Category Archives: WPTF News

Trump seeks to fire official overseeing jobs data after weak employment report

Trump seeks to fire official overseeing jobs data after weak employment report

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that he has directed his team to fire the head of the agency that produces the monthly jobs figures, after a weak report showed hiring slowed and was much weaker in April and May than previously reported. Trump in a post on his social media platform alleged that the figures were manipulated for political reasons and said that Erika McEntarfer, the director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, should be fired.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Senate race sets up as a fight over who would be a champion for the middle class

North Carolina Senate race sets up as a fight over who would be a champion for the middle class

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democrats still in the dumps over last year’s elections have found cause for optimism in North Carolina, where former Gov. Roy Cooper jumped into the race for that state’s newly open seat with a vow to address voters’ persistent concerns about making ends meet. Republicans, meanwhile, are hardly ceding the economic populist ground President Donald Trump held in carrying the state last year. In announcing his candidacy for Senate on Thursday, Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley credited Trump with fulfilling campaign promises to working Americans. Cooper’s plainspoken appeal represents the latest effort by Democrats to find their way back to power.… Continue Reading

Michael Whatley, RNC chairman endorsed by Trump, launches Senate bid in North Carolina

Michael Whatley, RNC chairman endorsed by Trump, launches Senate bid in North Carolina

GASTONIA, N.C. (AP) — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley has launched his campaign for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat. Whatley made his formal announcement on Thursday. He already has President Donald Trump’s endorsement and access to a strong fundraising network. Whatley could face Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper in what’s expected to be one of the most competitive and expensive 2026 contests. The winner will succeed GOP Sen. Thom Tillis, who recently announced he would not run for a third term. Whatley has led the state Republican Party and was elected the national chairman last year. Cooper announced his candidacy earlier this week. National Republican strategists say Cooper’s entry makes North Carolina a more challenging seat for the GOP to hold.… Continue Reading

Trump announces 90-day negotiating period with Mexico as 25% tariff rates stay in place

Trump announces 90-day negotiating period with Mexico as 25% tariff rates stay in place

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says there will be a 90-day negotiating period with Mexico over trade as 25% tariffs stay in place. Trump posted online Thursday a phone conversation with Claudia Sheinbaum was “very successful in that, more and more,” they’re “getting to know and understand each other.” Trump says goods from Mexico imported into the U.S. will continue to face a 25% tariff he has ostensibly linked to fentanyl trafficking. The Republican president says autos face a 25% tariff, while copper, aluminum and steel are taxed at 50%. Trump had threatened tariffs of 30% on goods from Mexico, something Sheinbaum says Mexico gets to stave off for the next three months.… Continue Reading

Roger Penske sells a third of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar to Fox

Roger Penske sells a third of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar to Fox

Penske Entertainment has sold a one-third interest in the company to FOX. The deal is described as a strategic investment to boost IndyCar’s growth. It includes a multi-year contract extension for Fox Sports’ media rights. Penske expects this move to lead to innovative racing events and enhanced promotion for IndyCar drivers. Roger Penske says the partnership is based on trust and a shared vision. FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks, an IndyCar fan, is excited about the investment. IndyCar viewership has increased significantly this season. The sale that was announced on Thursday also provides some clarity on Penske’s succession plans.… Continue Reading

Fireflies are lighting up summer skies. But the glowing bugs are still on the decline

Fireflies are lighting up summer skies. But the glowing bugs are still on the decline

NEW YORK (AP) — More fireflies than usual are lighting up summer evenings in the U.S. Northeast. But scientists say the lightning bugs are still on the decline. A particularly wet spring may have created the ideal conditions for young fireflies to grow into adults and set summer nights aglow. There are over 2,000 known firefly species across the globe. While evenings in the Northeast may seem brighter this summer, the bugs are actually waning at a faster rate than ever before. To look out for fireflies, consider turning the lights off at night and avoid spraying front lawns with insecticides.… Continue Reading

Trump administration freezes $108M at Duke amid inquiry into alleged racial preferences

Trump administration freezes $108M at Duke amid inquiry into alleged racial preferences

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is freezing $108 million in research funding to Duke University as the federal government accuses the institution of racial discrimination in the form of affirmative action, according to a person familiar with the matter. The National Institutes of Health halted the funding to the private university in North Carolina, said the person who spoke Wednesday on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Education Department sent a joint letter alleging racial preferences in Duke’s hiring and admissions. Duke did not immediately comment.… Continue Reading

American Eagle’s ‘good jeans’ ads with Sydney Sweeney spark a debate on race and beauty standards

American Eagle’s ‘good jeans’ ads with Sydney Sweeney spark a debate on race and beauty standards

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. fashion retailer American Eagle Outfitters wanted to make a splash with its new advertising campaign starring 27-year-old actor Sydney Sweeney. It has. The question is whether some of the public reactions the fall denim campaign produced is what American Eagle intended. Titled “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,” the campaign has sparked a debate about race, Western beauty standards, and the backlash to “woke” American culture. Most of the negative reception focused on videos that used the word “genes” instead of “jeans” when discussing the blonde-haired, blue-eyed actor. Some critics saw the wordplay as a nod to eugenics, a discredited theory that held humanity could be improved through selective breeding for certain traits.… Continue Reading

Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged even as Trump demands cuts

Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged even as Trump demands cuts

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is leaving its key short-term interest rate unchanged for the fifth time this year, brushing off repeated calls from President Donald Trump for a cut. The Fed’s decision Wednesday leaves its key short-term rate at about 4.3%, where it has stood after the central bank reduced it three times last year. Chair Jerome Powell has said the Fed would likely have cut rates already if not for Trump’s sweeping tariffs. Powell and other Fed officials say they want to see how Trump’s duties on imports will impact inflation and the broader economy. Two Fed governors dissented in favor of a cut.… Continue Reading

Former Vice President Kamala Harris says she will not run for California governor in 2026

Former Vice President Kamala Harris says she will not run for California governor in 2026

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former Vice President Kamala Harris says she will not run for California governor next year, leaving open the possibility that she could mount a third run for the White House in 2028. The Democrat’s decision, announced Wednesday, extends a guessing game about her political future that started after she lost last year’s presidential election to Donald Trump. She has not ruled out another run for president, after unsuccessful bids in 2020 and 2024. It’s not known when she will make that decision.… Continue Reading

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