One of the main reasons you listen to QDR is for the music, and we want to be sure we’re playing what you want to hear as often or as little as you want to hear it. You can help design the QDR playlist to give you the BEST listening experience, and you could win a $50 Visa Gift Card.
Click here to check out a list of newer Country songs and tell us which ones you like best. Your opinion will help us decide how often you hear these songs play on QDR.
By the way, you’ll be asked to enter a station code when you take the survey – use the code A36 and only that code. We appreciate you taking the time to give us your opinion.
Our Fursday Pet of the Week is Shila from Second Chance Pet Adoptions!
Shila, a quiet middle-aged hound, is looking for a forever home, preferably with another dog and a fenced-in yard. She’s an independent gal who likes to chew on bones and play with toys, but at the end of the day, she also likes to snuggle up with her humans for the night. As a hound, she’s got a good sniffer on her, so she also enjoys long walks with lots of smells to be had; she’s honestly obsessed with being outside. Shila is both silly and awkward and she’ll keep you entertained for years to come. Her adoption fee has been reduced, as she will also need a hot wire fence, which Second Chance will help pay for and install for her adopter. You can learn more about Shila and set up a meeting with her by going over to www.SecondChanceNC.org and submitting an adoption application today!
Beatrice, a 5-year-old black and white pit mix. We rescued Beatrice from a county shelter after being absolutely dazzled by her pearly whites! She’s such a happy girl, whether she’s sitting quietly at your feet while you work from home or riding in the car on her way to a long hike. Beatrice has exactly one issue that’s kept her from being adopted, which is that she is 100% the boss when it comes to other animals, so she needs a home with no other pets and an owner who will keep her safely away from any other cats or dogs. With humans, though? Beatrice is just remarkable—silly, snuggly, and smiley. Visit Beatrice at Second Chance Pet Adoptions, or learn more about her and apply to adopt at www.SecondChanceNC.org. You can also catch her on Instagram—her username is @AdoptPrettyBeatrice!
Are you looking for that one special dog that will cuddle with your family or play a game of frisbee in the backyard? A dog that is house trained and has great manners in your home? Well, look no further! Libby is a volunteer favorite! When a volunteer took her home for a day, the volunteer’s entire household was very impressed and noticed that she has a playful and friendly demeanor, but she’s also pretty shy and quiet, too.
Libby already knows sit, come, stay, and down. She’ll do best as an only pet or in a home with no cats.
Libby has heartworms, but it’s treatable and not contagious. To help with the medical cost, a $750 sponsorship for treatment is provided by Friends of Wake County Animal Center (friendsofwcac@outlook.com). Friends of Wake County Animal Center can walk you through the process of treatment and help you find a vet.
Libby is ready to go home today – she is up to date on vaccinations, flea/tick, and heartworm prevention, is microchipped, and is already spayed. If you have dogs or cats, we recommend slow introductions over time. If you have children in your home, we recommend supervision between animals and children at all times.
Rabies Clinic | Saturday, April 2nd | 9AM-11AM | Wake County Animal Center
Get your furbabies their rabies vaccine for $5! First come, first serve basis. Cash Only. For more information, click here.
Merken is everything you could ever want in a cat! He’s a staff favorite at the SPCA. This 4-year-old guy is a huge snuggle bug who loves curling up on your lap or putting his paws up on you to ask for some attention. He likes to spend his days hanging out with people, lounging in cozy beds, or chirping all of his thoughts at you. He’s very tolerant of being picked up and handled, so he’d probably be great with children! Merken has FeLV, which is communicable to other cats, so he’d do best in a home where he can be the only cat (or live with other FeLV+ cats). But frankly, Merken is all the cat you’ll ever need! Merken is neutered, microchipped, and fully vaccinated. Plus — his adoption fee is waived! Learn more about adopting this handsome snuggle bug by going to spcawake.org or visiting the SPCA Wake Pet Adoption Center in Raleigh.
“Good looking, check; affectionate check; sweet, double check! I’m a darling and good boy who’s a bit stressed here at the shelter. I’m sure to settle well in my new home. I’m a bit unsure meeting new friends, please go slow with me. I’d love a home where I can gain confidence, have gentle affection, and lots of love! I’m so special that I’ve been crowned Pet of the Week! Won’t you come and see me today?”
Our Fursday Pet of the Week is Rayo from Animal Protection Society of Durham!
“Good looking, check; affectionate check; sweet, double check! I’m a darling and good boy who’s a bit stressed here at the shelter. I’m sure to settle well in my new home. I’m a bit unsure meeting new friends, please go slow with me. I’d love a home where I can gain confidence, have gentle affection, and lots of love! I’m so special that I’ve been crowned Pet of the Week! Won’t you come and see me today?”
Rayo is a charmer and a sweetheart who is a little shy at the shelter. Come by and visit him to see if he’s the right fit for your family!
Heather tours the Animal Protection Society of Durham!
