Category Archives: WPTF News
Former Olympian indicted on felony charge over alleged Reflecting Pool vandalism
By LINDSAY WHITEHURST and MEG KINNARD, The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - A former Olympian was indicted Thursday on a felony charge in what President Donald Trump has called vandalism of the Refl...
Jul 02, 2026 Workers lay nets in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to catch debris from the Fourth of July fireworks display, Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
State budget clears legislative hurdles
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) - A North Carolina state budget that's more than 1,000 days late is headed to Governor Stein's desk. By veto-proof majorities, both Republican majority chambers of the General Ass...
Jul 02, 2026
2 people arrested after hanging banner about 'the power of love' on Empire State Building antenna
NEW YORK (AP) - Two people got to the top of the Empire State Building's antenna and unfurled a banner about "the power of love" at midday Wednesday, before starting to descend, embracing, taking self...
Jul 01, 2026 Two people stand on the tip of the antenna of the Empire State Building while holding a banner on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Victor Willis, who co-founded the Village People and co-wrote 'Y.M.C.A.,' dies at 74
NEW YORK (AP) - Victor Willis, who co-founded the Village People, co-wrote the disco group's classic hits "Y.M.C.A.," Macho Man" and "In the Navy," and delighted crowds while dressed as the band's hel...
Jul 01, 2026 Victor Willis, who co-founded the Village People and co-wrote some of the disco group's biggest hits, including “Y.M.C.A.” and “Macho Man,” has died at age 74. (courtesy Village People official facebook page)
Extreme heat coming in for the end of the week and the weekend in NC
RALEIGH, N.C. (NCN News) - The hottest Independence Day on record is possible Saturday in central North Carolina as a streak of 100 temperatures arrives Thursday and doesn't leave until early next wee...
Jul 01, 2026 FILE - People play in the fountains by the East River during a heat advisory, in the Brooklyn Borough of New York, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Gray, File)
Federal Reserve Chair Warsh emphasizes political independence, signals focus on inflation
By Christopher Rugaber WASHINGTON (AP) - New Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh said Wednesday that the central bank would remain independent and seek to bring down inflation, likely foreclosing the ra...
Jul 01, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 17: Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh speaks to reporters during his first news conference since taking the helm at the central bank on June 17, 2026 in Washington, DC. Warsh was appointed by President Donald Trump after former chair Jerome Powell's tenure ended in May. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Zelenskyy says Ukraine has hit a Russian oil refinery for the second time in a week
By Samya Kullab and Illia Novikov KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Ukrainian forces struck Russia's major Ufa oil refinery for the second time in a week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday. Al...
Jul 01, 2026 In this image made from video provided by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, Russian TOS-1 Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower rocket launcher fires towards the Ukrainian positions. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
LeBron James not returning to Lakers, plans to play 24th season elsewhere, AP source says
By Tim Reynolds LeBron James will not be back with the Los Angeles Lakers and plans to play a record-extending 24th NBA season elsewhere, a person with knowledge of those plans confirmed Tuesday. The ...
Jun 30, 2026
Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship, rejecting Trump's proposed limits
By Mark Sherman WASHINGTON (AP) - A divided Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a broad conception of birthright citizenship, rejecting President Donald Trump's executive order declaring that children bor...
Jun 30, 2026
Long-awaited state budget finally revealed
RALEIGH, N.C. (NCN News) - North Carolina lawmakers have been at odds over spending priorities in the state for more than a year. On Tuesday, a state budget was finally released. The 634-page document...
Jun 30, 2026 North Carolina State Capitol Building in Raleigh