Women's Clothing Boutique in Raleigh, NC

Raleigh, NC (December 13, 2024) - Emergency responders from Northern Wake Fire Department arrived at the scene of a motor vehicle collision (MVC) at the intersection of New Light Rd and Durham Rd on December 12, 2024, at approximately 2:25 p.m. The crash resulted in a variety of injuries, and first responders worked diligently to assist the injured victims. Emergency crews assessed and treated those involved in the accident, with some individuals requiring transportation to nearby hospitals for further care. Authorities have secured the area, and traffic delays are expected in the vicinity. An investigation into the cause of the collision is currently ongoing.

While details regarding the vehicles involved in the crash are still under investigation, the severity of the injuries has not yet been disclosed. Local authorities are gathering information to understand the factors that contributed to the crash. As of now, there are no updates regarding the status of the victims' conditions. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and use caution when traveling through this intersection.

Motor Vehicle Collision Injuries in North Carolina

Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) continue to be a significant issue across North Carolina, particularly in urban areas like Raleigh. As traffic congestion increases, the likelihood of accidents rises, especially in busy intersections such as New Light Rd & Durham Rd. The state's roadways, which accommodate high traffic volumes, are often at the center of incidents involving injuries.

Raleigh has seen an increase in MVC injuries in recent months, as rapid urban growth and road congestion have made navigating busy intersections more hazardous. Northern Wake Fire Department and other local emergency responders continue to focus on providing quick, effective care to accident victims. Despite ongoing efforts to improve road safety, drivers must remain cautious and attentive while on the road to help reduce the number of accidents.

With growing concerns about road safety, it is essential for residents and visitors in Raleigh to be mindful of traffic conditions and prioritize safe driving practices. Authorities are working diligently to investigate the New Light Rd & Durham Rd collision, and updates will be provided as soon as available.

If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident, seeking prompt medical attention is crucial. Local professionals can assist with recovery, and it is important to stay informed about the ongoing developments regarding road safety. Local Accident Reports remains committed to delivering the latest news and updates about accidents in the area, keeping the community informed and safe.

Young Raleigh man continues community program he started back when he was just 9 years old.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Logan Thomas proves that no matter one's age, a hero can be found. That's because, at age nine, Logan started what is now the nonprofit.

The now 13-year-old says the idea came to him while riding home from school with his dad in 2020, Logan said he noticed men, women and children without homes and they were camping out on the streets of Raleigh. He felt that he could do something to help and wanted to be a blessing to others. During the family discussion later that night, Logan decided that he wanted to start his 501(c) (3), nonprofit organization, Logan's P.A.L.S. which stands for Preparing, Assisting, Leading and Succeeding.

When ABC11 first featured Logan's story in 2020, a Raleigh judge said, "There's no rule that says you have to be an adult to be a role model. In his own right, Logan is a role model for all of us," Justice Michael Morgan of the North Carolina Supreme Court said. "Logan is a real treasure in our society. He may only be nine years old, but Logan is wise beyond his years and he already knows that he is a force for good."

Fast forward four years to 2024 and Logan's P.A.L.S. is still going strong and making a difference with the help of community groups and other agencies across Raleigh who open their doors to his community service.

Understanding what it means to "Borne the Battle, "acknowledging our Veterans, recognizing each battle, challenge, and ultimate sacrifice our Veterans have endured during and after their service, in December, on Wreaths Across America Day, Logan volunteers to lay wreaths on graves at the National Cemetery in Raleigh.

During the Christmas holiday season, Logan's goal is to help families who need warm winter coats and clothing. This year is no different. Logan's P.A.L.S. will be having its annual Christmas giveaway. The nonprofit will give away coats for all ages and all sizes. It is a FREE event, as long as supplies last.

Logan's P.A.L.S Christmas Coat Giveaway Event:

Making a Difference

Since its start, Logan's P.A.L.S. has provided the community with the following:

Logan lives by Matthew 25:36, "I was naked, and you clothed me." Logan has understood the assignment. Please consider following him in this life lesson where we help others in need.

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Braden Atkinson learned long ago reading a defense involves more than a quarterback’s vision. The Rolesville High senior listens, too.

“The defense does a lot of trash talking before the snap,” the third-year starter said. “I know they’ve been preaching all week in practice they can pressure me. I hear them saying I’m not fast enough.”

