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Judge denies injunction for four players suing NCAA in North Carolina court

By BOB SUTTON Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A judge denied a preliminary injunction Tuesday sought by four college football players who had sued to gain an additional season of eligibility.

Judge Matthew Houston said the evidence was “not sufficient” while ruling from the bench following a three-hour hearing in North Carolina Business Court. That came in response to similar lawsuits filed by former Duke football players Ryan Smith and Tre’Shon Devones, as well as another from former Duke player Cam Bergeron and ex-North Carolina player J.J. Jones. The hearing involved all four players.

Their complaints sought to prevent the NCAA from following its longstanding policy of having athletes complete four years of eligibility within a five-year window.

Attorneys for the players argued they warranted an additional year because of circumstances presented in the filings, which had claimed their careers were derailed by injuries, ailments and personal difficulties. The athletes claimed the loss of potential earnings — $100,000 to $500,000 — stem from rules that now allow athletes to profit from using their name, image and likeness (NIL).

Smith and Devones had competed in five seasons, while Bergeron and Jones participated in four seasons across a four-year period.

Robert Boland, an attorney for the players, argued that the current eligibility structure serves no practical purpose and that an injunction would do little harm to the NCAA.

The NCAA denied a waiver for the three Duke players in a decision passed along Monday. Jones’ waiver request is pending after the NCAA requested more information.

In court, their attorneys challenged the NCAA’s five-year eligibility window. Because athletes didn’t use a season of eligibility during the 2020-21 school year and the possibility that the NCAA adjusts its eligibility rules allowing for five years of competition, the lawyers said that Bergeron and Jones were in a disadvantaged group.

“They will be of a lost generation,” attorney Diana Florence said.

The players’ attorneys stressed the importance of urgency in a ruling because the NFL draft will be held later this week. Undrafted players are likely to agree to pro contracts by the end of the weekend, and that would effectively make them ineligible to play again collegiately.

All four players declined interviews outside the courtroom.

These lawsuits come amid relaxation of NCAA rules that have allowed for free player movement through the transfer portal in addition to income opportunities to profit through NIL. Those factors have led to some athletes seeking to stay for additional college seasons. The COVID-19 pandemic led to college athletes receiving an additional year of eligibility if they anticipated playing in the 2020-21 academic year, but those opportunities largely expired with the 2024-25 season.

In recent days, numerous basketball players who’ve exhausted eligibility have requested to enter the transfer portal in what have been described as attempts to be in line should eligibility rules become altered.

Martinook, Andersen help Hurricanes push past Devils 3-1 for 2-0 lead in 1st-round playoff series

By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Jordan Martinook scored a go-ahead shorthanded goal in the second period and Frederik Andersen came up big in net all night to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New Jersey Devils 3-1 on Tuesday for a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.

Shayne Gostisbehere also scored in the second for Carolina, while Seth Jarvis added a clinching empty-net breakaway goal in the final minute. That was enough for the Hurricanes, who had a much tougher fight on their hands against the shorthanded Devils than in a Game 1 romp.

Andersen stood up for 25 saves and didn’t allow the Devils to find the back of the net for the final 56 minutes, including a big stop on a shot by Nathan Bastian with about 6 minutes left.

Jesper Bratt scored the Devils’ lone goal while Jacob Markstrom finished with 25 saves for New Jersey.

The Hurricanes had dominated the series opener in Sunday’s 4-1 win, leaving coach Sheldon Keefe and his players lamenting the Devils’ inability to match Carolina’s relentless edge in what captain Nico Hischier described as “simple hockey, hard hockey.”

It didn’t help, too, that New Jersey was down defensemen Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon from Game 1 injuries. But the Devils got the determined effort they needed to stay in this one, starting when they pinned Carolina in its own end early to set up Bratt’s clean-up of a rebound for the game’s first score at 3:51 of the game.

