3 NC counties are under alert, including Chatham County.

1 closing/delay reported.

Consumer inflation in the United States cooled slightly last month after three elevated readings, likely offering a tentative sigh of relief for officials at the Federal Reserve. Measured year-over-year, inflation ticked down from 3.5% to 3.4%.

US inflation cools slightly, down from 3.5% to 3.4% year-over-year

It's that time of year when your child will be taking end-of-grade tests or EOGs. What are EOGs and how can you help them be better prepared?

End-of-grade tests: Everything you need to know about these annual exams

Student testing 

As the number of juvenile offenders climbs, the state is looking at alternatives crowded detention centers to make sure young people already convicted of crimes can turn their lives around. 

Education, skills and rehab focus easing burden on NC juvenile justice system

Inside the juvenile justice system

BBQ Coverage

Ed Mitchell's signature cooking has earned him the nickname "The Pitmaster" in the highly competitive barbecue circuit in North Carolina. Ed Mitchell's describes Mitchell's methods for preparing pork barbecue and other traditional southern entrees and sides.

Ed Mitchell nominated for James Beard Foundation Media Award 

Famers_Market_20

Lexington is often thought to be the barbecue capital of the world, and the restaurant that bears the town's name has a long, loyal following. 

BUILDING A BRAND NEW SPACE ON 83 ACRES JUST OUTSIDE OF CHAPEL HILL. THE TAR HEEL TRAVELER LIKES TO EAT AS AT 07:30PM TONIGHT TO TREAT US TO A HALF-HOUR SPECIAL FEATURING MOM AND POP RESTAURANTS AROUND THE STATE. WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BIT OF AN APPETITE. WE FIND SCOTT MASON IN DAVIDSON COUNTY ENJOYING BBQ IN LEXINGTON. >> THE BARBECUE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD IS OFTEN SAID TO BE LEXINGTON AND HERE IN LEXINGTON IS LEXINGTON BARBECUE. >> YOU CAN GET ANYWHERE FROM 30 TO 35 SHOULDER. DON'T WANT TO APPEAR THE BARBECUE PIT TODAY. I'VE GOT 36 ON THE SHOULDERS ARE COOKING SHOULDERS. ALL WE COULD SLOW COOKING 8 TO 10 HOURS TO COOK A RUNNING MATE. THE FIRE IS ROARING. YES, SIR. HEY, KARINA. AND NOTHING MUCH HAS CHANGED FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY MIND AND STARTED IN 1962. WAYNE MONK WHO STARTED IT WITH A MAN NAMED HONEYCUTT. THE RESTAURANT BECAME KNOWN AS THE HONEYMOON AND THAT 900 MODELS. STAY WITH US ALL THESE YEARS, HUH? HONEY, MONKEYS, LEXINGTON BARBECUE. I LOVE IT. I GREW UP ON IT, MOVED AWAY AND COME BACK AND WE CAN GET MANY. DON'T MOVE AWAY. I'M TOLD THAT THEIR 2025 30 35 YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT 28 29 YEARS. MOST ALL OF HER FAMILY HAS WORKED HERE. HER DAUGHTER HER SIDE, HER GRANDDAUGHTER, MY GRANDSON, HER BROTHER OR SISTER IN THE RAMS COME STRAIGHT PARTY HISTORY OR LESS AS PLACES SUCH A GEORGIA IN THIS PART OF WHO YOU >> PART OF WHO YOU ARE STEEPED IN TRADITION THAT'S PASSED RIGHT DOWN THE LINE. I MEAN, IT GOES ON AND ON. ALL OF THIS HONORED FOR THEM ALL HE ENJOYED. HIS ME WERE KNOWN ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. IN FACT, A COUPLE HOURS AGO THERE WAS A GUY IN HERE FROM ITALY. AND WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT THE PIG? I COULD HARDLY UNDERSTAND. >> ALASKA ANGLIN, I'LL I GUESS THAT'S REALLY FAR FROM HERE FOR THE SAME REASON FOR THE BARBECUE WHEN THE CAMARADERIE. WELL, AND MAYBE TO DO THAT, TOO OBVIOUS VERY AWARD AND I HAVE AN ALL AUSSIE A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE HERE ON THE THINK TANK TO YOU. >> I LIKE THAT. NOT UNIVERSAL AT LEXINGTON BARBECUE IS OPEN. 10:00AM TO 09:00PM EVERY DAY. BUT SUNDAY AND OF COURSE, BE SURE TO WATCH THE TAR HEEL TRAVELER RESTAURANT SPECIAL TONIGHT AT 7.30, IT IS SIMPLY CALLED THE YOUNG HE IS GOING

Tar Heel Traveler: Lexington Barbecue

This longtime barbecue spot in Pitt County was inducted this month into the NC BBQ Hall of Fame.