Walk for the Animals: May 28, 2022 from 10AM – 1PM
Animal Protection Society of Durham (APS) is excited to announce registration is open for the 2022 Walk for the Animals Event. An annual fundraiser, this year the Walk for the Animals is back in person on May 28th from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The community is encouraged to register, raise funds and join us for the fun 1.5-mile walk around Duke University’s East Campus. The purpose of this community effort is to raise money and awareness for the nearly 4,000 homeless and neglected pets throughout the Durham community that rely on APS’s care.
Participants can register as individuals or as a team – recruiting friends, family and coworkers to join. Registration is available online through our Walk webpage: www.apsofdurham.org/2022walk. The Walk for the Animals this year promises to be fun for all ages with entertainment, food, adoptable animals, a children’s fun zone and even pet contests for Best Kisser, Best Look-alike, Best Trick, Biggest and Smallest Dog, and Best Dressed. GFL Environmental and the Riefkohl Family are the 2022 Walk for the Animals Presenting Sponsors, along with Top Dog sponsors Broadway Veterinary Hospital and Verdesca Creative
APS of Durham 2117 E. Club Blvd. | Durham, NC | 27704
Our Fursday Pet of the Week is Merken from SPCA of Wake County!
Merken is everything you could ever want in a cat! He’s a staff favorite at the SPCA. This 4-year-old guy is a huge snuggle bug who loves curling up on your lap or putting his paws up on you to ask for some attention. He likes to spend his days hanging out with people, lounging in cozy beds, or chirping all of his thoughts at you. He’s very tolerant of being picked up and handled, so he’d probably be great with children! Merken has FeLV, which is communicable to other cats, so he’d do best in a home where he can be the only cat (or live with other FeLV+ cats). But frankly, Merken is all the cat you’ll ever need! Merken is neutered, microchipped, and fully vaccinated. Plus — his adoption fee is waived! Learn more about adopting this handsome snuggle bug by going to spcawake.org or visiting the SPCA Wake Pet Adoption Center in Raleigh.
Join Heather on a tour of the SPCA of Wake County!
SPCA Wake is hosting a low-cost vaccine/microchip clinic on Saturday, March 26th. Rabies vaccines and microchips are just $5 each, and feline FVRCP and canine DAPP vaccines are FREE thanks to a grant from PetcoLove. There are no income or residence requirements — all are welcome! All you need to do to attend is pre-register to secure your spot. Visit spcawake.org for more information about participating in this clinic.
SPCA Wake offers low-cost spay/neuter surgeries for cats and dogs through its Saving Lives Spay/Neuter Clinic (right next door to the SPCA’s Pet Adoption Center in Raleigh). The purpose of this clinic is to make spay/neuter accessible for pet owners from all over by substantially reducing the cost. Other services are available at the time of spay/neuter such as microchips, heartworm testing for dogs, FIV/FeLV testing for cats, vaccines, and more. For more information or to schedule your pet’s spay/neuter appointment, visit spcawake.org/fix
SPCA of Wake County 200 Petfinder Lane | Raleigh, NC | 27603 (919) 772-2326 | spcawake.org
Our Fursday Pet of the Week is Libby from Wake County Animal Center!
Are you looking for that one special dog that will cuddle with your family or play a game of frisbee in the backyard? A dog that is house trained and has great manners in your home? Well, look no further! Libby is a volunteer favorite! When a volunteer took her home for a day, the volunteer’s entire household was very impressed and noticed that she has a playful and friendly demeanor, but she’s also pretty shy and quiet, too.
Libby already knows sit, come, stay, and down. She’ll do best as an only pet or in a home with no cats.
Libby has heartworms, but it’s treatable and not contagious. To help with the medical cost, a $750 sponsorship for treatment is provided by Friends of Wake County Animal Center (friendsofwcac@outlook.com). Friends of Wake County Animal Center can walk you through the process of treatment and help you find a vet.
Libby is ready to go home today – she is up to date on vaccinations, flea/tick, and heartworm prevention, is microchipped, and is already spayed. If you have dogs or cats, we recommend slow introductions over time. If you have children in your home, we recommend supervision between animals and children at all times.
Our Fursday Pet of the Week is Beatrice from Second Chance Pet Adoptions!
Today we’re looking for a special listener for a special dog: Beatrice, a 5-year-old black and white pit mix. We rescued Beatrice from a county shelter after being absolutely dazzled by her pearly whites! She’s such a happy girl, whether she’s sitting quietly at your feet while you work from home or riding in the car on her way to a long hike. Beatrice has exactly one issue that’s kept her from being adopted, which is that she is 100% the boss when it comes to other animals, so she needs a home with no other pets and an owner who will keep her safely away from any other cats or dogs. With humans, though? Beatrice is just remarkable—silly, snuggly, and smiley. Visit Beatrice at Second Chance Pet Adoptions, or learn more about her and apply to adopt at www.SecondChanceNC.org. You can also catch her on Instagram—her username is @AdoptPrettyBeatrice!
