WPTF News Archives - Page 5 of 217

AI may be scoring your college essay. Welcome to the new era of admissions

Author: The Associated Press | Date: December 2, 2025, 12:48 am

Students applying to college know they’re not supposed to use AI chatbots to write their essays. So it might come as a surprise that some schools are now using artificial intelligence to read those essays. That’s just one way that AI is entering the college admissions space for many schools starting this fall. Administrators around the country say that 2025 marks a new era in college admissions as AI tools are being incorporated into the way applications are screened, analyzed and scored. Schools like Virginia Tech, the California Institute of Technology and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are introducing AI tools in a variety of ways. Some colleges are speaking publicly about it, and others are not.… Read More

Melania Trump reveals White House holiday decorations and her theme, ‘Home Is Where the Heart Is’

Author: The Associated Press | Date: December 1, 2025, 2:14 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Melania Trump has decorated the White House for the holidays, and her theme is “Home Is Where the Heart Is.” The first lady’s decor also nods to next year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and founding of the United States of America. In a change this year after the East Wing was torn down, the official White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room also honors Gold Star families that lost a member during active-duty military service. The East Room is decorated with patriotic colors and eagles and other national symbols to highlight the coming America250 celebration.… Read More

Bussi makes 15 saves for 1st NHL shutout, Ehlers scores in OT in Hurricanes’ 1-0 win over Flames

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 30, 2025, 11:21 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina rookie Brandon Bussi made 15 saves for his first NHL shutout, Nikolaj Ehlers scored at 2:52 of overtime and Hurricanes beat the Calgary Flames 1-0 on Sunday for their second straight victory. Ehlers beat rookie goalie Devin Cooley after Taylor Hall put the puck on net. Ehlers scored his fifth goal of the season and first in seven games. Sean Walker also assisted. Bussi played back-to-back games for the first time in his NHL career. Cooley stopped 16 shots. The Flames lost for just the second time in their last six games. They were shutout victims for the third time this season.… Read More

Panthers take advantage of Stafford’s 3 turnovers to end Rams’ 6-game win streak with 31-28 victory

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 30, 2025, 4:28 pm

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bryce Young completed 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns — two of them coming on fourth down — and the Carolina Panthers forced three turnovers by Matthew Stafford to beat Los Angeles 31-28 on Sunday and snap the Rams’ six-game winning streak. Carolina’s defense intercepted Stafford twice with Mike Jackson returning one for a 48-yard touchdown and ended the 37-year-old’s NFL record of 28 straight TD passes without an interception. Derrick Brown, who tipped a ball resulting in one of Stafford’s first pick, came up with a key strip-sack with 2:25 left in the game to preserve the win. Stafford completed 18 of 28 passes for 243 yards with two touchdown passes to Davante Adams, his 13th and 14th of the season.… Read More

‘Zootopia 2’ roars to record-setting global box office with $556M opening

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 30, 2025, 4:26 pm

“Zootopia 2″ broke box office records with a massive Thanksgiving weekend opening. The Disney sequel earned $96 million in North America over the weekend and $156 million over the five-day Thanksgiving frame. Since its Wednesday opening, it has made $556 million globally, making it the highest international opening for an animated movie. “Wicked: For Good” also performed well, earning $62.8 million domestically over the weekend. The two sequels made Thanksgiving weekend a bright spot in an otherwise challenging year for theaters. “Zootopia 2″ arrives nearly a decade after the original, featuring a bunny cop voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin and a scheming fox voiced by Jason Bateman.… Read More

NC State coach Dave Doeren is returning for a 14th season with the Wolfpack

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 30, 2025, 4:17 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — N.C. State coach Dave Doeren is returning for a 14th season with the Wolfpack. Athletic director Boo Corrigan confirmed Doeren’s return on Sunday. In a statement sent to The Associated Press, Corrigan pointed to Doeren’s “passion for this program” with a focus on “culture and player development.” In an AP interview, Doeren said he’s “all in” at the school and plans to finish out his career in Raleigh. N.C. State is bowl eligible for the 11th time in 13 seasons under Doeren. That includes beating rival North Carolina for five straight years.… Read More

