Category Archives: WPTF News

Turmoil, worry swirl over cuts to key federal agencies as hurricane season begins

Turmoil, worry swirl over cuts to key federal agencies as hurricane season begins

WASHINGTON (AP) — As hurricane season begins, experts in storms and disasters are worried about massive cuts to the federal system that forecasts, tracks and responds to the storms. Experts are alarmed over the large-scale staff reductions, travel and training restrictions and grant cut-offs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 and is predicted to busier than average this year. Representatives of both NOAA and FEMA say the agencies are prepared.… Continue Reading

Taylor Swift has regained control of her music, buys back first 6 albums

Taylor Swift has regained control of her music, buys back first 6 albums

NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift says she’s has regained control over her entire body of work. In a lengthy note posted to her official website on Friday, Swift announced that all the music she’s ever made now belongs to her. According to the note, the pop star has purchased her catalog of recordings — originally released through Big Machine Records — from their most recent owner, the private equity firm Shamrock Capital. She did not disclose the amount. Over the last few years, Swift has been rerecording and releasing her early albums in an attempt to regain control of her music.… Continue Reading

Trump gives Elon Musk an Oval Office sendoff

Trump gives Elon Musk an Oval Office sendoff

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump bid farewell to Elon Musk in the Oval Office. The billionaire entrepreneur is ending his work in the administration on Friday. He had spearheaded the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, to slash federal spending. However, Musk fell far short of his targets and struggled in the unfamiliar environment of Washington. Thousands of people were laid off or pushed out of their jobs while litigation piled up. Musk plans to go back to running his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. He’s also said he’ll curtail political spending after becoming Trump’s biggest donor in last year’s presidential campaign.… Continue Reading

What’s in a name? A small fortune for businesses around Fort Bragg

What’s in a name? A small fortune for businesses around Fort Bragg

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Businesses around Fort Bragg in North Carolina are facing a challenge now that the Trump administration has once again renamed the military post. Fort Bragg and other military installations that were once name for Confederate figures from the Civil War were rebranded under the Biden administration. Fort Bragg became Fort Liberty. But a couple of months after Ralph Rodriguez opened Fort Liberty Pawn & Gun, the Defense Department changed the name back to Fort Bragg. Now the businessman is having to change signs, uniforms, stationery and government paperwork, costing about $30,000. Several other businesses are facing the same problem. And the name change is costing taxpayers, too. The state expects to spend about $200,000 changing all the highway signs back.… Continue Reading

Ben Griffin still on a heater after his win on punishing course at Memorial

Ben Griffin still on a heater after his win on punishing course at Memorial

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Ben Griffin picked up his first individual PGA Tour title at Colonial last week and he’s still rolling. Griffin opened with a 65 at tough Muirfield Village despite two shots in the water. That gives him a two-shot lead over Collin Morikawa at the Memorial. Only six players broke 70 and 13 players were under par. The rough was so thick that missing a fairway made it hard work. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler wasn’t in the short grass enough for his liking. He still managed a 70 for his 19th consecutive tournament with a first round under par.… Continue Reading

A global rally for stocks loses steam amid questions about what will happen to Trump’s tariffs

A global rally for stocks loses steam amid questions about what will happen to Trump’s tariffs

NEW YORK (AP) — A big rally for stocks that began in Asia lost steam amid uncertainty about what will happen next after a U.S. court blocked many of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The S&P 500 rose 0.4% Thursday after giving up most of an earlier gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.4%. It’s a downshift after stocks initially leaped in Tokyo and Seoul, where markets had the first chance to react to Wednesday’s ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade. The White House said it would appeal. Nvidia rallied after its profit report.… Continue Reading

It’s not a reprint. Why Sacred Harp singers are revamping an iconic pre-Civil War hymnal

It’s not a reprint. Why Sacred Harp singers are revamping an iconic pre-Civil War hymnal

BREMEN, Ga. (AP) — A new edition of “The Sacred Harp,” a Christian hymnal first published in 1844, is being released this year. It helps carry on the more than 180-year-old American folk singing tradition that is as much about the community as it is the music. The shape-note songbook with music notes that look like triangles, ovals, squares and diamonds is core to the a cappella group singing practice. Over time, groups of Sacred Harp singers have periodically worked together to revise the songbook, preserving its history and breathing new life into it. The book is precious to its singers. The nine-member revision committee working on the new book feels a tremendous responsibility to get it right.… Continue Reading

Chinese students anxious and angry after Rubio vows to revoke visas

Chinese students anxious and angry after Rubio vows to revoke visas

HONG KONG (AP) — Chinese students in the U.S. are scrambling to figure out their futures after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday some students would have their visas revoked. Many reacted with anger. A Chinese student at Johns Hopkins University described it as a “new version of Chinese Exclusion Act.” Chinese students have seen rising rejection rates for visas in recent years amid strained U.S.-China relations. Hong Kong has said it would welcome students from all over who were impacted by the U.S.’ changing policies to study in the city… Continue Reading

Defending champion Panthers head back to Stanley Cup Final with 5-3 Game 5 win over Hurricanes

Defending champion Panthers head back to Stanley Cup Final with 5-3 Game 5 win over Hurricanes

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carter Verhaeghe broke a tie off a feed from Aleksander Barkov with 7:39 left and the defending champion Florida Panthers advanced to their third straight Stanley Cup Final, beating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 on Wednesday night in Game 5. The Panthers beat the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final for the second time in three seasons. The Panthers will face the winner of the Western final between Dallas and Edmonton, with the Oilers up 3-1 to put them within a win of a rematch with Florida for the Cup. Sam Bennett added an empty-net goal with 54 seconds left by skating down a loose puck straight out of the penalty box after Florida had held up against a critical late power play for the Hurricanes.… Continue Reading

North Carolina revenue predictions fall with recession risk

North Carolina revenue predictions fall with recession risk

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina officials have downgraded anticipated state revenue collections compared to their recent forecast. Wednesday’s adjustments agreed upon by economists working in Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s budget office and at the General Assembly are in large part the result of higher economic uncertainty and the risks of a recession. The changes from the February forecast keep front and center competing tax-cutting plans passed by the Republican-controlled House and Senate. The updated forecast still envisions lower year-over-year revenues because of expected income tax rate reductions. Democratic Gov. Josh Stein wants to stop those rate cuts.… Continue Reading

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