Category Archives: State/Regional

North Carolina Senate race sets up as a fight over who would be a champion for the middle class

North Carolina Senate race sets up as a fight over who would be a champion for the middle class

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democrats still in the dumps over last year’s elections have found cause for optimism in North Carolina, where former Gov. Roy Cooper jumped into the race for that state’s newly open seat with a vow to address voters’ persistent concerns about making ends meet. Republicans, meanwhile, are hardly ceding the economic populist ground President Donald Trump held in carrying the state last year. In announcing his candidacy for Senate on Thursday, Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley credited Trump with fulfilling campaign promises to working Americans. Cooper’s plainspoken appeal represents the latest effort by Democrats to find their way back to power.… Continue Reading

Michael Whatley, RNC chairman endorsed by Trump, launches Senate bid in North Carolina

Michael Whatley, RNC chairman endorsed by Trump, launches Senate bid in North Carolina

GASTONIA, N.C. (AP) — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley has launched his campaign for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat. Whatley made his formal announcement on Thursday. He already has President Donald Trump’s endorsement and access to a strong fundraising network. Whatley could face Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper in what’s expected to be one of the most competitive and expensive 2026 contests. The winner will succeed GOP Sen. Thom Tillis, who recently announced he would not run for a third term. Whatley has led the state Republican Party and was elected the national chairman last year. Cooper announced his candidacy earlier this week. National Republican strategists say Cooper’s entry makes North Carolina a more challenging seat for the GOP to hold.… Continue Reading

Fireflies are lighting up summer skies. But the glowing bugs are still on the decline

Fireflies are lighting up summer skies. But the glowing bugs are still on the decline

NEW YORK (AP) — More fireflies than usual are lighting up summer evenings in the U.S. Northeast. But scientists say the lightning bugs are still on the decline. A particularly wet spring may have created the ideal conditions for young fireflies to grow into adults and set summer nights aglow. There are over 2,000 known firefly species across the globe. While evenings in the Northeast may seem brighter this summer, the bugs are actually waning at a faster rate than ever before. To look out for fireflies, consider turning the lights off at night and avoid spraying front lawns with insecticides.… Continue Reading

NTSB finds Army chopper in fatal midair crash with plane was above altitude limit

NTSB finds Army chopper in fatal midair crash with plane was above altitude limit

Investigators have found that a helicopter involved in a deadly crash with a passenger plane over Washington was flying above its height limit. The helicopter’s altitude-measuring instrument was also inaccurate. These findings were revealed during the first day of National Transportation Safety Board hearings. The crash, which occurred in January, killed 67 people. The board is examining how the Federal Aviation Administration and the Army may have contributed to the incident. The hearings will continue for three days, focusing on military helicopter routes, collision avoidance technology, and air traffic controller training at Ronald Reagan National Airport.… Continue Reading

Some North Carolina Democratic lawmakers break from party to pass Republican priorities

Some North Carolina Democratic lawmakers break from party to pass Republican priorities

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican lawmakers and some Democrats have overridden eight of Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s 14 vetoes. Tuesday’s override votes were a test for the GOP after the House lost its Republican supermajority during last year’s election. Republicans succeeded in enacting some bills targeting transgender rights and allowing guns on private school property. They accomplished the overrides with the help of some House Democrats. Democrats did block override votes on bills on permitless concealed carry and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Those bills can still be overridden at a later date.… Continue Reading

Union Pacific and Norfolk seek 1st transcontinental railroad through a massive merger

Union Pacific and Norfolk seek 1st transcontinental railroad through a massive merger

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific is seeking to buy Norfolk Southern in a $85 billion deal that would create the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S, and potentially trigger a final wave of rail mergers across the country. The proposed merger, announced Tuesday, would marry Union Pacific’s rail network in the West with Norfolk’s rails that snake across Eastern states. The nation was first linked by rail in 1869, when a golden railroad spike was driven in Utah to symbolize the connection of East and West Coasts. Yet no single entity has controlled that coast-to-coast passage that so many businesses rely on.… Continue Reading

Former Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will run for Senate in 2026

Former Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will run for Senate in 2026

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper will run for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina, giving Democrats a proven statewide winner in an open-seat race that is expected to be one of the most competitive 2026 contests. Cooper made the announcement Monday with a video released on social media and his campaign website. The former two-term governor will immediately become the front-runner for the Democratic nomination in the race to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley plans to run for the GOP nomination, with President Donald Trump’s blessing. Cooper’s candidacy is a big recruiting win for Democrats, who see the open seat as a top pick-up opportunity in what will be a challenging year.… Continue Reading

Renaming of military bases stirs debate over Confederate ties

Renaming of military bases stirs debate over Confederate ties

More than half a dozen Army bases’ names were changed in 2023 because they honored Confederate leaders. Those same bases are reverting back to their original names, this time with different namesakes who share Confederate surnames. Critics of the latest name changes argue it undermines efforts to move away from Confederate associations. The issue has long split people who favor preserving an aspect of southern heritage and those who want slavery-supporting rebels stripped of valor. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to restore the names is his latest move to align with Trump’s purging of diversity, equity and inclusion programs.… Continue Reading

Parts of the Appalachian Trail are still damaged after Helene. Volunteers are fixing it by hand

Parts of the Appalachian Trail are still damaged after Helene. Volunteers are fixing it by hand

UNICOI COUNTY, Tenn. (AP) — Volunteers are still rebuilding parts of the iconic Appalachian Trail in eastern Tennessee nearly a year after Hurricane Helene devastated the region. Two damaged spots along the trail require hikers to take detours. A group of volunteers and staffers with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and local groups worked on repairs at a spot on the trail near the destroyed Cherry Gap Shelter in mid-July. Volunteers say their priority is fixing root ball holes in the ground caused by fallen trees. The work is intensive and slow. But the group hopes it can improve the trail’s resiliency against future severe weather.… Continue Reading

Education Department says it will release billions in remaining withheld grant money for schools

Education Department says it will release billions in remaining withheld grant money for schools

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is releasing billions of dollars in grants to schools for adult literacy, English language instruction and other programs, the Education Department said Friday. President Donald Trump’s administration had withheld $6 billion in funding on July 1 as part of a review to ensure spending aligned with the White House’s priorities. Officials later said the department would release $1.3 billion of the money for after-school programs, days after 10 Republican senators sent a letter imploring the administration to allow frozen education money to be sent to states.… Continue Reading

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