It also included former Hurricane Brett Pesce personally saving two goals for the Devils on loose pucks against Markstrom, including one coming seconds after Gostisbehere pounced on his own rebound to beat Markstrom. On that one, Pesce knocked a puck out as it laid on the goal line — but not fully across it — behind Markstrom.

He also cleaned up one on Taylor Hall’s near score on a push under Markstrom in traffic.

But ultimately, Carolina did enough to keep pressure on. The winner fittingly went to the veteran Martinook on a strong attacking night, coming moments after the Devils were lined up for a faceoff to start a power play.

Dmitry Orlov collected the loose puck and sent a transition pace to spring Martinook, who blasted a shot past Markstrom at the 5:54 mark of the second to put Carolina ahead for good.

The series now shifts north to Newark for Game 3 on Friday night.

Duke researchers investigate fungal growth after Hurricane Helene

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – Researchers from Duke University are conducting a study on fungal growth following Hurricane Helene in Black Mountain, North Carolina. The research involves collaboration between the Duke University School of Medicine, Pratt School of Engineering, and the Department of Biology. The newly formed research group, Climate and Fungi, is focused on understanding how fungal communities emerge after extreme weather events and their potential health implications.

Dr. Asiya Gusa, one of the leading researchers, is part of the team on site in western North Carolina. The study is centered on analyzing indoor environments that experienced flooding due to the hurricane. Researchers are identifying the types of fungi growing on walls, floors, and other surfaces and are assessing any air-borne compounds or toxins that may be present.

“This is sort of a first-time event for that Western North Carolina area,” said Gusa. “We were really curious to learn which type of species of fungi were growing on the surfaces and what kinds of air-borne compounds or toxins might be present, particularly those that are indoors. We wanted to really know are there any health risks associated with this influx of this fungal bloom that occurs commonly after flooding events.”

The team is also investigating how fungi may be adapting to higher temperatures, which could be relevant in the context of global climate trends. According to Gusa, the team is analyzing whether these changes could increase the potential for fungi to become more harmful.

“We’re looking at the ways in which fungi are beginning to adapt to growth at higher temperatures and studying whether or not it makes them more disease-causing or risky,” said Gusa.

By collecting samples from flood-affected buildings and monitoring airborne compounds, researchers are investigating not only which species are present but also whether warmer temperatures are influencing their ability to grow or cause harm.

“This is sort of a unique thing that tends to always happen after flooding at indoor environments where you see these growths of fungi on the walls and surfaces and floors and requires some sort of remediation or clean-up of these fungi so that folks are not at risk,” said Gusa.

While the study is ongoing, researchers have noted that respiratory symptoms are commonly observed following flooding events.

“A lot of the symptoms that we see are not necessarily fungal infections following flooding events. We see respiratory symptoms, like the coughing and folks that have chronic asthma or other respiratory diseases are most affected by these post-flooding fungi growing in indoor environments,” said Gusa.

The Duke team continues to investigate the intersection of environmental change and public health. For more information about the study or to explore the work of Dr. Gusa’s lab, visit duke.edu/gusa-lab or read Duke’s article Fungal Fallout: Climate Disasters.

TCU and North Carolina will open ’26 in Ireland after Belichick’s debut this year at home vs. Frogs

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — TCU and North Carolina will play their 2026 opener in Ireland, which will come a year after coach Bill Belichick’s debut with the Tar Heels at home against the Horned Frogs.

The Aer Lingus College Football Classic will be played at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Aug. 29, 2026. It will be the first game abroad for both TCU and North Carolina.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for our program and we’re excited to represent the university and our fans on an international stage,” Belichick said.

Their season opener this year will be on Sept. 1, when Belichick’s first game at North Carolina is against TCU on Labor Day and will be the only college or NFL game that Monday.

TCU will be the designated home team for the game in Ireland. The two teams were initially scheduled to open the 2026 season with a Sept. 5 game in Fort Worth, Texas.

