RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — Charlie Gaddy, one of North Carolina’s most recognizable broadcasters and a longtime anchor on WRAL-TV, has died at age 93.
Before beginning his television career, Gaddy worked for a time at WPTF, the flagship station of the North Carolina News Network. In a 2024 interview marking WPTF’s 100th anniversary, he recalled the early days of local radio programming, including a show called Ask Your Neighbor.
“It was just something that somebody came up with as an idea, and they tried it to see how it would work,” Gaddy said. “And it worked beautifully. It was a very popular program and lasted a long time. But that’s how it started.”
Gaddy was born in Biscoe, North Carolina, attended Guilford College, and served in the U.S. Army. He became a household name across central North Carolina during his years anchoring WRAL’s evening newscasts, known for his calm demeanor and trusted presence.
This week we are highlighting Marcus the dog as our APS Pet of the Week!
“Hi, new friend! Want to hang out? I’m a sweet guy who loves playtime and affection. I can be a little anxious and insecure in new situations, but I warm up fast! I’d love to be in a home where I get plenty of attention and exercise. If you’re looking for an activity buddy, I could be your guy! Come see me!”
APS Walk For The Animals | May 28, 2022 | 10AM – 1PM
Animal Protection Society of Durham (APS) is excited to announce registration is open for the 2022 Walk for the Animals event. An annual fundraiser, this year the Walk for the Animals is back in person on May 28th from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The community is encouraged to register, raise funds and join us for the fun 1.5-mile walk around Duke University’s East Campus. The purpose of this community effort is to raise money and awareness for the nearly 4,000 homeless and neglected pets throughout the Durham community that rely on APS’s care. Find out more at www.apsofdurham.org/2022walk/
This week we are highlighting Narwhal the dog as our Pet of the Week!
“Can you be my new best friend? I’m a super sweet and loving girl with lots of love to give. I’m pretty young and I’m still learning how to dog. Can you help me with that? I’d love to go to basic training and learn new fun things! I also love to play with other dogs and humans, toss a ball or toy for me and I’ll happily bound after it! Visit me today!”
Narwhal is a young pup and is growing into a lovely little lass. She’s been with us since March so we’ve waived her adoption fee in hopes of finding her a warm, happy home!
APS Walk For The Animals | May 28, 2022 | 10AM – 1PM
Animal Protection Society of Durham (APS) is excited to announce registration is open for the 2022 Walk for the Animals event. An annual fundraiser, this year the Walk for the Animals is back in person on May 28th from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The community is encouraged to register, raise funds and join us for the fun 1.5-mile walk around Duke University’s East Campus. The purpose of this community effort is to raise money and awareness for the nearly 4,000 homeless and neglected pets throughout the Durham community that rely on APS’s care. Find out more at www.apsofdurham.org/2022walk/
Although the name “kitten season” sounds precious, the reality of the strain it puts on shelters isn’t so cute. When warmer months hit, female cats go into heat and litters upon litters of kittens are born. For newborn kittens found without a mother, they face a treacherous path.
The most vulnerable are neonatal kittens (newborns to 4 weeks of age), otherwise known as “bottle babies”. Kittens this old cannot fend for themselves, necessitating round-the-clock care from kind and giving humans. Care that includes bottle feeding every two to three hours and helping the babies with what their mother would typically do, including stimulating them to urinate and defecate, keeping them warm and clean, and teaching them to wean onto solid food once they reach a certain age.
At Animal Protection Society of Durham, this is where foster volunteers come in. Without their assistance, shelters around the country like ours are overwhelmed with tiny felines that cannot survive on their own. APS of Durham counts on our foster volunteers to be the safe, warm homes that this abundance of “bottle babies” needs. Bring a willing heart and APS of Durham can give you all the supplies and training necessary for success.
APS of Durham foster volunteers find the situation to be very rewarding. One kitten foster mom said, “I’ve enjoyed seeing these tiny kittens blossom into happy, healthy little beings who move on to wonderful homes that love and adore them. You know you’ve done right in the world and feel good. Then you get to start over with a new kitten or 2 or 3! If you’ve ever thought about fostering, don’t hesitate any longer, it really is a great opportunity to help kittens AND make your heart swell.”
For those who can’t foster at this time, there are so many other ways you can help APS of Durham during Kitten Season. You can volunteer in the shelter to help keep cats and kittens healthy and happy. Donations of goods to support fosters are also incredibly important. Simply head to the How You Can Help section of the APS website to find the wish list with much-needed items specifically for kitten season, including essentials like replacement milk formula and heating pads to keep bottle babies warm. Monetary support is always appreciated and can go directly where it is needed most – in the Kittenfoster program. Lastly, if you’re looking to adopt, there’s no better time than kitten season to adopt from APS because you’re giving more cats and kittens a chance.
APS of Durham is asking for Durhamites to stand up and sign up as a foster to the many “bottle baby” kittens that will need our care this summer. Fostering the littlest of the kittens makes the biggest of impact.
APS of Durham 2117 E. Club Blvd. | Durham, NC | 27704
This week we are highlighting Penelope as our Pet of the Week!
“I’m a fun-loving girl ready to play all day! Are you ready too? I’m a curious, playful, fun, and sweet girl ready to bring some sunshine into your home! I’m also really affectionate and love cuddles! I’d really enjoy a home where I can explore with my nose, play with toys, and learn some basic training. Let’s go play today!”
Penelope is a sweet, active dog. She’s been with us since February so we’ve waived her adoption fee in hopes of finding her a warm, happy home.
APS Walk For The Animals | May 28, 2022 | 10AM – 1PM
Animal Protection Society of Durham (APS) is excited to announce registration is open for the 2022 Walk for the Animals Event. An annual fundraiser, this year the Walk for the Animals is back in person on May 28th from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The community is encouraged to register, raise funds and join us for the fun 1.5-mile walk around Duke University’s East Campus. The purpose of this community effort is to raise money and awareness for the nearly 4,000 homeless and neglected pets throughout the Durham community that rely on APS’s care. Find out more at www.apsofdurham.org/2022walk/
This week we are highlighting Casanova as our Pet of the Week!
“My bright blue eyes may be stunning but wait till you get to know me – my personality shines even brighter. Get your pack ready, let’s go for a hike! I’m a guy who loves to explore and be in the great outdoors. I’d love a home that will go slow with me and let me take my time to feel comfortable. Once I know you, I enjoy treats and gentle affection. I may even lean in for more. Let’s get out and GO!”
Casanova is an intelligent, active pup. He’s been with us since January so we’ve waived his adoption fee in hopes of finding him a warm, happy home. He is in a foster home, so please complete and submit an adoption application if you would like to arrange for a visit with him.
