Sunshine, Waking Life, Get Out

Likes Best About North Carolina:

I once visited the highlands of Scotland and thought, “Man, this looks a lot like North Carolina!” My family owns a Christmas tree farm in Banner Elk, the western mountains of the state, and I think it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. I also love having access to beaches, lakes and city life … all in one state!

Most Memorable Assignments:

I am grateful to have been a witness to some of the most important news events of my lifetime, from the historic presidential elections of Barack Obama and Donald Trump to the tragic mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Highland Park, Ill.

I covered two unprecedented Olympic Games in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic – the Summer Games in Tokyo and Winter Olympics in Beijing.

I’ve reported from catastrophic hurricanes including Ida and Harvey, racial justice and women’s reproductive rights protests, trials including the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse, and fun events such as Mardi Gras and Super Bowl LII, when the Eagles took down the Patriots (a real zinger for Tom Brady fans).

I’ll never forget doing live shots at the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Times Square, when I was just a few feet from Post Malone, ringing in 2020 and thinking, “This is going to be the best year ever!”

Liz McLaughlin

Liz McLaughlin, WRAL climate reporter

Black History Month kicks off in a few days. WRAL News looks at a new art exhibition in Raleigh meant to amplify lost voices. 

OFFICIALS EXPECT THIS TO BE A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BOOST FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY. >> AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH APPROACHES A MAJOR ART EXHIBITION AT THE DOROTHY DIX PARK CHAPEL IS SPOTLIGHTING ARTISTS OF COLOR FROM ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA AND THE SHOW BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN 40 ARTISTS USING MUSIC AND VISUAL ART TO TELL STORIES OF IDENTITY LEADERSHIP AND SELF EXPRESSION WRAL'S LIZ MCLAUGHLIN HAS A PREVIEW. >> INSIDE THE CHAPEL LIKE TAKES PART AND MUSICIANS ARE PREPARING TO START USING MUSIC AS A FORM OF EXPRESSION. THE WAY THAT I CAN EXPRESS MYSELF WITHOUT ANGER OR WITHOUT SCREAMING OR OTHER SEVERE INJURIES, LET EVERYTHING OUT WHEN I'M PLAYING. AND IT'S JUST SO BEAUTIFUL. THE EXHIBITION FEATURES STUDENTS ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS CREATING SPACE FOR EMERGING VOICES AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH APPROACHING ITS. I'M EXCITED. I'M REALLY EXCITED. VISUAL ARTISTS SAY THEIR WORK REFLECTS PERSONAL STORIES AND BROADER CULTURAL EXPERIENCES. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A REALLY GOOD SPACE FOR ME, MYSELF AND OTHER ARTISTS OF COLOR TO JUST >> EXPRESSED. THERE'S ALL KIND OF A SHOW. BEST ORGANIZERS SAY CENTERING ARTISTS OF COLOR IS INTENTIONAL AND ESSENTIAL. IMPORTANT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND SPACES WHERE THEY'RE MICROMANAGE AND ARE NOT ABLE TO SHARE THERE EXPERIENCE IN THIS STORY'S OTHER ARTISTS, USE THEIR WORK TO EXPLORE LEADERSHIP AND HOW IT SHOWS UP IN EVERYDAY LIVES. THE I ALWAYS PUT FORTH IS A CONCEPT THAT CALLED LEADERSHIP. WE IMAGINED. >> SO WE HAD A GREAT TIME WHERE LEADERSHIP IS NEEDED. YOU KNOW, MEANING THERE IS NO SAYS THE POSITIVE PAST, BUT ALSO SEEING THE LEADER INSIDE YOURSELF TOGETHER THE EXHIBITION ISN'T JUST ABOUT CELEBRATION. >> IT'S ABOUT VISIBILITY VOICE AND CREATING SPACE FOR STORIES THAT CONTINUE SHAPING HISTORY. SO THIS MCLAUGHLIN, WRAL NEWS, THE OPENING RECEPTION IS SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW. IF IT DOESN'T GET MOVED BECAUSE OF WEATHER. EXPECT LIVE

Sydney Ross

Highlighting history: Art exhibit highlights Black artists at Dorthea Dix Park 

Art exhibit highlights Black artists at Dorthea Dix Park 

Climate scientists say winter weather doesn't cancel out climate change. Winter temperatures are around four degrees warmer on average in the Triangle than they were in the 1970s.

