Jessica Patrick

Raleigh

Web News Editor and Reporter, Out and About at WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

Articles

'It was just that fast': Edgecombe County wakes to tornado warnings, homes, cars damaged

1 day ago | wral.com | Chris Michaels |Lora Lavigne |Charles Bradley |Jessica Patrick

Strong winds damaged multiple homes and toppled trees early Tuesday in Edgecombe County, where radar confirmed a tornado around 3:45 a.m.Photos show significant damage to a home on Gay Street and downed trees on powerlines on School Street. No injuries or deaths have been reported after the storm. Edgecombe County was under a tornado warning between 3:25 a.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday, the third tornado warning there in less than 12 hours.
'It was just that fast': Radar-confirmed tornado in Edgecombe County, no injuries reported

1 day ago | wral.com | Chris Michaels |Lora Lavigne |Charles Bradley |Jessica Patrick

First look at possible tornado damage in PinetopsA possible tornado damage damaged a home and brought down trees early Tuesday in Edgecombe County, where radar confirmed a tornado around 3:45 a.m.The photos show significant damage to a home on Gay Street and downed trees on powerlines on School Street. The viewer who sent the photo of the damaged home said it is her friend's house, adding that everyone who lives there is accounted for and okay.
Atlanta car dealership employee says she was kidnapped by customer

3 days ago | wral.com | Jessica Patrick

A car dealership employee in the Atlanta area said she was kidnapped by a customer while on the job. A routine service appointment at RBM of Alpharetta, a Mercedes-Benz dealer in Forsyth County, Georgia, is now at the center of a criminal investigation after a service advisor accused a customer of kidnapping her late last week.
What is a severe weather risk and how accurate is it in North Carolina?

2 weeks ago | wral.com | Kat Campbell |Jessica Patrick

What is a severe weather risk and how accurate is it in North Carolina? As we continue the severe weather season in North Carolina, I wanted to update our Triangle severe weather research with updated data from the last five years. This is useful for decision making in the WRAL Severe Weather Center - but it may also be useful for you. Severe weather can impact a lot - your yardwork, outdoor events and festivals, and day-to-day planning. So, how are we doing with severe weather forecasting?
Wilmington school bus driver, staff help locate missing 14-year-old

2 weeks ago | wral.com | Jessica Patrick

A missing Wilmington teenager diagnosed with autism is safe after New Hanover County school bus staff helped police locate the 14-year-old. Bus driver Marie Murphy and her monitor, Valeria Davis, were picking up students like any other day on Thursday when Davis got a notification on her phone. "I had a WECT app that came up, so I opened it up, and I saw this teenager missing, and I read it," Davis said.
Former Davidson College employee accused of recording women in bathrooms

2 weeks ago | wral.com | Jessica Patrick

A former Davidson College employee accused of secretly recording women inside campus bathrooms is facing new charges in Charlotte. Jeremy Whitworth, 49, was arrested in November. Police said the school electrician had been recording videos in different restrooms on campus dating back at least 15 years. Whitworth is also accused of setting up cameras at homes and in Airbnb properties where he worked and recording women's feet and legs at Mooresville Walmart, Target and Chick-fil-A locations.
NBC News poll: Young men and women are taking the 'gender gap' to staggering new levels

2 weeks ago | wral.com | Jessica Patrick

The split between men and women is one of the starkest divisions in American politics right now — and that divide is deepest in Gen Z, which is taking the traditional gender gap in American politics and stretching it even further. New data from the NBC News Stay Tuned Poll, powered by SurveyMonkey, shows that debates over President Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk, immigration and the state of the country drive the most division between Gen Z men and women.
Protect the planet: 10 simple ways to help the environment in your daily life

3 weeks ago | wral.com | Jessica Patrick

A lot of us are worried about the protecting the environment -- but as consumers who rely on things like gas, food, hot water and air conditioning, it's easy to feel helpless or too busy to make a difference. The good news is it's often not too inconvenient or expensive to make small, sustainable changes to become more environmentally friendly.
Use your dishwasher: 6 super easy ways to help the planet on Earth Day

3 weeks ago | wral.com | Jessica Patrick

Earth Day is April 22. Here are six simple things families can do to reduce their environmental impact. Frank Leibfarth, an associate chemistry professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is studying ways to make more sustainable, long-lasting plastics. Like many of us, he wants to make a difference at home, too. "Even in my personal life I want to do the little things correctly to be more sustainable," Leibfarth said.
The cicadas are coming: When to expect cicadas in North Carolina in 2025

3 weeks ago | wral.com | Jessica Patrick

Love them or hate them, cicadas are fascinating insects commonly talked about in North Carolina during the warmer months. Cicadas spend most of their life underground, emerging when soil temperatures warm up and dying only a few weeks later. In their short time above ground, cicadas produce a sound so loud it has been mistaken for car alarms.