APS Walk For The Animals | May 28, 2022 | 10AM – 1PM
Animal Protection Society of Durham (APS) is excited to announce registration is open for the 2022 Walk for the Animals Event. An annual fundraiser, this year the Walk for the Animals is back in person on May 28th from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The community is encouraged to register, raise funds and join us for the fun 1.5-mile walk around Duke University’s East Campus. The purpose of this community effort is to raise money and awareness for the nearly 4,000 homeless and neglected pets throughout the Durham community that rely on APS’s care. Find out more at www.apsofdurham.org/2022walk/
This week we are highlighting Dory as our Pet of the Week!
“Meet your new best friend! I’m a sweet, playful girl who loves to learn new things. Ask me to sit or give you my paw! Some of my favorite things are toys, treats, and exploring. I’d love to visit new places with you. I’d benefit from brain games, lots of exercise, and leash training. I can be a bit timid at times, but I know you’ll show me the way. Come see me!”
Dory is a great gal and super smart. She’s been with us for a bit so we’ve waived her adoption fee in hopes of finding her a warm, happy home. Come on out and meet her to see if she’s the right fit for your family!
APS Walk For The Animals | May 28, 2022 | 10AM – 1PM
Animal Protection Society of Durham (APS) is excited to announce registration is open for the 2022 Walk for the Animals Event. An annual fundraiser, this year the Walk for the Animals is back in person on May 28th from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The community is encouraged to register, raise funds and join us for the fun 1.5-mile walk around Duke University’s East Campus. The purpose of this community effort is to raise money and awareness for the nearly 4,000 homeless and neglected pets throughout the Durham community that rely on APS’s care. Find out more at www.apsofdurham.org/2022walk/
This week we are highlighting Mable and Abby as our Pets of the Week!
Mable (left) and Abby (right)
Abby is a beautiful 3 years young gal looking for a new beginning. She’s a bit reserved at first but will warm up to new human friends. She’ll be happy in any loving home as long as she has her bestie, Mable, by her side. At 4 years young, this friendly, sociable, and pretty gal Mable just knows she can bring happiness to whoever takes them home! Give her a compliment and maybe she’ll wink at you. This bonded pair is so close they’ll need to be adopted together for twice as much fun. Come visit these lovely cats today!
Abby and Mable are a bonded pair of cats with a lot of love to give, so they’ll need to be adopted together. Come on out to APS of Durham to see if these sweeties are the right fit for your warm, happy home.
APS Walk For The Animals | May 28, 2022 | 10AM – 1PM
Animal Protection Society of Durham (APS) is excited to announce registration is open for the 2022 Walk for the Animals Event. An annual fundraiser, this year the Walk for the Animals is back in person on May 28th from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The community is encouraged to register, raise funds and join us for the fun 1.5-mile walk around Duke University’s East Campus. The purpose of this community effort is to raise money and awareness for the nearly 4,000 homeless and neglected pets throughout the Durham community that rely on APS’s care. Find out more at www.apsofdurham.org/2022walk/
This week we are highlighting Badger as our Pet of the Week!
“Well, hello there. I’m a sweet old man looking for a comfy place to lay my big ol’ head. Even though I’m slowing down, I still like to explore and do my own thing. I would love a home with gentle people who give me my independence. And I’d prefer a home with no stairs. I have plenty of love and good times to share. I’m in foster care so please arrange to visit me soon!”
APS Walk For The Animals | May 28, 2022 | 10AM – 1PM
Animal Protection Society of Durham (APS) is excited to announce registration is open for the 2022 Walk for the Animals Event. An annual fundraiser, this year the Walk for the Animals is back in person on May 28th from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The community is encouraged to register, raise funds and join us for the fun 1.5-mile walk around Duke University’s East Campus. The purpose of this community effort is to raise money and awareness for the nearly 4,000 homeless and neglected pets throughout the Durham community that rely on APS’s care. Find out more at www.apsofdurham.org/2022walk/
This week we are highlighting Rayo as our Pet of the Week!
“Good looking, check; affectionate check; sweet, double check! I’m a darling and good boy who’s a bit stressed here at the shelter. I’m sure to settle well in my new home. I’m a bit unsure meeting new friends, please go slow with me. I’d love a home where I can gain confidence, have gentle affection, and lots of love! I’m so special that I’ve been crowned Pet of the Week! Won’t you come and see me today?”
This week we are highlighting Isla as our Pet of the Week!
“Need help with your homework? I’ve got the smarts for that! I’m a highly intelligent girl with lots of energy! I can be worried by new people, go slow with me please. I’m super sweet and very playful. I love a tossed ball! I really enjoy gentle affection once I’m comfortable. I’d love a home where I can learn and be challenged with brain games.”
Listen to 96.1 BBB on St. Patrick’s Day, this Thursday, for a chance to win gift cards to Tribeca Tavern! Don’t miss their 2nd Annual Best Patty in Town celebration on St. Patrick’s Day!
Tribeca Tavern: With locally crafted beers flowing from their taps, creative entrees prepared in the from-scratch kitchen, and authentic North Carolina hospitality, it’s all about flavor and charm at Tribeca Tavern. Exceeding expectations since 2010.
This week we are highlighting Peppy as our Pet of the Week!
“Prepare yourself for lots of fun! I’m a friendly, playful, and curious girl who loves to chase a tennis ball! I’m super friendly, and warm up quickly. I really enjoy a good game, plenty of scritches, and lots and lots of exploring. I’d love a home where I can play and go for long walks or hikes. I’m pretty active and high energy! Let’s play today!”
We appreciate your help in helping Peppy find a home. She’s been with us a while and deserves to finally get a warm, happy place of her own. So we’ve waived her adoption fee! Yep, this pretty gal is free to adopt! Come on out and meet her to see if she’s the right fit for your family!
The BBB Box Office is HOPPING on 961bbb.com! This week we celebrate the return of one of the great live bands to DPAC this Summer, Air Supply. Air Supply has been the recipient of unprecedented, world-wide radio airplay for their countless love songs. The soft rock duo of Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock will be bringing their hits to DPAC on Friday, June 24, 2022.
Listen for your chance to score tickets before they go on sale on 96.1 BBB. PLUS, enter below for an extra chance to win tickets! Don’t miss your chance to see Air Supply at DPAC.
This week, Kitty has your tickets to see Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators on Saturday March 19 at DPAC! Tickets are on sale now but listen to 96.1 BBB weekdays at noon with Kitty for a chance to win!
Bon Jovi is bringing their 2022 Tour to PNC Arena Raleigh on Saturday April 9th and GREAT SEATS ARE STILL AVAILABLE! Tickets are on sale now here but you can listen to 96.1 all week for a chance to win tickets!
