WPTF News Archives - Page 27 of 213

FAA seeks $3.1 million in fines from Boeing over safety violations, 2024 midair panel blowout

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 13, 2025, 5:33 pm

The Federal Aviation Administration is seeking $3.1 million in fines from Boeing over safety violations, including an incident in January last year where an Alaska Airlines jetliner lost a door plug panel on its fuselage in midflight. No one was seriously injured, and the plane landed safely. The agency said Friday that the proposed penalty covers violations from September 2023 through February 2024. The FAA said it identified hundreds of quality system violations at Boeing’s 737 factory and a subcontractor’s facility. Boeing has 30 days to respond to the FAA.… Read More

They witnessed Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Now students reckon with the trauma

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 13, 2025, 5:28 pm

OREM, Utah (AP) — Students who witnessed Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University are reckoning with trauma and grief. As investigators spend the weekend digging deeper into suspect Tyler James Robinson ahead of his initial court appearance, the university community is mourning Kirk and taking steps to resume classes on Sept. 17. At a makeshift memorial near the university’s main entrance, people have been leaving flowers. On the quad where the Turning Point USA co-founder was shot, a crew has begun taking down tents and banners and scrubbing away reminders of the killing.… Read More

Suspect in Charlie Kirk assassination expressed opposition to conservative activist’s views

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 12, 2025, 2:03 pm

OREM, Utah (AP) — The man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk had expressed opposition to the conservative activist’s viewpoints and indicated that he was responsible for the shooting. That’s what authorities said Friday as they announced an arrest in the killing that raised fresh alarms about political violence in a deeply polarized United States. Gov. Spencer Cox told a news conference that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson had become “more political” in the run-up to the shooting and mentioned during a dinner with family that Kirk would be visiting Utah. The governor cited as evidence engravings on unspent bullet casings found in the rifle that authorities believe was used in the attack, as well as chat app messages attributed to the suspect.… Read More

Trump approves federal disaster aid for storms and flooding in 6 states

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 12, 2025, 12:33 pm

President Donald Trump has approved federal disaster aid for six states and tribes following storms and floods this spring and summer. The disaster declarations, announced Thursday, will provide federal funding to Kansas, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, as well as tribes in Montana and South Dakota. In most cases, it took Trump over a month to approve the aid requests, continuing a trend of longer waits for disaster relief. An Associated Press analysis shows delays in approving federal disaster aid have grown over time. The White House says Trump is providing a more thorough review of requests.… Read More

Analyst Matthew Dowd loses his MSNBC job following his Charlie Kirk commentary

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 11, 2025, 2:47 pm

Veteran political analyst Matthew Dowd is out of a job at MSNBC following some commentary regarding Charlie Kirk that drew a heated reaction. After a gunman killed the conservative activist Wednesday, Dowd said Kirk was a divisive figure and that “hateful words” can lead to “hateful actions.” MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler apologized for “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable” commentary. Dowd later apologized online, saying he did not intend for his comments to blame Kirk for the shooting. MSNBC later said Dowd “is no longer with the network.” The one-time aide to President George W. Bush and longtime ABC News analyst had been with MSNBC since 2022.… Read More

Former NC A&T athlete among 13 former NCAA basketball players under investigation for sports betting violations

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 11, 2025, 2:00 pm

The NCAA is investigating potential sports betting violations involving 13 former men’s basketball players from six schools. The schools themselves are not under investigation. The NCAA’s integrity program flagged unusual betting activities, including athletes betting on their own games and sharing information for betting purposes. The NCAA Committee on Infractions has resolved similar cases, permanently revoking the eligibility of three players from Fresno State and San Jose State for manipulating game outcomes. The NCAA will not name the athletes involved until the investigation concludes. NCAA President Charlie Baker emphasized the need for stricter regulations to address integrity risks.… Read More

Americans mark the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with emotional ceremonies

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 11, 2025, 11:25 am

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans are marking 24 years since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks with solemn ceremonies, volunteer work and other tributes honoring the victims. At the World Trade Center site in New York City, the nearly 3,000 victims’ names were being read aloud Thursday. At the Pentagon in Virginia, a memorial service honored the 184 service members and civilians killed. And near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, a similar ceremony honored the victims of Flight 93. The remembrances are being held during a time of increased political tensions. The 9/11 anniversary comes a day after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a college in Utah.… Read More

Charlie Kirk’s killer blended in on Utah university campus, and a high-powered rifle is recovered

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 11, 2025, 10:51 am

OREM, Utah (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’ll posthumously award conservative activist and ally Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Trump said Thursday he remains shocked by the horror of Kirk’s assassination on a Utah university campus where he was speaking Wednesday. The Republican president praises Kirk’s impact on conservative politics, calling him “a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration” to millions of people. Law enforcement officials say the sniper who assassinated Kirk has not been identified and is believed to have jumped off a roof and fled into a neighborhood after firing one shot. The FBI said Thursday officials have recovered a high-powered rifle from the scene.… Read More

Panthers encouraged by rookie WR Tetairoa McMillan’s performance in season opener

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 10, 2025, 9:46 pm

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have found promise in first-round draft pick Tetairoa McMillan. Coach Dave Canales said McMillan met expectations in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although McMillan caught six passes for 58 yards, his speed and handling of assignments impressed the team. He also drew a defensive pass interference, contributing to a 22-yard gain. Despite a missed one-handed catch in the end zone, McMillan remains confident. His performance reassured the Panthers about trading veteran Adam Thielen. McMillan returns to his college grounds on Sunday when the Panthers face the Arizona Cardinals, aiming to build on his debut.… Read More

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk fatally shot in act of ‘political assassination’ at Utah college

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 10, 2025, 7:15 pm

OREM, Utah (AP) — Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, has been shot and killed at a Utah college event in an act that the state’s governor called a “political assassination.” A “person of interest” was in custody Wednesday evening, said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, though no charges were immediately announced. Utah authorities said the shooter wore dark clothing and fired from a roof on campus some distance away. The death was announced on social media by Trump, who praised the 31-year-old Kirk, the co-founder and CEO of the youth organization Turning Point USA, as “Great, and even Legendary.”… Read More

Previous charges, delayed mental health evaluation were missed opportunities in Charlotte stabbing

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 10, 2025, 3:56 pm

After Decarlos Brown Jr. was arrested for the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee aboard a North Carolina commuter train, he was quickly sent to a state mental hospital for an evaluation. That’s a sharp contrast from a January arrest, where it took more than six months for a court to order a mental evaluation after Brown told officers that he had been given a human-made substance that controlled him. The January arrest was just one of the missed opportunities in Brown’s criminal history, according to experts. He had cycled through the criminal justice system for more than a decade. He now faces federal and state charges in the Aug. 22 killing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska,… Read More

Harris says leaving reelection decision to Biden was ‘recklessness,’ but she defends his abilities

Author: The Associated Press | Date: September 10, 2025, 1:43 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ex-Vice President Kamala Harris says it was reckless for Democrats to let President Joe Biden decide whether to seek reelection last year. But in an excerpt of Harris’ new book she defends Biden’s ability to do the job. In an excerpt of “107 Days” published Wednesday in The Atlantic, Harris writes it was “recklessness” that she and others left the decision about Biden continuing his campaign up to him and first lady Jill Biden. It’s the first time Harris has been publicly critical of Biden’s decision to run again. Biden eventually dropped out after a disastrous debate performance and was replaced by Harris, who lost to Republican Donald Trump. Biden’s office hasn’t commented.… Read More