We also following another day of planned protest at UNC, who could see showers and storms this weekend, and a new DMV helping fill a huge gap in eastern North Carolina. Watch WRAL-TV at 7 and search for these and other stories on WRAL.com.

On WRAL at 7: Caught on camera: a car hits school bus with students on board. Hear from a neighbor who heard the crash

A new study led by a University of Maryland researcher has found that the Atlantic Ocean currents are slowing down.

Melting sea ice slows Atlantic Ocean currents; warmer water stays offshore to raise storm risk for the Carolinas

EARNHARDT-1 Ocean

Triangle residents who are fans of thrills and themed attractions don't have to travel far to experience some of the best.

Guide: Amusement parks within driving distance of Raleigh

New Carowinds rollercoaster nears opening date

All assets associated with the tag: Satana Deberry

Satana Deberry Coverage

The High Point University poll found former President Donald Trump with a commanding lead in the GOP primary in North Carolina and a lead in the general election.

New poll shows tighter primary races for governor, AG ahead of NC's March 5 election

A controversial dark-money group and a new political action committee with GOP ties are among the biggest players in some of North Carolina's 2024 Democratic primaries.

Secretive conservative groups spending big to influence NC Democratic primaries

U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, left, and Durham District Attorney Satana Deberry are competing in the 2024 Democratic primary for North Carolina attorney general.

There are a handful of familiar races in the race for North Carolina Attorney General. WRAL News spoke with Democratic congressman Jeff Jackson on why he feels he's more qualified than his opponents, his record on gun legislation and his use of TikTok.

<p>FOOD ON THE TAPE. &gt;&gt; THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF FAMILIAR FACES IN THE RACE FOR NORTH CAROLINA. ATTORNEY GENERAL LAST WEEK WE SPOKE WITH DURHAM COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SATANA DEBERRY. THERE'S REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN DAN BISHOP. AND TONIGHT WE'RE SPEAKING WITH DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN JEFF JACKSON. REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. THANK YOU. A CONGRESSMAN. YOU ARE AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN GASTON COUNTY AFTER GRADUATING FROM LAW SCHOOL, YOUR OPPONENT IN THE PRIMARY IS THE DURHAM COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY. SHE'S ALSO SERVED AS GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. WHY DO YOU BELIEVE YOU'RE MORE QUALIFIED TO SERVE AS THE STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL? &gt;&gt; WELL, I RESPECT HER RECORD. HERE'S BEEN A CRIMINAL PROSECUTOR, A CIVIL LITIGATOR STATE SEN A MEMBER OF CONGRESS. I SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN WITH ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND NOW OPEN FOR 21 YEARS ON THE MAJOR NOW AND THE NATIONAL GUARD. ALL DEFER TO THE VOTERS AS WHETHER OR NOT THEY THINK ONE OF US IS MORE QUALIFIED THAN THE OTHER. BUT I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR MY OPPONENT IN THE PRIMARY. &gt;&gt; LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR RECORD, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN A PROPONENT OF GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION, INCLUDING IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND YOU'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HOW HARD IT'S BEEN TO GET LEGISLATION PASSED. IS GUN CONTROL GUN SAFETY REFORM. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO TACKLE IF ELECTED AS AG? &gt;&gt; THE JOB OF ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE FROM GUN VIOLENCE IS GOING TO BE A TOP PRIORITY BECAUSE WE HAVE A REALLY UNFORTUNATE AMOUNT OF GUN VIOLENCE IN THE STATE. THE IDEA IS YOU ARE MORE OF A DEFENDER OF PEOPLE. THERE IS AN ADVOCACY ROLE AS WELL. SO I WOULD ADVOCATE TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE WHEN I THOUGHT CERTAIN LEGISLATIVE REFORMS NEEDED TO BE MADE. BUT LOOK, IT'S NOT REALLY A PARTISAN JOB. IT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO BE ABOUT LEFT VERSUS RIGHT. IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING. AND I THINK IN ORDER TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN A JOB THAT ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE. YOU HAVE TO TRY TO TACKLE GUN VIOLENCE TO MEAN THERE'S JUST NO WAY OUT OF. SO ASIDE FROM LOBBYING, THE THE LAWMAKERS &gt;&gt; WHAT CAN YOU DO ASIDE FROM BEING AN ADVOCATE LIKE NORTH CAROLINA'S LAWS TO RESTRICT ACTIONS THAT OTHER STATES CAN DO? YOU KNOW, OTHER STATES ARE GOING AFTER GUN MANUFACTURERS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT CAN YOU DO? &gt;&gt; THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CAN SERVE AS A CONVENING AUTHORITY AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TRY AND ELEVATE PRIORITIES FOR ENFORCEMENT FOR PROSECUTION. BUT WHAT WE DON'T GET TO JUST MAKE A LOSS THAT'S VERY MUCH THE DOMAIN OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE. SO YOU CAN USE YOUR CONVENING AUTHORITY AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT. MAKE SURE IT'S VERY CLEAR WHAT THE MISSION NEEDS TO BE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY JOBS TO ASK THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WHAT'S KEEP PEOPLE SAFER WITH SOME BETTER WANTS. &gt;&gt; WE'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE. YOU HAVE A HUGE FOLLOWING ON ALL PLATFORMS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SPECIFICALLY ON TIKTOK. YOU'VE GOT I BELIEVE IT'S 2 AND A HALF MILLION FOLLOWERS. WHEN I LAST CHECKED, I'M SURE, YOU KNOW, TIKTOK HAS BEEN BANNED ON STATE ISSUED DEVICES HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA. CURIOUS TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON ON WHAT MESSAGE YOU THINK IT SENDS TO STATE EMPLOYEES THAT THAT YOU'RE USING A BANNED PLATFORM TO DRUM UP SUPPORT FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. &gt;&gt; WELL, I'M NOT USING A BANNED PLATFORM TO DRUM UP SUPPORT FOR CAMPAIGN. I USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO KEEP MY CONSTITUENTS INFORMED ABOUT WORK THAT I'M DOING ON THEIR BEHALF. AND I KNEW 7 OR 8 DIFFERENT SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO DO THAT. FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM. I DO A WEEKLY UPDATE. WELL, WHAT MY CONSTITUENTS KNOW. HEY, HERE'S THE WORK THAT I DID FOR YOU THIS WEEK. AND THE REASON I USE TIKTOK THIS BECAUSE I'VE GOT ABOUT 760,000, SOME ODD CONSTITUENTS. MY SENSE IS ABOUT 300,000 OF THEM ARE ON TIKTOK AND THERE ARE A LOT OF VALID CONCERNS ABOUT TIKTOK TO SHARE THE FBI DIRECTOR'S ASSESSMENT OF A LOT OF THE SECURITY THREATS. AND AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS BY WOULD BE IN FAVOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REFORMS TO HELP IMPROVE THAT SITUATION. BUT AS LONG AS IT EXISTS, USE IT FOR GOOD AND USE IT TO KEEP MY CONSTITUENTS OPPOSED. &gt;&gt; IT NOW BECAUSE IT IS BANNED ON STATE ISSUED DEVICES. WILL YOU STOP USING IT IF IF ELECTED PARTICULARLY TIKTOK? &gt;&gt; EXPAND ON FEDERAL DEVICES AS WELL. I DON'T USE IT ON THE FEDERAL DEVICE. I WOULD NOT USE IT ON A STATE DEVICE. &gt;&gt; OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL REPRESENTED JACKSON, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME HERE AND AND GOOD</p>