Listen all week in the mornings at 7:15 during the Fun Zone and get a chance to win a pair of tickets before you can buy them to see OneRepublic with NeedToBreathe on July 9th, 2022 at Coastal Credit Union Music Park in Raleigh. When Madison opens up the phone lines to call, be the correct caller, and you’re a winner for tickets to see OneRepublic @ CCUMP in Raleigh. Don’t miss your shot to win these tickets!
This week we are highlighting a great, gentle dog – Ferdinand – as our Pet of the Week.
“Are you looking for a curious guy who’d love to go for long walks and hikes with you? That’s ME! I’m an independent guy who loves to follow his nose wherever it might take me. I do take my time getting to know new people, but once I do I’d love to just hang out with you. Let’s go exploring together!”
Ferdinand is so eager to find his new home that he’s asked us to waive his adoption fee. Come on out and meet him to see if he’s the right fit for your family!
“Let’s have an action packed adventure! I’m Arnold, a sweet, and affectionate guy who LOVES to play! I’m pretty active and enjoy running around, playtime, and long walks. I’d love to learn basic manners, can you help teach me? I’d also benefit from calming exercises, and lots of affection. Let’s meet up today!”
Arnold is a lovely, handsome guy who has been on our adoption floor since January 28th, so he is eager to find his new home. He has just gone into foster care today, so anyone interested in meeting Arnold should submit an application here to schedule a visit: https://www.apsofdurham.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Dog-Adoption-Application.pdf
“Are you ready to have a good time? I am! I’m a playful, friendly, and enthusiastic guy who’s excited about life! I love to chase a ball, learn, and explore! My absolute favorite thing is chasing a ball, toss one and see! I’m a pretty active guy who’d love a home with plenty of things to do and explore. Let’s meet today!” To visit Isaac’s profile, click here.
Isaac is so eager to find his new home that he’s asked us to waive his adoption fee. Come on out and meet Isaac to see if he’s the right fit for your family!
This week the Pet of the Week is Scarlett the dog!
“Oh hi! I’m a friendly girl who likes to keep herself busy. I’m truly a sweet girl with lots of energy but I also love to cuddle and snuggle with people. I love to play and would be a great companion for walks and daily trips to the park. I am VERY into treats—I bet you’ll find I’m a fast learner! Meet me today!” To visit Scarlett’s profile, click here.
Scarlett is so eager to find her new home that she’s asked us to waive her adoption fee. Come on out and meet Scarlett to see if she’s the right fit for your family!
“Well hello there! I’m so happy to meet you! I’m Smalls, although I’m not that small! I’m a sweet and goofy athletic guy with lots of love in my heart. I love to chase after a ball and enjoy learning fetch in a fenced yard. I’ve done well with basic training – I’m crate trained and I already know sit, down, halt, drop it, and more commands. My favorite thing is to play and exercise. Adopt me today!”
To view Smalls’ profile, click here. Smalls has had his adoption fee waived so that he can find a wonderful home soon. Please come by to meet him today!
Are you looking for a sweet feline to snuggle with on these winter nights? Pete is your guy! He’s a very loving cat that really enjoys being petted. He’ll even come for pets when called! Kane has a tiny meow you’ve gotta hear, so come meet him today.
To view Pete’s profile, click here. Come by and meet him today!
This week, the Pet of the Week is Delaney the dog!
Meet Delaney!
“Hello, want to be friends? I’m a sweet, curious girl who’s so delighted to meet you. I think life is so exciting, and I’d love to explore the world with you close by. My favorite things are treats, affection, and play. I could use some basic training and a routine to help me really shine. Visit me today and let’s see how much fun we can have!”
To view Delaney’s profile, click here. Come by and meet her today!
This week, the Pet of the Week is Mildred the dog! Mildred has had her adoption fee waived so that she can find a wonderful home for the holidays. Please come by to meet her today!
This week, Madison shares her favorite things with you … her favorite jewelry from CMI Jewelry Showroom! Listen to 96.1 BBB all week at 7:15AM and play the Fun Zone for your chance to win Madison’s favorite jewelry of the day!
Since 1970, CMI Jewelry has been helping the Triangle sparkle with the area’s best selection of diamonds and fine jewelry. Join CMI Jewelry this December for a grand reopening at their new location at 6501 Falls of Neuse Road. CMI has the same owner, same quality jewelry, and same no-pressure sales staff you have always loved. Make your holiday season shine by visiting CMI Jewelry at 6501 Falls of Neuse Road.
Three Diamond Drop Pendant- 14kt White Gold 18-inch Cable Chain
Cluster Diamond Ring – 14kt White Gold
Diamond Hoop Earrings – 14kt White Gold
Diamond Stud Earrings – 14kt White Gold or 14kt Yellow Gold
Solitaire Diamond Necklace- 14kt White Gold 18-Inch Chain
It’s your last chance to see Genesis at PNC Arena November 19th! Play Fun Zone this week with Madison for your chance to grab tickets! Plus get a bonus chance by signing up above. Tickets still on sale through ticketmaster.com.
Genesis is one of the world’s biggest selling and most successful bands of all time. They have sold an estimated 100 million albums and have played to sold-out stadiums and arenas all over the world for decades.
The evolution of Genesis is unique, their sound developed and progressed throughout their career and with multiple line-up alterations in the early years, the classic line-up of Tony Banks, Phil Collins, and Mike Rutherford took shape in 1976.
‘And Then There Were Three’ (1978) was the first album the band released as a three-piece and spawned the single ‘Follow You Follow Me’ which was their first UK top ten and US top 30 single and proved to be the start of huge commercial global success. The albums ‘Duke’ (1980), ‘Abacab’ (1981), ‘Genesis’ (1983), ‘Invisible Touch’ (1986) and ‘We Can’t Dance’ (1991) followed for the trio, alongside almost constant global stadium tours cementing the band as one of the most successful of all time.
Tony, Phil and Mike reunited again as a band in 2007 after almost 10 years for the Turn It On Again Tour which went on to be one of the biggest grossing tours on the year playing sold-out stadiums around the world.
2021 will see Genesis tour for the first time in 14 years, in North America, the UK, and Ireland.
This week, Madison covers your breakfast with a $50 Gift Card to Brigs Restaurants in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Wake Forest!
When you think breakfast, think Brigs.
And this month, think Brigs’ Pilgrim Benedict – homemade cranberry stuffing topped with smoked turkey, poached eggs, and a savory holiday Hollandaise Sauce.
Brigs is also serving Pumpkin Pancakes hot off the griddle and topped with real whipped cream!
But, hurry! These specials will be available this month only, at Brigs – In Raleigh, Durham, Wake Forest and Cary!
AND, Brigs has a special Cranberry-Pecan Avocado Toast with gorgonzola and a drizzle of honey.