Yoga instructor Adriana Ortiz invites you to an afternoon of flow with your pup on Sunday, March 6, for a good cause! Adriana will be instructing a BYOD (Bring Your Own Dog) slow flow class from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for all levels. The class will be held at West Street Dog; space is limited.
Bring your dog to Unleashed and Second Chance volunteers will bathe your pup for you! Spare you knees, back, and bathroom by making a contribution to Second Chance (recommended $10 per dog) so more stray and abandoned cats and dogs can get their second chances to find love. Cash, check, and credit card are all accepted on-site; your dog can get a bath as a walk-in or you can make an appointment via our website.
Come out to PNC Arena see the Carolina Hurricanes and celebrate our canine friends (Second Chance will be on the concourse!). Join the Canes as they take on the Dallas Stars on March 24, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. A portion of each ticket purchased will be donated to Second Chance and to the SPCA of Wake County. Ticket prices have been reduced just for this special event, so get yours now HERE!
Featuring separate, timed 5K races for runners with dogs and runners without dogs, a 1.5-mile walking course for people with or without dogs, and adoptable dogs looking to visit with YOU! This event is now a hybrid event! Folks can participate from anywhere in the U.S.!
Prepare yourself for FUN! I’m a great and jolly guy ready to find the home and yard of my dreams! I’m a cheery guy who loves to have fun and play. I’m a bit jumpy and am high energy. I’d love a home where I can learn basic manners, play, and have plenty of activities to do. Let’s meet today!
APS of Durham 2117 E. Club Blvd. | Durham, NC | 27704
Our Fursday Pet of the Week is Elicia from SPCA of Wake County!
This happy little wiggle-butt is 9-month-old Elicia! Elicia is 32 lbs. and may grow to be around 40-50 lbs. Elicia is a lovable, snuggly, and playful puppy that was rescued by SPCA Wake after being found abandoned. But she doesn’t let it get her down — she is just excited to be here and to meet and greet everyone she can! Elicia knows a few tricks like “sit” and “lie down”. She’s working on finishing up her housetraining so she can be a great inside dog for her new family. Luckily, she’s very food-motivated, so she’s an eager student to learn as much as she can! Since she’s still basically a puppy, Elicia would do best with a family who can spend plenty of time with her to play, practice training, and help her use her energy in positive ways. She should have a home without cats, though (they’re a little too interesting to her). For more information on adopting Elicia, please visit spcawake.org.
ADOPTION SPECIAL: For Valentine’s Day, SPCA Wake is offering 50% off adoption fees for all adult dogs! Find your pawfect match and forever valentine by adopting a shelter pet. For more information, click the link above to visit the SPCA’s website.
SPCA of Wake County 200 Petfinder Lane | Raleigh, NC | 27603 (919) 772-2326 | spcawake.org
Our Fursday Pet of the Week is Katydid from Wake County Animal Center!
Awesome dog alert!! Katydid is a four-year-old American Staffy mix. She loves hugs and cuddles and is a volunteer favorite. Her previous owner had great things to say about her – she’s crate training, potty trained, and is an all-around good girl. She does currently weight roughly 95lbs and should weight about 50-55lbs at her ideal weight. Katydid will need a home that can help her lose the weight appropriately – not too fast and without a ton of strenuous exercise. Slowly and will shorter walks and exercises will be best. Right now, she can get fatigued quickly and could get grumpy with less respectful dogs and humans. She is already spayed, is up-to-date on vaccines, and ready to go home today.
Our Fursday Pet of the Week is Nesquik from Second Chance Pet Adoptions!
Meet Nesquik, this adorable 6 month old boy is looking for his forever home. Nesquik is a social butterfly and loves to be around people. He is the life of the party. Like all kittens Nesquik loves to play. You will almost always find him chasing a toy around the room. Or wrestling with one of his roommates. He is also very cuddly and enjoys being held. He does need to go to a dog free home. He MUST have another cat in the home. If there are no other cats he MUST have a home with children to keep him busy. If you think this adorable little boy is a good fit for your family come meet him today!
Don’t miss Second Chance Pet Adoptions February Fundraisers:
Mookie’s New York DeliFundraiser: Mookie’s New York Deli is once again hosting a fundraiser for Second Chance in celebration of their namesake’s birthday! You (and your dog–they have a K9 menu!) can join the birthday pawty for their big Samoyed pup by ordering from Mookie’s NY Deli on February 8, when 10% of sales will be donated to the cats and dogs in our care.
Papa Murphy’s Fundraiser: Whether you’re feeling ravenous or romantic (or both), Papa Murphy’s has got you covered on February 9: using the code “DONATE,” place an order for take-and-bake pizza (make it a Heart Baker if ya want!), mention Second Chance Pet Adoptions when you pick up the pizza, and Papa Murphy’s will donate 33% of your order to the cats and dogs in our care!
Our Fursday Pet of the Week is Chloe from SPCA of Wake County!