“This is more than just a football game. It’s an opportunity to advance TCU’s brand globally while having our student-athletes experience a unique educational opportunity and memory of a lifetime,” TCU athletic director Mike Buddie said.

Iowa State and Kansas State, who are in the Big 12 with TCU, will play this year’s game in Ireland on Aug. 23. Georgia Tech beat Florida State in a matchup of ACC teams in last year’s Aer Lingus Classic.

Federal report due on Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina’s path to recognition as a tribal nation

By GRAHAM LEE BREWER and ALLEN G. BREED Associated Press

PEMBROKE, N.C. (AP) — Members of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina are awaiting the release of a Department of the Interior report that, as soon as this week, could light a path for federal recognition as a tribal nation.

In January, President Donald Trump issued a memo directing the department to create a plan to “assist the Lumbee Tribe in obtaining full Federal recognition through legislation or other available mechanisms, including the right to receive full Federal benefits.” The memo required the plan to be created within 90 days, a deadline that comes Wednesday.

The federal government recognized the Lumbee nearly 70 years ago, but without the financial benefits that usually come with that. The North Carolina tribe is hoping that will change with the help of President Donald Trump. (AP video: Allen G. Breed and Erik Verduzco)

The Lumbee are a state-recognized tribe that has been seeking federal acknowledgment, a distinction that comes with access to resources like health care through Indian Health Services and the ability to create a land base such as reservations through the land-to-trust process, for several decades. Both Trump and his opponent in the 2024 presidential election, former-Vice President Kamala Harris, promised the Lumbee federal recognition as the candidates were courting voters in the important swing state of North Carolina. Lumbee voters helped deliver that state to Trump.

Since the 1980s, the Lumbee have had a difficult time convincing the federal government, members of Congress and some federally-recognized tribes that their claims to Native ancestry are legitimate. Tribal nations can be recognized either through an application process vetted by the Office of Federal Acknowledgement or through legislation passed by Congress.

In 2016, the Office of the Solicitor at the DOI reversed a decision barring the Lumbee Tribe from seeking federal recognition through the application process, however, the Lumbee have opted instead to gain acknowledgment through an act of Congress, where they have some support. Several tribal nations, like the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the only federally-recognized tribe in North Carolina, have opposed the Lumbee’s efforts, citing discrepancies in their historical claims.

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Brewer reported in Norman, Oklahoma.

Elotes (Mexican Street Corn)

Elotes

Elotes Recipe from Country Living

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Serving size: 8 servings

Ingredients

Canola oil, for grill grates
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1 small clove garlic, pressed
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp. chili powder
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ears fresh corn, husks removed
1/3 cup finely crumbled Cotija cheese
Chili-lime seasoning (such as Tajin) and chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Directions

Heat grill to medium. Once hot, clean and oil grill grates. Stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, lime juice, and chili powder in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
Grill corn, turning frequently, until lightly charred, 5 to 7 minutes. Brush with mayonnaise. mixture and sprinkle with cheese, dividing evenly. Garnish with chili-lime seasoning and cilantro.

Student loans in default to be referred to debt collection, Education Department says

By ANNIE MA AP Education Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Education Department will begin collection next month on student loans that are in default, including the garnishing of wages for potentially millions of borrowers, officials said Monday.

Currently, roughly 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans.

The Trump administration ‘s announcement marks an end to a period of leniency that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. No federal student loans have been referred for collection since March 2020, including those in default.

“American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said.

Beginning May 5, the department will begin involuntary collection through the Treasury Department’s offset program, which withholds payments from the government — including tax refunds, federal salaries and other benefits — from people with past-due debts to the government. After a 30-day notice, the department will also begin garnishing wages for borrowers in default.

Already, many borrowers have been bracing for obligations coming due.

In 2020, President Donald Trump paused federal student loan payments and interest accrual as a temporary relief measure for student borrowers. The pause in payments was extended multiple times through 2023, and a final grace period for loan repayments ended in October 2024. That meant tens of millions of Americans had to start making payments again.