Hendrick Automotive donated $80,000 to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina yesterday in Raleigh! This marks a total of $500,000 raised for 27 food banks across the country! In partnership with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Hendrick Automotive Group revealed the overall results of its current year-long, employee-powered fight against hunger. This event included a special appearance by NASCAR driver Kyle Larson, who is conducting a three-city tour today in recognition of food bank partners and Hendrick Automotive Group employee fund-raising efforts in Charlotte, Charleston (South Carolina) and Raleigh (North Carolina). Larson, driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, is fighting to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title.
Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina serves 34 counties throughout the Raleigh area and distributed nearly 51.7 million pounds of produce to nearly 600,000 people currently facing hunger. Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina advocates on behalf of those who experience hunger and helps empower people to make to make healthy and nutritious food choices. For more information, visit https://foodbankcenc.org/.
Due to the pandemic, Hendrick Automotive Group adjusted its annual Thanksgiving meal drive in 2020 to a “virtual” program in order to continue supporting our food bank partners. It marked the company’s first hunger initiative powered by employee donations, allowing the company to keep its employees safe while continuing to serve our communities during the holidays.
Hendrick Automotive Group is proud to have supported Thanksgiving hunger initiatives since 2001.
Well hello friend! I’m a sweet and affectionate girl with lots of love to give! I’m super friendly and love meeting new people. I also enjoy exploring, but my favorite thing is gentle affection. I’d love a home where I can just relax and unwind after a long exploration. Can we do this together? Visit me today! Brownie is still receiving medical care, so we are looking for someone to Foster to Adopt only, please. If interested, please complete the Foster application.
Don’t miss our famous annual Gala coming up! Tails at Twilight 2021 is a “beyond the ballroom” online celebration of APS, with a live and silent auction, entertainment, a mixology session and more. For more information: https://event.gives/tails2021
On the way home, be sure to call up John when he opens the BBB Box Office. You could land a pair of tickets to see Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators on Saturday, March 19th 2022! OR, enter below for a chance to win! Tickets go on sale Friday, October 29th through Ticketmaster.
What can you do in a second? Ooops too late, times up! Actually, you can pad your bank account in one second! With the 96.1 BBB One Song, One Second, up to one THOUSAND dollars game!
This week the Pet of the Week is Cutie Pie the Guinea Pig – and his adoption fee has been waived!
Meet Cutie Pie!
Cutie Pie lives up to his name as a cute Guinea Pig! Did you know that Guinea pigs were first domesticated in 5,000 B.C.? And they’re still great pets today. Guinea pigs don’t sleep a lot and when they’re awake they like to talk. You’ll notice Cutie Pie is a social little guy, and he, like others, produces six main vocalizations: chutts, squeaks, whines, whistles, purrs and chirps. Each vocalization conveys a different meaning, so in essence, he’s talking to you, his new friend. Guinea pigs are typically considered gregarious, outgoing animals. If you’ve never had a Guinea Pig before, now is the time to take Cutie Pie home with you today!
Cutie Pie’s Adoption Fee has been waived so we can find him a new home quickly. This amazing guy is so ready for his new home. Will it be with you? Come adopt Cutie Pie today and fill your home with love.“
Don’t forget that we have our famous annual Gala coming up! Tails at Twilight 2021 is a “beyond the ballroom” online celebration of APS, with a live and silent auction, entertainment, a mixology session and more. For more information: https://event.gives/tails2021
Animal Protection Society of Durham 2117 East Club Blvd. Durham, NC 27704 (919) 560-0640
It’s NC State Fair Week! If you’re still looking to skip lines and grab some tickets, Madison has your chance to grab a 4-pack all this week on The Fun Zone!
Listen to win weekday mornings for a chance to win! Buy tickets now at ncstatefair.org
This week, take the family out with your chance to grab a 4-pack to Hill Ridge Farms – the Triangle’s best destination for old-fashioned family fun, group and family outings, picnics, school field trips, birthday parties, and more! Their annual Fall Pumpkin Festival is happening NOW through October 31st. Receive a FREE PUMPKIN with each admission!
This week, it’s Brunch with Kitty with your chance to win a gift card to Brigs Restaurants! Listen weekdays at noon for a chance to win!
Brigs’ October Specials
Pumpkin Pancakes Back by overwhelming demand, our most popular pancake special every year will be available this year for two full months! Our famous Pumpkin Pancakes are served moist and fluffy and topped with real whipped cream! They’re the best! They’re available in stacks of one, two, or three; our Griddle Combos; and our Kidstuff!
Benedict of the Month
Oktober BenedictBrigs Bratwurst Benedict – A quarter pound grilled North Carolina’s own Heritage Farm® fresh bratwurst, two poached fresh eggs* and stone-ground mustard Hollandaise atop a toasted English muffin! Served with fresh fruit and choice of grits or homefries.
Sandwiches of the Month
The German Brat – A warm soft pretzel roll filled with grilled Heritage Farm® fresh bratwurst, spicy mustard and sauerkraut! Served with your choice of sandwich side.
The Swiss Brat – A warm soft pretzel roll filled with grilled Heritage Farm® fresh bratwurst, melted Swiss cheese and roasted red peppers! Served with your choice of sandwich side.
To view the full menu or see locations, please go to www.brigs.com
This week, is it Famous or Fraud? Madison will give a landmark or historical artifact … but is it Famous .. or a Fraud? You could score a $75 Visa Gift Card thanks to CW22. Listen to Madison, Weekdays at 7:15 a.m. for a chance to win!
In the new supersized version of Nickelodeon’s long-running classic competition series Legends of the Hidden Temple — premiering Sunday, October 10 — the challenges are now much tougher, the obstacles far greater, and the stakes much higher!
This week, listen for John to open up the BBB Box Office for your chance to grab a pair of tickets to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra at PNC Arena December 15th. Get a bonus chance by signing up below! Tickets now on sale here, through ticketmaster.
This week, Kitty’s got your last chance to grab tickets to see Indigo Girls … coming to DPAC September 25th! Tickets still on sale at dpacnc.com! Listen while you have Lunch with Kitty for you to win!
This week, Madison takes you to Paradise City with your last chance to grab tickets to see Guns N’ Roses at PNC Arena September 30th! Tickets still on sale at ticketmaster.com! And … get a bonus chance of Guns N’ Roses tickets AND VIP prize package by signing up for the BBB Box Office Below!
