Category Archives: WPTF News
Jimmie Johnson plans to make one more Daytona 500 start in 2027 before ending his Cup career
By MARK LONG AP Sports Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Jimmie Johnson plans to end his illustrious NASCAR Cup Series career at the 2027 Daytona 500. The seven-time Cup champion announced Saturday, t...
Feb 14, 2026 Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #84 Carvana Toyota, stands during the national anthem prior to Duel 1 for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
NASCAR moves up the Daytona 500 start time by an hour as bad weather looms
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - NASCAR is moving the start time of Sunday's Daytona 500 up one hour because of the threat of inclement weather. The green flag is now scheduled for 2:13 p.m. Eastern at Dayt...
Feb 14, 2026 A general view of practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Boozer, Evans lead No. 4 Duke past No. 20 Clemson 67-54 to stay in control of ACC race
By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Star freshman Cameron Boozer had 18 points and No. 4 Duke held No. 20 Clemson to 35% shooting in a 67-54 win Saturday. Isaiah Evans added 17 poi...
Feb 14, 2026 Isaiah Evans #3 and Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils react during the second half of the game against the Clemson Tigers at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Judge sentences teen to life without parole for North Carolina mass shooting that killed 5
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - A judge sentenced an 18-year-old who acknowledged killing five people in a North Carolina mass shooting to life in prison without parole Frid...
Feb 13, 2026 Austin Thompson, center, listens in court in Raleigh, N.C., on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, as Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul C. Ridgeway sentences him to five life sentences without the possibility of parole. (Scott Sharpe/The News & Observer via AP, Pool)
At Fort Bragg, Trump says Maduro raid showed 'full military might' of US and means 'we are feared'
By WILL WEISSERT and ALLEN G. BREED Associated Press FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) - President Donald Trump celebrated the special forces members who ousted Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro, saying last mon...
Feb 13, 2026
Journalist Don Lemon pleads not guilty to civil rights charges in Minnesota church protest
By STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Former CNN host turned independent journalist Don Lemon pleaded not guilty to federal civil rights charges Friday, following a protest at a M...
Feb 13, 2026 Journalist Don Lemon (C) speaks with media gathered after an arraignment hearing at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on February 13, 2026 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lemon has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to violate someone's constitutional rights and violating the FACE Act. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
From YouTuber to NASCAR driver: Cleetus McFarland expands his racing resume at Daytona
By MARK LONG AP Sports Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Garrett Mitchell is better known as "Cleetus McFarland" to his millions of followers gained over the years as a racing influencer. He's pretty ...
Feb 12, 2026 Garrett Mitchell, also known as Cleetus McFarland looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 11, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
No. 11 Tar Heels lose freshman star Caleb Wilson to hand fracture; timetable for return unclear
By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer Caleb Wilson has powered No. 11 North Carolina all year. The Tar Heels will now have to figure out how to play without their freshman star. The team said Thursday t...
Feb 12, 2026 North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson (8) dunks over Georgia Tech guard Akai Fleming (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
US stocks drop sharply as investors hunt for losers that will be hurt by AI
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. stocks fell sharply Thursday as the market punished companies seen as potential losers from artificial-intelligence technology. The S&P 500 san...
Feb 12, 2026 Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on February 09, 2026 in New York City. Stocks were down in morning trading after Friday's rally, where the Dow closed over 50,000 for the first time. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Gold medalist Breezy Johnson's latest Olympic bling? A sapphire engagement ring
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) - Downhill champion Breezy Johnson didn't add to her Olympic medal haul during the women's super-G on Thursday. The American star left Tofane with something precious anyw...
Feb 12, 2026 United States' Breezy Johnson looks at the engagement ring she was given by Connor Watkins, at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's super-G race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)