Nope that’s not a wolf — that’s a Chloe! This heart-meltingly sweet 3-year-old girl has been waiting for a home at SPCA Wake since June of 2021. She’s been patiently waiting to find her future family, and all the staff and volunteers at SPCA Wake has been rooting for her! Chloe has a heart condition that she will live with for the rest of her life, but with the help of daily medication and the right diet, she is maintaining well and can continue to live a happy, exciting life in her forever home. She’s looking for someone who’d be willing to take a special needs dog like her into their family and love her unconditionally. Chloe is very gentle and affectionate. She loves cuddling and leaning into your legs to give “dog hugs”. She knows “sit” and “lie down”. And the best thing in the world according to Chloe? Squeaky toys! Squeak a toy within a 50 foot radius of Chloe to watch her eyes light up and her bounces come out. For more information about Chloe please go to spcawake.org — or visit her in person and experience all her love first-hand at the SPCA of Wake County Pet Adoption Center in Raleigh!
Rocko is a low-key senior that came to the shelter recently as a stray. Like most seniors, he appreciates a good soft padded bed and naps. Despite his age, he still enjoys going out for (slow) walks and loves a good treat. He is extremely sweet and the look of love in his eyes will capture your heart in an instant.
Rocko is ready to go home today – he is up to date on vaccinations, flea/tick, and heartworm prevention, is microchipped, and is already neutered. If you have dogs or cats, we recommend slow introductions over time. If you have children in your home, we recommend supervision between animals and children at all times.
Meet Leo from Second Chance Pet Adoptions, our Fursday pet of the week!
Leo is an 11 year, 5-month-old calm kitty that is ready to give you the biggest hug! He loves his humans, and would be fine with other mellow cats, but would also thrive as the only kitty! He is currently on a prescription diet to keep his urinary tract healthy, and, even better news, his adoption fee has been sponsored! Leo came to Second Chance declawed in his front paws, and is ready to prepare many biscuits for his future humans!
Sweet and gentle is how the volunteers described Dora. She came to the Center as a stray so we don’t know her background. Dora does head butts for attention. She uses her litter tray so she is probably litter box trained. Dora is a small kitty with beautiful gray stripes on her legs and tail. Her left eye is cloudy due to an old injury. It doesn’t seem to bother her and seems to be improving. She is shy at first and will need a patient adopter. Dora should be an inside kitty. Dora needs a quiet home, possibly with a single person or couple.
Wake County Animal Center | 820 Beacon Lake Drive Raleigh NC 27610 | pets.wakegov.com
With eight years of practice in the fine art of friendship, Buffy is more than prepared to be your co-pilot in life! She prefers to fly solo in terms of other furry friends, but Buffy has plenty of personality to fill your heart alone. This gal loves to join her humans on adventures and walks but avoids spending too much time on the grass due to her allergies. She is currently on a prescription diet and medication regimens (in addition to allergy drops) due to some severe allergies she holds. With these medications, she is stable and comfortable! The staff would be happy to tell you more about her medical needs upon inquiry. Buffy needs a foster home or a forever home; if you are interested in learning more about her, please visit www.secondchancenc.org. Most of our dogs are housed in foster homes, but since Buffy is still in need of one, she currently resides at Second Chance Pet Adoptions, where you can stop by Monday through Friday between the hours of 11 AM and 5 PM and meet her!
“Hello there! I’m a sweet and friendly girl who loves gentle affection! I’m super happy to meet new people and also love to explore. I’m playful too, toss a ball or toy for me and see! I really enjoy gentle affection and might even crawl into your lap or lean into you for more. I’d benefit from plenty of playtime and basic manners. Visit me today!”
Missy has had her adoption fee waived so that she can find a wonderful home soon. Please come by to meet her today!
Don’t miss our famous annual Gala coming up! Tails at Twilight 2021 is a “beyond the ballroom” online celebration of APS, with a live and silent auction, a mixology session with Alley Twenty Six and more. For more information: https://event.gives/tails2021.
APS of Durham 2117 E. Club Blvd. | Durham, NC | 27704
Meet Jane! This sweet, smushy girl was found as a stray in Harnett County, and now she’s looking for a family of her very own. Jane is 2 years old and weighs about 50 lbs. Unfortunately she is battling heartworms, but she is receiving a full course of treatment through SPCA Wake. Jane is playful, cuddly, and up for anything! She loves meeting all kinds of people and has a very outgoing, curious personality. Jane is spayed, microchipped, and fully vaccinated. Interested adopters can get more information about Jane at spcawake.org
Did you know your holiday gifts could be helping save homeless pets? Shop SPCA Wake’s Holiday Gift Guide at spcawake.org/giftguide for symbolic sponsorships that support the SPCA’s life-saving programs in most urgent need of funding, such as the Hope for Heartworm Positive Dogs which contributes to heartworm treatments for dogs just like Jane!
