Raleigh Daily Brief: Swatting calls, Wade Ave crash cleanup, primary results
Raleigh, NC – March 5, 2026 – Police probe two swatting calls, a Wade Ave diesel spill snarls traffic, and Raleigh’s primary results come into focus.
Public safety: Swatting calls under investigation
Raleigh police are investigating two ‘swatting’ calls that prompted officers to rush to homes about 13 miles apart Tuesday night. Officers were sent to a reported stabbing near Neiman Cove and Alder Pass, then to a second call initially described as a homicide near Haig Point Way and Grand Traverse Drive. In both cases, residents told officers nothing had happened. Police say these false calls pull resources away from real emergencies and can put residents and responders at risk.
Traffic: Diesel spill snarls the morning commute
A tractor-trailer overturned on the eastbound side of Wade Avenue at the ramp to I-440 East on Wednesday morning, spilling diesel fuel and triggering a hazardous-material response. Officials said no one was hurt, but the cleanup kept the ramp closed for hours before the area reopened around early afternoon.
Civic life: City council primary results take shape
Unofficial returns from Tuesday’s city primary narrowed crowded races heading into the Nov. 3 general election. In the at-large contest, Stormie Forte and Sana Siddiqui were leading, with two other candidates also advancing under the city’s primary rules. In District C, incumbent Corey Branch and Jared Ollison moved on to November. Election officials note that totals remain unofficial until the canvass process is complete, with additional ballots and reviews potentially changing margins.
Weather readiness: Statewide tornado drill held Wednesday
Schools and workplaces across North Carolina participated in a statewide tornado drill Wednesday at 9:30 a.m., with alerts carried over NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System. The drill is part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week and is meant to encourage residents to review shelter locations, how to get warnings, and what to do if a tornado warning is issued.
Sources
- https://www.wral.com/news/local/raleigh-swatting-false-reports-two-homes-march-2026/
- https://www.wral.com/news/local/overturned-tractor-trailer-i-440-east-wade-ave-raleigh-march-2026/
- https://indyweek.com/news/forte-siddiqui-lead-raleigh-city-council-at-large-primary/
- https://abc11.com/politics/elections/local/
- https://www.ncsbe.gov/news/press-releases/2026/03/04/after-one-smoothest-election-days-recent-history-post-election-processes-underway
- https://abc11.com/post/national-weather-service-led-statewide-tornado-drill-north-carolina-part-severe-awareness-week/18676451/
