WPTF News

In Marseille, a shadow becomes art in Banksy’s latest street mural

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — The lighthouse appeared overnight. Painted on a wall tucked away in a quiet Marseille street, its beam aligned perfectly with the real-life shadow of a metal post on the pavement. At its center, stenciled in crisp white, are the words: “I want to be what you saw in me.” Banksy had struck again. On Friday, the elusive British street artist confirmed the work by posting two images on his official Instagram account — without caption or coordinates. Fans quickly identified the location as 1 Rue Félix Frégier, in the Catalans district of Marseille’s 7th arrondissement, near the sea.… Continue Reading

FDA approves Moderna’s new lower-dose COVID-19 vaccine

The Food and Drug administration has approved a new COVID-19 vaccine made by Moderna but with limits on who can use it. Moderna’s new option is a lower-dose version that is a step toward next-generation coronavirus vaccines. The company said in a statement Saturday that it expects to offer both the new vaccine and its existing COVID-19 shot this fall. The FDA approved the new vaccine for all adults 65 and older, and for people age 12 to 64 who are at higher risk from the coronavirus. That’s the same limit that the FDA set in licensing another vaccine option from Novavax.… Continue Reading

Turmoil, worry swirl over cuts to key federal agencies as hurricane season begins

WASHINGTON (AP) — As hurricane season begins, experts in storms and disasters are worried about massive cuts to the federal system that forecasts, tracks and responds to the storms. Experts are alarmed over the large-scale staff reductions, travel and training restrictions and grant cut-offs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 and is predicted to busier than average this year. Representatives of both NOAA and FEMA say the agencies are prepared.… Continue Reading

Taylor Swift has regained control of her music, buys back first 6 albums

NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift says she’s has regained control over her entire body of work. In a lengthy note posted to her official website on Friday, Swift announced that all the music she’s ever made now belongs to her. According to the note, the pop star has purchased her catalog of recordings — originally released through Big Machine Records — from their most recent owner, the private equity firm Shamrock Capital. She did not disclose the amount. Over the last few years, Swift has been rerecording and releasing her early albums in an attempt to regain control of her music.… Continue Reading

Trump gives Elon Musk an Oval Office sendoff

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump bid farewell to Elon Musk in the Oval Office. The billionaire entrepreneur is ending his work in the administration on Friday. He had spearheaded the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, to slash federal spending. However, Musk fell far short of his targets and struggled in the unfamiliar environment of Washington. Thousands of people were laid off or pushed out of their jobs while litigation piled up. Musk plans to go back to running his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. He’s also said he’ll curtail political spending after becoming Trump’s biggest donor in last year’s presidential campaign.… Continue Reading

What’s in a name? A small fortune for businesses around Fort Bragg

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Businesses around Fort Bragg in North Carolina are facing a challenge now that the Trump administration has once again renamed the military post. Fort Bragg and other military installations that were once name for Confederate figures from the Civil War were rebranded under the Biden administration. Fort Bragg became Fort Liberty. But a couple of months after Ralph Rodriguez opened Fort Liberty Pawn & Gun, the Defense Department changed the name back to Fort Bragg. Now the businessman is having to change signs, uniforms, stationery and government paperwork, costing about $30,000. Several other businesses are facing the same problem. And the name change is costing taxpayers, too. The state expects to spend about $200,000 changing all the highway signs back.… Continue Reading

Ben Griffin still on a heater after his win on punishing course at Memorial

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Ben Griffin picked up his first individual PGA Tour title at Colonial last week and he’s still rolling. Griffin opened with a 65 at tough Muirfield Village despite two shots in the water. That gives him a two-shot lead over Collin Morikawa at the Memorial. Only six players broke 70 and 13 players were under par. The rough was so thick that missing a fairway made it hard work. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler wasn’t in the short grass enough for his liking. He still managed a 70 for his 19th consecutive tournament with a first round under par.… Continue Reading

A global rally for stocks loses steam amid questions about what will happen to Trump’s tariffs

NEW YORK (AP) — A big rally for stocks that began in Asia lost steam amid uncertainty about what will happen next after a U.S. court blocked many of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The S&P 500 rose 0.4% Thursday after giving up most of an earlier gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.4%. It’s a downshift after stocks initially leaped in Tokyo and Seoul, where markets had the first chance to react to Wednesday’s ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade. The White House said it would appeal. Nvidia rallied after its profit report.… Continue Reading

It’s not a reprint. Why Sacred Harp singers are revamping an iconic pre-Civil War hymnal

BREMEN, Ga. (AP) — A new edition of “The Sacred Harp,” a Christian hymnal first published in 1844, is being released this year. It helps carry on the more than 180-year-old American folk singing tradition that is as much about the community as it is the music. The shape-note songbook with music notes that look like triangles, ovals, squares and diamonds is core to the a cappella group singing practice. Over time, groups of Sacred Harp singers have periodically worked together to revise the songbook, preserving its history and breathing new life into it. The book is precious to its singers. The nine-member revision committee working on the new book feels a tremendous responsibility to get it right.… Continue Reading

Chinese students anxious and angry after Rubio vows to revoke visas

HONG KONG (AP) — Chinese students in the U.S. are scrambling to figure out their futures after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday some students would have their visas revoked. Many reacted with anger. A Chinese student at Johns Hopkins University described it as a “new version of Chinese Exclusion Act.” Chinese students have seen rising rejection rates for visas in recent years amid strained U.S.-China relations. Hong Kong has said it would welcome students from all over who were impacted by the U.S.’ changing policies to study in the city… Continue Reading

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