WPTF News Archives - Page 12 of 213

Virginia gubernatorial candidates debate trans youth rights as LGBTQ+ voters weigh a fraught moment

Author: The Associated Press | Date: October 26, 2025, 7:08 am

SALEM, Va. (AP) — The rights of trans youth could be a factor Virginia’s 2025 gubernatorial election and legislative control in Richmond. Republican Winsome Earle-Sears opposes the rights of trans kids at school. Democrat Abigail Spanberger has largely avoided the subject. Each candidate is trying to cast the other as the extremist on the issue. LGBTQ+ Virginians have been grappling with what it means to be queer and trans in a moment where their identities are thrust into statewide and national politics. Other Virginians, meanwhile, worry about its impact on their children.… Read More

Melissa strengthens into a Category 4 hurricane, threatening catastrophic flooding in Jamaica, Haiti

Author: The Associated Press | Date: October 26, 2025, 7:00 am

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Hurricane Melissa has strengthened into a major Category 4 hurricane, with the possibility of intensifying to a Category 5 storm Sunday night, unleashing torrential rain and threatening to cause catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean, including Haiti and Jamaica. Melissa became a hurricane on Saturday and then intensified rapidly into a major storm. Melissa — with maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour — is expected to drop torrential rains of up to 30 inches on Jamaica and southern Hispaniola — Haiti and the Dominican Republic — according to the hurricane center. Some areas may see as much as 40 inches of rain.… Read More

Heiskanen scores twice as Stars rally to beat Hurricanes 3-2

Author: The Associated Press | Date: October 26, 2025, 6:45 am

DALLAS (AP) — Miro Heiskanen scored his second goal of the game during a four-on-three power play with 8:42 remaining and the Dallas Stars beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2. The Stars trailed 2-0 after the first period before scoring the final three goals of the game. Carolina led 1-0 five minutes into the game on Jackson Blake’s unassisted goal. The Hurricanes increased their lead with 10.3 seconds remaining in the first period when Sebastian Aho scored. Dallas tied it at 2-2 on Sam Steel’s power-play goal. Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi made 31 saves.… Read More

No. 16 Virginia edges North Carolina in overtime on J’Mari Taylor’s TD run

Author: The Associated Press | Date: October 25, 2025, 5:30 pm

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — J’Mari Taylor scored on a 1-yard run in overtime, lifting No. 16 Virginia to a 17-16 victory over North Carolina on Saturday. The Tar Heels answered with Davion Gause’s 9-yard touchdown grab, but Ben Hall was stopped just short of the end zone on the ensuing 2-point try. Chandler Morris threw for 200 yards with one touchdown and one interception for the Cavaliers (7-1, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who are off to their best start since 2007. Gio Lopez finished with 208 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for the Tar Heels (2-5, 0-3), who lost their fourth straight.… Read More

Black enrollment is waning at many elite colleges after affirmative action ban, AP analysis finds

Author: The Associated Press | Date: October 24, 2025, 12:02 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Associated Press analysis finds that the number of Black students enrolling at many elite colleges has dropped in the two years since the Supreme Court banned affirmative action in admissions. New enrollment figures from 20 selective colleges provide mounting evidence of a backslide in Black enrollment. Many campuses have also seen decreases in Hispanic enrollment, though they have been more scattered and less pronounced. At Princeton and some others, the number of new Black students has fallen by nearly half. Some colleges attribute it to natural fluctuations. Some students say the changes are too big to ignore.… Read More

NBA head coach and player charged in sprawling sports betting and Mafia-backed poker schemes

Author: The Associated Press | Date: October 24, 2025, 11:15 am

NEW YORK (AP) — The head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a player for the Miami Heat have been arrested along with more than 30 other people in a takedown of two sprawling gambling operations that authorities said leaked inside information about NBA athletes and rigged poker games backed by Mafia families. Portland coach Chauncey Billups was charged Thursday with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games tied to La Cosa Nostra organized crime families that cheated unsuspecting gamblers out of at least $7 million. Heat guard Terry Rozier was accused in a separate scheme of exploiting private information about players to win bets on NBA games.… Read More

