WPTF News

Decision looming for Trump administration on first PFAS drinking water limits

The Trump administration is expected to soon say whether it intends to stand by strict drinking water standards for forever chemicals set last year. The Environmental Protection Agency has said PFAS increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and babies being born with low birth weight. But reducing PFAS could be costly for thousands of water utilities. The Biden administration said those costs were worth it, but it’s unclear if current EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin will agree. He’s expressed concern about places with marginal amounts of PFAS that could incur high costs to reduce it. There are billions of dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and lawsuits to help communities afford new treatments systems.… Continue Reading

Loss of FEMA program spells disaster for hundreds of communities and their projects

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — For hundreds of communities nationwide, plans to protect against natural disasters and climate change have been upended because of the Trump administration’s elimination of a federal grant program. Scrapped projects include relocating flood-damaged homes in Pennsylvania, protecting businesses from stormwater in North Carolina, and safeguarding water supply lines in Oklahoma’s Tornado Alley. The grants have been panned by the Republican White House as wasteful political spending. But those grants were seen by local officials and residents as a vital use of government resources to protect lives, infrastructure and economies with smart investments upfront.… Continue Reading

How bugs and beet juice could play roles in the race to replace artificial dyes in food

ST. LOUIS (AP) — U.S. health officials are pushing to get artificial colors out of the nation’s food supply. Sensient Technologies Corp. is one of the world’s largest dyemakers. The company has seen a surge in businesses rushing to covert their products from synthetic to natural colors. The process to change from petroleum-based dyes to colors made from vegetables, fruits, flowers and even insects won’t be cheap or easy. Health advocates have long called for the removal of the dyes. They cite mixed evidence that the colors are linked to behavior problems and obesity in kids.… Continue Reading

Remembering lives lost: Workers Memorial Day ceremony held in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – More than 100 North Carolinians who died last year while on the job were honored Monday during Workers Memorial Day events in Raleigh. The event is observed annually across the country to recognize those who have died or been injured on the job and to recommit efforts to improving workplace safety. In North Carolina, both advocates and officials emphasized the importance of ongoing safety measures and regulatory enforcement.… Continue Reading

A shooting at a small North Carolina college leaves 1 dead, 6 wounded

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP) — A shooting at a small college in eastern North Carolina left one person dead and six others wounded and prompted a campus lockdown. The shooting early Sunday occurred in the center of Elizabeth City State University’s campus. It happened after the final event of the historically Black university’s weeklong Viking Fest celebration. The school says a 24-year-old man who was not a student was pronounced dead. Four people sustained gunshot wounds, including three students, while two other students were injured during the commotion. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening. The university is about 50 miles south of Norfolk, Virginia.… Continue Reading

Devils struggle on power play again, penalty-kill gives up 4th goal in Game 4 loss to Hurricanes

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils had the top special teams units in the NHL this season. Things haven’t worked out so well in the playoffs, and they are now one loss away from elimination. The Devils were third on the power play at a franchise-record 28.2% during the regular season but went 0 for 2 in their 5-2 loss in Game 4 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday that dropped them to a 3-1 deficit in the first-round series. New Jersey is now 0 for 12 with the man-advantage against Carolina, which had the NHL’s top penalty-kill at 83.6%. New Jersey remained the only playoff team without a power-play goal.… Continue Reading

High-Profile sports events score big for Raleigh economy

Raleigh’s spring sports season has delivered a wave of excitement and economic gain, as NCAA Tournament games, N.C. State women’s basketball, and the Carolina Hurricanes’ playoff run drew thousands to local venues. With sold-out crowds at the Lenovo Center and glowing feedback from event organizers, the city continues to prove itself as a major destination for sports and entertainment.… Continue Reading

A massive explosion at an Iranian port linked to missile fuel shipment kills 18, injures some 800

MUSCAT, Oman (AP) — A massive explosion and fire has rocked a port in southern Iran purportedly linked to a shipment of a chemical ingredient used to make missile propellant. State media said the blast killed 18 people and injuring around 800 others. Helicopters and aircraft dumped water from the air on the raging fire through the night into Sunday morning at the Shahid Rajaei port. The explosion occurred just as Iran and the United States met Saturday in Oman for the third round of negotiations over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.… Continue Reading

New psychiatry residency program aims to strengthen mental health care in North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – A new initiative is expanding mental health services in Eastern North Carolina, with a focus on supporting rural communities and military families. Led by a partnership between the UNC School of Medicine and Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, the program offers a four-year psychiatry residency that blends military, academic, and community healthcare training. As North Carolina continues to face a shortage of mental health providers, healthcare organizations like Novant Health are investing in workforce development and collaborative programs aimed at improving access to care across the state.… Continue Reading

Judges blocks Trump push to cut funding to public schools over diversity programs

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s guidance forbidding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in K-12 public schools. The ruling Thursday came in a lawsuit brought by National Education Association and the American Civil Liberties Union. In February, the Education Department told schools and colleges they needed to end any practice that differentiates people based on their race or they were at risk of losing their federal funding. The department ordered states to gather signatures from local school systems certifying compliance with civil rights laws, including the rejection of what the federal government calls “illegal DEI practices.”… Continue Reading

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