Category Archives: WPTF News

Blue Origin launches an all-female celebrity crew with Katy Perry, Gayle King and Lauren Sanchez

Blue Origin launches an all-female celebrity crew with Katy Perry, Gayle King and Lauren Sanchez

Blue Origin has launched Jeff Bezos’ fiancee Lauren Sanchez into space with an all-female celebrity crew that included Katy Perry and Gayle King. The New Shepard rocket blasted off Monday from West Texas. Sanchez, a helicopter pilot and former TV journalist, invited the others along for the 10-minute, fully automated ride. Besides Sanchez, Perry and King, the crew included a film producer, a former NASA engineer who started her own companies to promote science education, and a scientist who now advocates for sexual violence survivors. Moved by the views of Earth below, Perry couldn’t resist singing “What a Wonderful World” in space.… Continue Reading

So your home’s not social-media perfect? How to get over ‘house shame’ and invite people in

So your home’s not social-media perfect? How to get over ‘house shame’ and invite people in

NEW YORK (AP) — Is your house something less than Pinterest perfect? Whose isn’t. Social media has fed a phenomenon called house shame. It’s that anxiety and dread that sets in when you think people coming over to your house will judge how it looks. It can also be internal — a self-shaming that sets in when you can’t achieve the perfection you see on Instagram. Home organizers and interior designers have suggestions on how to get over house shame. First, remember there’s no such thing as perfect. A space that’s cared for is more important. Light a candle and place some flowers to make the front hall welcoming. Use a rolling rack for coats if closets are crammed. And if someone does house shame you, don’t invite them back.… Continue Reading

Trump team tries to project confidence and calm after his tariff moves rattled markets

Trump team tries to project confidence and calm after his tariff moves rattled markets

ATLANTA (AP) — White House advisers and Cabinet members are trying to project confidence and calm as they defend President Donald Trump’s economic policies after another week of reeling markets that saw the Republican administration reverse course on some of its steepest tariffs. For his part, Trump took an aggressive stance on his social media platform Sunday, disputing the idea that he will exempt any products from his sweeping tariff plans. The Trump team pressed its case during appearances on the Sunday news shows. Their explanations and Trump’s comments together reflected shifting narratives from a president who, as a candidate, had promised an immediate economic boost and lower prices but now asks American businesses and consumers for patience.… Continue Reading

Rory McIlroy wins Masters playoff to complete the career Grand Slam

Rory McIlroy wins Masters playoff to complete the career Grand Slam

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Rory McIlroy turned another major collapse into his grandest performance of all, hitting a wedge into 3 feet for birdie in a sudden-death playoff Sunday to finally win the Masters and take his place in golf history as the sixth player to claim the career Grand Slam. What should have been a coronation along the back nine at Augusta National turned into a heart-racing, lead-changing jaw-dropping finish at golf’s greatest theater that ended with McIlroy on his knees sobbing with joy and disbelief. Right when it looked as though he would blow another major, he delivered two majestic shots when nothing less would do.… Continue Reading

Vultures are among the least loved animals. African conservationists are trying to change that

Vultures are among the least loved animals. African conservationists are trying to change that

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Vultures have an image problem and are among the least loved animals in the world. But conservationists in Africa are trying to change that and save endangered vultures by spelling out their incredible value — in monetary terms. A recent report by the BirdLife International conservation organization estimated that vultures are worth $1.8 billion a year to certain ecosystems in southern Africa. Conservationists say that despite their reputation, vultures do an extraordinary amount of good work cleaning up ecosystems, controlling pests, reducing disease among animals and humans, and even helping with anti-poaching efforts.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Supreme Court rules most challenged ballots must stay in election count

North Carolina Supreme Court rules most challenged ballots must stay in election count

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Supreme Court has ruled that tens of thousands of cast ballots challenged by the trailing candidate in November’s election for a seat on the court must remain in the election count. Friday’s decision by the justices partially overturns last week’s decision by the Court of Appeals that favored Republican Jefferson Griffin. But a majority of justices agreed with the lower court that thousands of additional ballots from two other categories were wrongly allowed in the tally. Friday’s prevailing order says some of those votes can still be retained in the count if voters provide information soon. Democratic Justice Allison Riggs currently leads Griffin by 734 votes.… Continue Reading

Supreme Court says Trump administration must work to bring back mistakenly deported Maryland man

Supreme Court says Trump administration must work to bring back mistakenly deported Maryland man

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says the Trump administration must work to bring back a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, rejecting the administration’s emergency appeal. The court acted Thursday in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who had an immigration court order preventing his deportation to his native country over fears he would face persecution from local gangs. The administration has conceded that it made a mistake in sending him to El Salvador, where he is being held in a notorious prison, but also argued that it no longer could do anything about it.… Continue Reading

House approves budget framework for Trump’s ‘big’ bill after intense wrangling sways GOP holdouts

House approves budget framework for Trump’s ‘big’ bill after intense wrangling sways GOP holdouts

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans have narrowly approved their budget framework. The 216-214 tally was a turnaround for Speaker Mike Johnson after abruptly postponing Wednesday’s vote. Johnson worked into the night to satisfy conservative lawmakers who refused to support the plan. He and Senate Majority Leader John Thune assured conservatives they were on track seeking at least $1.5 trillion in cuts. President Donald Trump had admonished the holdouts to “stop grandstanding.” The bill is central to President Donald Trump’s agenda of tax breaks, spending cuts and mass deportations. There are still more votes ahead as lawmakers draft a final package in the weeks to come.… Continue Reading

Supreme Court allows Trump’s firings of independent agency board members to take effect, for now

Supreme Court allows Trump’s firings of independent agency board members to take effect, for now

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing the Trump administration to oust two board members who oversee independent agencies, for now. The action Wednesday seems to signal the court’s support for President Donald Trump’s effort to remove some limits on executive power. Chief Justice John Roberts signed an order pausing an appellate ruling that had temporarily restored the two women to their jobs. They were separately fired from agencies that deal with labor issues, including one with a key role for federal workers as Trump aims to drastically downsize the workforce. The immediate issue confronting the justices is whether the board members can stay in place while the larger fight continues over what to do with a 90-year-old Supreme Court decision disfavored by conservatives.… Continue Reading

Ex-congressman Nickel entering race to unseat North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026

Ex-congressman Nickel entering race to unseat North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel of North Carolina has announced himself as a candidate to try to unseat Republican Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026. Nickel revealed his plans Wednesday. Nickel had signaled his interest in a Senate bid in late 2023, when the Raleigh-area congressman decided against seeking a second U.S. House term because redrawn district lines made it essentially impossible to win again. Nickel said a “fighter for what’s right for our state” is needed, and he criticized Tillis for backing President Donald Trump’s agenda. There is still time for other Democrats to enter the race. Former Gov. Roy Cooper is considering it.… Continue Reading

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