BRICK, YOU CAN READ THE FULL STORY BY VISITING WRAL DOT COM AND SEARCHING HIDDEN HISTORY. NORTH CAROLINA HAS A NEW BARBECUE HALL OF FAME WHICH RECENTLY INDUCTED ITS VERY FIRST CLASS. SO MANY GREAT BARBECUE SPOT TONIGHT ARE TAR HEEL TRAVELER REVISITS. >> ONE OF THE HONORED INDUCTEES WE FIND SCOTT MASON IN PITT COUNTY WHERE FOLKS ARE EATING WELL AT THE SKYLIGHT INN. >> I THINK THAT TAKES A LOT OF BRASS PERSONALLY. GRASS SILVER TAKES A NEW PHOTO ANYWAY SINCE 1940, SAID SKYLIGHT IN BARBECUE PIT. >> COME ON. IF YOU CAN GET ON ANY THIS YEAR WERE BUSY LIVES LAUNCH PILED GOOD WHOLE HOG BBQ THINGS. BASEBALL THAT YOU WERE AROUND IT. THE BEST I'VE EVER A GOOD HOME COOKING. THAT'S GOOD THEY CALL HIM CHOPPER AND CHOPPER CAUSES. CHOPPERS CHOPPER. THAT'S MY VOICE. YEAH. I LIKE THEM. >> ADD SOME LITTLE MORE CHOCOLATE AND HAS HAD A JOB CRACK ONES THAT HE PUT IN THE SKIN LIKE A LITTLE SURPRISE. THAT MASK. JUST DELICIOUS CAKE MADE IT THIS FAR. BUT YOU WHOLE HOG HOT COALS. HALLELUJAH. IT'S BARBECUE THE BEST EVER. THERE'S NOTHING THAT TAKES THE PLACE OF KOBE WOULD LOAD IT. THROW IT BE THE FIRE. IT DOES NOT PLAY AROUND FEED THE PITT. DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE COOKING WITH WOOD? IT'S A FLAVOR. YOU DON'T FORGET A THING. WE DO A HECK OF A JOB THAT OUR STAFF IT WAS. PETE JONES. THIS TIME HE'S THE ONE WHO STARTED SKYLIGHT IN BARBECUE. PUT >> KNOW THE MAP AND ON THE T-SHIRT ABOUT THAT FOR A T-SHIRT. HAHA. >> UNDER WATER AND YOUR WATER BROKE SITTING ON A BAR STOOL IN SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH THEIR SONG. I'M SURPRISED IT DIDN'T NAME GET PETE >> THEY CONSIDERED AFTER MY MIDDLE NAME. HE JOE. SHE TOOK PRIDE IN WHAT HE DID AND IN THE BARBECUE CAPITAL HE BUILT IF NOT FROM SKYLINE IN AND JUST >> SKYLIGHT INN WAS ONE OF A HALF-DOZEN BARBECUE RESTAURANT INDUCTED THIS MONTH INTO THE

Tar Heel Traveler: Skylight Inn

The honorees included Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh, Skylight Inn BBQ and the Jones family, including Sam Jones, his father, Bruce Jones, and uncle Jeff Jones, who started these legendary barbecue restaurants. 

NC Bar-B-Q Hall of Fame inducts first class of pitmasters

NC Bar-B-Q Hall of Fame

The two 36-year-old friends met in kindergarten in Warren County. Today, they operate a barbeque food truck. Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason caught with the duo, who came to the state fair to sell barbeque for the first time.