Borrowers who don’t make payments for nine months go into default, which is reported on their credit scores and can go to collections.

In addition to the borrowers already in default, around another 4 million are between 91 to 180 days late on their loan payments. Less than 40% of all borrowers are current on their student loans, department officials said.

President Joe Biden oversaw the cancellation of student loans for more than 5 million borrowers. Despite the Supreme Court’s rejection of his signature proposal for broad relief, he waived more than $183.6 billion in student loans through expanded forgiveness programs.

In her statement Monday, McMahon said Biden had gone too far.

“Going forward, the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Treasury, will shepherd the student loan program responsibly and according to the law, which means helping borrowers return to repayment — both for the sake of their own financial health and our nation’s economic outlook,” she said.

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The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Wall Street and the dollar tumble as investors retreat further from the United States

By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street weakened Monday as investors worldwide get more skeptical about U.S. investments because of President Donald Trump’s trade war and his criticism of the Federal Reserve, which are shaking the traditional order.

The S&P 500 sank 2.4% in another wipeout. That yanked the index that’s at the center of many 401(k) accounts 16% below its record set two months ago.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 971 points, or 2.5%, while losses for Tesla and Nvidia helped drag the Nasdaq composite down 2.6%.

Perhaps more worryingly, U.S. government bonds and the value of the U.S. dollar also sank as prices retreated across U.S. markets. It’s an unusual move because Treasurys and the dollar have historically strengthened during episodes of nervousness. This time around, though, it’s policies directly from Washington that are causing the fear and potentially weakening their reputations as some of the world’s safest investments.

Trump continued his tough talk on global trade as economists and investors continue to say his stiff proposed tariffs could cause a recession if they’re not rolled back. U.S. talks last week with Japan failed to reach a quick deal that could lower tariffs and protect the economy, and they’re seen as a “test case,” according to Thierry Wizman, a strategist at Macquarie.

“The golden rule of negotiating and success: He who has the gold makes the rules,” Trump said in all capitalized letters on his Truth Social Network. He also said that “the businessmen who criticize tariffs are bad at business, but really bad at politics,” likewise in all caps.

Trump has recently focused more on China, the world’s second-largest economy, which has also been keeping up its rhetoric. China on Monday warned other countries against making trade deals with the United States “at the expense of China’s interest” as Japan, South Korea and others try to negotiate agreements.

“If this happens, China will never accept it and will resolutely take countermeasures in a reciprocal manner,” China’s Commerce Ministry said in a statement.

Also hanging over the market are worries about Trump’s anger at Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Trump last week criticized Powell again for not cutting interest rates sooner to give the economy more juice.

The Fed has been resistant to lowering rates too quickly because it does not want to allow inflation to reaccelerate after slowing nearly all the way down to its 2% goal from more than 9% three years ago.

Trump talked Monday about a slowdown for the U.S. economy that could be coming unless “Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW.”

A move by Trump to fire Powell would likely send a bolt of fear through financial markets. While Wall Street loves lower rates, largely because they boost stock prices, the bigger worry would be that a less independent Fed would be less effective at keeping inflation under control. Such a move could further weaken, if not kill, the United States’ reputation as the world’s safest place to keep cash.

All the uncertainty striking pillars at the center of financial markets means some investors say they’re having to rethink the fundamentals of how to invest.

“We can no longer extrapolate from past trends or rely on long-term assumptions to anchor portfolios,” strategists at BlackRock Investment Institute said in a report. “The distinction between tactical and strategic asset allocation is blurred. Instead, we need to constantly reassess the long-term trajectory and be dynamic with asset allocation as we learn more about the future state of the global system.”

That in turn could push investors outside the United States to keep more of their money in their home markets, according to the strategists led by Jean Boivin.

