Category Archives: WPTF News

Frustrated lawmakers say lack of trust is making it harder to end the government shutdown

Frustrated lawmakers say lack of trust is making it harder to end the government shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers are openly venting their frustration as they try to gain traction to end the government shutdown. Groups of lawmakers have tried to brainstorm ways out of the standoff that for nine days has shuttered government offices, kept hundreds of thousands of federal employees at home and threatened their pay. But they have found themselves running up against a fundamental lack of trust in each other. President Donald Trump and Republicans have so far held to the stance that they will only negotiate on Democratic demands around health care benefits after they vote to reopen the government.… Continue Reading

NC State visits No. 16 Notre Dame, No. 25 Florida State hosts Pittsburgh to top ACC’s weekly slate

NC State visits No. 16 Notre Dame, No. 25 Florida State hosts Pittsburgh to top ACC’s weekly slate

N.C. State’s visit to No. 16 Notre Dame and Pittsburgh’s trip to No. 25 Florida State headline the Atlantic Coast Conference’s weekly slate. The Fighting Irish need to keep winning to help their College Football Playoff case. The Seminoles have lost to No. 19 Virginia and No. 2 Miami for an 0-2 league start. They face a Pitt team that made a surprise switch at quarterback to a true freshman. The schedule has seven of 17 teams on a open week.… Continue Reading

The ACC has been going through a sideline overhaul. This year that includes 4 new head coaches

The ACC has been going through a sideline overhaul. This year that includes 4 new head coaches

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference’s multiyear coaching overhaul will include four new head coaches for the 2025-26 season. Those are Florida State’s Luke Loucks, Miami’s Jai Lucas, N.C. State’s Will Wade and Virginia’s Ryan Odom. The league has seen 14 of its 18 programs change coaches at least once going back to the 2020-21 season. Those losses include retiring Hall of Famers in North Carolina’s Roy Williams, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim. Loucks said during the ACC’s preseason media days that there’s “a new wave of youthfulness” among the new coaches coming into the league.… Continue Reading

Lumbee leader to join North Carolina statehouse as tribe’s federal recognition push gains attention

Lumbee leader to join North Carolina statehouse as tribe’s federal recognition push gains attention

LUMBERTON, N.C. (AP) — The leader of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is set to join the state legislature. Robeson County Republican Party committee members unanimously recommended John Lowery on Tuesday to fill a state House seat most recently held by his brother. Jarrod Lowery resigned this week to take a job with the U.S. Interior Department. John Lowery has been Lumbee Tribe chairman since 2022 and plans to remain at that post as well. He’s been chairman during a period of both momentum and obstacles for the Lumbee Tribe in attaining full federal recognition, which could bring access to health care and grants.… Continue Reading

Israel and Hamas agree to part of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, will free hostages and prisoners

Israel and Hamas agree to part of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, will free hostages and prisoners

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first Phase” of his peace plan to pause fighting and release at least some hostages and prisoners. “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Trump wrote Wednesday. “All Parties will be treated fairly!” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “With God’s help we will bring them all home.” Negotiators have been meeting in Egypt for days to hash out a Trump-backed peace plan that he hopes will ultimately result in a permanent end to the two-year war.… Continue Reading

Wall Street gets back to rising as gold keeps setting records

Wall Street gets back to rising as gold keeps setting records

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is getting back to rising. The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% Wednesday and is on track to top its all-time high, a day after breaking a seven-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 13 points, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.9%. Stocks benefiting from the artificial-intelligence boom continue to pull the market higher following a nearly relentless rise since April. Gold continued its stellar year and pushed further past $4,000 per ounce. Treasury yields eased in the bond market, while stock indexes rose in Europe following a weaker finish in Asia.… Continue Reading

Dolly Parton responds to concerns about her health: ‘I’m not dying’

Dolly Parton responds to concerns about her health: ‘I’m not dying’

NEW YORK (AP) — Dolly Parton says not to worry, she “ain’t dead yet.” That’s what the country superstar shared in a video on social media Wednesday following public speculation about her health. Late last month Parton postponed her first Las Vegas residency in 32 years, citing “health challenges.” She was scheduled to perform six shows in December. Her dates have been moved to next year, in Sept. 2026. She did not provide additional details. On Tuesday, a Facebook posted shared by her sister Freida Parton escalated concerns around Parton’s health when she wrote that she had been “up all night praying for my sister, Dolly.” Dolly Parton has clarified that her doctors say she is dealing with nothing major.… Continue Reading

Duke researchers receive $15M federal grant to expand AI model designed to predict mental illness

Duke researchers receive $15M federal grant to expand AI model designed to predict mental illness

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Researchers at Duke University have received a $15 million federal grant to expand an artificial intelligence model designed to predict mental illness in adolescents. The Duke Predictive Model of Adolescent Mental Health is used to predict who is most likely to develop a mental illness within a year. It also identifies the key factors driving those predictions, creating the potential to offer preventive interventions. The model achieved 84% accuracy in identifying adolescents ranging in age from 10 to 15 who are at risk for future serious mental health issues. The new grant will fund a study of the tool in evaluating 2,000 adolescents in rural areas in North Carolina, Minnesota and North Dakota.… Continue Reading

Federal government shutdown grinds into a second week, but quiet talks emerging

Federal government shutdown grinds into a second week, but quiet talks emerging

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the federal government shutdown enters a second week, there’s no discernible endgame in sight. No negotiations, at least publicly, are underway. But signs of political discomfort, and quiet talks, are emerging. The Republicans who have majority control in Congress believe they have the upper hand politically, as they fend off Democratic demands to quickly fund health insurance subsidies as part of any plan to end the shutdown. But Democrats are also dug in, convinced that Americans are on their side in the fight to prevent the looming health care price spikes. Meanwhile, certain lawmakers are discussing what it would take to reopen the government, starting with addressing the health care problem.… Continue Reading

Comey pleads not guilty to Trump Justice Department case accusing him of lying to Congress

Comey pleads not guilty to Trump Justice Department case accusing him of lying to Congress

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Former FBI Director James Comey has pleaded not guilty to lying to Congress five years ago. Comey is set to make his first court appearance Wednesday in a Justice Department criminal case accusing him of lying to Congress five years ago. The Comey case has amplified concerns President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is being weaponized in pursuit of the Republican president’s political enemies. Comey is expected to plead not guilty. That will kick-start a process of legal wrangling in which defense lawyers will almost certainly move to get the indictment dismissed before trial, possibly by arguing the case amounts to a selective or vindictive prosecution.… Continue Reading

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