Triangle/Local
Red and black chokeberries thrive in North Carolina landscapes
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) and Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) are versatile shrubs native to North Carolina. I have seen many of the red varieties, while black varieties have never shown up in my path. They are similar however, with…
Trump approves federal disaster aid for storms and flooding in 6 states
By DAVID A. LIEB and M.K. WILDEMAN Associated Press President Donald Trump has approved federal disaster aid for six states and tribes following storms and floods that occurred this spring and summer. The disaster declarations, announced Thursday, will allow federal funding to flow to Kansas, North Carolina,…
Previous charges, delayed mental health evaluation were missed opportunities in Charlotte stabbing
By CLAUDIA LAUER Associated Press After Decarlos Brown Jr. was arrested for the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee aboard a North Carolina commuter train, he was quickly sent to a state mental hospital for an evaluation. It was a sharp contrast from a January…
Charlotte mayor Vi Lyles secures Democratic nomination despite political fallout of train killing
By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON and GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A Democratic mayor secured a comfortable win in a primary election despite days of intense backlash following the deadly stabbing of a young Ukrainian woman on a commuter train in Charlotte, North Carolina.…
Man accused of killing Ukrainian refugee on North Carolina train charged with federal crime
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Tuesday charged a man accused of fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee on a North Carolina commuter train last month with a federal crime that could carry the death penalty. The federal charge…
State/Regional
Appeals court rules felony offenders can’t be prosecuted for voting unlawfully by mistake
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled that a North Carolina law that made it a crime for felony offenders who vote before they have completed their sentences without knowing they were breaking the law is…
Americans mark the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with emotional ceremonies
By PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly a quarter century has passed since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, but for many, the emotions of the day remain raw as ever. On Thursday, America marked the 24th anniversary of the deadly attacks with solemn…
A Democrat governor, a Republican legislature: How Josh Stein is navigating North Carolina politics
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press FLETCHER, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has taken an unusual approach with Republican political opponents in his first eight months leading a highly competitive state where divided government has become the norm. He’s trying to get along with…
Republican North Carolina state Sen. Bobby Hanig announces bid to unseat Democrat Don Davis in 2026
POWELLS POINT, N.C. (AP) — A coastal North Carolina legislator announced his bid on Wednesday for a U.S. House seat next year, looking to unseat Democratic incumbent Don Davis in what is now the state’s currently only swing congressional district. State Sen. Bobby Hanig of Currituck County…
Trump and Republican senators fight over a century-old tradition for judicial nominees
By MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says the Senate’s century-old tradition of allowing home state senators to sign off on some federal judge and U.S. attorney nominees is “old and outdated.” Republican senators disagree. Trump has been complaining about what’s called the…
World/National
Retail sales up 0.6% in August from July even as tariffs hurt jobs and lead to price hikes
By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers increased their spending at a better-than-expected pace in August from July, helped by back-to-school shopping, even as President Donald Trump’s tariffs are starting to hurt the job market and lead to price increases. Retail sales rose…
Israel’s military begins its ground offensive in Gaza City and thousands of residents flee
By MELANIE LIDMAN, JON GAMBRELL and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military began its ground offensive in Gaza City on Tuesday, slowly closing in on the Palestinian territory’s largest city in another escalation in the war. Thousands of people streamed out of the…
Wall Street ticks toward another record as Tesla vrooms higher
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street rose to more records on Monday at the start of a week that could show whether the U.S. stock market’s big recent rally has been overdone or prescient. The S&P 500 climbed 0.5%…
After Charlie Kirk’s death, workers learn the limits of free speech in and out of their jobs
By CATHY BUSSEWITZ and WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — In the days following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, numerous workers have been fired for their comments on his death, among them MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd. Several conservative activists have sought…
Political leaders confront security concerns — and fear — after Kirk’s assassination
By STEVE PEOPLES and MIKE CATALINI Associated Press MORRISTOWN, N.J. (AP) — Even before the killing of Charlie Kirk, Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania was struggling with the emotional toll of political violence. In the middle of the night just five months ago, someone broke into his…
Entertainment
Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor, director and indie patriarch, dies at 89
By BOB THOMAS Associated Press Robert Redford, the Hollywood golden boy who became an Oscar-winning director, liberal activist and godfather for independent cinema under the name of one of his best-loved characters, died Tuesday at 89. Redford died “at his home at Sundance in the mountains…
Vance hosts Kirk’s radio show and says he’ll honor his friend by being a better husband and father
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President JD Vance on Monday hosted the radio program of Charlie Kirk, the influential conservative activist who was assassinated last week, telling listeners that the best way he knows how to honor his friend is to be a better…
‘The Studio’ and Seth Rogen have record-setting Emmys as Noah Wyle and ‘The Pitt’ get top drama wins
By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Seth Rogen and “The Studio” turned the Emmys into a wrap party, winning best comedy series Sunday and breaking a comedy record for victories in a season with 13, while Noah Wyle and “The Pitt” took the…
Analyst Matthew Dowd loses his MSNBC job following his Charlie Kirk commentary
By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer Political analyst Matthew Dowd is out of a job at MSNBC after his on-air comment following conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing about “hateful words” leading to “hateful actions.” MSNBC said Thursday that Dowd, a paid political analyst, is “no longer with…
Apple’s iPhone 17 line-up includes a new ultra-thin model and $100 price hike for Pro model
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple on Tuesday rolled out its next generation of iPhones that includes a new ultra-thin model and a slight price hike for one of its high-end models, while the company feels the squeeze of a…
Sports
Amazon Prime Video will stream the Masters for the first time beginning next year
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Amazon Prime Video will stream two hours of coverage during the first and second rounds of the Masters beginning next year. The Masters will stream on Prime Video from 1-3 p.m. ET daily on April 9 and 10, leading into ESPN’s…
QB Young showed fight Panthers want to see despite failing to complete comeback against Cards
By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Dave Canales benched Bryce Young two games into the 2024 season for ineffectiveness following a flurry of turnovers resulting in Carolina losing its first two games by a combined margin of 73-13. More than six…
Bell wins at Bristol, completing sweep in first round of NASCAR Cup playoffs for Joe Gibbs Racing
BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — Joe Gibbs Racing completed a clean sweep of the first round in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs as Christopher Bell charged to a victory Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway. Bell went from fourth to first on the final restart and led…
Gio Lopez accounts for 3TDs as North Carolina dominates Richmond for Belichick’s first home win
By DOUG BONJOUR Associated Press CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Gio Lopez threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, freshman Demon June had 148 rushing yards and a touchdown, and North Carolina beat Richmond 41-6 on Saturday for its first home win of the…
Former NC A&T athlete among 13 former NCAA basketball players under investigation for sports betting violations
By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer The NCAA is investigating potential violations of sports betting rules involving 13 former men’s basketball players who completed for six schools. Cases include athletes formerly associated with Eastern Michigan, Temple, Arizona State, New Orleans, North Carolina A&T and Mississippi…