On Wall Street, Big Tech stocks helped lead indexes lower ahead of their latest earnings reports due later this week.

Tesla sank 5.7%. The electric vehicle maker’s stock has more than halved from its record set in December on criticism that the stock price had gone too high and that CEO Elon Musk’s role in leading the U.S. government’s efforts to cut spending is damaging the brand.

Nvidia fell 4.5% for a third straight drop after disclosing that U.S. export limits on chips to China could hurt its first-quarter results by $5.5 billion.

They led another wipeout on Wall Street, and 92% of the stocks within the S&P 500 fell.

Among the few gainers were Discover Financial Services and Capital One Financial, which climbed after the U.S. government approved their proposed merger. Discover rose 3.6%, while Capital One added 1.5%.

All told, the S&P 500 fell 124.50 points to 5,158.20. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 971.82 to 38,170.41, and the Nasdaq composite tumbled 415.55 to 15,870.90.

Gold also climbed to burnish its reputation as a safe-haven investment, unlike some others.

In the bond market, shorter-term Treasury yields fell as investors expect the Fed to cut its main overnight interest rate later this year to support the economy.

But longer-term yields rose with doubts about the United States’ standing in the global economy. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.40%, up from 4.34% at the end of last week and from just about 4% earlier this month. That’s a substantial move for the bond market.

The U.S. dollar’s value, meanwhile, fell against the euro, Japanese yen, the Swiss franc and other currencies.

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AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

Statewide tributes pour in as North Carolinians mourn Pope Francis

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — Leaders across North Carolina are reacting to the news that Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, as confirmed by the Vatican on Monday morning. Many are reflecting on Pope Francis’ impact of life and how his preaching’s had a transformative effect on Catholics around the world and here at home. Among the comments…

Senator Thom Tillis
“Pope Francis dedicated his life to faith, compassion, and service to God. His passing is a loss felt around the world. Susan and I join Catholics and non-Catholics across North Carolina in honoring his legacy of service.”

Senator Ted Budd
“Amy Kate and I are praying for all who mourn the passing of Pope Francis. May he rest in peace.”

Governor Josh Stein
“Anna and I join the world in mourning the loss of Pope Francis. His leadership inspired and taught us to serve with love, faith, and compassion. May his memory be a blessing.”

Bishop Luis Zarama of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh
“I was blessed to have opportunities to meet with Pope Francis many times and was amazed by his warmth and compassion and sense of humor. I will always be amazed when I recall how he demonstrated that same humility and humanity in every interaction, with every person he met.”

Duke Divinity School Professor of Theology Peter Casarella
“Pope Francis was a stark critic of a self-referential Catholic Church and preferred to preach apostolic zeal and the model of a church as a field hospital. Even in the move to Rome, Pope Francis remained a Latin American priest of great humility and simplicity. He chose not to live in the papal apartments but instead to reside in the Vatican guesthouse. He has been noted for his personal connections with people, his willingness to listen, and his down-to-earth nature. As pope, he confounded the Swiss guards in charge of his security by venturing outside of the Vatican to visit a record shop owned by an elderly couple whom he had befriended as a young priest.”

Bishop Michael Martin of the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
“I am deeply saddened by the death of Pope Francis and join with Catholics of the Diocese of Charlotte and around the world in mourning of the loss of our shepherd. I am certain that all people of good will rejoice with us that this man of faith has “finished the race” (2 Tim 4:7), and we pray that he will receive the reward which we have all been promised by our merciful God who has saved us from the finality of death. There will be time to celebrate the life and legacy of Pope Francis in the days ahead, but for now I invite anyone and everyone to join us in prayer this evening at 7 p.m. in every Roman Catholic church in the Diocese of Charlotte for a time of prayer, reflection, and mourning. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him!”

