News Archives - Page 13 of 42

Tropical Storm Debby hits Florida with floods, threat of record rain in Georgia and the Carolinas

HORSESHOE BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Tropical Storm Debby is slamming Florida with catastrophic flooding and could bring potentially record-setting rain to Georgia and South Carolina. The storm made landfall on the gulf coast of Florida early Monday as a Category 1 hurricane. It is now a tropical storm, with top wind speeds around 65 mph. More than 300,000 customers were without power in Florida and Georgia. At least four storm-related deaths have been reported. Local leaders in coastal Georgia were preparing for high water in case Debby stalls out over cities like Savannah. An official in South Carolina says Debby could be a “historic and potentially unprecedented event.”… Continue Reading

A North Carolina Republican who mocked women for abortions runs ad with his wife’s own story

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A new commercial by Mark Robinson, North Carolina Republican’s nominee for governor, is seeking to counter ads by Democratic rival Josh Stein criticizing his abortion views. The Robinson commercial describes his wife’s own abortion decades ago and leaves the impression that he’s now comfortable with the state’s current 12-week ban on most abortions. For months, Robinson’s campaign has said he supported an abortion ban after roughly six weeks of pregnancy, with some exceptions. Stein’s campaign says the ad is another effort for Robinson to move away from an “extreme and toxic stance.” Robinson’s approach reflects ongoing efforts by conservative politicians to moderate abortion views that otherwise have boosted Democratic electoral fortunes.… Continue Reading

For college students arrested protesting the war in Gaza, the fallout was only beginning

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — More than 3,200 people were arrested on college campuses this spring during a wave of pro-Palestinian tent encampments protesting the war in Gaza. Many students have already seen those charges dismissed. But the cases have yet to be resolved for hundreds of people at campuses that saw the highest number of arrests, according to an analysis of data gathered by The Associated Press. In addition to the legal limbo, those students face uncertainty in their academic careers. Some remain steadfast, saying they would have made the same decisions to protest even if they had known the consequences. Others have struggled with the aftermath of the arrests.… Continue Reading

Harris has secured enough Democratic delegate votes to be the party’s nominee, committee chair says

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris says she’s “honored” to be the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison said Friday that Harris had secured enough votes from Democratic delegates to officially be the party’s nominee. The online voting process doesn’t end until Monday, but the campaign marked the moment Friday when she crossed the threshold to have the majority of delegates’ votes. Harris is poised to be the first woman of color at the top of a major party’s ticket. The Democratic Party’s convention in Chicago begins Aug. 19. Harris was endorsed by President Joe Biden shortly after he dropped out of the race, catapulting her to the forefront of the campaign to beat Republican nominee Donald Trump.… Continue Reading

North Carolina regulators says nonprofit run by lieutenant governor’s wife owes the state $132K

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A state review of a nonprofit operated by the wife of North Carolina Lt. Gov Mark Robinson says the nonprofit was “seriously deficient” in recent operations. A Wednesday letter from the Department of Health and Human Services identified problems at Balanced Nutrition Inc. Regulators said they needed to be corrected within two weeks or Balanced Nutrition and owner Yolanda Hill would be disqualified from participating in a federally funded meal program for child care providers. Balanced Nutrition already closed at the end of April and its lawyer has alleged the nonprofit was being targeted because Hill is Robinson’s wife. Robinson is also the Republican nominee for governor this fall.… Continue Reading

Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday to be celebrated with musical gala at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre

ATLANTA (AP) — Former President Jimmy Carter will be honored next month ahead of his 100th birthday with a musical gala at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre. The Carter Center said Thursday that the Sept. 17 event will be called “Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song” and will feature musicians from several genres. Carter’s birthday is Oct. 1. He remains at home in Plains, Georgia, where he has been receiving hospice care since February 2023. He was last seen publicly at funeral services for former first lady Rosalynn Carter, who died last year. The 39th president served from 1977 to 1981. The Carters opened The Carter Center in 1982. The gala will celebrate their decades of humanitarian work.… Continue Reading

Deadly force justified in fatal shooting of North Carolina man who killed 4 officers, official says

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A district attorney in North Carolina has concluded that law enforcement officers were justified in their use of deadly force against a gunman who killed four officers in April. Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather said in a report released Thursday that there was “no question” the officers were trying to defend themselves and others when they shot and killed 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr. The report says Hughes fatally shot the four officers while they were trying to serve warrants for his arrest. Four other officers were wounded.… Continue Reading

Domestic violence support group experiencing jump in calls for assistance

RALEIGH – With the increase of living costs in Wake County, the North Carolina Domestic Violence Hotlines have been seeing an unusually high call volume, seeing about 24 calls an hour. Advocates say the rising expenses can add another barrier for people who are trying to leave a domestic violence situation.… Continue Reading

US and Russia complete biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history, freeing Gershkovich and Whelan

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Russia have completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history, with Moscow releasing Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Michigan corporate security executive American Paul Whelan in a multinational deal that set some two dozen people free. That’s according to officials Thursday in Turkey, where the exchange took place. The trade followed years of secretive back-channel negotiations despite relations between Washington and Moscow being at their lowest point since the Cold War after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden placed securing the release of Americans held wrongfully overseas at the top of his foreign policy agenda for the six months before he leaves office.… Continue Reading

Families rally to urge North Carolina lawmakers to fully fund private-school vouchers

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Dozens of North Carolina parents came to Raleigh to urge Republican legislators to fully fund scholarships for children to attend private and religious schools. A state budget provision last year ended income caps to qualify for the Opportunity Scholarship program, but there wasn’t enough money to cover soaring demand. That led to a waiting list of nearly 55,000 children. House and Senate Republicans failed to work out a deal to appropriate close to $500 million before adjourning in June. House members returning Wednesday to vote on other matters were met by the parents.… Continue Reading