SPCA of Wake County 200 Petfinder Lane | Raleigh, NC | 27603 (919) 772-2326 | spcawake.org
Hello there, thanks for stopping by to meet me. I’m Tyson and as you can see, I’m a handsome young man. I’ve been at the shelter for a while now and eager to find a family of my own. Being just over a year, I’m out of the puppy stages, but I do need regular exercise. I am an active boy and love to go on walks or romp in the doggy play yard. I have been in supervised playgroups with male and female dogs at the shelter and have done well. In fact they call me the unisex tester because they use me to try out the other dogs, males and females. I enjoy running around and being chased. I also love when the nice volunteers take me on long walks. It helps get my energy out. I would do best in a home with an active family that can keep me busy and give me several walks per day. A yard to run in would be a huge bonus for me. I am a happy boy and eager to please. Please visit me today and see how special I am. Big hugs, Tyson.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – Hurricane season is officially underway and NOAA is predicting a stormy ride for 2025. The Atlantic forecast includes 19 named storms, nine hurricanes and four that could reach major strength before the season ends November 30.
“North Carolina has seen the devastation hurricanes can cause firsthand,” said North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. “Last year, Hurricane Helene tore through our state, leaving behind massive damage and many people in western North Carolina are still recovering.”
According to Causey, early preparation is critical to protect lives and property before a storm makes landfall.
Hurricane Helene hit hard last fall—bringing deadly floods and destruction to western North Carolina. With 107 lives lost and billions in damage, Commissioner Causey is now looking ahead, offering practical advice in a new video to help residents brace for whatever the 2025 hurricane season may bring.
There are multiple things Causey suggests you do to prepare for this upcoming hurricane season:
“Have an emergency kit,” said Causey, “You can go to our website (ncdoi.gov) we’ve got some tips. Most of these agencies like Red Cross, American’s First, a lot of those websites have tips on hurricane preparedness.”
Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey offers essential tips and information to prepare North Carolinians for the start of the 2025 hurricane season on June 1. (Video by N.C. Department of Insurance
Make sure you have adequate insurance coverage. Know exactly what your insurance policy covers. Homeowners’ policies do not cover flooding. Be aware there is a 30-day waiting period before flood policies take effect. If you rent, your landlord’s insurance only covers the building, not your belongings. You’ll need renters’ insurance to protect your personal items.
“You have to have a separate flood insurance policy either through the federal flood insurance program which is under FEMA or through a private flood insurance policy,” said Causey. “It was almost a similar thing with Hurricane Helene.”
Compile important documents. Gather important paperwork, including insurance policies, medical records and prescriptions. Be prepared to bring copies with you if you are forced to evacuate your home. Know how to get in touch with your insurance agent and company.
“Be sure to have a home inventory,” said Causey. “If you haven’t done this you need to go through your house, room to room, and take pictures with your cell phone or take a video.”
Store your home inventory and related documents in a safe, easily accessible place online, on your smart phone, on your computer or in a fire-proof box or safe deposit box.
Identify potential hazards around your home. Hanging tree branches, loose shingles, patio furniture and other outdoor objects can cause damage or injuries in a storm. Make repairs or secure large objects to reduce the threat.
Check your emergency toolkit and to-go bag. Update items such as food, medicine and batteries. Make sure to include items for every member of your family, including pets.
Electricity may go out, so make sure you have extra drinking water. Also, fill the bathtub with water for bathing and flushing the toilet.
Despite all the preparation you may do before the storm, it will not prevent the storm from happening. Causey has multiple procedures for keeping you and your family safe during a hurricane:
If officials advise you to shelter in place during a storm, take it seriously—your safety could depend on it. Stay away from windows, glass doors and skylights, which can shatter in high winds and send debris flying. Instead, hunker down in a secure interior room on the lowest floor of your home—unless there’s a risk of flooding, in which case you’ll want to head for higher ground.
Make sure your cell phone is fully charged before severe weather hits. It may be your only way to stay informed or call for help. If there’s lightning in the area, avoid using landlines altogether. And if flooding becomes a threat, turn off the electricity at the main breaker to prevent electrical hazards.
Don’t go outside until officials give the all-clear. Storm conditions can shift quickly, and hazards like downed power lines or hidden floodwaters can linger long after the skies clear. If you’re ordered to evacuate, stay away from home until officials say it’s safe to return.
Unfortunately, scams often follow in the wake of a major storm. Commissioner Causey urges storm victims to steer clear of fraud by working only with licensed, insured contractors. The NCDOI’s Criminal Investigations Division has Special Agents on the case every day, tracking down insurance fraud across the state.
After a storm, one of your first steps should be to contact your homeowners’ insurance agent or company to report any losses. Even if you hold a separate windstorm or hail policy, your primary insurer will still handle the investigation and adjust your claim. Keep in mind, though—after a major storm, insurers are often swamped with claims, so patience will be key.
Start by documenting the damage. Make a thorough list and take clear photos before making any temporary repairs. Then, do what you can to prevent things from getting worse. For example, placing a tarp over a damaged roof can help keep water from seeping in. Save your receipts—reasonable expenses to protect your home are considered part of the loss and may be reimbursed by your insurer.
