Triangle/Local
3 potential storm deaths in North Carolina after Chantal, officials say
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — There were three potential storm-related deaths in North Carolina amid flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal, a state official said Tuesday. The state’s Department of Health and Human Services was working on confirmation of the deaths in Chatham, Orange and…
Family of 4, including 2 children, killed in North Carolina plane crash
SANFORD, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina family of four, including two school-age children, died when their small plane crashed as they flew back from Florida. The National Transportation Safety Board said an agency investigator was expected Tuesday at the site of the wreckage of…
Twisting the truth: study finds fake news often rides on real headlines
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – Trusted headlines, twisted reach? A new study in Nature finds that even reputable news stories can help fuel misinformation—especially when they’re passed around by users who also share fake news. Jon Green, Duke University Assistant Professor of Political Science, says the…
Nine months after Helene: The Southeast still reels from rare hurricane damage
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – It’s already been nine months since Hurricane Helene carved its path through the Southeast—leaving behind memories many are still rebuilding from. State Assistant Climatologist Corey Davis says we’ve been through portions of all four seasons which has given them a pretty…
Tropical Storm Chantal forecast to bring heavy rain to the Carolinas
MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Chantal formed off the southeast U.S. coast and was forecast to bring heavy rains to parts of the Carolinas on Saturday. Tropical storm warnings were issued for portions of the two states, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The…
State/Regional
North Carolina governor vetoes another set of bills, including one on guns in private schools
By MAKIYA SEMINERA Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Josh Stein cleared his desk Wednesday of the deluge of bills passed to him from the North Carolina General Assembly last month, three of which he vetoed. Stein topped off his veto total at 14 for…
Swain County sheriff steps down after sexual misconduct charges
BRYSON CITY, N.C. (AP) — The longtime sheriff of a western North Carolina county whom some women accused of sexual misconduct has quit before he could be permanently removed. Curtis Cochran, who was first elected Swain County sheriff in 2006, retired from the post effective…
Flooding from Chantal’s remnants forces dozens to flee homes in North Carolina
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Heavy rain and flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal forced dozens of people to flee their homes in central North Carolina, officials said Monday. The Chapel Hill Fire Department and neighboring agencies completed more than 50 water rescues, many of…
North Carolina governor vetoes anti-DEI and transgender rights bills, calling them ‘mean-spirited’
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Democratic Gov. Josh Stein vetoed on Thursday three anti-DEI bills and another measure that in part would target transgender rights. His actions set up more showdowns with Republican lawmakers who pitch the legislation as doing away…
Medicaid, food aid recipients worry about safety net cuts in bill sent to Trump
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Supporters of the sweeping tax and spending legislation that Congress has sent to President Donald Trump say the changes to Medicaid, food aid and other programs will encourage personal responsibility and halt those scamming the system. Critics of the bill, given final…
World/National
Flamingos are stirring up trouble and ravaging rice for risotto in Italy’s northeast
By NICCOLÒ LUPONE Associated Press JOLANDA DI SAVOIA, Italy (AP) — An unusual pest is ravaging crops and irking farmers in northeastern Italy: the flamingo. Flocks of these relatively recent immigrants have set their hungry sights on the flooded fields that produce rice for risotto…
Wall Street is off to a sluggish start while Delta soars on stronger outlook
By ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writer U.S. stocks edged lower in early trading Thursday as Delta Air Lines led a rally in airline stocks after releasing a solid outlook for the rest of this year and new government data showed fewer Americans sought unemployment benefits…
Nutella maker Ferrero plans to buy century-old cereal maker WK Kellogg for $3.1 billion
By DEE-ANN DURBIN and MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writers Italian confectioner Ferrero, known for brands like Nutella and Kinder, is buying the century-old U.S. cereal company WK Kellogg in a deal valued at approximately $3.1 billion. The Ferrero Group said Thursday it will pay $23…
Harrowing stories of rescue emerge from Texas floods as crews search for over 160 reported missing
By SEAN MURPHY, NADIA LATHAN and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press HUNT, Texas (AP) — In the frantic hours after a wall of water engulfed camps and homes in Texas, a police officer who was trapped himself spotted dozens of people stranded on roofs and waded out to…
Gains for tech stocks push Nasdaq to another record
By ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writer A rally in big tech stocks led the broader market to a higher close Wednesday, lifting the Nasdaq to an all-time high and helping Wall Street claw back most of its losses from earlier in the week. The S&P…
Entertainment
Latest ‘Tiger King’ twist finds ‘Doc’ Antle sentenced to 1 year in prison for animal trafficking
By JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — “Tiger King” star Bhagavan “Doc” Antle is going to prison — but not for as long as prosecutors wanted — after admitting he broke federal law buying endangered animals to keep at his zoo in South Carolina. Antle,…
Ozzy Osbourne says farewell to live performance with a hometown show for 40,000 fans
LONDON (AP) — Hard-rock royalty and some 40,000 fans gathered for an ear-splitting tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at what the heavy metal icon says was his last-ever live performance. The original lineup of Osbourne’s band Black Sabbath performed at Villa Park soccer stadium in their home city of…
Michael Madsen, ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ star, dies at 67
By ANDREW DALTON and ITZEL LUNA Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Madsen, the actor best known for his coolly menacing, steely-eyed, often sadistic characters in the films of Quentin Tarantino including “Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill: Vol. 2,” has died. Madsen was found unresponsive in his home…
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is denied bail after mixed verdict clears him of top charges in sex crimes case
By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs dropped to his knees and prayed in the courtroom after he was acquitted Wednesday of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put one of hip-hop’s celebrated figures behind bars for life.…
No verdict on first day of jury deliberations at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial
By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Jury deliberations got underway on Monday in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial and hit a snag almost as soon as they started. But, by the end of the day, jurors…
Sports
Clayton Kershaw makes his 11th All-Star team. James Wood is the youngest All-Star at 22
By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was picked for his 11th All-Star Game and Paul Skenes, James Wood and Elly De La Cruz boosted the 23-and-under group to five when they were picked Sunday for the July…
Djokovic’s daughter steals the show at Wimbledon with her victory dance
LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic won the match on Centre Court on Saturday, but it was his 7-year-old daughter who really wowed Wimbledon. Tara Djokovic’s victory dance brought a smile to dad’s face. Everybody else’s, too. Djokovic had just clinched his 100th Wimbledon singles win and was…
Joey ‘Jaws’ Chestnut reclaims title in Famous hot dog eating contest, wins 17th Mustard Belt
By SUSAN HAIGH Associated Press Famed competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut reclaimed his title Friday at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest after skipping last year’s gastronomic battle in New York for the coveted Mustard Belt. Chestnut, 41, consumed 70 1/2 hot dogs…
Nikolaj Ehlers chooses the Carolina Hurricanes, taking the NHL’s top free agent off the market
By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer The long wait for Nikolaj Ehlers’ free agent decision is over. Ehlers decided Thursday to sign with the Carolina Hurricanes, taking the top player available off the market more than 72 hours since the NHL’s signing period began. Ehlers agreed to terms on…
Supreme Court will take up a new case about which school sports teams transgender students can join
By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court agreed Thursday to hear a case over state restrictions on which school sports teams transgender students can join. Just two weeks after upholding a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, the justices said they will review…