17TH TICKETS START AT $22 PER PERSON. LOOK AT THAT. LIFE FINDS A THERE'S GOOD FOOD AT THE STATE. FAIR AND FUN AND FELLOWSHIP AND OUR TAR HEEL TRAVELER FOUND ALL OF THAT AND ONE SMALL, DELICIOUS LOCATION. OF COURSE, THE DATES GOT MASON. JOINING US LIVE NOW FROM THE FAIRGROUNDS TO EXPLAIN. HEY, SCOTT. >> WE KNOW RIGHT BEHIND ME. HERE IS THE LAWRENCE IN PERRY BARBECUE TRUCK. AGAIN, LOOK AT THE LIE. THERE'S ALMOST ALWAYS A LINE. BARBECUE CHICKEN RIBS AND A COUPLE OF OLD FRIENDS. >> AND HOW ARE YOU TODAY? 31, THIS IS ONE BIG TRUCK. 32 1%. YOU HAVE TO GO WITH 2 COOKS IN THE CABIN. WELL, BUT IT'S ALL GOING CRAZY. A SLOP BUCKET TO HAVE ONCE A LIVE LOOK AT WHAT FOR COMES WITH PORK OR CHICKEN AND BARBECUE SONGS. COLESLAW BABIES, MAC AND CHEESE ON TOP OF THE TICKET. NUMBER 30 FOR THE OWNERS ARE NOT MUCH OLDER THAN 34 36 TO 36. I CAN THEY'VE BEEN TOGETHER A LONG TIME. 35 FLORENTON PERRY, THEIR LAST NAME TO THANK YOU. MY FRIENDS. SINCE THEY WERE KIDS 1992 OF THE LATE 19 TO KINDERGARTEN THEY MADE IN KINDERGARTEN IN WARREN COUNTY AND LOVE TO COOK. I REMEMBER VIVIDLY ONE-DAY ME RG DESTROY MY MOM'S KIDS AND TRYING TO MAKE. >> PANCAKES FROM SCRATCH IS PROBABLY SECOND AND 3RD GRADE. >> THE 2 KEPT COOKING WHEN THEY WERE HAVING A SUPER BOWL PARTY FOR THE CAROLINA PANTHERS IN 2015. NOW IT'S KIND OF LIKE OUR UNOFFICIAL FIRST TRIP. AND THEY HAVE THEIR FOOD TRUCK. >> ESTABLISHMENTS 1016, WE LOVE THE BETTER BASEBALL. 37 HOT SELLING BARBECUE THIS TIME EVER SINCE COVID LINE SO LONG JUST TO GET FOOD TO TAKE BACK TO THE HOUSE AND HE WOULD HAVE TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE WIN. THAT'S KIND OF HOW IT REALLY 38, 2 LONGTIME FRIENDS AND A FOOD TRUCK, CAROLINA, IRAQ AND AT THE STATE FAIR BUSINESSES COMING IN BUCKETS IS A BLESSING FOR US TO BE HERE WAS A BLESSING FOR US TO BE THRIVING. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. GOT A LOT. A LOT OF THINGS IN STORE IN THE FUTURE FOR SURE. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. ALL. >> WELL, LAWRENCE IN PERRY IS NEAR DORTON ARENA SORT OF CLOSE TO A KIDDIE LAND. THE TRUCK MOVES AND CATERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN THE 2 OWNERS HOPE TO ONE DAY OPEN A RESTAURANT LANE, RIGHT. LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE A CLIENTELE FOR THAT. I LOVE THAT. THEY STARTED WITH PANCAKES AND MAMA'S WHERE THEY ARE TODAY. SKY GOT TO KNOW, THOUGH, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TRY? BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE GOT TO TRY SOMETHING FROM THAT. >> WELL, I TELL YOU, I AM TEMPTED TO TRY THAT SLOP BUCKET WITH THE MAC AND CHEESE AND THE BEANS IN THE END, THE BBQ, THE BBQ SAUCE AND THEY DO LOVE THAT VINEGAR BASED BARBECUE SAUCE. AND I'M ALL FOR THAT. WHATEVER YOU DON'T FINISH, YOU BRING IT

Tar Heel Traveler: Lawrence and Perry BBQ

Scott Mason sits down with a barbecue connoisseur from Raleigh on a mission across NC. 

