Enjoy Madison’s interview with Chris Edwards, the voice of the Carolina Mudcats. The duo discuss the Carolina Mudcats 35-year history, as well as the Mudcats’ final games at Five County Stadium during Labor Day weekend.
Trump is cutting 500-plus jobs at Voice of America and its parent agency despite legal challenges
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The agency that oversees Voice of America and other government-funded international broadcasters is eliminating jobs for more than 500 employees, a Trump administration official said. The move could ratchet up a monthslong legal challenge over the news outlets’ fate.
Kari Lake, acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, announced the latest round of job cuts late Friday, one day after a federal judge blocked her from removing Michael Abramowitz as VOA director.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth had ruled separately that the Republican administration had failed to show how it was complying with his orders to restore VOA’s operations. His order Monday gave the administration “one final opportunity, short of a contempt trial” to demonstrate its compliance. He ordered Lake to sit for a deposition by lawyers for agency employees by Sept. 15.
On Thursday, Lamberth said Abramowitz could not be removed without the approval of the majority of the International Broadcasting Advisory Board. Firing Abramowitz would be “plainly contrary to law,” according to Lamberth, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President Ronald Reagan.
Lake posted a statement on social media that said her agency had initiated a reduction in force, or RIF, eliminating 532 jobs for full-time government employees. She said the agency “will continue to fulfill its statutory mission after this RIF— and will likely improve its ability to function.”
“I look forward to taking additional steps in the coming months to improve the functioning of a very broken agency and make sure America’s voice is heard abroad where it matters most,” she wrote.
A group of agency employees who sued to block VOA’s elimination said Lake’s move would give their colleagues 30 days until their pay and benefits end.
“We find Lake’s continued attacks on our agency abhorrent,” they said in a statement. “We are looking forward to her deposition to hear whether her plan to dismantle VOA was done with the rigorous review process that Congress requires. So far we have not seen any evidence of that.”
In June, layoff notices were sent to more than 600 agency employees. Abramowitz was placed on administrative leave along with almost the entire VOA staff. He was told he would be fired effective Aug. 31.
The administration said in a court filing Thursday that it planned to send RIF notices to 486 employees of VOA and 46 other agency employees but intended to retain 158 agency employees and 108 VOA employees. The filing said the global media agency had 137 “active employees” and 62 other employees on administrative leave while VOA had 86 active employees and 512 others administrative leave.
The agency also houses Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks and Radio Marti, which beams Spanish-language news into Cuba. The networks, which together reach an estimated 427 million people, date to the Cold War and are part of a network of government-funded organizations trying to extend U.S. influence and combat authoritarianism.
Sayin, defense propel No. 3 Ohio State past top-ranked Texas 14-7
By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State coach Ryan Day and his players spent the preseason saying the opener against top-ranked Texas wouldn’t be about defending last year’s national championship but about establishing the identity of this year’s team.
Julian Sayin and the defense took a big first step toward accomplishing that.
In his first collegiate start, Sayin gave Ohio State a two-score advantage early in the fourth quarter with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Carnell Tate. Add in the defense containing the much-hyped Arch Manning, along with two pivotal stops in the red zone and it resulted in the third-ranked Buckeyes defeating the Longhorns 14-7.
It was the fourth time the No. 1 team in the AP preseason poll has met the previous season’s national champion in the opener. The defending champ has won the last three.
“When you start a season, you want to set the tone,” Day said. “There’s a lot of guys who are stepping into roles for the first time ever. And for these guys to step in and really have great energy about them, I thought they were poised. I thought the moment was not too big for them.”
Sayin completed 13 of 20 passes for 126 yards as the Buckeyes improved to 4-3 all-time against a visiting top-ranked team. Coach Ryan Day admitted the game plan was a bit conservative, but with a first-time starter he wanted to put his signal caller in the best possible position.
“I thought he handled himself well. He took care of the ball and made some throws when he needed to. A couple times when it wasn’t there, he didn’t force it,” Day said. “We talked about it this week. In Week 1, we can’t beat ourselves. We wanted to make them beat us.”
Sayin’s best pass of the day came with 13:08 remaining in the game, when Tate beat Texas cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau for the Buckeyes’ longest completion of the day. Tate juggled the ball before pulling it down in the end zone to put them up by two touchdowns.