Hi there! My name is Dewdrop and I’m here to brighten up your day with my curious and goofy personality. As a small but mighty feline, I love exploring every nook and cranny of my environment. My inquisitive nature leads me on all sorts of adventures, whether it’s sniffing out a new toy or chasing after a wayward feather. But don’t let my curiosity fool you – I also have a silly, playful side that loves to pounce and tumble around. I’ll keep you entertained for hours with my zany antics! How did I get here? I was transferred from Mitchell County Animal Rescue as part of Hurricane Helene relief. **I have tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), but the good news is I can still live a long normal cat life! Speak with an adoption specialist for more information.** ~My adoption fee is $65.00.~
Hi there! I’m Frida, and if my life were a musical, I’d definitely be the star of a heartwarming indie soundtrack about finding my forever home. Picture me as the plucky protagonist, ready to burst into song about second chances and new beginnings. My rhythm might start a bit timid, but I promise I’ve got some amazing harmonies waiting to be discovered! Think of me like a beautiful ballad waiting to be sung – I might start soft, but I’m eager to learn my part in your life’s melody. Are you ready to be my co-writer and help me create a soundtrack of love, cuddles, and adventure? Let’s make some music together! I am fully grown at ~20 pounds. How did I get here? Trasnferred from another shelter. **I am currently living at the admission center – please fill out a survey and select a phone appointment to complete the adoption process. Once that process is complete, your adoption specialist will schedule a time for you to meet me in person!** ~My adoption fee is $120.00~
HUNT, Texas (AP) — More than 160 people are still believed to be missing in Texas days after flash floods killed over 100 people during the July Fourth weekend, the state’s governor said Tuesday.
The huge jump in the number unaccounted for — roughly three times higher than previously said — came after authorities set up a hotline for families to call.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says more than 160 people are believed to be still missing days after the flash floods that killed more than 100 people across central Texas. (AP Video)
Those reported missing are in Kerr County, where most of the victims have been recovered so far, Gov. Greg Abbott said. Many were likely visiting or staying in the state’s Hill Country during the holiday but did not register at a camp or hotel, he said during a news conference.
The county’s lowlands along the Guadalupe River are filled with youth camps and campgrounds, including Camp Mystic, the century-old all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 campers and counselors died. Officials said Tuesday that five campers and one counselor have still not been found.
Search-and-rescue teams are using heavy equipment to untangle and peel away layers of trees, unearth large rocks in riverbanks and move massive piles of debris that stretch for miles in the search for the missing people. Crews in airboats, helicopters and on horseback along with hundreds of volunteers are part of one of the largest search operations in Texas history.
The flash flood is the deadliest from inland flooding in the U.S. since Colorado’s Big Thompson Canyon flood on July 31, 1976, killed 144 people, said Bob Henson, a meteorologist with Yale Climate Connections. That flood surged through a narrow canyon packed with people on a holiday weekend, Colorado’s centennial celebration.
Public officials in charge of locating the victims are facing intensifying questions about who was in charge of monitoring the weather and warning that floodwaters were barreling toward camps and homes.
The Republican governor, who took a helicopter tour of the disaster zone, dismissed a question about who was to blame for the deaths, saying, “That’s the word choice of losers.”
“Every football team makes mistakes,” he said. “The losing teams are the ones that try to point out who’s to blame. The championship teams are the ones who say, ’Don’t worry about it, man, we got this. We’re going to make sure that we go score again and we’re going to win this game.’ The way winners talk is not to point fingers.”
Abbott promised that the search for victims will not stop until everyone is found. He also said President Donald Trump has pledged to provide whatever relief Texas needs to recover. Trump plans to visit the state Friday.
Scenes of devastation at Camp Mystic
Outside the cabins at Camp Mystic where the girls had slept, mud-splattered blankets and pillows were scattered on a grassy hill that slopes toward the river. Also in the debris were pink, purple and blue luggage decorated with stickers.
Among those who died at the camp were a second grader who loved pink sparkles and bows, a 19-year-old counselor who enjoyed mentoring young girls and the camp’s 75-year-old director.
The flash floods erupted before daybreak Friday after massive rains sent water speeding down hills into the Guadalupe River, causing it to rise 26 feet (8 meters) in less than an hour. The wall of water overwhelmed people in cabins, tents and trailers along the river’s edge. Some survivors were found clinging to trees.
Some campers had to swim out of cabin windows to safety while others held onto a rope as they made their way to higher ground. Time-lapse videos showed how floodwaters covered roads in a matter of minutes.
Questions mounted about what, if any, actions local officials took to warn campers and residents who were spending the July Fourth weekend in the scenic area long known to locals as “flash flood alley.”
Leaders in Kerr county, where searchers have found about 90 bodies, said their first priority is recovering victims, not reviewing what happened in the hours before the flash floods.
“Right now, this team up here is focused on bringing people home,” Lt. Col. Ben Baker of the Texas Game Wardens, said during a sometimes tense news conference.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s chief elected official, said in the hours after the devastation that the county does not have a warning system.
Generations of families in the Hill Country have known the dangers. A 1987 flood forced the evacuation of a youth camp in the town of Comfort and swamped buses and vans. Ten teenagers were killed.
Local leaders have talked for years about the need for a warning system. Kerr County sought a nearly $1 million grant eight years ago for such a system, but the request was turned down by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Local residents balked at footing the bill themselves, Kelly said.
Recovery and cleanup goes on
Four days have passed since anyone was found alive in the aftermath of the floods in Kerr County, officials said Tuesday.
The bodies of 30 children were among those that have been recovered in the county, which is home to Camp Mystic and several other summer camps, the sheriff said.
The devastation spread across several hundred miles in central Texas all the way to just outside the capital of Austin.
Aidan Duncan escaped just in time after hearing the muffled blare of a megaphone urging residents to evacuate Riverside RV Park in the Hill Country town of Ingram.
All his belongings — a mattress, sports cards, his pet parakeet’s bird cage — now sit caked in mud in front of his home.
“What’s going on right now, it hurts,” the 17-year-old said. “I literally cried so hard.”
Along the banks of the Guadalupe, 91-year-old Charles Hanson, a resident at a senior living center, was sweeping up wood and piling pieces of concrete and stone, remnants from a playground structure.
He wanted to help clean up on behalf of his neighbors who can’t get out. “We’ll make do with the best we got,” he said.
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Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press writers Joshua A. Bickel in Kerrville, Texas; Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas; and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — “Tiger King” star Bhagavan “Doc” Antle is going to prison — but not for as long as prosecutors wanted — after admitting he broke federal law buying endangered animals to keep at his zoo in South Carolina.
Antle, 65, was sentenced to one year and one day behind bars and fined $55,000 on Tuesday, nearly two years after he pleaded guilty to trafficking in exotic animals and money laundering. He entered his plea in November 2023.
It was likely the end to the legal dramas that surrounded “Tiger King,” the Netflix true crime documentary that captivated a country shut down by COVID-19.
The star, Joe Exotic, is serving a 21-year federal prison sentence for trying to hire two different men to kill the other star, Carole Baskin. Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was a collector and private zookeeper from Oklahoma and Baskin, runs Big Cat Rescue in Florida.
Antle appeared in the first season with Exotic and Baskin and was the star of the show’s third season.
