WPTF News Archives - Page 6 of 217

Charlotte among 20 possible sites proposed for 2031 Women’s World Cup

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 28, 2025, 4:36 pm

NEW YORK (AP) — The United States Soccer Federation proposed 14 American sites among 20 possible venues to host games of the 2031 Women’s World Cup, including seven U.S. stadiums to be used for next year’s men’s tournament. FIFA has released the bid book for the 2031 and 2035 women’s tournaments. There is only one bidder for each, a U.S.-Mexico-Costa Rica-Jamaica proposal for 2031 and a United Kingdom plan for 2035. FIFA is to formally confirm the bids at its congress on April 30. Twenty-six additional U.S. stadiums were mentioned as suitable American venues for a 48-nation tournament the bidders project would draw 4.5 million fans.… Read More

Fleet of UPS planes grounded after deadly crash expected to miss peak delivery season

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 27, 2025, 7:34 pm

UPS Airlines says a fleet of planes grounded after a deadly crash is expected to miss the peak holiday season due to inspections and possible repairs. An internal memo said Wednesday the airline predicts it will be several months before its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleet returns to service as it works to meet Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. The process was previously expected to take weeks. UPS intends to rely on contingency plans to deliver for customers throughout the peak season. Boeing took over as the manufacturer of MD-11s in 1997 and is working to help operators meet FAA requirements. An MD-11 plane crashed Nov. 4 in Louisville, Kentucky, killing 14 people.… Read More

Jeremy Fears Jr. leads No. 11 Michigan State to victory over No. 16 North Carolina with 19 points

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 27, 2025, 7:23 pm

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 19 points and No. 11 Michigan State pulled away to beat No. 16 North Carolina 74-58 In the Fort Myers Tip-Off. Carson Cooper had 14 points, Cam Ward 11 and Jaxson Kohler 10 along with 11 rebounds for his third double-double of season. Caleb Wilson led North Carolina (6-1) with 18 points, Henri Veesaar had 13 and Luka Bogavac added 11, but the Tar Heels shot just 38% (21 of 55). Michigan State (7-0) went 5 of 10 on 3-pointers while North Carolina went 4 of 23. The Spartans also had a 20-5 margin in bench points.… Read More

What’s open on Thanksgiving? Not much, as many stores rest — or prepare — ahead of Black Friday

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 27, 2025, 2:46 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — With Thanksgiving and the formal launch of the holiday shopping season, Americans will again take to the road for holiday gatherings before knocking off items on their Christmas gift lists. Most national grocery store chains are open on Thursday for last-minute needs, although many close early. Major U.S. retailers are closed on Thanksgiving Day, either giving workers the day off or preparing for Black Friday. Many will open early on the day after Thanksgiving, which is typically the biggest shopping day of the year. Black Friday has lost some of its frantic energy as customers increasingly shop for gifts online.… Read More

2 National Guard members shot in an ambush attack just blocks from the White House

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 27, 2025, 2:10 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two West Virginia National Guard members who deployed to the U.S. capital have been shot blocks from the White House in a brazen act of violence that the mayor characterized as a targeted attack. The FBI director and Washington’s mayor say the guard members were hospitalized Wednesday in critical condition. A suspect who was in custody also was shot and had wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening. Officials say the 29-year-old is an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome. That was a Biden administration program to evacuate and resettle tens of thousands of Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal from the country.… Read More

Judges allow North Carolina to use a map drawn in bid to give Republicans another US House seat

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 27, 2025, 2:07 am

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Federal judges have allowed North Carolina to use a redrawn congressional map designed to give Republicans an additional U.S. House seat. The map targets the state’s only swing seat, held by Democratic Rep. Don Davis representing over 20 northeastern counties. A three-judge panel on Wednesday denied requests for a preliminary injunction, following a hearing in mid-November. North Carolina is among several states where President Donald Trump has pushed for mid-decade map changes ahead of the 2026 elections. Many lower courts have blocked Trump’s initiatives, only for the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court to put those rulings on hold. That includes a recent ruling in Texas.… Read More

