North Carolina
North Carolina grapples with growing nursing shortage
North Carolina faces an estimated nursing shortage of 12,500 workers by 2033.
One projection by the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill says long-term effects of the pandemic could cause that to jump to 18,600.
Braxton Nowell, UNC Health RN, has experienced the strain of a nursing shortage firsthand.
“One wonderful thing about medicine is people are living longer, healthier lives. However, we also have to have the nurses to take care of them,” he said.
The North Carolina native started working for UNC Health in January of 2020 as a nursing assistant.
“My grandmother is really my main reason for nursing,” Nowell explained. “I saw when she was in the hospital – she’s been hospitalized multiple times throughout my life – I saw the care she was given and how nurses advocated for her. I knew that’s what I wanted to do for people as well.”
He had only been on the job a mere three months before the healthcare system experienced an unprecedented shift in patient care due to a global pandemic.
“This unit was the COVID unit,” Nowell explained while showing WRAL News around the medicine progressive care unit at the Chapel Hill hospital.
Despite widespread burnout with healthcare as COVID cases climbed, Nowell continued his training. He graduated from UNC with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2022.
As UNC marks the recent graduation of 113 BSN students and another 70 graduate students from its school of nursing in Chapel Hill, Nowell hopes more students will follow suit to work in the Tar Heel State.
But, he says a lack of program space is a big issue.
“There’s not enough slots for people that want to be nurses. I think at UNC, they have 120 spots and I know they get more than 200 applications,” Nowell explained. “They always can’t give people who I know want to be nurses a slot.”
Kylie Goodman is in the midst of her first year in the accelerated bachelor of science nursing program through UNC.
“Originally I thought I wanted to be a dietitian but growing up I was always really passionate about healthcare,” said Goodman. “I’m very interested in the overall body as a whole and helping people who are sick more in that aspect.”
He and other nursing students take classes in Roper Hall with the School of Medicine while the university’s School of Nursing is demolished. A new building is expected to open in 2026. Officials say it will help the university reach its goal to increase nursing program capacity by 50%.
The UNC Health system currently has about 1,400 openings.
Goodman and dozens of others in the ABSN program are looking to one day fill some of those roles.
“I really do enjoy (pediatrics) but I also like adult,” Goodman shared. “I think trauma sounds interesting.”
When asked why she still wished to pursue a career in medicine in the wake of a global pandemic, Goodman said she just wanted to help people.
“Just to be able to come home from work today and say I know I made a difference in someone’s life,” she said. “Patients are in a stressful environment and they’re vulnerable. I want to be that person to help them in those situations.”
She added, being a student during such a difficult time makes her better equipped to handle a stressful career like nursing.
“I think the ability to adapt is really going to help me in this career and the ability to just take things as they come and adjust to them,” Goodman said.
US News and World Reports ranks Duke’s undergraduate nursing program the best in the country. UNC is ranked No. 4.
Terry McDonnell, senior vice president and chief nurse executive for Duke University Health System, said Duke’s current nurse vacancy rate “is less than 1%.” McDonnell said this is due to the use of “team-based models” used to provide care.
McDonnell added, “Duke nursing care benefits from partnership with the Watts School of Nursing and close collaboration with Duke University School of Nursing, Durham Tech and Wake Tech, as well as by undergoing efforts to reduce administrative burdens on nurses.”
At least two people are dead and “several” others are injured after a “planned fight” at a North Carolina park escalated into a mass shooting, authorities said.
Police have identified several victims and suspects after Monday’s shooting at Leinbach Park near Jefferson Middle School, according to the Winston-Salem Police Department.
Authorities confirmed there were multiple victims in the shooting, but did not provide an exact number. The suspects were still at large over two hours later.
Officers were called to the park just before 10 a.m. after reports of a fight, which then escalated into multiple people shooting each other.
Area schools are not in lockdown, and classes are operating as normal, police said.
“Due to the number of people involved, efforts are ongoing to account for everyone. At this time, some of those involved in the incident are juveniles,” police said.
According to local news station WFMY, at least three people were taken to the hospital. Officials have not shared their conditions.
Police said the shooting was an isolated incident and remains under investigation.
This is a developing story
The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Sunday, April 19, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 6-2-0, Fireball: 6
Evening: 4-1-7, Fireball: 5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 7-6-9-4, Fireball: 4
Evening: 8-1-5-6, Fireball: 6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
02-21-32-35-37
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from April 19 drawing
18-26-27-31-42
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:
- Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
- Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.
When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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