Hold off on permanent repairs until your insurance company has had a chance to inspect the damage and you’ve reached an agreement on costs. You should also check with them before throwing out any damaged materials or items—they may need to be documented.
If the damage leaves your home uninhabitable, talk with your insurance company about what temporary living expenses are covered. Knowing what to expect can make a tough situation more manageable.
For more information on how to be prepared before, during and after any storm, visit www.ncdoi.gov/disaster or contact the NCDOI Consumer Services Division at 1-855-408-1212.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast is retiring after missing this season with a neck injury sustained in the 2023-24 regular-season finale.
Fast, 33, announced his decision Monday.
“I never took for granted the privilege of playing in the best league in the world,” Fast said in a statement issued by the team.
“I am grateful for all of the teammates, coaches, staff and fans from the Rangers and Hurricanes who made my time in the NHL so special, and for my family for everything they did to help me achieve and live my dream. I’d also like to thank Nassjo HC and HV71, organizations that played a vital role in my development into an NHL player.”
Fast hadn’t played since April 2024 when Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson cross-checked him from behind into the boards. Carolina was headed to the playoffs and resting numerous players in a game that had no bearing on the standings.
“That’s the part that just makes you sick, to be honest with you,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said that night. “You’re just trying to get through the game without having that. I’m not sure where that’s going to go.”
Fast wore a neck brace when he spoke with reporters during end-of-year interviews roughly a month later.
“It’s definitely one of the toughest periods of my career,” Fast said after the Hurricanes fell to the Rangers in Round 2 of the playoffs.
Fast first signed with Carolina in October 2020, then re-signed to a two-year, $4.8 million extension in July 2023.
He had six postseason goals during Carolina’s run to the 2023 Eastern Conference final, including an overtime winner in Game 2 of the first-round series against the New York Islanders and the series clincher against the New Jersey Devils in a five-game second-round series.
Fast played 703 career regular-season games in the NHL with the Rangers and Hurricanes over 11 seasons, tallying 91 goals and 157 assists. He was a sixth-round draft pick by the Rangers in 2010.
Disney’s live-action hybrid “Lilo & Stitch” took first place again with $63 million from 4,410 locations in North America. It was enough to pass “Sinners” to become the second-highest grossing movie of the year with $280.1 million in domestic ticket sales. Globally, its running total is $610.8 million. “Sinners,” meanwhile, is still going strong in its seventh weekend with another $5.2 million, bumping it to $267.1 million domestically and $350.1 million globally.
The eighth “Mission: Impossible” movie also repeated in second place, with $27.3 million from 3,861 locations. As with “Lilo & Stitch,” that’s down 57% from its opening. With $122.6 million in domestic tickets sold, it’s performing in line with the two previous installments. But with a reported production budget of $400 million, profitability is a ways off. Internationally, it added $76.1 million (including $25.2 million from China where it just opened), bringing its global total to $353.8 million.
“This is the year of longterm playability,” said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s senior media analyst. “The currency of word of mouth and the strong hold is more important than opening weekend dollars.”
Leading the newcomers was Sony’s “Karate Kid: Legends,” with an estimated $21 million from 3,809 locations. The movie brings Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio together to train a new kid, the kung fu prodigy Li Fong ( Ben Wang ). Chan starred in a 2010 reboot of the 1984 original, while Macchio has found a new generation of fans in the series “Cobra Kai,” which just concluded a six-season run.
Reviews might have been mixed, but opening weekend audiences gave the PG-13 rated film a strong A- CinemaScore and 4.5 stars on PostTrak. It also only cost a reported $45 million to produce and has several weeks until a new family-friendly film arrives. “Karate Kid: Legends” opened earlier internationally and has a worldwide total of $47 million.
Fourth place went “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” which earned $10.8 million in its third weekend. The movie is the highest-grossing in the franchise, not accounting for inflation, with $229.3 million globally.
The weekend’s other big newcomer, “Bring Her Back” rounded out the top five with $7.1 million from 2,449 screens. Starring Sally Hawkins as a foster mother with some disturbing plans, the film is the sophomore feature of twin filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou, who made the 2023 horror breakout “Talk to Me.” It earned a rare-for-horror B+ CinemaScore and is essentially the only new film in the genre until “28 Years Later” opens on June 20.
A new Wes Anderson movie, “The Phoenician Scheme,” also debuted in New York and Los Angeles this weekend, where it made $270,000. It expands nationwide next weekend.
The summer box office forecast remains promising, though there’s a long way to go to get to the $4 billion target (a pre-pandemic norm that only the “Barbenheimer” summer has surpassed). The month of May is expected to close out with $973 million – up 75% from May 2024, according to data from Comscore.
Top 10 movies by domestic box office
With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
1. “Lilo & Stitch,” $63 million.
2. “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” $27.3 million.
The Ocrafolk Festival is on Ocracoke Island from June 6th-8th this year. They have musicians, storytellers, artisans and much more fun to be had for the whole family. It a festival celebrating a community with a mission to help support one another.
