Category Archives: WPTF News

Buss family agrees to sell controlling stake of Lakers to Mark Walter for $10B, AP source says

Buss family agrees to sell controlling stake of Lakers to Mark Walter for $10B, AP source says

The Buss family has agreed to sell the controlling stake of the Los Angeles Lakers to TWG Global CEO Mark Walter, doing so with a franchise valuation of $10 billion — the most ever for a professional sports franchise, a person with knowledge of the agreement said Wednesday. As part of the deal, Jeanie Buss — whose family has had control of the Lakers since her father bought the team in 1979 — intends to remain as governor, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither side immediately announced details.… Continue Reading

US unemployment ticked down, hovering at historically low levels

US unemployment ticked down, hovering at historically low levels

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dipped to 245,000 last week amid uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s trade policies. U.S. jobless claims ticked down from 250,000 the week before. Economists had forecast 250,000. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, rose to 245,500, the highest since August 2023. The number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits the week of June 7 slid to 1.95 million.… Continue Reading

Supreme Court OKs Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for kids, a setback for transgender rights

Supreme Court OKs Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for kids, a setback for transgender rights

WASHINGTON (AP) — An American Civil Liberties Union lawyer says the Supreme Court decision upholding Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors is “a devastating loss for transgender people” and “everyone who cares about the Constitution.” The justices’ 6-3 decision Wednesday effectively protects from legal challenges many efforts by President Donald Trump’s Republican administration and state governments to roll back protections for transgender people. Another 26 states have laws similar to Tennessee’s. Chief Justice John Roberts writes for a conservative majority the law does not violate the Constitution’s equal protection clause. Justice Sonia Sotomayor writes in a dissent the majority “abandons transgender children” to political whims.… Continue Reading

At least 51 Palestinians killed while waiting for aid trucks in Gaza, health officials say

At least 51 Palestinians killed while waiting for aid trucks in Gaza, health officials say

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — At least 51 Palestinians were killed and over 200 wounded in the Gaza Strip while waiting for U.N. and commercial trucks to enter the territory with desperately needed food, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry and a local hospital. Palestinian witnesses told The Associated Press that Israeli forces had fired on the crowds. The military said it was looking into reports that its forces had fired toward the crowd, causing several casualties. It did not appear to be related to a new Israeli- and U.S.-supported aid delivery network that rolled out last month and has been marred by controversy and violence.… Continue Reading

A judge could advance Purdue Pharma’s $7B opioid settlement after all 50 states back it

A judge could advance Purdue Pharma’s $7B opioid settlement after all 50 states back it

A judge is being asked to clear the way for local governments and individual victims to vote on OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma’s plan to settle thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids. The deal would be among the largest in a wave of opioid settlements. It calls for members of the Sackler family who own the company to give up ownership and to contribute up to $7 billion over time. Of that, about $890 million could go to people who were victims of the drug epidemic, or their survivors. Most of the rest is to be used by state and local governments to fight the crisis.… Continue Reading

Spire Motorsports punishes Carson Hocevar for derogatory comments about Mexico City

Spire Motorsports punishes Carson Hocevar for derogatory comments about Mexico City

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Spire Motorsports has fined Carson Hocevar $50,000 for derogatory comments he made about Mexico City on a live stream as NASCAR raced there last weekend. Hocevar walked back the comments Sunday night with an apology and the 22-year-old admitted it was the first time he’d ever been outside the United States and believed all the negative things he’d read and heard about Mexico City. He said he was embarrassed about his comments in an apology on social media. The money will be split by three Mexican charities. Spire also ordered Hocevar to attend cultural-sensitivity and bias-awareness training.… Continue Reading

Israel says it killed a top Iranian general as Trump warns people to flee Iran’s capital

Israel says it killed a top Iranian general as Trump warns people to flee Iran’s capital

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel claims to have killed a top Iranian general as it trades more strikes with its longtime foe. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned residents of Tehran to evacuate while suggesting that the United States could give up on negotiations. Trump left the Group of Seven summit in Canada a day early to deal with the conflict between Israel and Iran. He told reporters he was looking at something “better than a ceasefire.” He said the U.S. wanted to see “a real end” to the conflict that could involve Iran “giving up entirely.” Uncertainty roiled the region on the fifth day of Israel’s air campaign.… Continue Reading

Tom Cruise is finally getting an Oscar — as will Dolly Parton, Debbie Allen and Wynn Thomas

Tom Cruise is finally getting an Oscar — as will Dolly Parton, Debbie Allen and Wynn Thomas

Tom Cruise is finally getting an Oscar. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Tuesday that Cruise, choreographer Debbie Allen and “Do The Right Thing” production designer Wynn Thomas have all been selected to receive honorary Oscar statuettes at the annual Governors Awards in November. Dolly Parton will also be recognized with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her decades-long charitable work in literacy and education. The awards will be handed out during an untelevised ceremony on Nov. 16 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles.… Continue Reading

Federal judge calls on NASCAR, teams to settle bitter antitrust battle

Federal judge calls on NASCAR, teams to settle bitter antitrust battle

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge is urging NASCAR and two of its teams to settle their increasingly acrimonious legal fight that spilled over into tense arguments during a hearing this week. 23XI Racing, which is owned by Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, is fighting with NASCAR along with Front Row Motorsports. The two say the series is a monopoly, but NASCAR has struck back with a countersuit of its own.… Continue Reading

Louisiana is poised to hike its sports betting tax to help colleges pay their athletes

Louisiana is poised to hike its sports betting tax to help colleges pay their athletes

Louisiana soon could raise taxes on sports betting to help finance the athletic departments at many of its public universities. Legislation pending before Gov. Jeff Landry would make Louisiana the first state to raise taxes for college sports since a judge approved a landmark settlement allowing schools to directly pay athletes for use of their name, image and likeness. Earlier this year, Arkansas became the first state to exempt school NIL payments to athletes from state income taxes. Some sports business analysts expect more states to follow with laws aimed at giving an edge to their college athletes.… Continue Reading

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