Category Archives: WPTF News

Republican Winsome Earle-Sears is on the defensive in Virginia’s race for governor

Republican Winsome Earle-Sears is on the defensive in Virginia’s race for governor

HOPEWELL, Va. (AP) — Republican Winsome Earle-Sears says she’s running her campaign for Virginia governor like a military-style operation. And at this point, a few months away from the November election, it’s looking like a campaign on the defensive. The lieutenant governor is facing a Democratic Abigail Spanberger, a former congresswoman who has more campaign money and a unified party behind her. Earle-Sears has replaced a pastor with little political experience who had been her campaign manager. And her team has failed to gain traction with big money donors. An Earle-Sears victory would make her the first Black woman in U.S. history to serve as a governor.… Continue Reading

Jen Pawol breaks MLB’s gender barrier as the first female umpire to work a regular-season game

Jen Pawol breaks MLB’s gender barrier as the first female umpire to work a regular-season game

ATLANTA (AP) — Jen Pawol has made history as the first female umpire to work a regular-season game in the major leagues. Pawol worked as the first base umpire for Saturday’s first game of a split doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. She made her first call in the third inning. Pawol worked third base in the second game of the doubleheader and will be in the spotlight when she calls pitches behind the plate in Sunday’s final game of the series. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough and Braves bench coach Walt Weiss greeted Pawol when lineups were exchanged at home plate.… Continue Reading

CDC shooter believed COVID vaccine made him suicidal, his father tells police

CDC shooter believed COVID vaccine made him suicidal, his father tells police

ATLANTA (AP) — A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press that a Georgia man who opened fire Friday on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal. The 30-year-old shooter tried to get into the CDC’s headquarters but was stopped by guards. He then drove to a pharmacy across the street and opened fire. The official spoke anonymously Saturday because they are not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation. The official says the shooter was armed with at least five guns. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded while responding.… Continue Reading

Trump has said abortion is a state issue. His judicial picks could shape it nationally for decades

Trump has said abortion is a state issue. His judicial picks could shape it nationally for decades

CHICAGO (AP) — Many of President Donald Trump’s picks to be federal judges have revealed anti-abortion views, been associated with anti-abortion groups or defended abortion restrictions. With Senate confirmation, they’d have lifetime appointments and be in position to roll back abortion access long after the Republican president leaves the White House. Of the 17 judicial nominees so far in Trump’s second term, an Associated Press review finds at least eight have argued in favor of abortion restrictions or against expanded abortion access. No such records could be found for the other nine, nor did the AP review find evidence that any nominees support increased access to abortion.… Continue Reading

Browns’ Shedeur Sanders impressive in NFL preseason debut, tosses 2 TD passes in win over Panthers

Browns’ Shedeur Sanders impressive in NFL preseason debut, tosses 2 TD passes in win over Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders impressed in his NFL preseason debut against the Carolina Panthers. On Friday night, Sanders threw two touchdown passes in the first half to Kaden Davis. His father and former college coach, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, celebrated on social media. Sanders finished the half with 103 passing yards and no turnovers and with the Browns leading 14-7. Carolina’s mistakes helped his performance, including a muffed punt leading to a touchdown. Sanders showed both promise and areas for improvement against the Panthers’ first-team defense. Injuries at quarterback give Sanders the opportunity to start, with Joe Flacco projected as the regular-season starter.… Continue Reading

Wall Street clocks another winning week

Wall Street clocks another winning week

Stocks rose on Wall Street, marking their third winning week in the last four. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% Friday, leaving the index just shy of the record it set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite added 1% to the record it set a day earlier. Expedia and Gilead Sciences rose sharply after reporting results that easily beat analysts’ forecasts. Both companies also raised their outlooks. Asian markets closed mostly lower except in Tokyo, where the Nikkei rose 1.9%. European markets were mixed. Treasury yields rose in the bond market.… Continue Reading

Iconic North Carolina tourist attraction damaged by Helene will be demolished

Iconic North Carolina tourist attraction damaged by Helene will be demolished

A beloved tourist attraction in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains will be demolished starting later this month. The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge sustained severe damage from Hurricane Helene last year. It collapsed on one end and buckled in several other sections. The town says two engineering firms concluded the bridge was beyond repair. Demolition will begin Aug. 18. The Flowering Bridge was created in 2013 by a group of volunteers who sought to transform the historic bridge into something beautiful. The group says it will try to use pieces of the bridge in future gardens.… Continue Reading

Wall Street drifts as stock markets worldwide take Trump’s new tariffs in stride

Wall Street drifts as stock markets worldwide take Trump’s new tariffs in stride

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks drifted to a mixed finish as President Donald Trump’s tariffs on dozens of countries had only a muted effect on markets worldwide. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3% to a record. Worries are high that Trump’s tariffs are damaging the economy, particularly after last week’s worse-than-expected report on the job market. But hopes for coming cuts to interest rates by the Federal Reserve and a torrent of stronger-than-expected profit reports from big U.S. companies are helping to offset the concerns, at least for now. Treasury yields ticked higher.… Continue Reading

Rushing floodwater from heavy rain kills 2 in North Carolina

Rushing floodwater from heavy rain kills 2 in North Carolina

SPRING HOPE, N.C. (AP) — Two people were found dead in central North Carolina after rushing floodwaters pulled them from their submerged car. Another cluster of storms was dumping rain on the region Thursday, the day after the two bodies were found. Authorities say a 24-year-old woman and 55-year-old man from Louisburg were swept away while attempting to escape their vehicle. Flooding had swept the vehicle from the road into a ditch in the town of Spring Hope. An officer who tried to save them was swept into the floodwaters too before escaping unharmed. The storm’s pathway follows Tropical Storm Chantal’s flooding in parts of the region last month.… Continue Reading

Dean Cain, former TV Superman, will be sworn in as honorary ICE officer

Dean Cain, former TV Superman, will be sworn in as honorary ICE officer

Dean Cain wants to join the U.S. and Immigration Customs Enforcement agency. In an interview with Fox News, Cain said he has already spoken to the agency responsible for President Donald Trump’s mass deportations agenda. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin says Cain will be sworn in as an “honorary ICE Officer” in the coming month. McLaughlin referenced Cain’s 1990s role in “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” saying “Superman is encouraging Americans to become real-life superheroes.” Cain also posted a video encouraging others to join the agency. The 59-year-old been outspoken in his conservative viewpoints and endorsed Trump in three elections.… Continue Reading

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