Bill Belichick’s 1st season at North Carolina ends in a rivalry loss at NC State — and just 4 wins

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 30, 2025, 6:16 am

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Bill Belichick’s first season as a college coach ended with four wins at North Carolina. The Tar Heels lost Saturday night at rival N.C. State to close the schedule. The 42-19 loss to the Wolfpack marked UNC’s fifth defeat by 16 or more points this year. Afterward, the 73-year-old six-time Super Bowl-winning coach offered only terse responses to questions from reporters. Receiver Jordan Shipp said the players “didn’t expect the season to go like this of course.”… Read More

Tom Stoppard, sparkling playwright who won an Oscar for ‘Shakespeare In Love,’ dies at 88

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 29, 2025, 11:19 pm

LONDON (AP) — British playwright Tom Stoppard, who won an Academy Award for the screenplay for 1998’s “Shakespeare In Love” has died. He was 88. In a statement Saturday, United Agents said Stoppard died “peacefully” at his home in Dorset in southern England, surrounded by his family. “He will be remembered for his works, for their brilliance and humanity, and for his wit, his irreverence, his generosity of spirit and his profound love of the English language,” they said. “It was an honor to work with Tom and to know him.” The Czech-born Stoppard was often hailed as the greatest British playwright of his generation and was garlanded with honors.… Read More

Wilson runs for 4 TDs as NC State beats UNC 42-19, winning rivalry game for 5th straight year

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 29, 2025, 11:15 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Short-yardage quarterback Will Wilson ran for four touchdowns to help N.C. State beat rival North Carolina 42-19. Starting QB C.J. Bailey threw two scoring passes as the Wolfpack beat the Tar Heels for the fifth straight year. This one ended the first college season for 73-year-old NFL icon Bill Belichick with the Tar Heels. Belichick had won six Super Bowls as an NFL head coach but won just four games this year. Bailey threw TD passes to Wesley Grimes and Justin Joly. N.C. State scored touchdowns on all four of its first-half drives.… Read More

Winter storms bring snow, freezing rain and cold as Thanksgiving travelers journey home

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 29, 2025, 11:05 pm

A major snowstorm in the Midwest and Great Lakes is affecting Thanksgiving travelers. The National Weather Service reports winter storm warnings from North Dakota to Ohio. Forecasters warn of airport delays and slowed traffic as snow could fall at more than an inch per hour. By Saturday morning, northern Iowa had over 8 inches of snow. Chicago and other parts of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan are expecting similar amounts. Airports in Chicago and St. Louis reported delays. Another winter storm with freezing rain and snow is likely Monday and Tuesday in the Northeast.… Read More

Jarvis scores a hat trick as Hurricanes pull away in third period to beat Jets 5-1

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 28, 2025, 10:19 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Seth Jarvis scored three goals and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 in a matchup that featured a pair of rookie goalies. Jarvis clinched the hat trick on an empty-net goal with 1:03 to play — one of four Carolina goals in the final 8 1/2 minutes. Jordan Martinook broke a third-period tie before Jarvis’ second tally of the game came just 47 seconds later. Shayne Gostisbehere and Andrei Svechnikov each provided two assists. Alexander Nikishin completed the scoring. Mark Scheifele scored his team-best 13th goal for the Jets. Brandon Bussi made 12 saves for Carolina. Winnipeg goalie Thomas Milic stopped 30 shots in his NHL debut.… Read More

Zelenskyy’s chief of staff resigns after anti-corruption investigators search home

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 28, 2025, 4:44 pm

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the resignation of his powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, who was also the country’s lead negotiator in talks with the U.S. The resignation on Friday came hours after Yermak’s residence was searched by anti-corruption investigators. The unprecedented search at the heart of Ukraine’s government was a blow for the Ukrainian leader that risked disrupting his negotiating strategy at a time when Kyiv is under intense U.S. pressure to sign a peace deal nearly four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion. Yermak has long been a trusted confidant of Zelenskyy, who has resisted persistent pressure to replace him.… Read More