JUST BEING SUPER CAREFUL WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT WE GOT OVER THE WEEKEND. WILL SNOW AND ICE HIT PARTS OF NORTH CAROLINA THIS WEEKEND AND IT REIGNITED A FAMILIAR DEBATE. >> ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE. SOME PEOPLE POINT TO THE WIDESPREAD COLD AS A WAY TO DISCREDIT ITS GLOBAL WARMING. THE BUREAU CLIMATE CHANGE REPORTED LIZ MCLOUGHLIN BREAKS DOWN THAT CLAIM AND WHAT THE DATA ACTUALLY SHOW US. >> THIS POST FROM PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ON FRIDAY. SPREAD QUICKLY ONLINE. HE CALLED THE STORM A RECORD COLD WAVE ASKING WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING. I SPOKE WITH LOCAL SCIENTISTS ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WEATHER WE FEEL AND THE CLIMATE TRENDS OVER TIME, SLEET, ICE, BITTER COLD. IT MAY FEEL LIKE A CONTRADICTION, BUT CLIMATE SCIENTISTS SAY WINTER WEATHER DOESN'T CANCEL OUT CLIMATE CHANGE. WHETHER IS WHAT HAPPENS TODAY. >> PRIVATE IS WHAT WE EXPECT OVER DECADES THIS WEEKEND STORM WAS THE FIRST ACCUMULATING SNOW EVENT OF THE SEASON FOR MUCH OF THE STATE. AND IT ARRIVED LATE NEAR THE END OF JANUARY. THOSE WINTER TEMPERATURES HAVE REALLY BEEN THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE IN TERMS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS EFFECTS IN NORTH CAROLINA. >> IF YOU GO BACK 15 OR 20 YEARS AGO, THAT WAS THE FIRST REAL CHANGE THAT WE STARTED TO NOTICE AND SEE THINGS ARE DIFFERENT THAN THEY WERE IN THE PAST. >> 4 DECADES AGO, RALLY AVERAGE MORE THAN 8 INCHES OF SNOW YEAR. NOW THAT 30 YEAR AVERAGE IS CLOSER TO 5 WINTER TEMPERATURES IN THE TRIANGLE ARE MORE THAN 4 DEGREES WARMER THAN IN THE 1970'S WARMER NIGHTS MEAN FEWER SNOW EVENTS. MORE MIXED MESS IN THE FORECAST THAT CAN MAKE SOME WINTER STORMS MORE DANGEROUS. A WARMER ATMOSPHERE HOLDS MORE MOISTURE SOMETIMES CAUSING HEAVIER PRECIPITATION, EVEN DURING COLD SNAPS. SO SCIENTISTS SAY COLD WEATHER DOESN'T DISPROVE CLIMATE CHANGE. IT FITS INTO A BIGGER PATTERN. WINTERS ARE WARMING OVERALL. SNOW IS BECOMING LESS FREQUENT AND STORMS ARE GETTING MORE COMPLICATED. BOTTOM LINE, A COLD SNAP AND A WARMING CLIMATE CAN BOTH BE TRUE. AT THE SAME TIME >> AND THOSE COLD SNAPS IN THE SOUTHEAST CAN ACTUALLY BE LINKED TO UNUSUAL WARMING IN THE ARCTIC IN THE ARCTIC HEATS UP, FOOD CAN WEAKEN THE POLAR

Ryan Bisesi

Cold snap reignites global warming debate

Clearing out snow and sleet

The threat of power outages across our area is something state officials have encouraged families to prepare for. WRAL News shows why outages are lasting longer, and what's happening behind the scenes.