“Before the drive, they kind of let me know, ‘Hey, this might be coming.’ But we had done a great job in practice that week of repping that play,” Sayin said. “Carnell ran a great route and made a great catch and the offensive line protected me well up front.”
The defense under first-year coordinator Matt Patricia made Manning a non-factor for three quarters. Manning completed 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards, a touchdown and an interception, but most of those yards came in the fourth quarter.
“I thought they tried to do everything we asked them to do. They were in some tough spots. It’s a really good Texas team,” Patricia said of his unit. “Arch is a great quarterback. I’m proud of our guys for stepping up to that challenge and all the way across the board, from the front end to the back end. I think those guys just did a tremendous job with the adjustments.”
Texas’ downfall was going 1 of 5 on fourth down, including being stopped twice inside the Ohio State 10. Manning was stuffed at the 1-yard line on fourth-and-goal by Caden Curry and Lorenzo Styles Jr. on a QB sneak in the third quarter.
The other red-zone stop came midway through the fourth quarter when Ohio State’s Davison Igbinosun broke up a pass intended for Parker Livingstone.
“Granted the receivers are really good, but they’ve got an excellent secondary, and they’ve got a good scheme, and they’ve got a very smart secondary so they made Arch work,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said.
Opening the scoring
CJ Donaldson Jr. opened the scoring midway through the second quarter on a 1-yard run up the middle to cap a 13-play, 87-yard drive that took eight minutes off the clock. The Buckeyes benefitted from a pair of penalties, including a face mask call on Colin Simmons that wiped out an incomplete pass on third-and-4.
One last chance
Texas finally got points with 3:28 remaining in the fourth quarter when Manning connected with Livingstone on a 32-yard touchdown.
The Longhorns defense forced a three-and-out, giving Texas a chance to tie.
The Longhorns took over on the 15, but Jack Endries was stopped by Caleb Downs 1 yard short of a first down at the Buckeyes 47 to end hopes of a comeback.
“Ultimately, not good enough. Obviously you don’t want to start off the season 0-1,” Manning said. “They’re a good team. I thought we beat ourselves a lot, and that starts with me. I’ve got to play better for us to win.”
The takeaway
Texas: The Longhorns had their 11-game winning streak in true road games snapped. The run included five victories against ranked opponents.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes should take over the top spot in the AP poll.
Up next
Texas: Hosts San Jose State on Sept. 6.
Ohio State: Hosts Grambling State on Sept. 6.
August 31st 2025
Thought of the Day
“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says “I’m possible!””— Audrey Hepburn
August 30th 2025
Thought of the Day
Never pray for the lighter load, instead pray for a stronger back!
Stocks pull back from their latest all-time highs on Wall Street
By ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writer
Wall Street closed out another winning month Friday, even as stocks gave back some of their recent gains, pulling the market below its latest all-time highs.
The S&P 500 fell 0.6% a day after climbing to a record high. The benchmark index ended August with a 1.9% gain, its fourth straight month of gains. It’s now up 9.8% so far this year.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average also came off its own record high, slipping 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite closed 1.2% lower.
“The reason the market is down today is primarily because we are heading into a long weekend, and a lot of traders don’t like to have a hefty exposure over a long weekend because of the news that could come out and take them by surprise,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA.
Mixed economic data may also have given traders an excuse to sell and pocket some profits following the market’s milestone-setting week. A closely watched measure of inflation showed prices mostly held steady last month, and a survey of consumer sentiment came suggested Americans’ worries about the economy and prices intensified since July.
Losses in technology weighed on the market, offsetting gains in health care and other sectors.
Dell Technologies slid 8.9% for the biggest decline among S&P 500 stocks a day after the company reported second-quarter revenue that exceeded analysts’ expectations, but noted that margin pressures and weakness in PC revenue.
Among other tech companies that ended the day in the red: Tech giant Nvidia fell 3.3%, Broadcom dropped 3.6% and Oracle slid 5.9%.
The Commerce Department said prices rose 2.6% in July compared with a year ago, as measured by the personal consumption expenditures index. That’s the same annual increase as in June and in line with what economists expected.