Photo by Getty Images
Raleigh’s International Food Festival
Raleigh’s International Food Festival will be celebrating their 10 Year Anniversay this June 7th in Downtown Raleigh. Admissions is free so come on down to the Capital City and just eat everything from everywhere all at once! With over 120 food trucks to choose from there is bound to be something you want to try at least once.
Photo by Getty Images
Cherry Bounce Festival in Forest City
This festival is named after the moonshiner Amos Owen’s corn whiskey based “Cherry Bounce” moonshine. This weekend long festival starts Friday, June 6th and has local and regional art, live bands of bluegrass and Americana, and many moonshine and cherry-inspired items from local businesses and eatries. And the best news: it’s FREE!
Photo by Getty Images
North Carolina Blueberry Festival in Burgaw
It’s time to celebrate one of summer’s best fruits, the humble blueberry. Come out to Burgaw, North Carolina for the Blueberry Festival on Friday, June 20th and Saturday, June 21st. There will be blueberry and BBQ sales, a blueberry stome, live bands, a pie eating contest, and a beer and wine garden.
Photo by Getty Images
Apex Juneteenth Festival
Juneteenth is an important day in celebrating the end of slavery in the United States. And we celebrate it through education and entertainment so come out to Apex, Saturday, June 21st at Town Hall Campus from 12pm to 7. There is live music and entertaiment, Juneteenth stories, local vendors, and Chalk the Walk.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Arrange phyllo cups on the prepared baking sheet. Place 1 piece Brie cheese into each phyllo cup. Top each Brie piece with about 1/2 teaspoon raspberry preserves.
Bake in the preheated oven until Brie is melted, about 7 minutes.
HICKORY, N.C. (AP) — Gunfire erupted around a house party in western North Carolina early Sunday and one person was killed and 11 others were hurt, some with gunshot wounds and others with injuries from fleeing the shooting in a usually quiet residential neighborhood, sheriff’s deputies said.
Authorities said at least 80 shots were fired in the shooting that began at about 12:45 a.m. People reported running, ducking for cover and scrambling to their cars for safety. Hours later Sunday, law enforcement had made no arrests and was seeking tips from the public in the case.
A statement from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office said a 58-year-old man, Shawn Patrick Hood, of Lenoir, was killed, the oldest of the victims who ranged in age from as young as 16. It said seven of the injured remained hospitalized late Sunday, though updates on their conditions were not immediately released. One of the victims was previously reported in critical condition.
Authorities believe there was more than one shooter, a sheriff’s spokesperson said. The agency said it was asking for people who attended the party to contact the office.
Sheriff’s office Maj. Aaron Turk aid at a news conference that the shooting occurred in a normally quiet neighbhoord in southwest Catawba County about 7 miles (11 kilometers) south of the city of Hickory.
He said that about two hours before the shooting, someone in another home complained about noise from the party. He added that deputies responded but that investigators don’t believe the noise complaint was the motivation for the shooting.
Turk said the crime scene spanned several properties along a neighborhood road, covering about two acres (0.8 hectares), and included outdoor and indoor areas.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Hickory Police Department are investigating the shooting. The FBI is also assisting in the case with a specialized evidence response team, officials said.
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This story has been updated to correct that the total number of victims, including the person who died, is 12 and not 11 overall.
A three-year exercise program improved survival in colon cancer patients and kept disease at bay, a first-of-its-kind international experiment showed.
With the benefits rivaling some drugs, experts said cancer centers and insurance plans should consider making exercise coaching a new standard of care for colon cancer survivors. Until then, patients can increase their physical activity after treatment, knowing they are doing their part to prevent cancer from coming back.
“It’s an extremely exciting study,” said Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who wasn’t involved in the research. It’s the first randomized controlled trial to show a reduction in cancer recurrences and improved survival linked to exercise, Meyerhardt said.
Prior evidence was based on comparing active people with sedentary people, a type of study that can’t prove cause and effect. The new study — conducted in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Israel and the United States — compared people who were randomly selected for an exercise program with those who instead received an educational booklet.
“This is about as high a quality of evidence as you can get,” said Dr. Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. “I love this study because it’s something I’ve been promoting but with less strong evidence for a long time.”
The findings were featured Sunday at ASCO’s annual meeting in Chicago and published by the New England Journal of Medicine. Academic research groups in Canada, Australia and the U.K. funded the work.
Researchers followed 889 patients with treatable colon cancer who had completed chemotherapy. Half were given information promoting fitness and nutrition. The others worked with a coach, meeting every two weeks for a year, then monthly for the next two years.
Coaches helped participants find ways to increase their physical activity. Many people, including Terri Swain-Collins, chose to walk for about 45 minutes several times a week.
“This is something I could do for myself to make me feel better,” said Swain-Collins, 62, of Kingston, Ontario. Regular contact with a friendly coach kept her motivated and accountable, she said. “I wouldn’t want to go there and say, ‘I didn’t do anything,’ so I was always doing stuff and making sure I got it done.”