WEEKEND AHEAD. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE STORM. REALLY GET LEE WRAL NEWS, RALEIGH, THANK YOU TO WILLIE. SO IN ADDITION TO THE POWER OUTAGES IN THE DANGEROUS ROADS, CREWS ARE ALSO EXPECTING THE ICE TO CAUSE SOME TREES TO FALL WRAL. SEAN GALLAGHER IS LIVE IN RALEIGH'S UNIVERSITY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD IS SEAN. WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR CREWS TO DEAL WITH DOWNED TREES? >> YEAH, THERE STAGING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY IN A WAIT AND SEE WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED APPROACH BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE I'M TALKING TO SAY, THIS ISN'T A MATTER OF IF, BUT WHEN WHEN IT COMES TO THESE TREES AND ALSO TRULY WHERE I MEAN, WE ARE THE CITY OF OAKS. SO THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF TREES ALL ACROSS THE CITY. AND OFFICIALS TELL ME THEY'RE EXPECTING A HIGHER NUMBER THAN USUAL BREAKING BECAUSE OF THE STORM. >> ROB, THOSE LEAST PLANS FOR ITS BIGGEST POPULAR THE TO SPREAD AROUND SOME OF THE SENSITIVE PLANTS, PROTECTING THEM FROM THE COLD AHEAD. HIS IS GOAL, BUT THE TREES ARE ANOTHER STORY FOR THESE TREES. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT THEM FROM FALLING AT THIS POINT? NO, NOTHING AT ALL. I MEAN, HOPING TO BREAK THE FORECAST THIS WEEKEND IS GIVING HIM NIGHTMARES OF 2002, BUT IT WAS A. >> A HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE BEFORE WHERE HE SAYS THEY LOST POWER FOR 10 DAYS DURING THE ICE STORM. A NIGHTMARE HE FEARS IS RECURRING WHEN YOU'RE HEARING, YOU KNOW, THE PROSPECT OF HALF INCH OF ICE OR MORE, WHAT'S GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND? IT'S THE WORST IN BEFORE COUNTRIES THAT AREN'T DOING WELL HAVE WEAKER ATTACHMENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO FAIL ME SORT OF SCENARIOS. RALLIES, URBAN FORESTER, ZACH MANNER KNOWS HIS CREWS WILL HAVE THEIR HANDS FULL THIS WEEKEND WITH THE GOAL TO KEEP THE ROADS CLEAR WHERE BIG BRANCHES FALL. SO POLICE FIRE EMERGENCY SERVICES TO GET THROUGH AND HIS BEST ADVICE FOR RESIDENTS DON'T PARK UNDER THE TREES, SORT OF ADJUST THINGS AROUND YOUR HOUSE. JUST IN CASE THERE IS A FAILURE. CAN YOU STILL GET OUT? CAN YOU GET ACCESS? MOSLEY'S EYES WILL REMAIN SKYWARD TO WAIT ON THE TOP OF THAT CROWN BECAUSE WHAT'S UP? THEY VERY LIKELY COME DOWN. BUT IT'S JUST >> PREPARES. YOU CAN AND GET READY TO HUNKER DOWN AND HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS SAY. >> AND HELPING YOUR NEIGHBORS OUT IS EXACTLY WHAT PROBABLY POLICE ARE SUGGESTING AS WELL THAT IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS, GET TO KNOW THEM NOW GET FRIENDLY, GET THEIR PHONE NUMBERS CAUSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW DAYS. YOU MAY NEED THEM OR VICE VERSA. THEY MIGHT COME TO YOU LOOKING FOR HELP AS WELL. A RALEIGH, SHAUN GALLAGHER, WRAL NEWS. >> ALL RIGHT, JON. BRIAN SHRADER HERE IN THE WRAL LIVE CENTER, AN ALL-NEW. WE'VE LEARNED THAT NASH COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY. THEY ARE JOINING A GROWING LIST OF SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY CANCELED CLASSES FOR MONDAY. THAT INCLUDES WAKE COUNTY SCHOOLS. THEY ANNOUNCED IN THE 5 O'CLOCK HOUR THAT THEY WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY. A TEACHER WORK DAY, THOUGH WAKE TECH WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY. ALSO, CLASSES CANCELED AT NC STATE