Category Archives: WPTF News

New York is the 8th state found to have improperly issued commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants

New York is the 8th state found to have improperly issued commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants

The federal government continues to find states improperly issuing commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants that remain valid after their authorization to be in the country expires, putting millions of dollars of funding at risk. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted concerns in New York on Friday after previously questioning similar practices in California, Pennsylvania and Minnesota. But the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also quietly sent out letters during the government shutdown detailing problems in Texas, South Dakota, Colorado and Washington. Duffy launched the review earlier but it became more prominent after a truck driver who was not authorized to be in the U.S. made an illegal U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed three people.… Continue Reading

Tumbling tech stocks drag Wall Street to its worst day in 3 weeks

Tumbling tech stocks drag Wall Street to its worst day in 3 weeks

NEW YORK (AP) — More drops for superstars caught up in Wall Street’s artificial-intelligence frenzy are knocking the U.S. stock market off its record highs. The S&P 500 fell 0.9% Friday from its all-time high and was on track for its worst day in three weeks. The weakness for tech stocks yanked the Nasdaq composite down a market-leading 1.3%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 147 points from its own record set the day before. Broadcom dragged the market lower even though the chip company reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Treasury yields rose to crank up the pressure on stocks.… Continue Reading

FEMA to send Georgia more than $300 million in Hurricane Helene relief after accusations of delays

FEMA to send Georgia more than $300 million in Hurricane Helene relief after accusations of delays

ATLANTA (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced $350 million in funding for relief efforts following Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby. This comes two months after U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock reported that nearly $500 million in relief was unpaid. Hurricane Helene hit the Southeast in September 2024, affecting Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina. Warnock stated that FEMA was withholding $600 million meant for debris removal and repairs. He continues to push for more funds. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp requested $12 billion in federal disaster funding. Georgia farmers are also awaiting $531 million from the USDA, pending final approval.… Continue Reading

Rare fresco of Jesus as the ‘Good Shepherd’ uncovered in Turkish town visited by the pope

Rare fresco of Jesus as the ‘Good Shepherd’ uncovered in Turkish town visited by the pope

IZNIK, Turkey (AP) — Archaeologists in Turkey have uncovered a significant fresco of Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” from Anatolia’s early Christian era. The painting was found in August in an underground tomb near Iznik, a town known for the Nicene Creed’s adoption in A.D. 325. The fresco shows a youthful, Roman-looking Jesus carrying a goat. Researchers say it’s a rare depiction of Jesus with Roman attributes. The Good Shepherd motif symbolized protection and salvation before the cross became Christianity’s universal symbol. The Associated Press was the first international media organization granted access to the tomb.… Continue Reading

UNC’s offensive and special-teams coordinators won’t return for next season

UNC’s offensive and special-teams coordinators won’t return for next season

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer won’t return next season. The school announced Friday it had “parted ways” with the two assistants to Bill Belichick. That came after the school’s 4-8 season. UNC’s offense was one of the worst in the country. The Tar Heels ranked 119th in the Bowl Subdivision by averaging 19.3 points and 129th in total offense at 288.8 yards per game.… Continue Reading

After Airbus issue, DOT says airlines don’t have to cover passenger expenses amid aircraft recalls

After Airbus issue, DOT says airlines don’t have to cover passenger expenses amid aircraft recalls

The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued new guidance stating airlines don’t have to cover passenger expenses like meals or lodging when a flight is canceled or significantly delayed by an aircraft recall. The guidance released on Wednesday follows disruptions last month due to inspections and software updates on Airbus A320 aircraft to fix a glitch that the manufacturer said could affect flight controls. In the U.S., airlines must refund canceled flights but aren’t required to cover lodging or meals. Instead, airlines offer voluntary compensation for some expenses if a disruption is caused by something within their control, such as crew delays. The new DOT guidance clarifies that disruptions from aircraft recalls aren’t considered within an airline’s control.… Continue Reading

Hurricanes top Capitals 3-2 in SO in a matchup of the top teams in the Eastern Conference standings

Hurricanes top Capitals 3-2 in SO in a matchup of the top teams in the Eastern Conference standings

WASHINGTON (AP) — Brandon Bussi stopped all three shots in a shootout to lift the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals in a matchup of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference standings. The win pulled the Hurricanes even with Washington atop the conference and Metropolitan Division. Bussi ran his record to 10-1-0. The Carolina rookie stopped Anthony Beauvillier, Dylan Strome and Sonny Milano in the shootout. Strome also failed to convert a breakaway in overtime after two Carolina players collided. Washington has lost all four of its shootouts this season.… Continue Reading

NASCAR settles federal antitrust case, gives all teams the permanent charters they wanted

NASCAR settles federal antitrust case, gives all teams the permanent charters they wanted

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR has settled an antitrust lawsuit with two race teams, including one co-owned by Michael Jordan. The settlement was announced Thursday after a delay on the ninth day of the trial. The lawsuit was filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports last year after they refused to sign new charter agreements presented by NASCAR. As part of the settlement, all NASCAR race teams will receive the permanent charters they had been asking for. NASCAR chairman Jim France had testified that he never considered making charters permanent. A charter is the equivalent of the franchise model in other sports.… Continue Reading

Venezuelan Nobel laureate credits Trump for pressuring Maduro with ‘decisive’ actions

Venezuelan Nobel laureate credits Trump for pressuring Maduro with ‘decisive’ actions

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado says “decisive” actions by the United States, including the seizure of an oil tanker, have left the repressive government of President Nicolás Maduro at its weakest point. She vowed Thursday to return to the country to keep fighting for democracy. Machado spoke after her first public appearance in 11 months in Oslo, where her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. She sidestepped questions about U.S. military intervention, and said she’ll return to Venezuela when security conditions are right. Machado has been in hiding since January after a brief detention in Caracas. She won an opposition primary but was barred from running in last year’s presidential election.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Gov. Stein cancels Medicaid rate cuts amid legal and legislative battles

North Carolina Gov. Stein cancels Medicaid rate cuts amid legal and legislative battles

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein is canceling Medicaid rate cuts he initiated two months ago. Stein and Health Secretary Dr. Dev Sangvai announced Wednesday that reimbursement rates for doctors and hospitals will be restored. Legal challenges have already forced some rates back to pre-October levels. Stein said the program still lacks enough funding. He blamed the legislature for not providing enough money, leading to the cuts. Republican lawmakers called Stein’s actions unnecessary and politically motivated. Medicaid serves more than 3 million people in North Carolina. The state also remains without an enacted budget.… Continue Reading

Recent News

Powered By SoCast