Triangle/Local
This NC plant eats bugs for breakfast — and looks beautiful doing it
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener Most of us have seen or have some knowledge of the most iconic plant in the world: It’s the “Venus Flytrap”, which is native to a small area of southeastern North Carolina. One of its cousins, also a native…
Federal officials confirm officers have begun Charlotte immigration enforcement
By ERIK VERDUZCO Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Federal officials confirmed Saturday that a surge of immigration enforcement in North Carolina’s largest city had begun as agents were seen making arrests in multiple locations. “Americans should be able to live without fear of violent…
Officials in Charlotte vow to resist looming federal immigration crackdown
By ERIK VERDUZCO Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Officials and community leaders opposing a pending federal immigration crackdown in North Carolina’s largest city characterized it Friday as an invasion, and urged Charlotte residents to protest peacefully and record agents’ actions from a distance. “We are living…
Trump’s next immigration crackdown will target Charlotte, North Carolina, a sheriff says
By ALLEN G. BREED and ERIK VERDUZCO Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The latest city bracing for the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is Charlotte, North Carolina, which could see an influx of federal agents as early as this weekend, a county sheriff said Thursday. Mecklenburg County…
Record-low temperatures shock the Southeast US while snowfall blankets parts of the Northeast
By HANNAH FINGERHUT Associated Press The first major cold spell of the season plunged parts of the southeastern U.S. into record-low temperatures Tuesday, delivering a shock for 18 million people under a freeze warning across Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Meanwhile, several inches of snow blanketed areas along…
State/Regional
The shutdown has disrupted air travel. Will that drive a surge in car rentals and train bookings?
By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. government shutdown has rattled air travel — most recently with an unprecedented effort from the Federal Aviation Administration to cut flights by 10% at airports nationwide. And the disruptions are causing some to instead hit the road…
UPS cargo plane with 3 aboard crashes, explodes on takeoff at Louisville airport, igniting huge fire
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A large UPS cargo plane with three people aboard crashed and exploded Tuesday while taking off from an airport in Louisville, Kentucky, igniting a massive fire that left a thick plume of black smoke over the area. The plane crashed about…
Flight disruptions continue as air traffic controllers brace for their first full missing paychecks
By RIO YAMAT AP Airlines and Travel Writer A shortage of air traffic controllers caused more flight disruptions Monday around the country as controllers braced for their first full missing paycheck during the federal government shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration reported staffing-related delays on Monday afternoon averaging about 20…
Virginia gubernatorial candidates debate trans youth rights as LGBTQ+ voters weigh a fraught moment
By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America SALEM, Va. (AP) — René Harvey and her wife arrived at a Roanoke Valley pride celebration in October carrying deep-seated worries about all that could go wrong. The couple had been to the region’s annual pride festival before,…
Democrats look to long term as North Carolina GOP redistricting plan seeks another seat for Trump
By MAKIYA SEMINERA and GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democrats rallying Tuesday against a new U.S. House map proposed by North Carolina Republicans seeking another GOP seat at President Donald Trump’s behest acknowledged they’ll likely be unable to halt the redraw for now.…
World/National
Trump scraps tariffs on beef, coffee and tropical fruit in a push to lower grocery store prices
By WILL WEISSERT Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Friday that he was scrapping U.S. tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruits and a broad swath of other commodities — a dramatic move that comes amid mounting pressure on his administration to better combat high consumer prices.…
President Trump signs government funding bill, ending shutdown after a record 43-day disruption
By KEVIN FREKING, JOEY CAPPELLETTI and MATT BROWN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, ending a record 43-day shutdown that caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded scores of travelers at airports and generated…
Epstein email says Trump ‘knew about the girls,’ but White House calls release a Democratic smear
WASHINGTON (AP) — The sex-offending financier Jeffrey Epstein wrote in a 2019 email to a journalist that Donald Trump “knew about the girls,” according to communications released Wednesday, but the White House quickly accused Democrats of selectively leaking the emails to smear the president. The emails made…
Speaker Johnson faces an unruly House as lawmakers return for shutdown vote
By LISA MASCARO AP Congressional Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — After refusing to convene the U.S. House during the government shutdown, Speaker Mike Johnson is recalling lawmakers back into session — and facing an avalanche of pent-up legislative demands from those who have largely been sidelined from governing. Hundreds…
Senate approves bill to end the shutdown, sending it to the House
By MARY CLARE JALONICK and LISA MASCARO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed legislation Monday to reopen the government, bringing the longest shutdown in history closer to an end as a small group of Democrats ratified a deal with Republicans despite searing criticism from within their party.…
Entertainment
Americana troubadour Todd Snider, alt-country singer-songwriter, dies at 59
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Todd Snider, a singer whose thoughtfully freewheeling tunes and cosmic-stoner songwriting made him a beloved figure in American roots music, has died. He was 59. His record label said Saturday in a statement posted to his social media accounts that Snider died…
German Baumkuchen ‘tree cake’ survived a disaster and world wars to become a Japanese favorite
By MARI YAMAGUCHI and AYAKA MCGILL Associated Press NINOSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Baumkuchen originated in Germany but has become a wildly popular sweet in Japan, where a prisoner of war on a small western island started making the treat that has thrived in its new…
Pope Leo XIV celebrates cinema with Hollywood stars and urges inclusion of marginal voices
By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV welcomed Spike Lee, Cate Blanchett, Greta Gerwig and dozens of other Hollywood luminaries to a special Vatican audience Saturday celebrating cinema and its ability to inspire and unite. Leo encouraged the filmmakers and celebrities gathered…
Bible described as the ‘Mona Lisa of illuminated manuscripts’ goes on display in Rome
By NICOLE WINFIELD and PAOLO SANTALUCIA Associated Press ROME (AP) — A 15th-century Bible which is considered one of the most spectacular examples of Renaissance illuminated manuscripts went on display in Rome on Thursday as part of the Vatican’s Holy Year celebrations. The two-volume Borso D’Este…
A look at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 inductees and how they were honored
By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has inducted its 2025 class of music giants. The ceremony held Saturday at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater was a mix of tributes, speeches and performances by acts like Soundgarden,…
Sports
Bryce Young passes for franchise-record 448 yards to lift Panthers to 30-27 win over Falcons in OT
By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — Bryce Young passed for a career-high and franchise-record 448 yards and Ryan Fitzgerald kicked a 28-yard field goal in overtime to lift the Carolina Panthers to a 30-27 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Young’s…
Draisaitl scores in OT to give Oilers 4-3 win against Hurricanes
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Leon Draisaitl scored 19 seconds into overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night. Connor McDavid scored twice, Jack Roslovic added a goal and Draisaitl had two assists for the Oilers. Stuart Skinner…
Wake Forest rides Carlos Hernandez’s big plays, defense past North Carolina 28-12
By BOB SUTTON The Associated Press WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Wake Forest’s Carlos Hernandez scored two touchdowns, including one by returning a teammate’s fumble, on plays that caught North Carolina off guard and the Demon Deacons didn’t allow a touchdown in a 28-12 victory Saturday.…
Wilson leads No. 18 North Carolina past NC Central 97-53
By DOUG BONJOUR Associated Press CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Freshman forward Caleb Wilson scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half and added 13 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double, leading No. 18 North Carolina past North Carolina Central 97-53 on Friday…
Aho scores in OT to lift Hurricanes to 4-3 win over Canucks
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sebastian Aho scored 4:29 into overtime to give the Carolina Hurricanes a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night. Andrei Svechnikov had two goals and an assist, and Taylor Hall also scored for the Hurricanes, who have won six…