Still, excluding the volatile food and energy categories, prices rose 2.9% last month from a year earlier, up from 2.8% in June and the highest since February.
While inflation is much lower than the roughly 7% peak it reached three years ago, it is still running noticeably above the Fed’s 2% target.
Still, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled last week that the central bank may cut its key interest rate at its meeting next month, amid signs of sluggishness in the job market.
The most recent government data suggests hiring has slowed sharply since this spring.
“Today’s in-line PCE Price Index will keep the focus on the jobs market,” said Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. “For now, the odds still favor a September cut.”
Lower rates can boost investment prices and the economy by making it cheaper for U.S. households and businesses to borrow, but they risk worsening inflation.
Traders see a roughly 87% chance that the central bank will cut its benchmark interest rate next month by a quarter of a percentage point, according to data from CME Group.
Meanwhile, the latest reading in a survey of U.S. consumers by the University of Michigan showed sentiment soured this month. The final August reading is the lowest since May, reflecting heightened concerns about prices and the economy.
Treasury yields were mixed in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.23% from 4.21% late Wednesday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which more closely tracks expectations for Federal Reserve action, slipped to 3.62% from 3.63%.
The Fed will get to review two more important inflation barometers before its next policy meeting, the producer price index and consumer price index. Unless those reports show a huge spike in inflation, the Fed is “almost guaranteed” to cut interest rates next month, said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Northlight Asset Management.
Among the stocks that weighed on the market Friday were Ulta Beauty and Marvell Technology.
Ulta fell 7.1% despite posting second-quarter earnings and revenue that topped analysts’ estimates, while Marvell slid 18.6% after its third-quarter guidance fell short of what Wall Street was expecting.
Not all stocks lost ground. Petco Health & Wellness and Autodesk bucked the broader market slide after reporting better-than-expected quarterly results. Petco jumped 23.5% and Autodesk climbed 9.1%.
All told, the S&P 500 fell 41.60 points to 6,460.26. The Dow dropped 92.02 points to 45,544.88, and the Nasdaq gave up 249.61 points to close at 21,455.55.
European markets were mostly lower and Asian markets closed mixed.
U.S. markets will be closed on Monday for the Labor Day holiday.
Trump ends ex-Vice President Harris’ Secret Service protection early after Biden had extended it
By SEUNG MIN KIM and ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has revoked former Vice President Kamala Harris’ Secret Service protection that otherwise would have ended next summer, senior Trump administration officials said Friday.
Former vice presidents typically get federal government protection for six months after leaving office, while ex-presidents do so for life. But then-President Joe Biden quietly signed a directive, at Harris’ request, that had extended protection for her beyond the traditional six months, according to another person familiar with the matter. The people insisted on anonymity to discuss a matter not made public.
Trump, a Republican, defeated Harris, a Democrat, in the presidential election last year.
His move to drop Harris’ Secret Service protection comes as the former vice president, who became the Democratic nominee last summer after a chaotic series of events that led to Biden dropping out of the contest, is about to embark on a book tour for her memoir, titled “107 Days.” The tour has 15 stops, including visits abroad to London and Toronto. The book, which refers to the historically short length of her presidential campaign, will be released Sept. 23, and the tour begins the following day.
It is not unusual for Secret Service protection to continue well beyond the statutory six-month window, particularly when former officials face credible and ongoing threats. But Trump’s decisions to revoke the protection have stood out both for timing and for targets.
During Trump’s second presidency, he repeatedly has cut off security for adversaries and figures who have fallen from favor, including his onetime national security adviser John Bolton and members of Biden’s family, including the former president’s adult children. The decision to strip Harris of protection is certain to raise alarms among security experts who view continuity of protection as essential in a polarized climate.
A senior Trump administration official said an executive memorandum was issued Thursday to the Department of Homeland Security ending Harris’ security detail and security services. Those had been extended from six to 18 months by the Biden administration, so they would have ended in July 2026, but now they will be terminated on Monday.
While she lost to Trump last November, Harris is seen as a potential candidate for 2028, and she has already announced she will not run for California governor in 2026. Harris is also a former senator, California attorney general and San Francisco district attorney.