CLOUDS THERE AS WELL. THAT STORM IS MOVING OUT. >> HE IS A YOUNG MAN EATING HIS WAY ACROSS THE STATE AND THOUGH IT'S THE SAME MEAL EVERY TIME HE SAYS IT'S NEVER THE SAME. TONIGHT WE FIND OUR TAR HEEL TRAVELER IN RALEIGH, SCOTT MASON. >> SITTING DOWN FOR SOME BARBECUE WITH A CONNOISSEUR. >> MY MISSION WAS TO EAT BARBECUE AT EVERY SINGLE COUNTY IN NORTH CAROLINA. WELL, 100 OF THEM. >> 100 COUNTIES OF Q. >> RIGHT NOW I'M AT 82 COUNTIES AND HE HAS LOGGED ALL THOSE GOODIES AND NOT SO GOOD. THERE'S ONE RESTAURANT I VISITED IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE THEIR SERVER FORGOT THEY SERVE BARBECUE. THAT'S HOW INFREQUENTLY THEY SOLD IT. BUT THEN THERE'S NICE. CUTE, VERY FRIEND. >> GOOD STUFF. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER HEARD OF JOHN G'S AND PEACHLAND IN ANSON COUNTY OPEN ONLY ON SATURDAY FOR SOME OF MY FAVORITE MEAT THAT I'VE HAD THIS VERY WELL COULD VERY TENDER MEAT. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ONE THAT REALLY SURPRISED ME. ACTUALLY ONE LOCALLY HERE IN RALEIGH CALLED SHOP SHOP OF SOME VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD MATE. HE'S IN RALEIGH NOW AND JOIN CLYDE COOPER'S BARBECUE AND SWEET. HE DID YOU GROW UP EATING BARBECUE? I ACTUALLY DID NOT. IN A TON OF BARBECUE. GROWING UP. CARTER GREW UP IN CHARLOTTE AND THOUGH HIS DAD WAS A PIT MASTER, HE HAD NO NOSE FOR BARBECUE BACK THEN IT STARTED IN 2019 AND I WASN'T ORIGINALLY BEEN TRYING TO GO TO ALL 100 COUNTIES, BUT HE COULDN'T HELP HIMSELF AFTER HELPING HIM SELL THE LICH HAPPENS DOWNTOWN GRILL IN ROCKINGHAM, NORTH CAROLINA THAT ARE REALLY COOL. SWAMP SAUCES. WHAT THEY CALL THE PD SWAMP SAUCE. JOE'S BBQ BARBECUE. IAN MAXTON JOE. HE WAS ALMOST OFFENDED WHEN ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND ASKED FOR SAUCES TO GO WITH THIS MAN IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, I COOK THIS AND IT'S NICE AND MOIST AND YOU DON'T NEED THE SAUCE. BRUSHY MOUNTAIN SMOKEHOUSE WILLIAMSON'S BARBECUE AND CHEDDAR. BUT JUSTIN HALL, ASHLEY LAFLEUR'S PLACE AND NOT BILLION. THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITES THAT HAVE STOPPED AT SEEDS CATERING IN BE OLIVIA, JUST LIKE OUT OF THE BACK OF THE GUYS HOUSE. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE COMING UP ON IT. AND YOU SAY IS THIS THE RIGHT PLACE? THERE'S A LINE OF CARS THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, GOOD BARBECUE WHEN YOU TASTE IT. WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MOIST, TENDER MEAT AND KIND OF A RICH, SMOKY FLAVOR. WE HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING THE SAME KIND OF DEPTH TO THE TASTE WITH GAS STEVENSON'S IN WILLOW. SPRING STEVENSON'S. I I WROTE THAT THEY HAD A RICH, SMOKY FLAVOR THAT REALLY POPS ALTMAN'S GROCERY BARN IN GOD WEEKS. NICE BARBECUE FROM A TRUE GENERAL STORE AND THEN STAY MEANS WAS ONE THAT I WENT TO A BUNCH. STAY MEAS IN GREENSBORO. AND THEN LEXINGTON BARBECUE. I MEAN, DAVIDSON COUNTY IS FAMOUS FOR BEING KIND OF THE BARBECUE MECCA. CARTER CONSULTED COOKBOOK. JIM VALVANO IS GOOD TO GREAT EVENING AND GUIDEBOOK JIM, EARLY AS TAR HEEL BARBECUE GUIDE FOR MANY OF THE MURPHY AND HE CARRIED A BARBECUE MASK, GLOVES, MEETING. ALL THE PEOPLE GOING ALL THESE PLACES AND EATING ALL THAT BARBECUE IN ALL THOSE CAN. DOES IT MAKE YOU GLAD TO BE FROM NORTH CAROLINA DEFINITELY GIVES ME SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF. YOU THERE'S A PLACE FOR MEMPHIS >> AND TEXAS STYLE BBQ. THEY'RE ALL GREAT. BUT I THINK NORTH AND STARVING. HAHA SO HIGH. I GOT TO SEE A THAT'S A LOT OF THAT OR BARBECUE. LOOKS GOOD, THOUGH. >> HE WORKS AS A PLUMBING DESIGNER. BY THE WAY, THAT'S NOT HIS JOB. HE WORKS IN RALEIGH AND BARBECUES JUST AS HOBBY. AND HE IS JUST 18 COUNTIES AWAY FROM EATING BARBECUE IN EVERY SINGLE COUNTY

Tar Heel Traveler, BBQ eater travels across the state with a mission

Tar Heel Traveler BBQ eater 

The Pit serves up several varieties of its whole-hog, pit-cooked barbecue with "everything but the squeal." 

<p>Made famous by several television appearances by former pitmaster Ed Mitchell, The Pit serves up several varieties of its whole-hog, pit-cooked barbecue with "everything but the squeal."</p>