Category Archives: WPTF News

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs confirms he won’t testify and praises the trial judge for an ‘excellent job’

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs confirms he won’t testify and praises the trial judge for an ‘excellent job’

NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs has praised the judge at his sex trafficking trial as he confirmed he won’t be testifying. Combs told Judge Arun Subramanian that he’s doing an “excellent job” after the judge asked him Tuesday if he planned to testify. The question was posed after the government rested after calling 34 witnesses, capping a more than six-week-long presentation of evidence against the hip-hop maven. Later, the defense rested. Prosecutors have cited “freak offs” described by two ex-girlfriends of Combs’ as proof of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Defense lawyers say they were consensual sexual encounters consistent with the swingers lifestyle. Combs has pleaded not guilty.… Continue Reading

Judge orders NASCAR teams to turn over financial data to stock car series, limits details

Judge orders NASCAR teams to turn over financial data to stock car series, limits details

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge has ordered a dozen NASCAR teams to provide 11 years of financial data to the stock car series as part of an ongoing legal fight but sharply limited what they need to share. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell says the information will allow NASCAR to have “much of the arguably relevant substance of the requested information” while still protecting private details. The teams will provide only top-line data — total revenue, total costs, and net profits and losses — dating to 2014.… Continue Reading

North Carolina judges issue mixed ruling on governor’s appointment powers

North Carolina judges issue mixed ruling on governor’s appointment powers

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina trial judges have issued a mixed ruling for Democratic Gov. Josh Stein and Republican legislative leaders in litigation over recent law changes that eroded gubernatorial powers. A three-judge panel on Tuesday unanimously struck down as unconstitutional a law that placed some limits on whom the governor could choose to fill vacancies on appellate courts. But the judges let stand provisions that take away some of Stein’s appointments to the state Utilities Commission and Building Code Council. The order can be appealed. Stein and predecessor Roy Cooper have sued many times over state laws that have shifted authority away from the governor.… Continue Reading

Cooper Flagg is the prize player as the Mavericks hold the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft

Cooper Flagg is the prize player as the Mavericks hold the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft

NEW YORK (AP) — Cooper Flagg lived up to every expectation during one season at Duke and has the potential for NBA superstardom. That’s why Mavericks fans can’t wait to get him to Dallas. The Mavericks are expected to take Flagg with the No. 1 pick in the draft on Wednesday night, quickly adding another franchise-altering player after trading one away last season. The Mavericks fell into the lottery after dealing Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February, though they had only a 1.8% chance of winning it. When they did, it gave them the opportunity to add an 18-year-old who was college basketball’s best player in 2024-25.… Continue Reading

NASCAR teams fear ‘catastrophic’ impact of disclosing financial records during court fight

NASCAR teams fear ‘catastrophic’ impact of disclosing financial records during court fight

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Attorneys for 12 of NASCAR’s 15 race teams told a federal judge that disclosing their financial records to the stock car series would be “catastrophic” to competitive balance. NASCAR wants the details as part of its court fight with two other teams, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, which contend NASCAR is a monopoly and needs to change its charter system. The other teams don’t want their financial records to become part of the legal battle, saying they are private.… Continue Reading

Early-season heat dome brings highest temperatures in years to parts of Eastern US

Early-season heat dome brings highest temperatures in years to parts of Eastern US

NEW YORK (AP) — An intense and nearly historic weather pattern is cooking much of America in a dangerous heat dome this week with triple-digit heat that hasn’t been seen in some places in more than a decade. This heat wave is especially threatening because it’s hitting cities like Boston, New York and Philadelphia with near-record temperatures and doing so early in the summer when people haven’t gotten their bodies adapted to the broiling conditions. Coming originally from the Pacific, a dome of high pressure is parking over the Eastern United States with hot air from the Southwest that already made an uncomfortable rest stop in the Midwest.… Continue Reading

The largest digital camera ever built has released its first shots of the universe

The largest digital camera ever built has released its first shots of the universe

NEW YORK (AP) — The largest digital camera ever built has released its first shots of the universe. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, located on a mountaintop in Chile, unveiled vibrant images Monday of colorful nebulas, stars and galaxies. Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and Department of Energy, the observatory will survey the southern sky for the next 10 years. The observatory hopes to track 20 billion galaxies and discover new asteroids and other celestial objects. The effort is named after astronomer Vera Rubin, who offered the first tantalizing evidence of a mysterious force called dark matter.… Continue Reading

Mick Ralphs, founding member of Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, dies at 81

Mick Ralphs, founding member of Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, dies at 81

Mick Ralphs, the singer, songwriter, guitarist and founding member of the classic British rock bands Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, has died. A statement posted to the band’s official website Monday announced Ralphs’ death at age 81. Ralphs had a stroke days after his final performance with Bad Company in 2016, and had been bedridden ever since. Ralphs is set to become a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Bad Company in November. He wrote Bad Company’s classic hit “Can’t Get Enough” and co-wrote “Feel Like Makin’ Love” with singer Paul Rodgers.… Continue Reading

Trump announces a ceasefire in Iran-Israel war; Iran to halt its fire if Israel stops its strikes

Trump announces a ceasefire in Iran-Israel war; Iran to halt its fire if Israel stops its strikes

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump says that Israel and Iran have agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” soon after Iran launched a limited missile attack Monday on a U.S. military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites. Iran said that as long as Israel stopped its attacks early Tuesday morning, it would halt theirs. Israel did not immediately acknowledge any ceasefire but there were no Israeli strikes reported after 4 a.m. local time. Heavy Israeli strikes continued in Tehran and other cities until shortly before that time. Israel in other conflicts has stepped up its strikes just before ceasefires took effect.… Continue Reading

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