Yearly Archives: 2025

Death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas over the July Fourth weekend surpasses 100

Death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas over the July Fourth weekend surpasses 100

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas over the July Fourth weekend has surpassed 100 as the massive search continues for missing people. In hard-hit Kerr County, home to Camp Mystic and several other summer camps, searchers have found the bodies of 84 people, including 28 children, Kerr County officials said. Meanwhile, search-and-rescue teams carried on with the search for the dead, using heavy equipment to untangle trees and wading into swollen rivers. Volunteers covered in mud sorted through chunks of debris, piece by piece, in an increasingly bleak task.… Continue Reading

Troops and federal agents briefly descend on LA’s MacArthur Park in largely immigrant neighborhood

Troops and federal agents briefly descend on LA’s MacArthur Park in largely immigrant neighborhood

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dozens of federal officers in tactical gear roamed a mostly empty park in a Los Angeles neighborhood with a large immigrant population for about an hour before clearing out. It wasn’t immediately known if any arrests were made Monday. Defense officials had said about 90 members of the California National Guard and over a dozen military vehicles would help protect immigration officers as they carried out a raid in MacArthur Park. Mayor Karen Bass called it a “political stunt,” and said: “What I saw in the park today looked like a city under siege, under armed occupation.”… Continue Reading

Wall Street falls as Trump pressures trading partners with new tariffs

Wall Street falls as Trump pressures trading partners with new tariffs

Stocks fell on Wall Street as the Trump administration stepped up pressure on trading partners to make deals before punishing tariffs imposed by the U.S. take effect. The S&P 500 lost 0.8% Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gave back 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.9%. Tesla tumbled as the feud between CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump reignited over the weekend. Musk, once a top donor and ally of Trump, said he would form a third political party in protest over the Republican spending bill that passed last week.… Continue Reading

Gold Star Teacher of the Month: July 2025 – Elizabeth Brush

Gold Star Teacher of the Month: July 2025 – Elizabeth Brush

Our QDR Gold Star Teacher of the Month for July is Elizabeth Brush, 1st grade teacher at Lafayette Year Round Elementary. Elizabeth was nominated by Shannon Grice, who says, “When my son finished kindergarten, I requested a 1st grade teacher that could help him achieve his reading goals, as he was not completely on grade-level at…… Continue Reading

PineCone Playlist: July 6th, 2025

Artist Song Title Album Title Record Label Ben Green  God Bless America United We Stand Pinecastle Flatt & Scruggs Rolling In My Sweet Baby’s Arms Complete Mercury Sessions Mercury Bluegrass Album Band Somehow Tonight Volume 4 Rounder Caroline Owens You’ve Still Got It (single) Billyblue Michael Cleveland/Jason Carter Outrun the Rain Carter & Cleveland Fiddle…… Continue Reading

Twisting the truth: study finds fake news often rides on real headlines

Twisting the truth: study finds fake news often rides on real headlines

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – A new study published in Nature reveals that fake news doesn’t always come from fake sources. Researchers found that social media users often share reputable headlines in misleading ways—using real facts to back false claims. Duke University’s Jon Green says it’s not just about who publishes the information, but how it’s framed and shared online.… Continue Reading

Nine months after Helene: The Southeast still reels from rare hurricane damage

Nine months after Helene: The Southeast still reels from rare hurricane damage

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – It’s been nine months since Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeast, leaving behind deadly floods, unprecedented wind damage, and a recovery process still far from over. While originally classified as a rain event, experts now say Helene’s wind damage—especially in North Carolina’s mountains—was far worse than initially thought. New research using satellite imagery is shedding light on just how intense and unusual the storm’s impact truly was.
… Continue Reading

Flooding from Chantal’s remnants forces dozens to flee homes in North Carolina

Flooding from Chantal’s remnants forces dozens to flee homes in North Carolina

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Officials in North Carolina say heavy rain and flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal forced dozens of people to flee their homes. The Chapel Hill Fire Department and neighboring agencies completed more than 50 water rescues, many of them in areas where floodwaters entered or threatened to enter apartments. Chapel Hill officials said Monday that more than 60 people were displaced Sunday and Monday. In Orange County, the possibility of the failure of the Lake Michael Dam prompted officials to issue a voluntary evacuation for areas downstream. In Chatham County, Sheriff Mike Roberson warned residents that water may have subsided in some areas, but it was still dangerous to travel. He says officials were searching for some missing persons.… Continue Reading

Creamy Rigatoni

Creamy Rigatoni

This dish is rich, salty, and savory with just the right amount of bite from the cheese and pepper. It’s the kind of pasta that feels special without being complicated. Ingredients Instructions 1. Cook the guancialePlace the guanciale in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until crispy and the fat has rendered, about 10…… Continue Reading

Death toll in central Texas flash floods rises to 82 as sheriff says 10 campers remain missing

Death toll in central Texas flash floods rises to 82 as sheriff says 10 campers remain missing

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — The death toll from flash floods that raged through central Texas has risen to 82 after searchers found more bodies. Authorities say many more remain missing, including 10 girls from Camp Mystic, a summer camp wiped out by the flooding early Friday. Searchers now have found 68 bodies in Kerr County where a wall of water came down the Guadalupe River. Sheriff Larry Leitha says the dead include 28 children. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warned Sunday that additional rounds of heavy rains lasting into Tuesday could produce more life-threatening flooding. Some families were allowed to look around the hardest hit camp in the Hill Country on Sunday while nearby crews continued their search.… Continue Reading

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