US Rep. Jeff Jackson speaks to WRAL on 2024 Attorney General race

Jeff Jackson speaks to WRAL on Attorney General race

WRAL News examined Satana Deberry's record to see if she is achieving her campaign promise to focus on violent crime.

'An absolute slap to the face of justice': Family critical of Durham's felony conviction rates

Carol Reardon is the sister of Edward 'Teddy' Tivnan, who died two days after a man identified as Daniel Mohar headbutted him to the ground outside a bar in 2019.

AVAILABLE ON SPECTRUM AND THE WRAL APP ON YOUR TV OR STREAMING DEVICE. OUR LATEST WRAL DOCUMENTARY DURHAM, UNDER FIRE REVEALED YOU ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE CONVICTED OF COMMITTING A VIOLENT CRIME IN DURHAM. >> THEN YOU ARE IN THE REST OF THE STATE AS A WHOLE. >> WRAL'S DURHAM REPORTER SARAH KRUEGER PICKS UP THE INVESTIGATION NOW WITH ONE FAMILY'S CALL FOR CHANGE THAT SHOWS THE REAL-LIFE IMPACT BEHIND THAT STATISTIC. >> ONCE A TON OF THE BARRY WAS ELECTED DURHAM COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN 2018, SHE HAD CAMPAIGNED AS SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO WORK TO REFORM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SHE WANTED TO FOCUS ON VIOLENT CRIME, NOT THE PETTY OFFENSES THAT FILL UP THE JAILS. WE AT WRAL EXAMINE HER RECORD TO SEE IF SHE IS ACHIEVING. I >> THERE'S NO REAL EVIDENCE THAT WE ARE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, SOFT ON CRIME. BUT WE ARE SMART ON CRIME IN INTERVIEWS AND IN WRITING OVER THE COURSE OF YEARS. DISTRICT ATTORNEYS THAT ON AD BARRY REPEATEDLY STRESSES VIOLENT OFFENSES ARE PRIORITY TO FOCUS ON THOSE MOST SERIOUS AND VIOLENT CRIME FROM CAROL REARDON'S EXPERIENCE. SHE SAYS THAT IS NOT THE CASE. HE WAS SO FULL OF LIFE. >> AND HE LIKE WOULD COMMAND A ROOM. HE WOULD WALK IN AND BE HAHA, HER BROTHER, TEDDY TIFFANY, AND DIED 2 DAYS AFTER A MAN IDENTIFIED AS HAR HEADBUTTED HIM TO THE GROUND OUTSIDE A BAR IN 2019 OR WAS INITIALLY CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER. EARLIER THIS YEAR. HE WAS CONVICTED ONLY OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. RIORDAN BLAMES THE DA CLAIMING PROSECUTORS FAILED TO MAKE A COMPELLING CASE. IT IS A ABSOLUTE SLAP TO THE FACE. JUSTICE. >> IT IS A SLAP TO THE OF. THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, WRAL PULLED DATA WHICH SHOWS RIORDAN SITUATION IS NOT AN OUTLIER. >> SINCE DEBERRY TOOK OFFICE DURHAM'S CONVICTION RATE FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGES IS 24% LOWER THAN THE 67% IN WAKE COUNTY AND 45% STATEWIDE GOING BEYOND JUST MURDER. LOOKING AT 38, DIFFERENT KINDS OF VIOLENT FELONIES, INCLUDING RAPE, ROBBERY AND ASSAULT DURHAM IS STILL LAGGING WITH A CONVICTION RATE OF 37% COMPARED TO 61% IN WAKE COUNTY AND 49% STATEWIDE. THESE NUMBERS ARE FOR PEOPLE CONVICTED AS A REGIONALLY CHARGED NOT PEOPLE WHO PLEAD TO LESSER CHARGES OR TAKE PLEA DEALS. DEBERRY TOLD WRAL DOCUMENTARY REPORTER KRISTEN SEVERANCE FELONY CONVICTION. RATES ARE NOT HER FOCUS. WE DON'T MEAN ON REALLY WHAT WE THINK ARE OUTDATED, >> DETERMINING HOW WELL PROSECUTION WORKS. BUT DO YOU HAVE A METHOD? IT'S WHAT I'M ASKING. THIS IS OUTDATED. AND THEN WHAT YOU DO SEE, WE DO HAVE NUMBERS THAT WE COLLECT. BUT WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT INDIVIDUAL CASES AND THE OUTCOMES OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL CASES. >> AND WHETHER OR NOT THOSE INDIVIDUAL CASES PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY. >> IN THAT PARTICULAR IN AN EMAIL DEBERRY IS COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST SARAH WILLETTS REFERRED US TO THESE REPORTS PUT OUT ANNUALLY BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS. THEY SHOW THAT SINCE DEBERRY TOOK OFFICE, THE AVERAGE MINIMUM ACTIVE SENTENCE FOR FELONY CONVICTIONS IS HIGHER THAN RIGHT BEFORE SHE TOOK OFFICE. YET THE REPORTS ALSO SHOW THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE CONVICTED WHO GET ANY PRISON TIME AT ALL IS DOWN. STILL DEBERRY SAYS SHE DOESN'T PUT A LOT OF STOCK IN NUMBERS BECAUSE SHE IS INTENTIONAL ABOUT DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY. SHE BELIEVES HER METHOD IS WHAT THE PEOPLE OF DURHAM THE FIRST DISTRICT ATTORNEY THAT'S BEEN >> REELECTED IN DURHAM COUNTY IN 20 YEARS AND OVER THAT 20 YEAR SPAN, WE HAD 2 DISTRICT WHO WERE REMOVED FROM OFFICE AND SUBSEQUENTLY DISBARRED AND SERIES OF INTERIM DA'S. AND WHAT THAT MEANS. THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF LEADERSHIP IN THIS OFFICE. >> RIORDAN WILL FOR EVER SEE IT DIFFERENTLY THAT SHE'S NOT TOP ON BALL INGRAM HAD SHE BEEN TOUGH ON VIOLENT CRIME? >> MOPAR, THE MAN WHO MURDERED MY BROTHER. ON TATE ON VIDEO WOULD BE SERVING MORE THAN 8 MONTHS IN JAIL. I LOVED MY BROTHER HEAT. I LOVED MY BROTHER AND HE DESERVES A MUCH MORE. AND VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. HE DESERVED. HE WAS MURDERED. HE WAS MURDERED. SARAH KRUEGER WRAL NEWS, DURHAM. >> IN A STATEMENT EMAILED TO WRAL LAST NIGHT. THE DA SAYS HER OFFICE IS COLLABORATING MORE WITH DURHAM. POLICE EVEN MEETING WITH THEM BEFORE THEY

WRAL Investigates Durham's felony conviction rates

Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry has signed on to a letter vowing not to prosecute abortion cases in her district. 