UNIVERSITY AND AT UNC CHAPEL HILL. RYAN, THANK YOU. YOU CAN COUNT ON WRAL FOR LIVE TEAM COVERAGE OF THIS STORM UNTIL THE IMPACT MOVE OUT. WE'VE GOT NORTH CAROLINA'S MOST EXPERIENCED TEAM OF METEOROLOGISTS DEDICATED TO KEEPING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE. PLUS, WE'VE GOT CREWS ALL ACROSS OUR AREA MONITORING ROAD CONDITIONS. >> AND POWER OUTAGES ALSO STAY CONNECTED TO WRAL'S MINUTE BY MINUTE. UPDATES FOR YOU. EVEN IF YOU LOSE POWER, YOU CAN WATCH US ON TV. >> ALSO ONLINE MONITOR OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AND DOWNLOAD THE WRAL NEWS APP. MAKE SURE TO HAVE BREAKING NEWS AND WEATHER ALERTS TURNED ON THAT WHERE YOU CAN GET THOSE IMPORTANT ALERTS STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE. SO HOW READY IS OUR POWER GRID AS WE ANTICIPATE OUTAGES WITH THIS ICE STORM? WE'RE ASKING WHY THEY'RE LASTING LONGER. MORE OFTEN. >> AND WHAT CREWS ARE DOING BEHIND THE SCENES TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON. THAT'S NEXT. >> AND HERE IN THE WRAL LIVE CENTER FOR LISTENERS ON MIX. 1.5, THE MONKS RIGHT NOW ARE IN A FAX. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS LIVE CAMERA AT 64 5.48. ON THAT EASTBOUND SIDE. YOU CAN SEE THOSE FLASHING LIGHTS. THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE HEADING DOWN TO THAT INTERSECTION WITH LAURA DUNCAN WROTE SOME PRETTY BIG DELAY SHOWING UP ON OUR TRAFFIC SENSORS THERE WITH BACKUPS ON 64 EASTBOUND GETTING AROUND THE WAKE CHATHAM COUNTY LINE AND ALSO SOME HEAVY WESTBOUND DELAYS LEAVING APEX HEADING BACK TOWARD 5, 4, WELL, BRIAN, WE HAD A MILD DAY. 51 THE HIGH AT RDU AND FAYETTEVILLE AND HERE COMES THE BEGINNING OF THE ARCTIC AIR. >> THAT 51 WE HAD TODAY, WE MAY NOT SEE AGAIN FOR WEEKS. COLD AIR COULD BE COMING UP. IT'S IN THE FORECAST. >> TONIGHT, THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS CANCELED IN STORE SHELVES EMPTY AS THE COUNTRY BRACES FOR A LIFE THREATENING WINTER STORM. AND FOR THE MOVIE INTO THE MOST WANTED LIST. THE MAN ACCUSED OF RUNNING A MASSIVE CRIMINAL DRUG RING NOW IN CUSTODY TONIGHT ON NIGHTLY NEWS. >> ROSS 70 PLUS 20% TO $1500 U.S. TONIGHT, 70 PLUS 20%. THAT'S PRETTY TO LIVING ROOM DINING ROOM THAT SEATS AND TAKE A STAND AND HURRY HOME. >> WHEN WINTER WEATHER IS ON THE WAY, COUNT ON WRAL NEWS. YOUR THE WINTER STORM RIGHT NOW. MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SLEET AROUND WAKE COUNTY USING THE ONLY DUAL POLL RADAR IN WAKE COUNTY'S LIKELY AT THE ONSET GOING TO BE A MIX. OUR EXCLUSIVE HIRE AS FORECAST MODEL LOOKS FURTHER AHEAD THAN ANYONE ELSE GIVING YOU 4 FULL DAYS OF THE MOST ADVANCED WINTER FORECAST. WE'RE REALLY SEEING A LOT OF TEAMS HERE JUST IN THE LAST 15 MINUTES. WRAL NEWS IS WINTER WEATHER COVERAGE YOU CAN COUNT ON. >> EVER IMAGINED GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A BMW AND FEELING THE POWER PRECISION AND LUXURY FOR YOURSELF EVER IMAGINE. AND EASY CAR. MY EXPERIENCE WITH A KNOWLEDGEABLE SALES PERSON AND REIMAGINED GREAT SERVICE AFTER THE SALE. TURN YOUR IMAGINATION INTO REALITY AT BMW OF RALEIGH. >> DISCOVER THE ULTIMATE LINEUP OF NEW BMW. MY VISIT US TODAY. WE'RE START YOUR JOURNEY ONLINE AT THE END OF THE RALLY DOT COM. THAT'S EASIER HERE. IT WAS JUST ANOTHER NIGHT. JUST ANOTHER RIDE HOME WHEN CERTAIN EVERYTHING CHANGED. WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES. >> WE ANSWERED THE CALL ME. BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT JUST