After eight years, the people in the structured exercise program not only became more active than those in the control group but also had 28% fewer cancers and 37% fewer deaths from any cause. There were more muscle strains and other similar problems in the exercise group.
“When we saw the results, we were just astounded,” said study co-author Dr. Christopher Booth, a cancer doctor at Kingston Health Sciences Centre in Kingston, Ontario.
Exercise programs can be offered for several thousand dollars per patient, Booth said, “a remarkably affordable intervention that will make people feel better, have fewer cancer recurrences and help them live longer.”
Researchers collected blood from participants and will look for clues tying exercise to cancer prevention, whether through insulin processing or building up the immune system or something else.
Swain-Collins’ coaching program ended, but she is still exercising. She listens to music while she walks in the countryside near her home.
That kind of behavior change can be achieved when people believe in the benefits, when they find ways to make it fun and when there’s a social component, said paper co-author Kerry Courneya, who studies exercise and cancer at the University of Alberta. The new evidence will give cancer patients a reason to stay motivated.
“Now we can say definitively exercise causes improvements in survival,” Courneya said.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
A three-year exercise program improved survival in colon cancer patients and kept disease at bay, a first-of-its-kind international experiment showed.
With the benefits rivaling some drugs, experts said cancer centers and insurance plans should consider making exercise coaching a new standard of care for colon cancer survivors. Until then, patients can increase their physical activity after treatment, knowing they are doing their part to prevent cancer from coming back.
“It’s an extremely exciting study,” said Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who wasn’t involved in the research. It’s the first randomized controlled trial to show a reduction in cancer recurrences and improved survival linked to exercise, Meyerhardt said.
Prior evidence was based on comparing active people with sedentary people, a type of study that can’t prove cause and effect. The new study — conducted in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Israel and the United States — compared people who were randomly selected for an exercise program with those who instead received an educational booklet.
“This is about as high a quality of evidence as you can get,” said Dr. Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. “I love this study because it’s something I’ve been promoting but with less strong evidence for a long time.”
The findings were featured Sunday at ASCO’s annual meeting in Chicago and published by the New England Journal of Medicine. Academic research groups in Canada, Australia and the U.K. funded the work.
Researchers followed 889 patients with treatable colon cancer who had completed chemotherapy. Half were given information promoting fitness and nutrition. The others worked with a coach, meeting every two weeks for a year, then monthly for the next two years.
Coaches helped participants find ways to increase their physical activity. Many people, including Terri Swain-Collins, chose to walk for about 45 minutes several times a week.
“This is something I could do for myself to make me feel better,” said Swain-Collins, 62, of Kingston, Ontario. Regular contact with a friendly coach kept her motivated and accountable, she said. “I wouldn’t want to go there and say, ‘I didn’t do anything,’ so I was always doing stuff and making sure I got it done.”
After eight years, the people in the structured exercise program not only became more active than those in the control group but also had 28% fewer cancers and 37% fewer deaths from any cause. There were more muscle strains and other similar problems in the exercise group.
“When we saw the results, we were just astounded,” said study co-author Dr. Christopher Booth, a cancer doctor at Kingston Health Sciences Centre in Kingston, Ontario.
Exercise programs can be offered for several thousand dollars per patient, Booth said, “a remarkably affordable intervention that will make people feel better, have fewer cancer recurrences and help them live longer.”
Researchers collected blood from participants and will look for clues tying exercise to cancer prevention, whether through insulin processing or building up the immune system or something else.
Swain-Collins’ coaching program ended, but she is still exercising. She listens to music while she walks in the countryside near her home.
That kind of behavior change can be achieved when people believe in the benefits, when they find ways to make it fun and when there’s a social component, said paper co-author Kerry Courneya, who studies exercise and cancer at the University of Alberta. The new evidence will give cancer patients a reason to stay motivated.
“Now we can say definitively exercise causes improvements in survival,” Courneya said.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Place the trimmed strawberries in a blender or food processor and puree them for a minute or so until smooth. You don’t want any strawberry chunks in the mixture.
Transfer the strawberry puree to a saucepan and add the lemon juice and sugar, if using. Turn the heat to medium high, and cook the mixture for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mixture is thick and jammy. The goal here is to cook out much of the moisture.
Preheat the oven to 170 degrees F, or as low as your oven will go, making sure it’s less than 200 degrees at the highest.
Spread the strawberry jam into a rectangle shape onto a baking pan lined with a silpat or parchment paper. You may use an offset spatula or a regular spatula to help spread the mixture as evenly as possible, until the rectangle is about 1/8 inch thick. Keep in mind the fruit leather will lose some of its thickness in the oven as it dehydrates, so make sure that none of the jam is so thin that you can see through it as you spread.
Cook in the oven for 3-4 hours, until the fruit mixture no longer feels sticky, just a bit tacky. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely. Transfer to a cutting board lined with wax paper, and use a pizza cutter to cut long strips. Roll them up into the fruit rollups, and enjoy!