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder is quick to respond. But not with words.

“He has a quick release — the quickest I’ve seen,” Rolesville head coach Ranier Rackley said. “He knows what to throw and when to throw. He doesn’t force passes. He throws deep passes. He throws into tight windows.”

A quarterback, after all, can’t be sacked without the ball. Upon beating the pass rush with a completion, Atkinson enjoys seeing looks of frustration. That’s his satisfaction. And then he moves onto the next snap in the up-tempo offense.

Rolesville’s 49.1 points per game this season demonstrates a quarterback doesn’t have to be built like the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen. For his career, he’s on the verge of 9,000 yards passing: 594 of 864 passes (.687) for 8,918 yards with 114 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

But this week’s Rolesville opponent won’t be caught off-guard. Cardinal Gibbons and the Rams know each other well.

The Wake County powers meet at 7 p.m. Friday at the Crusaders’ stadium. Fifth-seeded Rolesville (13-1) travels to No. 2 Gibbons (12-1) to decide the NC High School Athletic Association 4A East Region title and a berth in the state final.

The showdown is a rematch of the third week of the season at Rolesville that the Rams won 30-27 in overtime.

Gibbons and Rolesville also tend to find each other in the playoffs. A year ago, Gibbons beat Rolesville 28-21 in the fourth round. In 2021, they accounted for the most recent all-Wake County 4A Region final. Gibbons beat Rolesville, 36-28, and claimed the 4A state title a week later.

The Crusaders’ current seniors were freshmen in 2021 and have been focused on returning Gibbons to the state championship.

Meanwhile, Rolesville was the 2020 4A state runner-up (the delayed season was played in the spring of 2021 due to the pandemic). The current seniors were eighth graders.

“We haven’t won a championship yet, but we feel we have the pieces,” Atkinson said. “We’re senior heavy. We have the experience.”

Rolesville’s seniors include fourth year starting center Gavin Marks (6-2, 285). Both Atkinson and Marks are committed to Mercer University, a Football Championship Subdivision school in Macon, Georgia.

“I liked everything I saw about the school and my parents liked everything they saw,” Atkinson said. “It’ll be fun that my center is going there, too.”

Atkinson’s quarterback maturation includes growth from adapting to a new group of receivers each season.

As a sophomore in 2022, he had a pair of Division I recruits playing their senior seasons — Noah Rogers (N.C. State by way of Ohio State) and Tamarcus Cooley (N.C. State by way of Maryland). The Rams’ balanced offensive scheme totaled 2,957 yards rushing and 2,424 passing. Atkinson, who was limited to 10 games by an injury, finished 122 of 209 (54.1 percent) for 1,846 yards and 22 touchdowns.

But for Atkinson’s junior season, Rackley brought in a new offensive coordinator Mike Holderman with a pass-oriented scheme. When a play is signaled in from the sideline, Atkinson says he has “the freedom to flip the pass protection based on the pressure” or if the defense is stacked against a running play, “to call quick slant or a hitch.”

Atkinson adapted quickly to his new receivers, classmate Jaeden Alford and then-sophomore Gavin Waddell. Alford, who is committed to Elon University, caught 92 balls for 1,815 yards and 21 touchdowns and Waddell 66 for 1,005 and nine TDs. Atkinson finished 254 of 349 for 3,701 and 46 touchdowns. His 70.1 percent completions was a 16-point jump from his sophomore year.

In the 2024 season, Alford, who is committed to Elon University, has 49 catches for 689 yards and 14 TDs and Waddell 53 for 819 and 13 TDs. Although their totals are down from a year ago that’s a result of more one-sided scores and the backups finishing the game.

The significant stat to note in the receptions column is from a sophomore newcomer, Anthony Roberts (40-784, 10 TDs).

“He has been one of the biggest additions,” Atkinson said. “He gives us a third receiver who has made a lot of great plays.”

A third receiver is one too many for many high school quarterbacks – they don’t have the poise or time to find a third target – but with coverage focused on the veterans, Atkinson can check down to Roberts. The sophomore posted his biggest night in last week’s win at top-seeded Cleveland (13-1). Roberts caught five balls for 137 yards and three touchdowns, including a 73-yard score.

“I can go to any of my three receivers on any one play,” Atkinson said. “I have full trust in them to make a play.”

