Category Archives: WPTF News

Justice Department will meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s imprisoned girlfriend

Justice Department will meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s imprisoned girlfriend

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Department officials will meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned girlfriend of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter. The person tells The Associated Press the meeting is Thursday in Florida, where Maxwell is held. The meeting is part of a Justice Department effort to cast itself as transparent following backlash from parts of President Donald Trump’s base over an earlier refusal to release additional Epstein records. A Justice Department spokesman hasn’t returned a message seeking comment. A lawyer for Maxwell says she’ll “always testify truthfully.” Maxwell was convicted of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. Epstein died in a New York jail awaiting trial.… Continue Reading

US stocks hit more records following US-Japan trade deal

US stocks hit more records following US-Japan trade deal

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to more records following a trade deal between the world’s No. 1 and No. 4 economies. The S&P 500 climbed 0.8% Wednesday, setting another all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 507 points, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6% to hit its own record. Stocks rallied even more in Tokyo after President Donald Trump announced a deal that would place a 15% tax on imports from Japan. That’s lower than the 25% rate that Trump had earlier threatened. Big U.S. companies continued to offer updates about how Trump’s tariffs are affecting them, and Treasury yields rose.… Continue Reading

Livingstone student dragged from his car and punched by Florida officers says he was scared and confused

Livingstone student dragged from his car and punched by Florida officers says he was scared and confused

A Black college student is still recovering after being punched and dragged from his car by Florida law officers during a traffic stop. His lawyers said Wednesday that William McNeil Jr. suffered a concussion and a pierced lip. The encounter has sparked nationwide outrage. Footage shows McNeil asking to speak to a supervisor before officers broke his window and forcibly removed him from the vehicle. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is defending the officers, suggesting the video was shared to create division. Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump criticized the officers for escalating violence and called for accountability. The sheriff says the video lacks context.… Continue Reading

Teens say they are turning to AI for friendship

Teens say they are turning to AI for friendship

Teenagers are increasingly turning to AI for advice, emotional support and decision-making, according to a new study. Common Sense Media found that over 70% of teens have used AI companions, with many finding the interactions as satisfying as talking to real friends. Experts warn this trend could harm social skills and mental health, as teens rely on AI for validation and avoid real-world challenges. Concerns also include inappropriate content and the lack of regulation of AI platforms. Researchers emphasize that while AI can assist, it should not replace human connections, especially during adolescence, a critical time for social and emotional development.… Continue Reading

US Olympic and Paralympic officials bar transgender women from competing in Olympic women’s sports

US Olympic and Paralympic officials bar transgender women from competing in Olympic women’s sports

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has barred transgender women from competing in women’s sports. The committee is citing an executive order from President Donald Trump. The order, signed in February, threatens to cut funding for organizations allowing transgender athletes in women’s sports. The policy is listed under the USOPC Athlete Safety Policy and follows a similar move by the NCAA earlier this year. National governing bodies for various sports like swimming and track and field are expected to comply with the directive.… Continue Reading

Ozzy Osbourne, who led Black Sabbath and became the godfather of heavy metal, dies at 76

Ozzy Osbourne, who led Black Sabbath and became the godfather of heavy metal, dies at 76

The gloomy, demon-invoking lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath who became the throaty, growling voice of heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne has died. A family statement said he died Tuesday, just weeks after his farewell show. He was 76. The statement did not include a cause but in 2020, Osbourne revealed he had Parkinson’s disease. Either clad in black or bare-chested, the singer was often the target of parents’ groups for his imagery and once caused an uproar for biting the head off a bat. Later, he would reveal himself to be a doddering and sweet father on the reality TV show “The Osbournes.”… Continue Reading

The ACC has moved past lawsuits and uncertainty. Commissioner Jim Phillips sees stable years ahead

The ACC has moved past lawsuits and uncertainty. Commissioner Jim Phillips sees stable years ahead

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference is entering the 2025-26 sports season having moved past uncertainty from its legal fight with member schools Clemson and Florida State. Earlier this year, the league reached a settlement in those cases that reshaped the league’s revenue-sharing model. The league also saw ESPN pick up the option to extend its base-rights media deal with the league. That’s why commissioner Jim Phillips described recent months as “the restabilization of a great league” in an interview with The Associated Press. Phillips spoke at the opening of the league’s preseason football media days.… Continue Reading

Wall Street ticks up to another record as GM and others show how tariffs are impacting them

Wall Street ticks up to another record as GM and others show how tariffs are impacting them

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street inched to another record following some mixed profit reports, as General Motors and other big U.S. companies gave updates on how much President Donald Trump’s tariffs are hurting or helping them. The S&P 500 rose 0.1% Tuesday to beat the all-time high it set a day earlier. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.4% from its record. General Motors dropped despite reporting a stronger profit than expected, as it still sees a $4 billion to $5 billion hit this year because of tariffs. Homebuilders soared following their better-than-forecast profit reports. Treasury yields eased.… Continue Reading

Commanders GM says non-football topics such as President Trump’s comments don’t reach him

Commanders GM says non-football topics such as President Trump’s comments don’t reach him

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Washington’s NFL franchise used to be in the news all the time for reasons other than football. That seemed to have changed under new team ownership, but President Donald Trump’s remarks about the team name and possibly holding up a stadium deal are making waves just as training camp opens. Still, Commanders general manager Adam Peters made clear Tuesday — at a news conference with coach Dan Quinn a day before the team’s first training camp practice — that he doesn’t expect any of that sort of outside conversation to interfere with their real jobs.… Continue Reading

The government was once a steady partner for nonprofits. That’s changing

The government was once a steady partner for nonprofits. That’s changing

In his second term, President Donald Trump has cut a huge range of federal grants that fund social services. The cuts are disrupting the decades-long partnerships between the government and nonprofits. An Urban Institute analysis shows the scale and breadth of that relationship. In 2021, nonprofits received $267 billion in grants from all levels of government grants. More than half of nonprofits would face budget deficits without this funding. Nonprofits across the U.S. are struggling to adapt, with some forced to restructure or reduce services. Leaders warn that private donations cannot replace the scale of government support.… Continue Reading

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