Category Archives: WPTF News

Alito’s dissent in deportation case says court rushed to block Trump with middle-of-the night order

Alito’s dissent in deportation case says court rushed to block Trump with middle-of-the night order

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Samuel Alito has written a sharp dissent that castigates the seven-member majority for blocking the Trump administration from deporting any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th-century wartime law. The dissent was released Saturday night, hours after the court’s intervention against the Republican administration. Alito says the Supreme Court acted “literally in the middle of the night” and without sufficient explanation. Alito says there was “dubious factual support” for granting the request in an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union. That group contends that immigration authorities appeared to be moving to restart such removals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.… Continue Reading

Judge pauses Trump administration’s plans for mass layoffs at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Judge pauses Trump administration’s plans for mass layoffs at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire nearly everyone at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been paused by a federal judge, who says she’s “deeply concerned” about the plan. Friday’s decision leaves in limbo a bureau created after the Great Recession to safeguard against fraud, abuse and deceptive practices. Trump administration officials argue the bureau oversteps its authority. The Republican administration Thursday moved to fire 1,500 people, leaving 200. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson says she’s worried the layoffs would violate her earlier order stopping the administration from shutting the bureau. The judge is considering a lawsuit filed by an employee union that wants to preserve the bureau. There’s a hearing April 28.… Continue Reading

Teeing off for a cause: NCFC raises over $45k at 20th annual golf tournament to support youth soccer

Teeing off for a cause: NCFC raises over $45k at 20th annual golf tournament to support youth soccer

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – The North Carolina Football Club (NCFC) announced the group’s annual golf tournament generated more than $45,000 to expand opportunities for youth soccer. NCFC spokesperson Katherine Eberhardt says the tournament offered people a chance to showcase their swing while also supporting the club’s mission to grow the game of soccer across North Carolina. “The event has grown over the years, it was our 20th annual event, and we’ve now taken over all three courses at Preston Wood which is a fantastic venue to host golfers. We raised more than $45,000 and had more than 281 golfers on the course. And all those funds are going to go right back into our community,” said Eberhardt.… Continue Reading

Trump administration takes aim at Harvard’s international students and tax-exempt status

Trump administration takes aim at Harvard’s international students and tax-exempt status

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration has escalated its ongoing battle with Harvard, threatening to revoke the university’s ability to host international students, who make up 27% of the campus. The threat emerged as the president called for withdrawing the school’s tax-exempt status. The Department of Homeland Security ordered Harvard late Tuesday to turn over detailed records of the school’s foreign student visa holders’ “illegal and violent activities” by April 30. The move deepens the crackdown on Harvard. On Monday, it became the first university to openly defy the administration’s demands related to activism on campus, antisemitism and diversity. The federal government has already frozen more than $2 billion in grants and contracts to the Ivy League institution.… Continue Reading

Unsettled North Carolina election could be determined by which ballots are subject to court orders

Unsettled North Carolina election could be determined by which ballots are subject to court orders

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Supreme Court decided recently that ballots from two categories should have been left out of the tally of an unresolved November election for a seat on the court. But there’s still legal friction about the number of ballots that must be scrutinized by election officials tasked with removing them from the count and giving voters the chance to provide information so their race choices can remain. The number is critical since Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs leads Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin by just 734 votes. Griffin hopes enough ballots are removed to flip the result. Riggs says federal law prevents these ballots from being removed.… Continue Reading

Go inside the factory where Peeps are made

Go inside the factory where Peeps are made

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) — Love them or hate them, marshmallow Peeps are inescapable around the Easter holiday. Millions of the brightly-colored candies are made daily in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, by Just Born Quality Confections. The family-owned candy manufacturer also churns out Hot Tamales, Mike and Ike fruit chews and Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews. Peeps is the company’s most recognizable brand. It also evokes strong reactions — good and bad. Some say an Easter basket isn’t complete without the multi-flavored Peeps, while others deride them as being indestructible. On average, about 5.5 million are made each day. That adds up to 2 billion Peeps a year.… Continue Reading

North Carolina advances bill on book bans in public schools

North Carolina advances bill on book bans in public schools

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina House Republicans have advanced a bill that would create advisory committees to approve and remove books from libraries in public and charter schools. The legislation quickly moved through the House and passed Wednesday. It now moves to the Senate. The legislation outlines that advisory committees would be made up of parents and school employees. Those committees would then make recommendations to their school boards on what library material can be allowed. Supporters say the bill would protect students from explicit material. Opponents say the bill creates unnecessary censorship in schools.… Continue Reading

North Carolina budget plan advances as Senate Republicans double down on tax cuts

North Carolina budget plan advances as Senate Republicans double down on tax cuts

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Senate Republicans have advanced a two-year budget for the ninth-largest state. The proposal that received initial Senate approval on Wednesday spends less than what the new Democratic governor requested and doubles down on already enacted income tax cuts. Gov. Josh Stein’s budget pitch sought to spend roughly $1 billion more each year than what the Senate decided in part by halting broad tax rate cuts. But GOP senators are content with their spending, taxes and cost-cutting. The Senate bill locates another $1.3 billion for Hurricane Helene aid and seeks to eliminate hundreds of vacant state positions. The House will soon pass a competing measure.… Continue Reading

Wink Martindale, the genial game show host and an early TV interviewer of Elvis Presley, dies at 91

Wink Martindale, the genial game show host and an early TV interviewer of Elvis Presley, dies at 91

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wink Martindale, the genial host of such hit game shows as “Gambit” and “Tic-Tac-Dough,” has died. He was 91. Martindale began his career in radio and was did one of the first recorded television interviews with a young Elvis Presley before scoring hits as a game show host. “Gambit” started in 1976 but within a few short years was overtaken by “Wheel of Fortune” and other shows, but he bounced back in 1978 with “Tic-Tac-Dough,” which aired until 1985. Publicist Brian Mayes says Martindale died Tuesday at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage after battling lymphoma for a year.… Continue Reading

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