But two more receivers not listed on the Rolesville roster deserving credit are his parents, Woody and Michelle.

“Ever since I was a young kid I always had a football in my hands,” Braden said. “I always wanted to throw the ball around. I would ask my parents to throw the ball with me. Sometimes it was just me and my mom.”

Michelle, of course, wasn’t Noah Rogers, but Braden commented, “She did everything she could.”

Her support included finding a quarterback coach once she realized Braden was dedicated to pursuing a college career. Atkinson has been driving to Charlotte in the offseason to work with former Duke quarterback Anthony Boone, who led the Blue Devils to the 2013 ACC Coastal Division title.

“Braden is hungry, and I have a lot of faith in him,” Rackley said. “Things have changed with our personnel, but it hasn’t changed him. His confidence keeps him advancing as a quarterback. That’s who he is.”

This story was originally published December 12, 2024, 5:00 AM.

The Town of Carrboro is suing Duke Energy, alleging that North Carolina’s monopoly utility has engaged in decades of deception around climate science that has stalled the transition to renewable energy and resulted in “largely unabated” greenhouse gas emissions.

Filed Wednesday in Orange County Superior Court, the lawsuit likely marks the first time that a municipality has sued an electric utility alleging harms caused by deception about the risks from fossil fuels. Several lawsuits across the country have targeted oil and gas companies, including a 2023 lawsuit a local government in Oregon filed against a gas utility.

“We have to speak truth to power as we continue to fight the existential threat that is climate change. The climate crisis continues to burden our community and cost residents their hard-earned tax dollars,” Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee said in a statement.

Carrboro is alleging that the role Duke executives played in continuing to use and promote fossil fuels even as they knew of the associated risks are similar to the tactics deployed by the tobacco industry. Environmental nonprofits NC WARN and the Center for Biological Diversity are both assisting with the case but are not formal plaintiffs.

“We are in the process of reviewing the complaint. Duke Energy is committed to its customers and communities and will continue working with policymakers and regulators to deliver reliable and increasingly clean energy while keeping rates as low as possible,” a Duke spokesman wrote in a statement.

Under a resource plan approved in November by the N.C. Utilities Commission, Duke will pursue the construction of 6,700 megawatts of solar energy; seven new gas-fired power plants totaling 5,620 megawatts; 2,700 megawatts of battery storage; and 1,200 megawatts of onshore wind. All of those are targeted to be built by 2031, while targets for offshore wind and new nuclear projects are several years beyond that.

The plan also officially scuppered a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions target that was written into state law, with Duke and the Public Staff, a ratepayers’ advocate, agreeing that meeting that goal would be too expensive and threaten reliability.

Adding natural gas was particularly contentious during hearings, with environmental groups expressing concern about the utility’s continued efforts to burn methane and add greenhouse gases when alternatives like solar, wind and battery storage are available. Duke has maintained that instantly dispatchable resources like gas are necessary to maintain reliability, particularly as the state continues to grow and add projected new businesses.

Carrboro officials voted to move forward with the lawsuit Tuesday evening.

The lawsuit says Carrboro will likely incur millions of dollars of costs due to climate change, ranging from more frequent road repairs due to more extreme temperatures and rainfall to infrastructure upgrades to cope with more severe storms.

Should temperatures increase as projected, the suit notes, Carrboro anticipates spending millions of additional dollars cooling the town’s facilities. That money will go to Duke, the town’s electricity provider.

“It is clear that our town and hardworking taxpayers cannot and should not be forced to pay for this. The Carrboro community deserves a safe and healthy climate, not the crisis that Duke Energy Corporation’s fossil fuels continue to cause,” Foushee said at a Wednesday press conference.

Foushee added that town officials have been discussing Duke Energy and potential litigation for “a little more than a year,” beginning with council members receiving information from various nonprofits in June 2023.

Foushee and Matthew Quinn, Carrboro’s attorney, told several media outlets that it will cost Carrboro at least $60 million to adapt to climate change. Wednesday, Quinn said that figure is based on modeling that looks at expenses and damages that have been incurred now and could be incurred in the future compared to what would have been spent had Duke pursued a more aggressive transition.

The model was not immediately available to see, Quinn said Wednesday, because it is now part of active litigation.

Carrboro’s lawsuit is being funded by NC WARN, not the town’s taxpayers, said Quinn, who also frequently represents the environmental nonprofit in utilities matters.

