WPTF News

Israel’s military begins its ground offensive in Gaza City and thousands of residents flee

Israel’s military begins its ground offensive in Gaza City and thousands of residents flee

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 16, 2025, 9:54 am

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military has begun its ground offensive in Gaza City, slowly closing in on the Palestinian territory’s largest city. Tuesday’s operation marked another escalation in the war. Thousands of people streamed out of the city in vehicles laden with their belongings, but hundreds of thousands more remain. The conflict has already decimated much of the Gaza Strip and roiled the Middle East for nearly two years, and the new operation likely pushes any ceasefire farther out of reach. The military wouldn’t offer a timeline for the offensive, but Israeli media suggested it could take months. The military says it aims to “destroy Hamas’ military infrastructure.”… Read More

Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor, director and indie patriarch, dies at 89

Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor, director and indie patriarch, dies at 89

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 16, 2025, 9:10 am

Robert Redford has died at 89. The Hollywood golden boy who became an Oscar-winning director, liberal activist and godfather for independent cinema died in Utah on Tuesday. His publicist didn’t immediately provide a cause of death. After rising to stardom in the 1960s, Redford was one of the biggest stars of the ’70s with such films as “The Candidate,” “All the President’s Men” and “The Way We Were.” Redford played the wily outlaw opposite Paul Newman in 1969’s “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” a box-office smash from which Redford’s Sundance Institute and festival got its name.… Read More

Wall Street ticks toward another record as Tesla vrooms higher

Wall Street ticks toward another record as Tesla vrooms higher

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 15, 2025, 4:47 pm

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is ticking toward another record. The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% Monday and was on track to top its latest all-time high set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 31 points, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.9%. Tesla jumped after Elon Musk bought stock worth roughly $1 billion in it, potentially signaling his faith in the electric vehicle company. The week’s main event will arrive Wednesday, when traders expect the Federal Reserve to announce its first cut to interest rates of the year. Perhaps more important will be whether it hints more cuts are coming, as Wall Street also expects.… Read More

QB Young showed fight Panthers want to see despite failing to complete comeback against Cards

QB Young showed fight Panthers want to see despite failing to complete comeback against Cards

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 15, 2025, 4:39 pm

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Dave Canales benched Bryce Young two games into the 2024 season for ineffectiveness following a flurry of turnovers resulting in Carolina losing its first two games by a combined margin of 73-13. More than six quarters into this season it looked as if Canales might be answering similar questions about Young’s future. The Panthers fell behind 27-3 to the Arizona Cardinals and appeared on the verge of getting blown out for the second straight week. Young had two turnovers on the first two drives, one that was returned for a touchdown. And then something clicked. Young got going in the second half against Arizona, rallying the Panthers to 27-22 with three second-half touchdown passes.… Read More

Appeals court rules felony offenders can’t be prosecuted for voting unlawfully by mistake

Appeals court rules felony offenders can’t be prosecuted for voting unlawfully by mistake

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 15, 2025, 3:41 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled that a North Carolina law making it a crime for felony offenders to vote before completing their punishments without knowing they were breaking the law is unconstitutional. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a trial judge’s decision, pointing out that the law has disproportionately affected Black ex-defendants. The General Assembly changed the law so that starting in January 2024 it required intent to break the law for it to be a crime. But the law had not changed for pre-2024 voting and became the lawsuit’s focus. The unanimous appeals court ruling could be appealed.… Read More

Vance hosts Kirk’s radio show and says he’ll honor his friend by being a better husband and father

Vance hosts Kirk’s radio show and says he’ll honor his friend by being a better husband and father

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 15, 2025, 2:12 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President JD Vance says he’ll honor Charlie Kirk by being a better husband and father. Vance commented Monday while hosting the radio program once hosted by Kirk. The founder of the Turning Point USA political organization was fatally shot last week during an outdoor appearance on a Utah college campus. Vance talked about visiting with Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, and said she told him that her husband had never raised his voice to her and had never been cross or mean-spirited to her. Vance said he couldn’t say the same about his own behavior toward his wife, Usha Vance.… Read More

‘The Studio’ and Seth Rogen have record-setting Emmys as Noah Wyle and ‘The Pitt’ get top drama wins

‘The Studio’ and Seth Rogen have record-setting Emmys as Noah Wyle and ‘The Pitt’ get top drama wins

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 15, 2025, 9:47 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “The Pitt” has won best drama series at the Emmys, with Noah Wyle taking best actor in a drama. “The Studio” sets a record for most wins by a comedy series in a single season. Netflix’s “Adolescence” dominates the limited series categories with six victories, including best limited series. Seth Rogen, co-creator of “The Studio,” personally takes four Emmys. Owen Cooper, at 15, becomes the youngest Emmy winner in over 40 years. Cristin Milioti wins best actress in a limited series for “The Penguin.” Jean Smart won best actress in a comedy for “Hacks” for the fourth time.… Read More

After Charlie Kirk’s death, workers learn the limits of free speech in and out of their jobs

After Charlie Kirk’s death, workers learn the limits of free speech in and out of their jobs

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 14, 2025, 11:47 am

NEW YORK (AP) — In the days following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, numerous workers have been fired for their comments on his death, among them MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd. It’s not the first time workers have lost their jobs over social media posts. Laws can vary across states, but overall, there’s very little legal protections for employees who are punished for speech made both in and out of private workplaces. And the prevalence of social media has made it increasingly common to track employees’ conduct outside of work.… Read More

Political leaders confront security concerns — and fear — after Kirk’s assassination

Political leaders confront security concerns — and fear — after Kirk’s assassination

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 14, 2025, 11:04 am

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (AP) — Some political leaders are canceling public appearances after Charlie Kirk’s killing. Others are relying on a large police presence to keep them safe. And still others insist that the assassination that shook the nation last week won’t have any impact on their plans. Elected officials at every level and in both parties are grappling with tough choices as they move deeper into an election season in which the prospect of further violence lingers. And as they weigh risks to their personal safety, Democrats and Republicans are being forced to confront their own feelings of grief, anger and fear.… Read More

Bell wins at Bristol, completing sweep in first round of NASCAR Cup playoffs for Joe Gibbs Racing

Bell wins at Bristol, completing sweep in first round of NASCAR Cup playoffs for Joe Gibbs Racing

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 14, 2025, 6:16 am

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — Christopher Bell seized the victory on a late restart at Bristol Motor Speedway, completing a first-round sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs for Joe Gibbs Racing. Leading the final four laps, Bell finished 0.343 seconds ahead of Brad Keselowski, who was trying to end a 51-race winless streak. Bell joined teammates Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe as playoff winners as Toyotas remained unbeaten in the 10-race championship run. Zane Smith finished third, followed by Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano.… Read More

Patel faces congressional hearings after missteps in Kirk assassination probe and turmoil at FBI

Patel faces congressional hearings after missteps in Kirk assassination probe and turmoil at FBI

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 13, 2025, 6:12 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Kash Patel is bracing for scrutiny over his leadership of the Charlie Kirk investigation and other areas when he appears before Congress this coming week for oversight hearings. He raised eyebrows hours after Kirk’s killing when he posted on X that “the subject” in the killing was in custody when he in fact remained on the loose. That confusion was an early misstep in an investigation that has become the most consequential test of Patel’s young career as director. The hearings are expected to give a glimpse into the sustained tumult at the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency.… Read More

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