Laura Townsend Jones, Refugee Resettlement Director, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte
“Pope Francis was consistently a beacon of hope and love in a tumultuous world. His support for refugees and immigrants – and those of us who have dedicated our lives to supporting them and welcoming these strangers into our community – was inspirational and gave us strength and clarity that we are, in fact, serving God’s will regarding preserving the dignity of the human person. Pope Francis’ words set the example, to ‘live in solidarity and fraternity, to build bridges that bring us ever closer together, to avoid walls of ignominy and to learn to give our lives as Jesus Christ gave his for the salvation of all. We will miss his compassionate spirit and his guidance.”

The death of a pope initiates a centuries’ old ritual to elect a new pontiff (AP Video)

Sister Rose Marie Tresp of Sisters of Mercy
“From the moment that Pope Francis stepped out onto the balcony of Saint Peter’s to give his first blessings to the crowd gathered below, his simpler dress, his request for prayers, his humility and simplicity were an inspiration to me. At his first Holy Thursday the Pope washed the feet of 10 male and two female juvenile offenders, not all Catholic. This immediately indicated that change was coming…Then the Pope’s first visit outside the Vatican was to Lampedusa to greet the migrants landing on the shore. Since I was heavily involved in advocacy for reform of the U.S. immigration laws, this gave me hope. I will deeply miss Pope Francis but as I am nearer the end of my life than the beginning, I hope to follow him in continuing to be engaged with people, with service and humor.”

North Carolina Representative Deborah Ross
“Pope Francis reminded all of us that we all have the duty to do good. His passing is a profound loss, not just for the Catholic Church, but for humanity and decency everywhere. May we all strive to lead with the grace he lived by.”

North Carolina Representative Valerie Foushee
“I join the millions around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. Pope Francis was a moral and visionary leader who challenged us to always treat others with compassion and care. May he rest in eternal peace.”

Duke freshman Cooper Flagg is headed to the NBA as the favorite to be the No. 1 overall draft pick

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer

Duke star Cooper Flagg is headed to the NBA as the favorite to be the No. 1 overall draft pick.

The program announced Flagg’s move in a social media post Monday following after a lone college season that saw the 18-year-old become only the fourth freshman named as The Associated Press national player of the year while leading the Blue Devils to the Final Four.

Flagg had reclassified to get to Duke a year early, and his decision was expected all year, even as he generally declined to spell out plans about his professional future as the season pushed into March or mentioned how much fun he had playing in college.

“I mean, it’s been an incredible year with a really great group of people,” Flagg told the AP in March after winning national player of the year.

The 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward from Newport, Maine, averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals to lead the Blue Devils in each category. He’s a versatile threat who showed the ability to thrive as a scorer, playmaker and defender.

“His highlights, his statistics, the ways he impacted the game on both ends of the floor, really in every category, was off the charts — as good of a freshman season that a guy has had here,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said in a social media video from the program about Flagg’s NBA declaration.

“But to me the separator and the joy of coaching Cooper is the person he was every day, the teammate that he was — never about statistics or anything other than creating an environment and helping his team to win.”

The statistical highlight came when Flagg scored 42 points to set an Atlantic Coast Conference freshman record against Notre Dame in January, along with having 30 points, six rebounds and seven assists to help Duke hold off Arizona in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16. There were plenty of impressive single plays, too, that demanded highlight-reel placement like his transition dunk through a defender against Pittsburgh in January.

Flagg closed with 27 points and seven rebounds in a loss to Houston in the national semifinals. The Blue Devils had led by 14 with about 8 1/2 minutes left but faltered late, with Houston scoring the game’s last nine points in the final 33 seconds and Flagg missing a late shot for the lead.

Still, he was an elite and hypercompetitive force for one of college basketball’s top teams all season with a game far more advanced than his age, capable of making an impact from baseline to baseline and sideline to sideline. He won’t turn 19 until December, which would be roughly two months into his rookie season.

Flagg is the third Duke player to announce an early exit for the NBA in the past week, joining freshman wing Kon Knueppel and junior guard Tyrese Proctor.