Federal grand jury indicts man for fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee on North Carolina train

Author: The Associated Press | Date: October 23, 2025, 11:52 pm

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted a man for fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee on a commuter train in Charlotte, North Carolina. The indictment on Wednesday charges him with causing death on a mass transportation system, keeping the possibility of a federal death penalty on the table. Brown allegedly stabbed 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska in a random attack captured on video. Brown had cycled through the criminal justice system for more than a decade, including earlier this year when he was arrested after repeatedly calling 911 from a hospital, claiming people were trying to control him.… Read More

COVID-19 vaccines may help some cancer patients fight tumors

Author: The Associated Press | Date: October 22, 2025, 11:27 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — The most widely used COVID-19 vaccines may offer a surprise benefit for some cancer patients by boosting their immune systems to help fight tumors. Research reported Wednesday in the journal Nature found that people with advanced lung or skin cancer lived longer if they received a Pfizer or Moderna shot within 100 days of starting a type of immunotherapy. The mRNA in these vaccines appears to enhance the immune system’s response. Now the research team is preparing a more rigorous study of the potential connection, to see if mRNA vaccines should be deliberately paired with cancer drugs called checkpoint inhibitors.… Read More

QB Bryce Young sits out practice as Panthers amp up preparation for matchup against Bills

Author: The Associated Press | Date: October 22, 2025, 11:19 pm

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young did not practice on Wednesday as the team amped up preparation for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. Young, who suffered a right ankle sprain in the second half of Carolina’s 13-6 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, walked into practice without a noticeable limp and carrying his helmet. However, he headed straight to the stationary bike while teammates began their stretching routine. As the Panthers went into practice mode, Young remained on the side working with trainers, doing resistance training and light jogging. If Young can’t play Sunday, veteran Andy Dalton would get the start at quarterback.… Read More

The Louvre reopens 3 days after one of the biggest museum heists of the century

Author: The Associated Press | Date: October 22, 2025, 11:53 am

PARIS (AP) — The Louvre has reopened just three days after a daring heist shocked the world. Thieves made off with eight pieces from France’s Crown Jewels, valued at over $100 million. The theft has put President Emmanuel Macron and Louvre chief Laurence des Cars under scrutiny. Authorities say the thieves spent less than four minutes inside the museum on Sunday morning. The jewels remain missing, and the thieves are still at large. The heist has raised questions about the museum’s security, especially after recent staff strikes warned of understaffing. The Louvre has declined to detail any reinforced protocols.… Read More

Democrats look to long term as North Carolina GOP redistricting plan seeks another seat for Trump

Author: The Associated Press | Date: October 21, 2025, 4:16 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democrats have rallied against a proposed U.S. House map by North Carolina Republicans in Raleigh. The new map seeks to stop the reelection of Democratic Rep. Don Davis by redrawing two congressional districts. This proposal could result in Republicans winning 11 of the state’s 14 seats. The GOP aims to satisfy President Donald Trump’s call for mid-decade redistricting to attempt to retain a House majority in 2026. The map seems headed for enactment after final House votes as soon as Wednesday. The state Senate gave its final approval Tuesday. Democrats at the rally acknowledged they’ll likely be unable to halt the redraw now but vowed wins in the long run.… Read More

Belichick says suspended North Carolina assistant coach is back working with Tar Heels

Author: The Associated Press | Date: October 21, 2025, 2:33 pm

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina coach Bill Belichick said suspended cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins has been reinstated and returned to work ahead of a visit from No. 16 Virginia. The school had announced Oct. 9 that it suspended Hawkins for “violating NCAA rules” tied to improper benefits. UNC’s statement didn’t specify a length of the suspension. It had also said he would remain on leave while the school “further investigates other potential actions detrimental” to the team and school. Belichick said Monday school officials “went through their process” with Hawkins and that he was back to work.… Read More