WPTF News Archives - Page 25 of 213

Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James who co-wrote ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ dies in plane crash

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 19, 2025, 6:29 pm

Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James has died in a plane crash in North Carolina. Authorities reported that the crash Thursday afternoon involved a small plane with three people aboard. There were no survivors. James, known for hits like “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “When the Sun Goes Down,” was 57. The plane, a Cirrus SR22T, was registered to him, but it’s unclear if he was the pilot. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. James, who left medical school for music, was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020.… Read More

14 former NC State athletes have filed a lawsuit alleging abuse by ex-head trainer

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 19, 2025, 7:04 am

By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Fourteen former N.C. State male athletes have filed a lawsuit in state court alleging sexual abuse under the guise of treatment and harassment by the Wolfpack’s former director of sports medicine, expanding a case that began with a federal lawsuit from a single athlete three years ago.…… Read More

UCF takes on North Carolina in Week 4

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 19, 2025, 7:00 am

North Carolina (2-1) at UCF (2-0), Sept. 20 at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

BetMGM College Football Odds Opening Line: UCF by 7. Against the spread: UCF 1-1, North Carolina 2-1.

How to listen: WPTF

How to watch: FOX… Read More

Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina a year ago. Some students never returned to school

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 19, 2025, 6:45 am

SWANNANOA, N.C. (AP) — Thousands of students across western North Carolina lost their homes a year ago when Helene hit with some of the most vicious floods, landslides and wind ever seen in the mountainous region. Helene damaged more than 73,000 homes. The homeless student population surged, doubling in some places and even increasing fourfold in one county. Across the state, more than 2,500 students were identified as homeless as a direct result of Helene, according to state data obtained by The Associated Press. Storm debris has mostly been cleared away in some places, but the impact of the displacement lingers for students.… Read More

In Britain, Trump basks in a display of regal splendor with King Charles III at Windsor Castle

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 17, 2025, 11:03 pm

WINDSOR, England (AP) — President Donald Trump is relishing a day filled with British royal pageantry with King Charles III. Wednesday’s start to his two-day state visit included military honor guards, carriage rides and a state dinner. Trump also paid tribute at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb. The visit began with Prince William and Kate welcoming Trump and the first lady at Windsor Castle. The day featured a grand procession, a tour of historical artifacts and a military parade. The visit is designed to strengthen ties amid Trump’s “America First” policies. On Thursday, Trump will meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss important issues.… Read More

Starbucks workers sue over company’s new dress code

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 17, 2025, 10:46 pm

Starbucks workers are taking legal action against the coffee giant, saying it violated the law when it changed its dress code but refused to reimburse employees who had to buy new clothes. The employees are backed by the union organizing Starbucks’ workers. They filed class-action lawsuits in state court in Illinois and Colorado Wednesday, and complaints with California’s labor agency. Starbucks’ new dress code went into effect May 12. The company has said its dress code will create a sense of familiarity with customers and make stores more welcoming. But some employees say they had to spend more than $100 on new clothes.… Read More

ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely over his remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 17, 2025, 10:34 pm

NEW YORK (AP) — ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely following comments he made about Charlie Kirk’s killing. The network’s decision came Nexstar announced its ABC affiliates would preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely over his comments. A spokesperson for Kimmel did not immediately return a call for comment. Kimmel, like CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert, has consistently been critical of President Donald Trump and many of his policies on his ABC show. CBS said this past summer that it was canceling Colbert’s show at the end of this season for financial reasons, although some critics have wondered if his stance on Trump played a role.… Read More

Federal Reserve cuts key rate by quarter-point and signals two more cuts this year

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 17, 2025, 2:28 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday and projected it would do so twice more this year as concern grows at the central bank about the health of the nation’s labor market. The move is the Fed’s first cut since December and lowered its short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, had kept their rate unchanged this year as they evaluated the impact of tariffs, tighter immigration enforcement, and other Trump administration policies on inflation and the economy. The only dissenter was Stephen Miran, the recent Trump-appointee.… Read More

Fired CDC chief Susan Monarez warns senators that RFK Jr. is endangering public health

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 17, 2025, 1:53 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Susan Monarez is warning senators America’s public health system is headed to a “dangerous place” under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his anti-vaccine advisers. Monarez and ex-CDC official Debra Houry describe exchanges in which Kennedy or political advisers rebuffed data supporting vaccine safety and efficacy. Monarez told the Senate health committee Wednesday deadly diseases including polio are poised to make a comeback in the U.S. Monarez says Kennedy demanded she “preapprove” recommendations from a CDC panel or face termination. The panel is expected to vote on new vaccine guidelines this week in Atlanta. Kennedy denies Monarez’s accusations he ordered “rubber-stamped” vaccine recommendations.… Read More

Another beachfront stilt house collapses into the surf on the Outer Banks

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 17, 2025, 1:26 pm

BUXTON, N.C. (AP) — The Atlantic Ocean has claimed another beach house on the fragile Outer Banks. The home that collapsed Tuesday afternoon in Buxton, North Carolina, is the 12th to succumb to the surf since May 2020. An official with the Cape Hatteras National Seashore says the house was unoccupied. The other 11 were all in the village of Rodanthe, a few miles north. The barrier islands have been eroding amid sea level rise for years. The famed Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was moved inland in 1999.… Read More

Amazon Prime Video will stream the Masters for the first time beginning next year

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 16, 2025, 12:00 pm

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Amazon Prime Video will stream two hours of coverage during the first and second rounds of the Masters beginning next year. The Masters will stream on Prime Video from 1-3 p.m. Eastern daily on April 9 and 10, leading into ESPN’s coverage both days from 3-7:30 p.m. Paramount+ will stream the third and fourth rounds on April 11 and 12 from noon-2 p.m. Eastern before CBS takes over beginning at 2 p.m. With the addition of Prime Video, primary broadcast and streaming coverage of the Masters will be at least 27 hours, up from 18 hours last year.… Read More

Retail sales up 0.6% in August from July even as tariffs hurt jobs and lead to price hikes

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 16, 2025, 10:03 am

NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers increased their spending at a better-than-expected pace in August from July, helped by back-to-school purchases, even as President Donald Trump’s tariffs are starting to hurt the job market and lead to price hikes. The performance was also helped by the continued efforts by Americans to keep pushing up purchases ahead of expected price increases. Retail sales rose 0.6% last month from July, when sales were up a revised 0.6%, according to the Commerce Department’s report released Tuesday.… Read More