CLIENT. NEW FOR HIM. >> WE FIGHT FOR YOUR FUTURE AND STAND BY YOU WHEN IT MATTERS. MOST COLI KELLUM LAW FOR AT 1, 800 ACCIDENT. WE WILL BE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY. >> A BLIND SPOT THAT'S NEVER OUT OF SIGHT. THE HYUNDAI, TUCSON GET 0, 9%, APR 4,000 VOTERS PASSED ON TO SOMETHING OR THESE FROM ONLY 2.79 A MONTH. VISIT YOUR LOCAL 100 DEALER TODAY. >> YOU'VE SEEN THEIR DOGS IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AND MEDIA AROUND THE WORLD. BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT ALL STAR DOG TRAINING CAN TRAIN YOUR DOG TO TRAIN THOUSANDS OF DOGS AND WON NUMEROUS AWARDS SINCE 2016. TURN YOUR DOG INTO AN MVP AND VISIT ALL-STAR DOG TRAINING DOT COM. CHEVY IS MORE THAN JUST A NAME. YOU CAN TRUST. IT'S EVERYTHING YOU WANT. FOR LESS THAN YOU EXPECT. IT PULLS ITS WAY. CONFIDENCE YOU CAN BE. ALL THE CAPABILITY YOU NEED. AND THE QUICK CHARGE. THE KEY TO YOU. >> AND WE WELCOME YOU BACK HERE TO WRAL NEWS. THAT IS A GORGEOUS SIGHT, WHICH THOSE SKIES WILL REMAIN CLEAR LIKE THAT. BUT WE KNOW WHAT HE'S AT. WHAT IS HEADED OUR WAY. WE'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED AS THIS ICE STORM APPROACHES. YOU CAN WATCH WRAL NEWS ON SPECTRUM AND THE WRAL APP ON YOUR TV OR STREAMING DEVICE. SO WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE THREAT OF POWER OUTAGES ACROSS OUR AREA. IT'S SOMETHING STATE OFFICIALS HAVE ENCOURAGED FAMILIES TO PREPARE FOR. >> WRAL, CLIMATE CHANGE REPORTER LIZ MCLAUGHLIN SHOWS US WHY OUTAGES ARE LASTING LONGER AND WHAT'S HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES. >> MOST PEOPLE NEVER SEE WHAT'S INSIDE A TRANSFORMER. BUT THIS OIL IS WHAT HELPS KEEP THE POWER GRID ON AN INSULATED. AND WHAT'S IN THIS VILE MATTERS MORE THAN EVER STORMS BECOME MORE INTENSE. >> SO THIS IS OUR OIL LOVE STORY. >> AND A QUIET NIGHT IN THE TRIANGLE. TECHNICIANS ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON BY LOOKING FOR PROBLEMS BEFORE AN OUTAGE HAPPENS. THIS IS OUR BREAD AND BUTTER. TESS ZACH COLLINS WITH DOBLE ENGINEERING. TEST EQUIPMENT, OIL FOR UTILITIES NATIONWIDE. WE KIND OF LOOK FOR DEVELOPING FAULTS THAT ARE GOING ON INSIDE OF A TRANSFORMER. AND WE CAN TELL A LOT FROM THE OIL THAT MATTERS BECAUSE WHEN A TRANSFORMER FAILS DURING A MAJOR STORM RESTORATION CAN TAKE DAYS, NOT HOURS. SO THE TRANSFORMERS ARE CRITICAL TO THE WHOLE POWER GRID >> HAS THE POWER IS TRANSMITTED ACROSS LINES. THEY GO TO THE TRANSFORMERS AND THE TRANSFORMERS WILL STEP DOWN. THAT POWER AND DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF OUR HOUSES. >> DATA FROM THE U.S. ENERGY DEPARTMENT SHOWS THAT WEATHER CAUSES ABOUT 80% OF MAJOR POWER OUTAGES. THOSE OUTAGES HAVE DOUBLED OVER THE PAST DECADE AS AGING INFRASTRUCTURE FACES GROWING STRAIN FROM RISING ELECTRICITY DEMAND, INCLUDING FROM DATA CENTERS AND FROM EXTREME WEATHER. SO TYPICALLY WE HAVE SEEN SOME INCREASE IN THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF STORMS ON OUR SYSTEM IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. >> NORTH CAROLINA HAS EXPERIENCED MORE THAN 111 MAJOR WEATHER-RELATED OUTAGES SINCE 2000 AMONG THE HIGHEST TOTALS IN THE COUNTRY. AS THE TEMPERATURES INCREASE AND PEOPLE ARE PUTTING STRAIN ON THE POWER GRID. >> THAT IS PUTTING A LARGER STRAIN ON ALL THE ELECTRICAL ASSETS OUT THERE. >> IS CLIMATE CHANGE DRIVES MORE EXTREME WEATHER EXPERTS SAY PREVENTING LONG OUTAGES DEPENDS ON HOW QUICKLY THE POWER GRID CAN ADAPT TO NEW

