WPTF News

Panthers score 5 in the 3rd period, roll past Hurricanes 6-2 and move a win away from Cup final

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Niko Mikkola and Aleksander Barkov each scored twice, and the Florida Panthers scored five goals in a nine-minute span of the third period to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2 on Saturday night and move one win from a third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Jesper Boqvist — playing for the injured Sam Reinhart — scored the go-ahead goal early in the third for Florida, which now leads the Eastern Conference finals 3-0. Brad Marchand also scored for the Panthers and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 23 shots. Logan Stankoven and Seth Jarvis scored for Carolina, which has now dropped 15 consecutive East finals games… Continue Reading

Federal judge blocks Trump administration decision to bar foreign student enrollment at Harvard

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has blocked a Trump administration decision to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. The temporary restraining order stops the government from pulling Harvard’s certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows the school to sponsor international students as they obtain visas to study in the U.S. Harvard filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts earlier Friday.… Continue Reading

Bennett, Verhaeghe help Panthers roll past Hurricanes 5-0, take 2-0 lead in Eastern final

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sam Bennett scored one of his two goals in Florida’s three-goal first period, Sergei Bobrovsky made 17 saves and the Panthers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-0 on Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference final. Gustav Forsling and Matthew Tkachuk also scored in another tone-setting opening 20 minutes for the reigning Stanley Cup champions, while Carter Verhaeghe had three assists. Bennett scored a second time by skating in to clean up an attempt at the right post in the final minute of the second period to make it 4-0, ending a long shift in Carolina’s end prolonged by Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns being stuck on the ice after breaking his stick. Aleksander Barkov scored midway through the third as punctuation.… Continue Reading

Court papers say suspect in embassy killings declared, ‘I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza’

WASHINGTON (AP) — The man charged with fatally shooting two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington as they were leaving an event at a Jewish museum told police after his arrest, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.” That’s according to court documents released Thursday charging 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez with the Wednesday night attack. The documents say the shooting was captured on surveillance video outside the museum. Authorities say the footage showed Rodriguez firing at the victims several times after they fell to the ground. Rodriguez faces charges of murder of foreign officials and other crimes, and additional charges are likely.… Continue Reading

North Carolina House advances more Hurricane Helene aid in $465M package

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina House has advanced another Hurricane Helene funding package to address pressing needs in the mountains eight months after the storm. The chamber approved a $465 million spending plan unanimously on Thursday. It’s about half what Democratic Gov. Josh Stein requested from the Republican-controlled General Assembly earlier this week. Republican lawmakers had been working on their package before Stein’s pitch. The General Assembly already has provided $1.6 billion in Helene recovery funding. But the needs are many times greater, and federal funds have been slow in reaching western North Carolina. The bill now heading to the Senate includes a business grant program.… Continue Reading

Judge blocks Trump’s order to dismantle the Education Department and fire employees

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Education Department and ordered the agency to reinstate employees who were fired in mass layoffs. U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston granted a preliminary injunction Thursday stopping the Trump administration from carrying out two plans announced in March that sought to work toward Trump’s goal to dismantle the department. It marks a setback to one of the Republican president’s campaign promises. The ruling came in two consolidated lawsuits that said Trump’s plan amounted to an illegal closure of the Education Department.… Continue Reading

House Republicans pass Trump’s big bill of tax breaks and program cuts after all-night session

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans stayed up all night to pass their multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package. Speaker Mike Johnson defied the skeptics within his ranks and muscled President Donald Trump’s priority bill to approval Thursday. Last-minute concessions and a stern warning from Trump appeared to win over the hold outs to salvage what he calls the “big, beautiful bill.” The outcome caps an intense time on Capitol Hill, with days of private negotiations and public committee hearings. Democrats, without the votes to stop Trump’s package, tried to stall it. The Congressional Budget Office says the tax provisions would add $3.8 trillion to federal deficits.… Continue Reading

United Way launches tools to help North Carolinians navigate financial uncertainty

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — A new United Way of North Carolina report is spotlighting the state’s growing ALICE population—working families earning above the poverty level yet struggling to cover basic needs. Through tools like 24/7 resource support and “My Friend Ben,” the organization aims to connect individuals to vital assistance.… Continue Reading

Taxes, salaries, vacancy cuts make plain differences over rival North Carolina GOP budgets

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina House’s state budget proposal makes plain differences on taxes, salaries and job cuts between Republicans who control both General Assembly chambers. The House gave preliminary approval Wednesday to its plan to spend $32.6 billion in the year beginning July 1 and $33.3 billion the next year. The Senate approved its two-year plan last month. The chambers are soon expected to start negotiating a final measure to present to Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. The House plan appears more cautious on permitting future tax rate reductions compared to the Senate. One national conservative group warned of political consequences for House members who voted for the plan.… Continue Reading

Rapper Kid Cudi to testify at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial this week

NEW YORK (AP) — Rapper and actor Kid Cudi is expected to testify at the Sean “Diddy” Combs sex trafficking trial on Thursday. He’ll tell the jury about his brief relationship 14 years ago with Combs’ ex-girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie. Cassie testified last week that Combs was enraged when she left him for a period of time in 2011 and began dating Cudi. Prosecutors say Combs was so upset that he arranged to have Cudi’s convertible firebombed. Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges that he oversaw a racketeering enterprise that controlled Cassie and others through threats and violence. His lawyers say the evidence doesn’t amount to a criminal racket or sex trafficking.… Continue Reading

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