Last year was a particularly politically charged environment with Trump facing two assassination attempts, and the Secret Service played a crucial role in protecting the now-president. Harris has also faced threats before: In August 2024, a Virginia man was arrested and charged with threatening online to kill her and harm other public officials.
The news of the security revocation was first reported by CNN.
___
Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Quick “Cowboy Caviar”
This recipe is an easy way to get some protein and veggies in, and it’s great for meal prep or on-the-go!
Ingredients
- 1 (16oz.) can black beans
- 1 (16 oz.) can black-eyed peas
- 1 (16 oz.) can sweet corn
- 1 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup orange bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
- fresh lime juice from half a lime
- a few green onions, chopped
Instructions
1. Drain the veggies
Drain and rinse the cans of beans and corn. Then pat them dry and transfer to a large bowl.
2. Add the other veggies
Add the cilantro, peppers and onions to the bowl and stir to combine.
3. Add the liquids and spices
Add the spices, sugar, olive oil, vinegar and lime juice to the bowl and toss all the ingredients together. Top it off with some green onion and anything else you’d like.
4. Refrigerate
Let the mixture marinate in the fridge for a few hours for the best taste.
5. Serve cold
Serve plain or with chips of your choice!
August 29th 2024
Thought of the Day
The grass may be greener on the other side, but it is just as hard to mow on both sides.
NC State’s late 4th-down stop seals 24-17 win against East Carolina to open season
By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — N.C. State stopped East Carolina on a fourth-and-1 deep in its own end with 37 seconds left to hold on for a 24-17 season-opening win Thursday night.
After trailing 17-0 before halftime, ECU pushed all the way to the Wolfpack’s 9-yard line on a drive for the tie, with Katin Houser throwing a short pass to the left to Desirrio Riles. Almost immediately, N.C. State’s Jamel Johnson closed for the initial hit that drove Riles laterally toward the sideline, with Ronnie Royal III coming in to clean it up out of bounds.
“When it came down to it, in our red zone, we bowed up, stopped them on fourth down and we won the game,” said Wolfpack defensive end Cian Slone, who had seven tackles and three hurries.
CJ Bailey threw for 318 yards and a perfect 48-yard scoring pass up the seam to Wesley Grimes for the Wolfpack (1-0). He also joined Hollywood Smothers in rushing for a touchdown, while Grimes hauled in a career-best 121 yards.
Houser threw for 366 yards for the Pirates (0-1). The highlight was going downfield to Jayvontay Conner, who bounced off a hit and rumbling loose up the sideline for a 79-yard touchdown shortly before halftime.
But miscues compounded, helping the Wolfpack build a 17-0 lead by early in the second quarter on Grimes’ TD.
“There was some obviously Game 1 things, but you don’t want it to happen against a good football team and get your tail beat like we did tonight,” said ECU coach Blake Harrell, who said the Pirates planned to go for 2 and the win if they had scored on the final drive.
This was the latest meeting in a testy instate series. The teams met in last year’s Military Bowl, with ECU winning 26-21 in a game that featured a late brawl. It was a game that coach Dave Doeren said “tarnished our reputation,” both with a run defense surrendering chunk yardage and the tussle that even left one official bleeding.
There were no major sparks this time. Rather, it was N.C. State getting out in front while ECU sputtered out of the gate to dig itself a hole that lasted all night.
“This game wasn’t about ECU,” Doeren said, adding: “This game was about getting our identity back and playing hard-tough-together football.”
The takeaway
ECU: The mistakes included four straight three-and-outs to open the game, one featuring a high snap over Houser for a 23-yard loss. There were also two two third-down penalties to extend the Wolfpack’s third-quarter touchdown drive in a 10-penalty night. That’s plenty to clean up for Harrell’s squad.
N.C. State: The Wolfpack got a solid defensive start under new coordinator D.J. Elliot by smothering ECU’s ground game, allowing 30 yards on 29 carries after the Pirates ran for 326 yards in the bowl meeting. N.C. State also had three fourth-down stops. There were special-teams hiccups, though, with Nick Koniecznski missing two fourth-quarter field goals.
Up next
ECU: The Pirates return home to face instate Championship Subdivision opponent Campbell on Sept. 6.
N.C. State: Virginia visits the Wolfpack on Sept 6 in a nonconference matchup between longtime Atlantic Coast Conference programs.