Carrboro has taken a number of steps to curb the town’s own greenhouse gas emissions, said Randee Haven-O’Donnell, a town councilwoman. Those included creating a home and business weatherization and energy efficiency loan program; establishing a stormwater utility enterprise fund; and partnering with Solarize the Triangle to spur rooftop solar adoption.

The town’s citizens are angered, Haven-O’Dennell said, when they are taking those steps only to see Duke pursue more fossil fuels.

“It becomes zero sum when they’re working their hardest and they see that (with) one quick action of use of methane or expanding methane gas, their efforts are erased,” Haven-O’Donnell said.

Duke Energy officials were active participants in groups that acknowledged the risks of burning fossil fuels as early as 1968, the lawsuit alleges, but failed to act, instead participating in other groups that downplayed those same risks. Beyond that, the suit says, Duke is aiming to create the impression that it is shifting to renewable sources much more dramatically than it actually is.

Shearon Harris, a past Duke CEO, was chairman of the Electric Power Research Institute’s board of directors from its 1972 founding until 1977, for example.

In September 1977, New York University professor Merril Eisenbud published an article in the group’s member journal that said, “If we’re going to go fossil fuel rather than nuclear, the increase of CO2 is going to continue, and one can project that if it continues into the next century, it may increase the global temperature sufficiently to cause profound climatic changes.”

The lawsuit also notes that Duke has pursued upgrades to harden its transmission and distribution system against climate change even as it has pursued the construction of new fossil fuel-powered assets.

Duke was closely aligned with the Edison Electric Institute, which started to more aggressively cast doubt on risks posed from burning fossil fuels in 1989, the lawsuit alleges.

And in 2004, the lawsuit says, Duke’s predecessor corporation, Cinergy, focused on global warming in its annual report, including writing there is “an unresolved but robust debate on the ‘science’ of global warming.” Jim Rogers, then Cinergy’s chief operating officer, became Duke’s CEO when the companies merged.

“In fact, the utility and energy industry, including Cinergy and Duke, were well aware in 2004 of the seriousness of human-made fossil fuel emissions and their contribution to global warming,” the complaint said.

In January 2007, Rogers remarked at a press conference that new coal plants could be built as long as they were also able to capture and store carbon emissions. But the lawsuit notes that the Edison Electric Institute had published a paper as early as 1985 that concluded carbon capture was not a viable solution to emissions problems.

Duke also joined and helped fund the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity in 2007, the lawsuit said. In May 2008, the group ran a TV commercial that touting that coal, the country’s “most abundant resource,” could generate electricity with reduced emissions, including via carbon capture and storage.

Just a month later, the suit says, Rogers, then Duke’s CEO, said carbon capture and storage as “a magical technology that solves the carbon problem for coal plants is oversold.”

The suit notes that Duke aims to portray itself as a leader in renewables, positioning itself as a leader in the transition from fossil fuel generation. That includes a page on Duke’s website titled “The Business We’re In’ with the text set over an image of solar panels.

Those images, the lawsuit says, could leave viewers with a mistaken impression that Duke’s transition is more dramatic than the one the company is actually undertaking.

This story was produced with financial support from the Hartfield Foundation and Green South Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. If you would like to help support local journalism, please consider signing up for a digital subscription, which you can do here.

This story was originally published December 4, 2024, 5:44 PM.

The News & Observer

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Adam Wagner covers climate change and other environmental issues in North Carolina. His work is produced with financial support from the Hartfield Foundation and Green South Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. Wagner’s previous work at The News & Observer included coverage of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and North Carolina’s recovery from recent hurricanes. He previously worked at the Wilmington StarNews.

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The News & Observer highlights some of the top high school football players — and top college recruits — in Raleigh, Durham and beyond.

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RALEIGH

The way Kendall Scotton runs with the football, you’d guess he was born to play the sport. And based on the bloodlines of the senior running back at Cardinal Gibbons High, you’d be right.

His father, Stefen Scotton, was a Georgia Tech fullback, from 1987-90. But don’t assume Kendall was born in the end zone solely from his genetic gifts.

Prior to Kendall’s breakout 2024 season, he endured two knee surgeries, subsequent infections, endless rehab hours and an ankle injury. Those obstacles cost him nearly two varsity seasons as a sophomore and junior. Question marks remained as his senior year opened.