Winter weather preparations: Inside the power grid before outages hit

Winter Weather Electricity

After decades of PFAS contamination, North Carolina's attorney general is challenging an EPA proposal to narrow reporting requirements for toxic "forever chemicals."

THE FRESH. >> NORTH CAROLINA LEADERS ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST PROPOSED FEDERAL CHANGES THAT COULD LIMIT WHAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS ABOUT TOXIC FOREVER CHEMICALS IN EVERYDAY PRODUCTS FOR CHEMICALS. ALSO KNOWN AS PFAS BEEN LINKED TO HEALTH ISSUES LIKE DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS AND CANCER. LIZ MCLAUGHLIN EXPLAINS THE PROPOSED EPA CHANGES AND WHAT'S AT STAKE. >> THE RULE AT THE CENTER OF THIS FIGHT WAS DESIGNED TO TELL REGULATORS AND THE PUBLIC WHAT KINDS OF PFAS COMPANIES ARE USING. AND IN WHAT AMOUNTS. BUT STATE OFFICIALS SAY THE EPA HAS PROPOSED CHANGES COULD EXEMPT NEARLY ALL BUSINESSES FROM REPORTING JUST AS THAT DATA WAS ABOUT TO BECOME PUBLIC. >> NORTH CAROLINA HAS LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIDDEN PFAS POLLUTION FOR DECADES AND STATE REPORTS SHOW THE CHEMICALS ARE NOW PRESENT IN MORE THAN 300 DRINKING WATER SYSTEM STATEWIDE. >> WE KNOW ALL TOO WELL. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THESE CHEMICALS ARE NOT DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC NORTH CAROLINA ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF JACKSON IS PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE EPA IS PROPOSAL. >> TO LOOSEN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR BUSINESSES THAT MAKE OR USE PFAS. EPA OFFICIALS SAY THE CHANGES WOULD MAKE THE OR PRACTICAL FOR COMPANIES TO FOLLOW. >> THIS IS NOT REDUCING ANY BURDEN ON BUSINESSES. BUSINESSES ALREADY HAVE THIS INFORMATION. THEY KNOW WHAT CHEMICALS ARE GOING INTO THE PRODUCTS. ALL THIS RULE SAYS HE'S YOU HAVE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC. EMILY DONOVAN BECAME AN ADVOCATE FOR CLEAN WATER AFTER SHE FOUND OUT CHEMICALS DUMPED FROM THE COME ORR'S FAYETTEVILLE WORKS. PLANT HAD CONTAMINATED HER FAMILY'S DRINKING WATER. >> SHE SAYS ACCESS TO DATA IS CRITICAL TO PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH, BEING ABLE TO TRACK WHERE THE PFAS IS COMING FROM IS ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS IN OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM EXPOSURES, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, A SIMILAR GAPS ALREADY EXIST AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND LAST WEEK, NORTH CAROLINA'S ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION APPROVED PFAS RULES THAT RELY ON COMPANIES TO MONITOR AND REPORT THEIR OWN POLLUTION WITHOUT ENFORCEABLE LIMITS. ON HOW MUCH PFAS THEY CAN DISCHARGE. WHAT LOOKS LIKE ACTION IS REALLY >> ALLOWING POLLUTERS TO POLICE THEMSELVES AND SO REGULATE. >> NORTH CAROLINA IS ALREADY SUING CHEMICAL COMPANIES OVER PFAS CONTAMINATION, STATE OFFICIALS SAY ACCESS TO REPORTING DATA COULD DETERMINE HOW FUTURE ENFORCEMENT AND CLEANUP EFFORTS MOVE FORWARD. THE EPA HAS NOT ANNOUNCED WHEN

Mark Bergin

NC leaders oppose EPA plan to narrow PFAS reporting

NC State study finds Wilmington residents carried high levels of little-known PFAS in their blood for years

Armani Fields, a former Rolesville Charter Academy employee, is facing more legal trouble as new accusations rise. He was initially arrested in November after deputies said they found him in a car with a 14-year-old. 