Prosecutors say Antle bought animals on the black market
Antle’s crimes were unrelated. He laundered money used in a human smuggling scheme because he needed large amounts of cash quickly to buy animals like chimpanzees, lions, tigers, cheetahs and other creatures, Prosecutor Patrick Duggan said. These animals are illegal to sell because they are endangered, and their high prices could encourage poachers to steal them from the wild, Duggan explained.
“He was knowingly and illegally trading them as part of a black market that drives another black market of poaching and smuggling,” Duggan said in court Tuesday.
Antle’s lawyers requested a sentence of just probation or home confinement, saying their client needed to care for the 150 exotic animals that consume 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) of meat a day at his Myrtle Beach Safari. They said many of the animals only respond to Antle.
Friends and family ask for mercy for Antle
About 25 friends and family packed a federal courtroom in Charleston. Several told Judge Joseph Dawson III that Antle was generous and caring. They said he raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight poaching and preserve wild habitats for tigers, lions and chimpanzees.
The judge was swayed. Federal guidelines called for about two years in prison, to which prosecutors agreed. But Dawson said, although Antle broke federal law, all the evidence pointed to him caring for animals.
Antle apologized at the end of his sentencing hearing for causing problems for his life’s work.
“I made a mistake, I did stupid things,” Antle said, adding, “I hope I’ll be able to pull it back together for everybody.”
Antle needed animals so Myrtle Beach Safari could offer experiences
Antle’s Myrtle Beach Safari was known for charging hundreds or thousands of dollars to let people pet and hold baby animals like lions, tigers and monkeys that were so young they were still being bottle-fed. Customers would pay $200 for five minutes and photos with a baby chimp or $7,000 for a sleepover. Antle would sometimes ride into tours on an elephant.
The zoo remains open by reservation only.
Prosecutors said Antle sold or bought cheetahs, lions, tigers and a chimpanzee without the proper paperwork for a decade. They said he also laundered more than $500,000 so he could quickly get cash to buy more animals.
Antle knows federal law well and was able to avoid prosecution for years, prosecutors said. He would accept a large “donation” for an animal to his conservation foundation. He would claim to keep the animal in the same state he bought it, but then move it to his Myrtle Beach zoo, prosecutors said.
FBI tapped phone calls led to several prosecutions
The FBI was listening to Antle’s phone calls with an informant as he explained a baby chimpanzee could easily cost $200,000. Private zookeepers can charge hundreds of dollars for photos with docile young primates or other animals, but the profit window is only open for a few years before the growing animals can no longer be safely handled.
“I had to get a monkey, but the people won’t take a check. They only take cash. So what do you do?” Antle said according to a transcript of the phone call in court papers.
Antle will have to give up three chimpanzees he bought as part of his plea deal.
Two of Antle’s employees have already been sentenced for their roles in his schemes.
Meredith Bybee was given a year of probation for selling a chimpanzee while Andrew “Omar” Sawyer, who prosecutors said helped Antle launder money, was given two years of probation.
Jason Clay, a Texas private zoo owner, pleaded guilty to illegally selling a primate and was sentenced to four months in prison, while charges were dropped against California ranch owner Charles Sammut.
A choppy day in the markets left major U.S. stock indexes little changed Tuesday as the Trump administration pressed its campaign to win more favorable trade deals with nations around the globe by leaning into tariffs on goods coming into the U.S.
The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% a day after posting its biggest loss since mid-June. The benchmark index remains near its all-time high set last week.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gave back 0.4%. The Nasdaq composite eked out a gain of less than 0.1%, staying near its own record high.
The sluggish trading came as the market was coming off a broad sell-off following the Trump administration’s decision to impose new import tariffs set to go into effect next month on more than a dozen nations.
Still, the modest pullback in the markets is a sign that Wall Street may be betting that the U.S. and its trading partners may eventually negotiate deals that will reduce or eliminate the need for punishing tariffs, said Ross Mayfield, investment strategist at Baird.
“I think today you’re basically seeing a market that doesn’t quite believe the worst of this is going to come to bear and is just kind of waiting for any sort of clarity because we seem back in that in that kind of phase where things change every couple of hours,” Mayfield said.
On Monday, President Donald Trump set a 25% tax on goods imported from Japan and South Korea and new tariff rates on a dozen other nations scheduled to go into effect on Aug. 1.
Trump provided notice by posting letters on Truth Social that were addressed to the leaders of the various countries. The letters warned them to not retaliate by increasing their own import taxes, or else the Trump administration would further increase tariffs.
Just before hefty U.S. tariffs on goods imported from nearly every country around the globe were to take effect in April, Trump postponed the levies for 90 days in hopes that foreign governments would be more willing to strike new trade deals. That 90-day negotiating period was set to expire before Wednesday.
With the tariffs set to kick in now on Aug. 1, the latest move by the White House amounts to essentially a four-week extension of its previous 90-day pause, wrote Tobin Marcus, an analyst at Wolfe Research.
“At a very basic level, nothing actually happened based on Trump sending these letters, so there’s no reason to panic over headlines,” he wrote. “But we think these moves do contain some signal about where the trade war is heading, and that signal is mostly hawkish.”
During a cabinet meeting Tuesday, Trump said he would be announcing tariffs on pharmaceutical drugs at a “very, very high rate, like 200%.” He also said he would sign an executive order placing a 50% tariff on copper imports, matching the rates charged on steel and aluminum.
Shares in mining company Freeport-McMoRan rose 2.5% following Trump’s remarks. The price of copper for September delivery jumped 13.1% to $5.69 per pound.
This latest phase in the trade war heightens the threat of potentially more severe tariffs that’s been hanging over the global economy. Higher taxes on imported goods could hinder economic growth, if not increase recession risks.
Gains in technology, energy and health care stocks helped outweigh a pullback in banks and other sectors.
Intel jumped 7.2%, Exxon Mobil rose 2.8% and AbbVie rose 1.1%. JPMorgan and Bank of America each fell 3.1%.
Amazon shares fell 1.8% as the online retail giant kicked off Prime Day, which, beginning this year, lasts four days. Amazon launched the membership sales event in 2015 and expanded it to two days in 2019.
Elsewhere in the market, First Solar slid 6.5% after Trump issued an executive order ending subsidies for foreign-controlled energy companies.
Hershey Co. lost 3.2% after the chocolate maker announced that Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner will succeed current CEO Michele Buck, who is retiring.
Shares in WeightWatchers parent WW International gave up an early gain and dropped 1.1% after the company announced that it has completed its reorganization and relisting on Nasdaq. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May to eliminate $1.15 billion in debt and focus on its transition into a telehealth services provider.
Bond yields mostly rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury edged up to 4.40% from 4.39% late Monday.
