Category Archives: WPTF News
State board denies Berger's special recount requests, review continues
RALEIGH, N.C. (NCN News) - The State Board of Elections has rejected a request from State Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger to hand count selected votes in his challenge to the results of the distr...
Mar 18, 2026 FILE - North Carolina President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, R- Guliford, Rockingham, speaks after he was re-elected to the position at the Legislative Building, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, File)
An AI-rendered Val Kilmer will posthumously appear in a new film
By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) - A year after the actor's death, a generative AI version of Val Kilmer will co-star in an independent film, in one of the boldest uses yet of artificial int...
Mar 18, 2026 Actor Val Kilmer attends the "Fourth Dimension" premiere during the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival at the AMC Lowes Village on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Getty Images)
Mullin tells senators Homeland Security needs funding as he faces confirmation hearing
By REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump's pick for Department of Homeland Security secretary, said Wednesday that Congress needed to put partisan...
Mar 18, 2026 U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) is sworn in as he testifies during a confirmation hearing to be the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump nominated Mullin to replace Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Making menstrual leave official: 2 paid days off a month for period pain
By EVELYNE MUSAMBI Associated Press NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - It started with a casual lunch conversation between a county governor and his cabinet ministers about a colleague's menstrual pain. The discus...
Mar 18, 2026 Volunteers sew reusable sanitary pads inside the Fempad NGO workshop in the Kibera informal settlement on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Atieno Muyuyi)
North Carolina's Wilson, Texas Tech's Toppin among the missing stars in the NCAA Tournament
By JOHN MARSHALL AP Sports Writer Top-ranked Duke earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament behind star freshman Cameron Boozer and an overpowering inside game. But as the Blue Devils embar...
Mar 18, 2026 North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson (8) dunks over Georgia Tech guard Akai Fleming (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
Duke University announces millions for community projects funding
DURHAM, N.C. (WPTF) - Duke University is investing several million dollars for community projects through what it calls the "HomeGrown" Initiative announced Wednesday (March 18). The initiative makes ...
Mar 18, 2026 Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA, circa 1960. (Photo by Harvey Meston/Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Tramon Mark's late jumper gives Texas a 68-66 win over NC State in the First Four
By JEFF WALLNER Associated Press DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - Tramon Mark hit a fadeaway jumper from just inside the 3-point line with 1.1 seconds left, and Texas survived a late rally to beat N.C. State 68-66...
Mar 18, 2026 Tramon Mark #12 of the Texas Longhorns shoots the ball against NC State Wolfpack during the second half in the First Four game of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 17, 2026 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Venezuela beats US 3-2 on Suárez's 9th-inning double to win first World Baseball Classic title
By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer MIAMI (AP) - Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic for the first time, rebounding from a blown eighth-inning lead to beat the United States 3-2 Tuesday night on Eu...
Mar 17, 2026 Gleyber Torres #25 of Team Venezuela celebrates with teammates a 4-2 victory against Team Italy after the game at loanDepot park on March 16, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
New numbers released on tourism activity
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (NCN News) - We're hearing the latest numbers on tourism in the Tar Heel State - with visitors spending almost $37 billion dollars in 2024. Those numbers were released Tuesday (March 1...
Mar 17, 2026 USA, North Carolina, Asheville, elevated city skyline, dawn.
Iran launches barrage of missiles after Israel kills 2 of its top officials
By JON GAMBRELL, JULIE WATSON and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Israel killed two senior Iranian security officials in a major blow to the Islamic Republic's leadershi...
Mar 17, 2026 Emergency workers respond to a ballistic missile attack in which a couple in their 70s were killed, according to published reports, on March 18, 2026 in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Gan, Israel. Iran has continued firing waves of drones and missiles at Israel after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran early on February 28th. (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)