NC Archives - WPTF-AM

Heavy snow and frigid Arctic blast put 70 million across the U.S. under winter storm warnings

BOSTON (AP) — Heavy snow is expected to blanket large portions of the Eastern U.S. while much of the country will endure dangerously cold temperatures in the coming days. Winter storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service are already in effect for parts of the Mid-Atlantic and will begin Sunday afternoon in New England. Up to a half-foot of snow is expected in areas from Maryland to Maine. That will be followed a blast of frigid air forecasted for the Rockies and Northern Plains into New England. The Gulf Coast and Southeast could see an unusual wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain starting Monday in Texas.… Continue Reading

North Carolina governor rolls out further abortion protections ahead of next Trump term

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced measures to protect reproductive health care providers and patients via a new executive order. The order announced Thursday mandates that state Cabinet agencies will not cooperate with prosecuting and penalizing physicians who provide lawful reproductive health services. It also requests state agencies to review and revise how they store patients’ reproductive health data to ensure their privacy. The announcement joins a growing movement by Democratic governors to protect abortion access before Republican President-elect Donald Trump takes office next week. Trump’s stance on abortion was largely inconsistent on the campaign trail and it’s unclear what action he will take.… Continue Reading

North Carolina court says mother of student killed in ride-along can sue trooper for negligence

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina appeals court says the mother of a student killed while on a ride-along in a Highway Patrol cruiser can continue suing for gross negligence against the trooper who was driving. A split Court of Appeals panel on Wednesday reversed a trial court’s ruling that dismissed the lawsuit filed on behalf of the late Michael Higgins and seeking damages from the trooper. Higgins was an East Carolina University student when he died in 2020. He was in a patrol internship program. The trooper had been traveling over 110 mph (173 kph) when he drove off a curve in the road.… Continue Reading

Approaching winter weather cancels North Carolina inauguration ceremony

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s public inauguration ceremony scheduled for Saturday for new Gov. Josh Stein and other statewide elected officials has been canceled because of approaching winter weather. The state inaugural committee announced the decision Wednesday. It was supposed to be held on the grounds of the old Capitol building in Raleigh. Stein and Council of State members were to be sworn in publicly. A little snow with sleet and freezing rain is anticipated for Friday and Saturday. Stein and several Council of State members already have taken their official oaths in private or in small ceremonies. A block party for Saturday also was canceled but may be rescheduled.… Continue Reading

Davis scores 26 points to help surging North Carolina thump SMU

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — RJ Davis scored 26 points and Ian Jackson scored 18 points and North Carolina controlled SMU for an 82-67 win in a contest it never trailed. Reserve Chuck Harris scored 18 points for SMU. Powell made a 3 with 11:08 before halftime to give North Carolina its first double-digit lead at 23-13. Ven-Allen Lubin’s tip-in gave the Tar Heels a 30-19 advantage and they led by double digits the rest of the way. North Carolina led 39-24 at halftime.… Continue Reading

Federal block grants of $1.65B awarded to North Carolina governments for Helene recovery

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina governments are receiving over $1.65 billion in federal block grant money to help address historic levels of damage caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Officials say the money is from Community Development Block Grant funds contained in a bill approved by Congress last month. Most of the grant money will go to North Carolina state government, with the remainder to the city of Asheville. Gov. Josh Stein and the head of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development held a public event Tuesday in Asheville to discuss the funds.… Continue Reading

Last North Carolina legislative races get finalized, confirming GOP loss of veto-proof control

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina General Assembly elections have been finalized and confirm that Republicans have lost their veto-proof control of the legislature after nearly two years. Election officials issued on Monday certificates to the winners in three close legislative races from November. The defeat of state Rep. Frank Sossamon to Democrat Bryan Cohn means Republicans are one seat shy of holding a veto-proof majority at the legislature. Now the veto stamp of new Democratic Gov. Josh Stein could be more effective in blocking GOP measures that he opposes. Opening day of the next two-year General Assembly session is Wednesday.… Continue Reading

After fighting virus, storms and Republicans, departing North Carolina Gov. Cooper focuses on wins

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper leaves his job next week after eight years. It’s a span in which the southern Democrat picked his moments against a Republican-dominated legislature to win big on expanding Medicaid and on requiring cleaner energy. State law barred Cooper from seeking a third consecutive term. Now the 67-year-old Cooper must decide whether to run for the U.S. Senate in 2026. He tells The Associated Press that he’ll take some time to “think about how I can best contribute to the things that I care about.” Cooper’s national profile grew during this year’s presidential campaign, launching him into the conversation as a potential running mate for Kamala Harris.… Continue Reading

Officer fatally shot in a North Carolina supermarket, suspect in custody, police say

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say a police officer has been fatally shot in a North Carolina supermarket and a suspect has been taken into custody. Police announced the officer’s death at a Monday afternoon news conference. They say the officer was responding to a call about an armed person when he was shot shortly before midday at a Food Lion store in Greensboro. Police identified the officer killed as Michael Horan and said he was sworn in with the Greensboro Police Department in early 2018. Assistant Police Chief Milford J. Harris called Horan an excellent officer and said at the news conference that Horan had an outsta… Continue Reading

Farmers are still reeling months after Hurricane Helene ravaged crops across the South

LYONS, Ga. (AP) — Farmers in Georgia are still reeling more than two months after Hurricane Helene blew away cotton, destroyed ripened squash and cucumbers and uprooted pecan trees and timber. Agribusinesses in other Southern states saw costly damage as well. The University of Georgia estimates the September storm inflicted $5.5 billion in direct losses and indirect costs in Georgia alone. In rural Toombs County, Chris Hopkins just finished harvesting his ravaged cotton crop and figures he lost half of it, costing him about $430,000. Poultry grower Jeffrey Pridgen in Georgia’s Coffee County had four of his 12 chicken houses destroyed and others badly damaged. Farmers say more government disaster assistance is needed.… Continue Reading