Panarin and Shesterkin carry Rangers to 4-2 win over Hurricanes

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 27, 2025, 2:04 am

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist as the New York Rangers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2. Igor Shesterkin made 36 saves, stopping all 13 shots he faced in the first period. Noah Laba, Vincent Trochek and Will Cuylle also scored for the Rangers, who have won two in a row following a four-game skid. Shayne Gostisbehere had a goal and an assist and Seth Jarvis also scored for the Hurricanes, who were coming off a 2-1-1 trip. Sebastian Aho, skating in his 700th career game, provided two assists and Frederik Andersen stopped 14 shots. Carolina has lost two in a row for the first time since Oct. 25 and 28.… Read More

Some families are ‘adopting’ turkeys for Thanksgiving instead of eating them

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 26, 2025, 11:37 am

ERIE, Colo. (AP) — An increasing number of farm animal sanctuaries across the country have started promoting an alternative version of Thanksgiving. Rather than dipping turkeys into gravy, families “adopt” them, donating money to their lifelong care. In return they receive photos, certificates and sometimes one-on-one visits with the birds. At Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary in Colorado, a $25 donation comes with a certificate, photo and either a virtual or in-person visit. The funds help pay for extending the turkeys’ outdoor pasture area, their feed and sometimes their pricey vet bills. The sanctuary says the program is about educating the public that turkeys are more than just centerpieces.… Read More

Trump spares turkeys — but not his political opponents — at annual pardoning ceremony

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 26, 2025, 11:16 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump brought insults and grievances to the traditional Thanksgiving turkey pardoning ceremony at the White House. On Tuesday, he joked about sending the turkeys to a prison in El Salvador and suggested naming them after Democratic stalwarts Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. Trump also claimed that last year’s turkey pardons by President Joe Biden were invalid. The ceremony eventually proceeded with Trump pardoning a turkey named Gobble, although its companion, Waddle, was absent. Trump also used the event to claim that Thanksgiving meal prices are dropping, though some research suggests otherwise.… Read More

More flag-planting celebrations could be in store for college football’s rivalry week

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 26, 2025, 10:55 am

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State could have a giant Seminoles flag on standby in the Swamp on Saturday. The Seminoles surely remember how last year’s game against Florida ended in Tallahassee: with the Gators planting their flag on the FSU logo at midfield. Payback could be on tap when the in-state rivals meet with little at stake for the second consecutive year. Defensive tackle Caleb Banks says “we can’t let nobody come in our house and do that, honestly.” Teams across the country surely feel the same after flag plantings wreaked havoc during rivalry week in 2024. Michigan and Ohio State players scuffled, and similar scenes played out in Arizona, Florida and North Carolina.… Read More

No. 16 North Carolina beats St. Bonaventure 85-70 in Fort Myers Tip-Off

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 25, 2025, 11:11 pm

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Henri Veesaar scored 24 points and Caleb Wilson added 20 as No. 16 North Carolina pulled away in the second half for an 85-70 victory over St. Bonaventure in the Fort Myers Tip-Off on Tuesday night. Kyan Evans added 11 points and Luka Bogavac 10 for the Tar Heels (6-0), who are off to their best start since 2016-17. Buddy Simmons II scored 22 for St. Bonaventure (5-1), while Frank Mitchell added 18 points.… Read More

Former UNC and NBA champ Rick Fox announces plans to run in Bahamian general election

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 25, 2025, 2:21 pm

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Former NBA player Rick Fox says he will run for a legislative seat in the Bahamas in next year’s general election. His candidacy comes as the archipelago struggles with high-profile corruption cases, an influx of people entering the country illegally and ongoing recovery from Hurricane Dorian, a devastating Category 5 storm that hit in September 2019. Fox made the announcement Monday on Facebook. He is a three-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers. Fox was born in Toronto to a Canadian mother and a Bahamian father and grew up in the Bahamas.… Read More