“There were times I had doubts that I’d be able to return to the field, but I wasn’t ready for my football career to be over just yet,” Scotton said. “I love playing football. I always tried to keep a positive mindset.”

His attitude sustained dedicated rehab work that paid off with the 5-foot-8, 170-pounder playing all 12 games this year. He leads the Crusaders in rushing yards (664, 7.0 per carry) and rushing touchdowns (eight). He’s also has 19 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

“He’s a phenomenal young man,” said Steven Wright, Gibbons’ head coach. “He’s made an incredible comeback his senior year.”

Last week Scotton carried seven times for 126 yards, with a 19-yard touchdown and a 35-yard gallop to set up another score. His play helped Gibbons beat Hillside, 52-19, in the third round of the NC High School Athletic Association 4A playoffs.

Next up, the second-seeded Crusaders (11-1) meet No. 3 seed Wilmington Hoggard (12-1) in a fourth-round game at 7 p.m. Friday on Gibbons’ campus.

Although Scotton’s season stats don’t match the overwhelming numbers posted by other teams’ leading rushers, that’s in part due to Gibbons’ balanced offense and lopsided scores spreading the ball around in the backfield.

And besides — it’s not possible to make a valid case that “664 yards” and “eight touchdowns” aren’t impressive totals for a guy coming back from being sidelined nearly two years.

“It’s truly a blessing to be able to play again,” Scotton said. “This season has been really fun for me. It’s been my best season playing and statistically.”

Scotton’s ill-fated moment thrusting him onto the comeback trail was the first play of the second game his sophomore season. He suffered a dislocated knee cap, but the worst news was yet to come later at the doctor’s office.

The examinations revealed problems with his patellar tendons on both knees. They weren’t holding his kneecaps from riding too high. That also explained the recurring pain he had dealt with previously.

The surgeries were one knee at a time — the first in October in 2022 and the second in January 2023. But just when he thought he was on track for the start of his 2023 junior season, infections turned back this timetable.

He continued his rehab until he was cleared to play seven games into the season. But then he suffered an ankle injury in his fifth comeback game. He was sidelined for the remainder of Gibbons’ postseason run that ended with a 12-3 record in the regional final.

“It was frustrating, but I tried to do my best,” Scotton said. “To keep my spirits up and look at the bright side, I knew I had to try to control only what I could control. Whether that was football or not, I worked on factors I could control.”

Another nuance to his recovery was his inner drive without outside influence or pressure. In American sports, the cliché of pushy fathers is so entrenched a Progressive Insurance TV advertisement comedically played off it with a pushy father and rebellious son.

But the Scotton story doesn’t fall into that category.

“My dad wanted what was best for me,” Kendall said. “He wasn’t pushing me. The comeback was something I wanted, and I thank him for that.

“Both of my parents were heartbroken for me when I was injured because they know how much I love football. But I never felt my dad or mom (Tiffany) pressured me to come back.”

A bonus to Scotton’s comeback story is his success has opened the door to a possible college career. He’s making plans to walk-on at Hampton University, an HBCU in Virginia that was his academic destination before his football prospects were rekindled.

Scotton was admitted to Hampton’s highly ranked aviation program to pursue his dream to become a commercial pilot. The ambition began as a kid with trips to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport Observation Deck.

“I was bitten by the bug,” Kendall said. “I’ve always been intrigued with becoming a pilot and the entire industry.”

But for now, his flying is limited to gliding down the football field. The Crusaders have as many as three games remaining if they keep winning. After Friday’s fourth-round game against Hoggard, the 4A East Region final is December 13 and 4A state final the following week.

The Crusaders are riding an eight-game winning streak since suffering their only loss against Rolesville in a 30-27 overtime result. They seem to be peaking, too. In three playoff games, Gibbons has outscored its opponents 163-40: Willow Spring (60-7), Garner (51-14) and Hillside (52-19).

Comparing Gibbons’ regular-season and post-season Hillside results reflect the momentum. The Crusaders won the regular-season game 21-0, but they led 31-0 by the second quarter of the 52-19 third-round victory.

“We’re playing some good football,” Scotton said. “Our offense has been clicking and our defense has been coming up with big plays. Our team morale has been really good. Everybody is feeding off the energy.”