All told, the S&P 500 fell 4.46 points to 6,225.52. The Dow lost 165.60 points to 44,240.76, and the Nasdaq added 5.95 points to 20,418.46.
The market’s downbeat start to the week follows a strong run for stocks, which pushed further into record heights last week after a better-than-expected U.S. jobs report.
In stock markets overseas, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. In two of the bigger moves, South Korea’s Kospi surged 1.8%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index climbed 1.1%.
The National Federation of Independent Business reported Tuesday that its small business optimism index fell slightly last month, in line with analysts’ expectations. The index tracks how small firms view the U.S. economy and their business prospects.
On Wednesday the Federal Reserve will release minutes from its policymaking committee’s meeting last month. The Fed’s chair, Jerome Powell, has said the central bank wants to wait and see how Trump’s tariffs affect the economy and inflation before making its next move on interest rates.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — There were three potential storm-related deaths in North Carolina amid flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal, a state official said Tuesday.
The state’s Department of Health and Human Services was working on confirmation of the deaths in Chatham, Orange and Alamance counties, North Carolina Emergency Management spokesperson Justin Graney said in an email.
In Chatham County, an 83-year-old Pittsboro woman was killed when her car was swept off a rural road by floodwaters Sunday night, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. On Monday, crews found the body of a Person County woman who went missing while on her way to work in Orange County on Sunday night, according to a social media post by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. In Alamance County, a missing man was found dead Sunday night inside a submerged vehicle found off a road in Mebane, sheriff’s office spokesperson Byron Tucker told WTVD-TV.
The storm destroyed homes and impaired businesses and lives were lost, Gov. Josh Stein said during a visit to Mebane in Alamance County on Tuesday. Officials were still assessing the scale of the damage and working on a final number of deaths, he said.
“Storms like this show us what is best about North Carolina,” Stein said. He praised emergency workers for their efforts knocking on doors to get people out of their homes or diverting traffic to keep people out of harm’s way.
Before his visit to Mebane, Stein told reporters in Raleigh on Tuesday morning that there will be enough money to address damage from both and Chantal and Hurricane Helene, which caused catastrophic flooding in western North Carolina last year, killing more than 100 people.
Crews were working Tuesday to restore power, utilities and road access, officials said. The state’s Department of Transportation reopened several major roads, including Interstate 40/85 in Alamance County on Monday, but 65 roads remained closed because of the storm, officials said.
“This historic weather event caused flooding like we haven’t seen in several decades in the central part of the state,” Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins said in a statement, noting that crews were working to assess and reopen roads as soon as floodwaters recede and it is safe to do so.
Tropical Storm Chantal was downgraded to a tropical depression Sunday after making landfall in South Carolina. While the winds dropped, a 15- to 30-mile-wide swath of heavy rain followed the storm’s core across North Carolina and areas within that swath saw impressive rain amounts, the weather service’s Eastern Region headquarters said in a social media post.
Rainfall totals exceeded 8 inches (20.32 centimeters) in some spots in central North Carolina and some isolated areas saw totals of nearly 1 foot (30.48 centimeters), such as in Moncure and Pittsboro in Chatham County, where 11.92 inches (30.28 centimeters) and 11.53 inches (29.29 centimeters) of rain fell respectively.
Intense rainstorms are becoming more frequent in most of the U.S. — though experts say where they occur and whether they cause catastrophic flooding is largely a matter of chance.
The National Weather Service’s office in Raleigh confirmed that four tornadoes, all EF-1s with peak winds ranging from 95 to 105 mph (153 to 169 km/h), touched down Sunday in Orange, Alamance, Chatham and Lee counties. No injuries or deaths were reported.
SANFORD, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina family of four, including two school-age children, died when their small plane crashed as they flew back from Florida.
The National Transportation Safety Board said an agency investigator was expected Tuesday at the site of the wreckage of Monday’s crash, located in a field near some trees northeast of Sanford, North Carolina.
The state Highway Patrol identified those killed as Travis and Candace Buchanan, who were both 35; Aubrey Buchanan, 10; and Walker Buchanan, 9. Three of the four died at the scene, while the fourth was pronounced dead at a hospital, the patrol said in a news release.
There were no survivors in the crash involving the Cirrus SR22T airplane, which an NTSB official said happened shortly after 1:30 p.m. under currently unknown circumstances. The aircraft ultimately will be recovered and taken to a facility for further evaluation, the agency said.
The Raleigh Executive Jetport, located a few miles north of the crash site, said in a social media post that the aircraft was based at the small airport.
Federal Aviation Administration records list Travis Buchanan of Sanford as the plane’s owner. The plane departed Merritt Island, Florida, about 11 a.m. Monday and was last seen about 1:30 p.m. near Sanford, according to according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. Sanford is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Raleigh.
WRAL-TV reported that the family owned Buchanan Farms in Sanford. Abraham Garcia said he had worked for Travis Buchanan at the farms for more than eight years and “he helped me all the time.” The Buchanan family was heading back from the beach, he said.
Grace Christian School in Sanford said on its Facebook page that Travis and Candace Buchanan were the parents of Aubrey, a fifth-grader this fall at the school, and Walker, an upcoming fourth-grader.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of one of our Crusader Families,” the post said, referencing the school’s nickname. “During this incredibly difficult time, we stand together in support of their family and one another.”
SANFORD, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina family of four, including two school-age children, died when their small plane crashed as they flew back from Florida.
The National Transportation Safety Board said an agency investigator was expected Tuesday at the site of the wreckage of Monday’s crash, located in a field near some trees northeast of Sanford, North Carolina.
The state Highway Patrol identified those killed as Travis and Candace Buchanan, who were both 35; Aubrey Buchanan, 10; and Walker Buchanan, 9. Three of the four died at the scene, while the fourth was pronounced dead at a hospital, the patrol said in a news release.
There were no survivors in the crash involving the Cirrus SR22T airplane, which an NTSB official said happened shortly after 1:30 p.m. under currently unknown circumstances. The aircraft ultimately will be recovered and taken to a facility for further evaluation, the agency said.
The Raleigh Executive Jetport, located a few miles north of the crash site, said in a social media post that the aircraft was based at the small airport.
Federal Aviation Administration records list Travis Buchanan of Sanford as the plane’s owner. The plane departed Merritt Island, Florida, about 11 a.m. Monday and was last seen about 1:30 p.m. near Sanford, according to according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. Sanford is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Raleigh.
WRAL-TV reported that the family owned Buchanan Farms in Sanford. Abraham Garcia said he had worked for Travis Buchanan at the farms for more than eight years and “he helped me all the time.” The Buchanan family was heading back from the beach, he said.
Grace Christian School in Sanford said on its Facebook page that Travis and Candace Buchanan were the parents of Aubrey, a fifth-grader this fall at the school, and Walker, an upcoming fourth-grader.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of one of our Crusader Families,” the post said, referencing the school’s nickname. “During this incredibly difficult time, we stand together in support of their family and one another.”
