Category Archives: WPTF News

Elon Musk is leaving the Trump administration after leading effort to slash federal government

Elon Musk is leaving the Trump administration after leading effort to slash federal government

WASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk is criticizing the centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda, saying he’s “disappointed” in what the president calls his “big beautiful bill.” Trump defended the measure by emphasizing the tax cut proposals and saying it’s the product of delicate negotiations. It’s a significant fracture in a partnership that was forged during last year’s campaign and was poised to reshape American politics and the federal government. Musk made his comments in an interview with CBS that came out Tuesday night. He said the legislation “undermines the work” of his Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE. Republicans recently pushed the legislation through the House and are debating it in the Senate.… Continue Reading

Reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers get second shot at closing out Hurricanes in Eastern final

Reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers get second shot at closing out Hurricanes in Eastern final

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Florida Panthers get their second chance to close out the Carolina Panthers in the Eastern Conference final on Wednesday night. The Panthers lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 entering their trip to Carolina for Game 5. Florida is just 4-7 in series-clinching games the past two seasons, including 1-2 in this postseason. Carolina’s 3-0 road win in Game 4 averted a second sweep in three years against the Panthers in the conference final. That win ended a 15-game losing streak in the conference final. Florida has won its past four road games and seven overall in this postseason.… Continue Reading

Trump administration sues North Carolina over its voter registration records

Trump administration sues North Carolina over its voter registration records

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Trump administration has accused North Carolina’s election board of violating federal law by failing to ensure that registration records of some applicants contained identifying numbers. It wants a judge to force board officials to create a prompt method to obtain such numbers. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division sued in federal court on Tuesday alleging violations of the Help America Vote Act. The lawsuit is about the collection of a registrant’s driver’s license number or partial Social Security number. The department says it’s carrying out a recent executive order from President Donald Trump on elections. Registrant records were also an issue in a state Supreme Court race last year.… Continue Reading

S&P 500 rallies 2% as Wall Street’s roller-coaster ride whips back upward after Trump delays tariffs

S&P 500 rallies 2% as Wall Street’s roller-coaster ride whips back upward after Trump delays tariffs

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street rallied after President Donald Trump delayed a 50% tariff on goods coming from the European Union. The S&P 500 jumped 2% Tuesday. Its gains accelerated following a better-than-expected report on U.S. consumer confidence. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 740 points, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 2.5%. They more than recovered their losses from Friday, when Wall Street’s roller-coaster ride dropped after Trump announced the tariffs on the European Union. Nvidia was the strongest single force pushing the S&P 500 higher. Treasury yields eased in the bond market.… Continue Reading

US consumer confidence rebounds after five straight months of declines amid tariff anxiety

US consumer confidence rebounds after five straight months of declines amid tariff anxiety

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ views of the economy improved in May after five straight months of declines sent consumer confidence to the lowest level since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, largely driven by anxiety over the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose 12.3 points in May to 98, up from April’s 85.7, its lowest reading since May 2020. A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market jumped 17.4 points to 72.8, but remained below 80, which can signal a recession ahead.… Continue Reading

Hurricanes get another home-ice shot at Panthers with Game 5 in Eastern final

Hurricanes get another home-ice shot at Panthers with Game 5 in Eastern final

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference final series. The Hurricanes extended their season with Monday’s road shutout after falling in a 3-0 series hole. Florida took the first two games in Raleigh to start this series. Carolina started 5-0 in the playoffs at home through two rounds. Florida is unsure of the status of Sam Reinhart, Niko Mikkola and A.J. Greer after they missed Game 4 with injuries. Carolina defenseman Jalen Chatfield hasn’t played in the series while fellow blue-liner Sean Walker has missed the past two games.… Continue Reading

Stars are out for the Memorial and US Women’s Open goes to Erin Hills

Stars are out for the Memorial and US Women’s Open goes to Erin Hills

Scottie Scheffler and the best of the PGA Tour are headed to the tournament Jack Nicklaus built at the Memorial. Missing from this signature event is Masters champion Rory McIlroy. He’s skipping Nicklaus’ tournament for the first time since 2017. The biggest event in women’s golf heads to Erin Hills for the U.S. Women’s Open. It features a $12 million purse, the largest in women’s golf. Erin Hills hasn’t hosted a tournament this big since Brooks Koepka won his first U.S. Open in 2017. The Austrian Open is back on the European tour schedule for the first time since 2021.… Continue Reading

NPR sues Trump administration over executive order to cut federal funding to public media

NPR sues Trump administration over executive order to cut federal funding to public media

NEW YORK (AP) — National Public Radio and three local stations are suing President Donald Trump, arguing that an executive order aimed at cutting federal funding for the organization is illegal. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Washington by NPR, Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio and KUTE, Inc. It argues that Trump’s executive order to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR violates the First Amendment. Trump issued the executive order earlier this month that instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies “to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS” and requires that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations.… Continue Reading

Trump administration moves to cut $100 million in federal contracts for Harvard

Trump administration moves to cut $100 million in federal contracts for Harvard

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is asking federal agencies to cancel contracts with Harvard University worth about $100 million. The move intensifies the president’s clash with the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university. The government already has canceled more than $2.6 billion in federal research grants for the Ivy League school, which has pushed back on the administration’s demands for changes to several of its policies. A letter sent Tuesday from the General Services Administration directed agencies to review contracts with the university and seek alternate vendors. President Donald Trump has railed against Harvard, calling it a hotbed of liberalism and antisemitism. The school filed a lawsuit over the administration’s calls for changes to the university.… Continue Reading

‘Duck Dynasty’ patriarch and conservative cultural icon Phil Robertson dies

‘Duck Dynasty’ patriarch and conservative cultural icon Phil Robertson dies

WEST MONROE, La. (AP) — Phil Robertson of “Duck Dynasty” has died. He was 79. Robertson’s daughter-in-law announced his death Sunday on Facebook. They said in December he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Robertson turned his small duck calling interest in the sportsman’s paradise of northern Louisiana into a big business and conservative cultural phenomenon. “Duck Dynasty” followed Robertson, his brother and his sons in a reality show presented like a sitcom. They were immediately recognizable by their long beards and their conservative, Christian and family-oriented beliefs.… Continue Reading

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