Category Archives: WPTF News

Withers’ lane violation adds improbable twist to UNC’s failed comeback against No. 1 Duke in ACCs

Withers’ lane violation adds improbable twist to UNC’s failed comeback against No. 1 Duke in ACCs

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina graduate forward Jae’Lyn Withers committed a lane violation with 4.1 seconds left that negated a tying free throw in the Tar Heels’ loss to No. 1 Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Withers stepped into the paint immediately before Ven-Allen Lubin made a free throw to tie the game at 72 after UNC had trailed by 24 points. The Blue Devils held on for a 74-71 win despite playing without freshman star Cooper Flagg and versatile defender Maliq Brown. The Tar Heels were hoping to strengthen their case for an NCAA bid with a win.… Continue Reading

No. 1 Duke holds off furious North Carolina rally to win 74-71, reach ACC title game without Flagg

No. 1 Duke holds off furious North Carolina rally to win 74-71, reach ACC title game without Flagg

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kon Knueppel scored 17 points and No. 1 Duke held off a furious second half rally by rival North Carolina to beat its rival for the third time this season, 74-71 on Friday night to reach the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship game. Khaman Maluach added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Blue Devils, who played without star Cooper Flagg. Duke (30-3) will play the winner of the second semifinal between No. 10 Clemson and No. 13 Louisville. After North Carolina (22-13) cut a 24-point deficit to one, Ven-Allen Lubin had two free throws with 4.1 seconds. But he missed the first and had the second made free throw waved off after teammate Jae-Lyn Withers stepped in the lane too early.… Continue Reading

North Carolina GOP town hall gets rowdy as attendees hurl scathing questions on Trump

North Carolina GOP town hall gets rowdy as attendees hurl scathing questions on Trump

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A town hall held by Rep. Chuck Edwards in Asheville, North Carolina, got rowdy as attendees asked a barrage of scathing questions about policies rolled out under President Donald Trump’s administration. House Speaker Mike Johnson has advised GOP representatives not to hold town halls, but Edwards told attendees he didn’t want to “shy away” from conversations. Many questions centered on sweeping cuts in the federal government at the hands of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Nearly every answer Edwards gave during the hour-and-a-half town hall was interrupted by jeers and enraged shouting.… Continue Reading

Bubble watch: Indiana and Xavier now feeling the heat with Texas and North Carolina closing strong

Bubble watch: Indiana and Xavier now feeling the heat with Texas and North Carolina closing strong

Xavier and Indiana had chances to give their NCAA Tournament resumes a significant boost. But the Musketeers lost 89-87 to No. 25 Marquette, and Indiana fell 72-59 to No. 23 Oregon. Those aren’t bad losses by any means, but they were squandered chances. And Xavier and Indiana are very much on the bubble. Texas and North Carolina are two bubble teams whose outlooks seemed pretty precarious a couple days ago. Now they’re still alive in their conference tournaments. The Longhorns snagged a huge win over No. 14 Texas A&M, 94-89 in double overtime. The Tar Heels beat Wake Forest 68-59.… Continue Reading

North Carolina beats Wake Forest 68-59 to advance to ACC semifinals behind RJ Davis’ 23 points

North Carolina beats Wake Forest 68-59 to advance to ACC semifinals behind RJ Davis’ 23 points

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — RJ Davis had 23 points and five 3-pointers, Ven-Allen Lubin added 10 points and 13 rebounds, and No. 5 seed North Carolina beat fourth-seeded Wake Forest 68-59 in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals for coach Hubert Davis’ 100th victory with the program. North Carolina (22-12), which has won eight of its last nine games, advances to play No. 1 seed Duke in the semifinals on Friday. Duke coach Jon Scheyer said it’s a “real longshot” that freshman star Cooper Flagg will be able to play because of an ankle sprain. Wake Forest (21-11) was looking to advance to its first ACC Tournament semifinals since 2006. Hunter Sallis led Wake Forest with 25 points. Tre’Von Spillers had 10 points and nine rebounds, and Efton Reid III grabbed 10 rebounds.… Continue Reading

Wall Street tumbles after Trump escalates his trade war; S&P 500 sinks 1.2%, and Dow drops 500

Wall Street tumbles after Trump escalates his trade war; S&P 500 sinks 1.2%, and Dow drops 500

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street’s sell-off is accelerating after President Donald Trump upped the stakes in his trade war. Not even a double-shot of good news on the U.S. economy could stop the bleeding, and the S&P 500 fell 1.2% Thursday. The index is threatening to close more than 10% below its record, which would be its first such drop since 2023. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 507 points, and the Nasdaq composite lost 1.6%. Trump’s escalating trade war is raising worries about the economy’s strength, though reports came in better than expected during the morning on both inflation and joblessness in the United States.… Continue Reading

Duke’s Cooper Flagg exits ACC quarterfinals with ankle injury, but returns to bench without a boot

Duke’s Cooper Flagg exits ACC quarterfinals with ankle injury, but returns to bench without a boot

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Duke star Cooper Flagg left his team’s Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinal game with a left ankle injury and had to be helped to the locker room. Flagg later returned to the Duke bench without a boot on his foot and walking under his own power, but is doubtful to return. The top-ranked Blue Devils were trailing 26-17 late in the first half when Flagg went up for a rebound and crashed to the floor. He hobbled back to the bench in clear distress. He was later shown in a wheelchair in the bowels of the Spectrum Center.… Continue Reading

Putin agrees in principle with proposal for Ukraine ceasefire and says more discussions are needed

Putin agrees in principle with proposal for Ukraine ceasefire and says more discussions are needed

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he agrees in principle with a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. But he emphasized that the terms are yet to be worked out and noted that any truce should pave the way to lasting peace. Putin spoke Thursday at a news conference in Moscow. He said more discussions are needed with the U.S., including President Donald Trump. In Washington, Trump offered guarded optimism about Putin’s statement and reiterated that he stood ready to speak with him. The Russian leader made the remarks just hours after the arrival of Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow for talks.… Continue Reading

Trump threatens retaliatory 200% tariff on European wine after EU proposes American whiskey tax

Trump threatens retaliatory 200% tariff on European wine after EU proposes American whiskey tax

WASHINGTON (AP) — American retailers say President Donald Trump’s threatened 200% tariff on European wine would harm consumers. Holly Seidewand owns First Fill Spirits in New York state and says a tariff war hurts importers, distributors and retailers but “consumers will bear the brunt of it.” Ronnie Sanders is CEO of Vine Street Imports in New Jersey and says customers aren’t prepared to pay two or three times more for their favorite wine. Trump on Thursday called the EU among “the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities.” Because of the Republican president’s threat, a previously untariffed $15 bottle of Italian Prosecco could cost $45. The European Commission says Europe wants to “negotiate to avoid tariffs.”… Continue Reading

North Carolina’s new governor seeks more Helene aid, help for families in legislative address

North Carolina’s new governor seeks more Helene aid, help for families in legislative address

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — New North Carolina Democratic Gov. Josh Stein told lawmakers during his first State of the State address that he wants a Hurricane Helene aid bill on his desk and seeks to help make living expenses affordable across the state. Stein delivered the biennial speech to a joint General Assembly session Wednesday night. He also emphasized finding areas where he and Republicans who control the legislature can agree and work together. The House and Senate are trying to negotiate competing bills to provide additional Helene relief. Stein said he will sign the bill that comes to his desk, saying the money was needed “yesterday.”… Continue Reading

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