Category Archives: WPTF News

House ending session early as Republicans clash over Epstein vote

House ending session early as Republicans clash over Epstein vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is leaving Washington early as Republicans clash over the Jeffrey Epstein files. House Speaker Mike Johnson is rebuffing pressure to act on the investigation into Epstein as some Republicans push for a vote on the matter. Johnson said Tuesday morning that he wants to give the White House “space” to release the Epstein information on its own. The speaker’s stance seemed unlikely to satisfy many Republicans who are threatening to support a bipartisan bill to pry information from the Justice Department. Even before Johnson spoke, a Republican-controlled committee was advancing a resolution to subpoena Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.… Continue Reading

Hunter Biden lashes out at George Clooney, other Democrats, over Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign

Hunter Biden lashes out at George Clooney, other Democrats, over Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden has criticized prominent Democrats and party advisers in a recent interview. In a podcast published Monday, he expressed frustration over George Clooney’s call for President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 race. Hunter Biden questioned Clooney’s authority to undermine his father, who later exited the race after a poor debate performance. He also accused longtime Democratic strategists of profiting from the party without helping its current efforts. As for the disastrous June 2024 debate, Hunter Biden said his father had taken the sleep aide Ambien and was still affected by it.… Continue Reading

D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake’ Larson dies at 102

D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake’ Larson dies at 102

PARIS (AP) — D-Day veteran and social media star “Papa Jake” Larson, who survived Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944, has died at 102. Known for sharing World War II stories on TikTok, he gained 1.2 million followers late in life. Tributes have poured in from across the United States and Normandy, where he was celebrated for his role in defeating Nazi forces. Larson enlisted in the National Guard at 15 and later helped plan the Normandy invasion. He survived intense gunfire on D-Day and fought through the Battle of the Bulge. In recent years, he returned to Normandy for commemorations, honoring fallen comrades as “the lucky ones.”… Continue Reading

Trump administration releases FBI records on MLK Jr. despite his family’s opposition

Trump administration releases FBI records on MLK Jr. despite his family’s opposition

Martin Luther King Jr.’s two living children are urging people to tread lightly with a newly released trove of records related to their father’s assassination. Martin Luther King III and Bernice King opposed the Trump administration’s decision to release more than 240,000 pages of records concerning the slain civil rights leader. King’s children noted that their father was the victim of sometimes illegal surveillance by then-FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover, who viewed King as a radical. Some civil rights activists said Trump is using the King files to distract from his own troubles related to Jeffrey Epstein.… Continue Reading

US stocks set more records as Verizon begins a big week for profit reports with a beat

US stocks set more records as Verizon begins a big week for profit reports with a beat

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are rising toward more records ahead of a week full of profit updates from big U.S. companies. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% Monday and was above its all-time high set on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 217 points, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.7% to its own record. Verizon Communications helped lead the way following its better-than-expected profit report. Other market heavyweights slated to report their results for the spring this week include Alphabet, Coca-Cola and Tesla. Stock indexes were mixed in Europe but rose in much of Asia, while Treasury yields eased in the bond market.… Continue Reading

Beef prices have soared in the US — and not just during grilling season

Beef prices have soared in the US — and not just during grilling season

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Anyone firing up the grill this summer already knows hamburgers and steaks are expensive, but the latest numbers show prices have climbed to record highs. And experts say consumers shouldn’t expect much relief soon either. According to U.S. government data, the average price of a pound of ground beef rose to $6.12 in June, up nearly 12% from a year ago. The average price of all uncooked beef steaks rose 8% to $11.49 per pound. But this is not a recent phenomenon. Beef prices have been steadily rising over the past 20 years because the supply of cattle remains tight while beef remains popular. That’s not likely to change.… Continue Reading

Denny Hamlin continues climb in NASCAR’s career wins list. With 60 in sight, how far can he go?

Denny Hamlin continues climb in NASCAR’s career wins list. With 60 in sight, how far can he go?

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Denny Hamlin went back-to-back at Dover Motor Speedway, holding a late lead through a rain delay and an overtime finish Sunday for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s series-best fourth victory of the season. Hamlin won in the No. 11 Toyota for the second straight time at Dover to add to wins this season at Martinsville, Darlington and Michigan. Hamlin has 58 NASCAR Cup Series victories, leaving him two short of Kevin Harvick for 10th on the career list. The 44-year-old Virginia driver might hit that mark this season as he chases his first career Cup championship. Hamlin held off JGR teammate Chase Briscoe for the victory. Hendrick Motorsports drivers took the next two spots, with Alex Bowman third and Kyle Larson fourth.… Continue Reading

Ryan Gerard and Rico Hoey share the Barracuda Championship lead

Ryan Gerard and Rico Hoey share the Barracuda Championship lead

TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Gerard holed a 20-foot flop shot for birdie on the final hole for a share of the lead with Rico Hoey on Saturday in the Barracuda Championship, the only PGA Tour event that uses the modified Stableford scoring system. Players receive eight points for a double eagle, five for eagle and two for birdie. A point is deducted for bogey and three for double bogey. In breezy conditions at Tahoe Mountain Club, Gerard had a 12-point round and Hoey birdied four of the last six in an eight-point day. Both winless on the PGA Tour, they had 34 points, one more than 2021 winner Erik van Rooyen.… Continue Reading

Rex White, who was NASCAR’s oldest living champion and a Hall of Famer, dies at 95

Rex White, who was NASCAR’s oldest living champion and a Hall of Famer, dies at 95

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Rex White, who was NASCAR’s oldest living champion, has died at 95. White won the 1960 Cup Series title and 28 races during his nine-season career and earned a reputation for consistency and dominance on short tracks. Born in North Carolina during the Great Depression, he overcame polio as a child and began racing in 1954. By 1960, he was named NASCAR’s most popular driver and driver of the year. NASCAR chairman Jim France called White a pioneer who helped shape the sport. White remained an ambassador for NASCAR throughout his life.… Continue Reading

Tech company CEO resigns after controversy over video captured at Coldplay concert

Tech company CEO resigns after controversy over video captured at Coldplay concert

A tech company CEO has resigned after controversy over a video captured on the big screen at a Coldplay concert. Andy Byron resigned from his job as CEO of Astronomer Inc., according to a statement posted on LinkedIn by the company Saturday. “Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,” the company said in its post on LinkedIn. The move comes a day after the company said that Byron had been placed on leave and the board of directors had launched a formal investigation into the incident, which went viral.… Continue Reading

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