>> ONE SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS. THIS IS WRAL. >> NEW TONIGHT, A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE IN WAKE COUNTY FACES SOME NEW CHARGES AFTER OFFICERS ACCUSED HIM OF KIDNAPPING AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A STUDENT. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US HERE AT 5.30. I'M DAN HAGGERTY. AMARI FIELDS NOW FACES THESE NEW CHARGES. HE WAS INITIALLY ARRESTED IN NOVEMBER AFTER DEPUTIES SAY THEY FOUND HIM IN HIS CAR WITH A 14 YEAR-OLD HE APPEARED IN COURT ON THESE NEW CHARGES TODAY. WRAL'S LIZ MCLAUGHLIN WAS THEREFORE SHE JOINS US NOW LIVE. LIZ, GIVE US SOME DETAILS OF WHAT MORE WE LEARN. THE COURTS. >> AND GOOD EVENING. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THESE NEW CHARGES HAVE BEEN FORMALLY BROUGHT BEFORE A JUDGE IN TODAY'S HEARING FOCUSED ON BOND RELEASE CONDITIONS AND WHAT COMES NEXT? >> MY SPEAKING TO OUR MONEY FIELDS. >> A FORMER ROLESVILLE CHARTER ACADEMY EMPLOYEE ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A STUDENT WAS BACK BEFORE A JUDGE TODAY. THIS TIME ON 2 ADDITIONAL FELONY CHARGES. ARE YOU HERE ON A FIRST APPEARANCE FOR 2 CRIMES FIELD FACES CHARGES FOR FIRST-DEGREE KIDNAPPING AND A ACT WITH A STUDENT TIED TO AN ALLEGED INCIDENT ON NOVEMBER 6TH AT THE SCHOOL YOU'RE GOING TO HIRE OUT IF CONVICTED. THOSE 2 CHARGES ALONE COULD CARRY A SENTENCE OF MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN PRISON WILL SET A BOND ON THIS ON THESE 2 NEW CHARGES >> SO YOUR BODY IS GOING TO BE SET AT 150,000 SECURE FIELDS HAD PREVIOUSLY POSTED A $250,000 BOND ON EARLIER CHARGES TIED TO THE NOVEMBER 6TH INCIDENT. I'M GONNA PUT IN PLACE NO CONTACT THE ALLEGED VICTIM. THAT'S JUST WHAT IT MEANS THAT I'M PRETTY STRICT IN SEVERE THAT COP THAT HAS NOTHING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FIELDS ALSO FACES SEPARATE CHARGES FROM A CASE IN JOHNSTON COUNTY WHERE DEPUTIES SAY FIELDS WAS FOUND IN A CAR WITH A 14 YEAR OLD GIRL. AND LATER ACCUSED OF HAVING VIDEOS OF A MINOR ON HIS PHONE. >> AND IN THE WEEK OF THESE CHARGES, ROLESVILLE CHARTER ACADEMY CUT TIES WITH ITS BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE PROVIDER CALLED NEXT PREPPED. >> KIDS CITING CONCERNS ABOUT A CONNECTION TO FIELDS WITHIN THAT PROGRAM. NOW WE HAVE REACHED OUT MANY TIMES OVER MANY WEEKS TO BOTH THE SCHOOL AND TO NEXT PREP KIDS ABOUT THAT CONNECTION. BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO CLARIFY WHAT THAT WAS. FIELDS IS DUE BACK IN COURT LATER THIS MONTH ON JANUARY. 22ND LIVE IN RALEIGH

Curt Tremper

New charges in alleged student assault case against former Rolesville Charter Academy employee

New charges in alleged student assault case 

This year marks the 67th annual lighting of the WRAL-TV tower in Raleigh, an annual tradition that has grown to include celebrations with towers at American Tobacco Campus in Durham and Rocky Mount Mills.


WRAL Tower Lighting: WRAL lights the towers in Raleigh, Durham and Rocky Mount

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. 

Liz McLaughlin

Recent Work

Watch · 1:59Highlighting history: Art exhibit highlights Black artists at Dorthea Dix Park

Watch · 2:04Cold snap reignites global warming debate

Watch · 10:07Winter weather preparations: Inside the power grid before outages hit

Watch · 2:24NC leaders oppose EPA plan to narrow PFAS reporting

Watch · 2:20New charges in alleged student assault case against former Rolesville Charter Academy employee