Durham district attorney signs on to letter vowing not to prosecute abortion cases 

Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry

More than 200 people have been shot in Durham this year, and at least 34 of them have died. Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry says it's her top priority to get those numbers down.

As shooting deaths spike in Durham, DA says her office focused on prosecuting violent crimes

THE LATEST COMPANY STRAINED >>> MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SHOT IN DURHAM THIS YEAR, 34 KILLED. TONIGHT WE'RE GETTING PERSPECTIVE FROM A NEW VOICE. HELLO, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, I'M GERALD OWENS. >> I'M LENA TILLETT. AS CRIME IS TOP OF MIND FOR MANY IN THIS CITY, WRAL DURHAM REPORTER SARAH KRUEGER TALKED ONE ON ONE WITH THE D.A. ABOUT WHAT HER OFFICE IS DOING TO FIGHT CRIME. >> Reporter: MANY PEOPLE VIEW DURHAM AS A PLACE WITH A CRIME PROBLEM. >> I THINK AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM WITH VIOLENT CRIME. >> Reporter: THEY HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT TO HOW THAT UNFOLDS FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR DURHAM COUNTY. AND A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTING THE MOST VIOLENT CRIMES AND GENERALLY THOSE ARE RETALIATORY. >> Reporter: PROSECUTING THAT SMALL NUMBER IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR D. BERRY'S OFFICE. >> I HAVE REORGANIZED THE OFFICE SO THAT MOST OF OUR PROSECUTORS ARE PROSECUTING THE MOST VIOLENT THINGS. WHAT WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON OVER THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS IS DIVERTING LESS SERIOUS THINGS LEAVING THE JAIL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE SECURE. >> Reporter: IN MY REPORTING I HEARD FROM SOME WHO HAVE THE PERCEPTION THAT D. BERRY IS SOFT ON CRIME. >> THERE IS NO REAL EVIDENCE THAT WE ARE SOLVING CRIMES. >> Reporter: SAYING THEY HAVE 42% MORE CONVICTIONS ON HOMICIDES SO FAR THIS YEAR THAN THE OFFICE DATE UNDER HER PREDECESSOR IN 2018. >> Reporter: IN ADDITION TO WHAT D. BERRY'S OFFICE IS DOING INSIDE THE COURTS, SHE IS PUTTING AN EFFORT OUTSIDE AS WELL, LIKE WITH THIS EVENT DISTRIBUTING FREE GUN LOCKS. >> Reporter: ALSO GIVING OUT INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO PREVENT GUN THEFT. >> ABOUT HALF OF THE STOLEN GUNS, STOLEN IN DURHAM COUNTY ARE STOLEN FROM PEOPLE'S UNLOCKED CARS. SO WE JUST WANT TO GET PEOPLE OTHER OPTIONS TO PROTECT IF THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A GUN, TO MAKE SURE THE GUNS ARE NOT STOLEN AND THAT THEY'RE THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD FILE THAT GUN. >> Reporter: AS THEY WORK TO COMBAT CRIME, HE ASKED FOR THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. SAYING THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO HELP IS TO SHARE INFORMATION. >> THE BEST EVIDENCE IS ALWAYS A HUMAN WITNESS. >> Reporter: SARAH KRUEGER WRAL NEWS DURHAM. >>> IF YOU MISSED TODAY'S GUN SAFETY EVENT, YOU CAN STILL GET A GUN LOCK FOR FREE FROM THE DURHAM COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION ON OUR

Durham DA disputes notion she's soft on crime

In a virtual news conference on Tuesday morning, Durham Police announced the arrest of 11 suspects tied to 15 sexual assault cases dating back to 1984.

Durham Police arrest 11 suspects in sexual assault cold cases

Durham Police announce arrests in sexual assault cold cases

WRAL's Julian Grace has more on the news the Durham district attorney's office says it won't press charges in the case of a North Carolina Central University student shot and killed by a security guard in the parking lot of his apartment complex last year.

DA: No charges to be filed against security guard who killed NCCU student

The Durham district attorney's office says it won't press charges in the case of a North Carolina Central University student shot and killed in the parking lot of his apartment complex by a security guard.