BRYSON CITY, N.C. (AP) — The longtime sheriff of a western North Carolina county whom some women accused of sexual misconduct has quit before he could be permanently removed.
Curtis Cochran, who was first elected Swain County sheriff in 2006, retired from the post effective July 1, according to a statement from the county Board of Commissioners. The chief deputy is performing the sheriff’s duties while the commissioners decide who will serve out the remainder of Cochran’s four-year term through late 2026, the statement said.
Cochran, 72, was charged in state courts with felonious restraint and misdemeanor sexual battery, soliciting prostitution and assault on a female, according to June 27 arrest warrants. The same day, Ashley Hornsby Welch, the district attorney for Swain and six other far western counties, filed a petition seeking to remove Cochran from office for “willful misconduct and maladministration in office.”
A Superior Court judge immediately suspended Cochran from office pending a final court ruling. But the removal petition becomes moot with Cochran’s retirement. A petition-related hearing set for Monday in adjoining Graham County was canceled, online court data said.
Welch’s removal petition included signed affidavits by two women who allege Cochran made separate unwanted sexual advances on them while he drove on land held by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The Eastern Band’s reservation, known as Qualla Boundary, is in portions of Swain County.
The county of 14,000 people is about 300 miles (483 kilometers) west of Raleigh and includes much of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that straddles the Tennessee border.
Cochran was released on bond on the state criminal charges and faces an Aug. 5 court hearing. He is also charged under Eastern Band tribal law with two counts of oppression in office and one count of abusive sexual contact, Cherokee Indian Police Department Chief Carla Neadeau said in a news release.
Cochran’s attorney didn’t respond Monday or Tuesday to a phone message and emails seeking comment and additional details.
The Associated Press generally does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted.
The petition alleges that on June 22 one woman — an Eastern Band member — flagged down what she believed to be a law enforcement vehicle. She was upset and crying because she and her boyfriend had been fighting verbally, and she accepted an invitation into the SUV from the driver — whom authorities identified as Cochran — because she believed it would diffuse the situation, the petition says.
The petition alleges that when Cochran started driving he began touching the woman despite her objections and asked her to perform a sexual act, but she refused. He later pulled the SUV off the road, got out and positioned himself so the woman couldn’t get out of vehicle and asked again, according to the petition. Cochran told the woman if “there was a time that I got in trouble, all I would have to do is say his name and he would help me,” the woman’s affidavit read. She again declined, ultimately was dropped off at her house and contacted tribal police.
The affidavit signed by the other woman said that on June 23 — soon after being released from the tribal jail — she accepted a ride from what looked like a government vehicle that she said turned out to be driven by Cochran. She said Cochran starting touching her — doing so even as she pulled away — and she ultimately got out of the vehicle.
The FBI and State Bureau of Investigation also participated in the criminal investigation, which included video footage, according to the petition.
Cochran, a Republican, had no law enforcement experience before his first sheriff’s election victory, having previously been Swain County’s maintenance director.
By JIM VERTUNO, NADIA LATHAN and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press
KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Hope of finding survivors of the catastrophic flooding in Texas dimmed Tuesday, a day after the death toll surpassed 100, and crews kept up the search for people missing in the aftermath.
The search efforts benefited from improving weather. The storms that battered the Hill Country for the past four days began to lighten up, although isolated pockets of heavy rain were still possible.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott planned to make another visit Tuesday to Camp Mystic, the century-old all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 campers and counselors died during the flash floods. Officials said Monday that 10 campers and one counselor have still not been found.
A wall of water slammed into camps and homes along the edge of the Guadalupe River before daybreak Friday, pulling people out of their cabins, tents and trailers and dragging them for miles past floating tree trunks and cars. Some survivors were found clinging to trees.
Questions are mounting about what, if any, actions local officials took to warn campers and residents who were spending the July Fourth holiday weekend in the scenic area long known to locals as “flash flood alley.”
At public briefings, officials in hard-hit Kerr County have deflected questions about what preparations and warnings were made as forecasters warned of life-threatening conditions.
“We definitely want to dive in and look at all those things,” Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said Monday. “We’re looking forward to doing that once we can get the search and rescue complete.”
Some camps were aware of the dangers and monitoring the weather. At least one moved several hundred campers to higher ground before the floods. But many were caught by surprise.
Searchers have found the bodies of 84 people, including 28 children, in Kerr County, home to Camp Mystic and several other summer camps near the river, officials said.
Nineteen deaths were reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties, local officials said.
Among those confirmed dead were 8-year-old sisters from Dallas who were at Camp Mystic and a former soccer coach and his wife who were staying at a riverfront home. Their daughters were still missing.
Elizabeth Lester, a mother of children who were at Camp Mystic and nearby Camp La Junta during the flood, said her young son had to swim out a cabin window to escape. Her daughter fled up the hillside as floodwaters whipped against her legs. Both survived.
Search-and-rescue teams used heavy equipment to untangle trees and move large rocks as part of the massive search for missing people. Hundreds of volunteers have shown up to help with one of the largest rescue operations in Texas history.
Piles of twisted trees sprinkled with mattresses, refrigerators and coolers littered the riverbanks.
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Vertuno reported from Austin, and Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Safiyah Riddle in Montgomery, Alabama; Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City and Sophia Tareen in Chicago.
For the first time in almost 20 years, travelers may no longer be required to take off their shoes during security screenings at certain U.S. airports.
The Transportation Security Administration is looking to abandon the additional security step that has for years bedeviled anyone passing through U.S airports, according to media reports.
If implemented, it would put an end to a security screening mandate put in place almost 20 years ago, several years after “shoe bomber” Richard Reid’s failed attempt to take down a flight from Paris to Miami in late 2001.
The travel newsletter Gate Access was first to report that the security screening change is coming. ABC News reported on an internal memo sent to TSA officers last week that states the new policy lets travelers keep their shoes on during screenings at many U.S. airports beginning this Sunday.
The plan is for the change to occur at all U.S. airports soon, the memo said.
Travelers were able to skirt extra security requirement if they were part of the TSA PreCheck program, which costs around $80 for five years. The program allows airline passengers to get through the screening process without removing shoes, belts or light jackets.
The TSA has not officially confirmed the reported security screening change yet.
“TSA and DHS are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance passenger experience and our strong security posture,” a TSA spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday. “Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels.”
The TSA began in 2001 when President George W. Bush signed legislation for its creation two months after the 9/11 attacks. The agency included federal airport screeners that replaced the private companies airlines had used to handle security.
Over the years the TSA has continued to look for ways to enhance its security measures, including testing facial recognition technology and implementing Real ID requirements.
