Triangle/Local
This NC plant eats bugs for breakfast — and looks beautiful doing it
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener Most of us have seen or have some knowledge of the most iconic plant in the world: It’s the “Venus Flytrap”, which is native to a small area of southeastern North Carolina. One of its cousins, also a native…
Trump’s next immigration crackdown will target Charlotte, North Carolina, a sheriff says
By ALLEN G. BREED and ERIK VERDUZCO Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The latest city bracing for the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is Charlotte, North Carolina, which could see an influx of federal agents as early as this weekend, a county sheriff said Thursday. Mecklenburg County…
US airlines cancel more than 2,500 weekend flights largely due to government shutdown
By JOHN SEEWER Associated Press U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,500 weekend flights by Saturday evening as the Federal Aviation Administration’s mandate to reduce air traffic because of the government shutdown showed no signs of easing. The slowdown at many of the nation’s busiest airports did not cause immediate widespread…
Federal judge orders Trump administration to fully fund SNAP benefits in November
By GEOFF MULVIHILL and MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press A federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration Thursday to find the money to fully fund SNAP benefits for November, a decision that the administration promptly appealed. The ruling by U.S. District Judge John J.…
North Carolina’s largest city reelects mayor after fallout over train stabbing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Voters in North Carolina’s largest city reelected their Democratic mayor, keeping her in place even as safety concerns in Charlotte have risen since the August stabbing death of a young Ukrainian woman on a commuter train. Vi Lyles won comfortably on Tuesday over…
State/Regional
The shutdown has disrupted air travel. Will that drive a surge in car rentals and train bookings?
By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. government shutdown has rattled air travel — most recently with an unprecedented effort from the Federal Aviation Administration to cut flights by 10% at airports nationwide. And the disruptions are causing some to instead hit the road…
UPS cargo plane with 3 aboard crashes, explodes on takeoff at Louisville airport, igniting huge fire
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A large UPS cargo plane with three people aboard crashed and exploded Tuesday while taking off from an airport in Louisville, Kentucky, igniting a massive fire that left a thick plume of black smoke over the area. The plane crashed about…
Flight disruptions continue as air traffic controllers brace for their first full missing paychecks
By RIO YAMAT AP Airlines and Travel Writer A shortage of air traffic controllers caused more flight disruptions Monday around the country as controllers braced for their first full missing paycheck during the federal government shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration reported staffing-related delays on Monday afternoon averaging about 20…
Virginia gubernatorial candidates debate trans youth rights as LGBTQ+ voters weigh a fraught moment
By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America SALEM, Va. (AP) — René Harvey and her wife arrived at a Roanoke Valley pride celebration in October carrying deep-seated worries about all that could go wrong. The couple had been to the region’s annual pride festival before,…
Democrats look to long term as North Carolina GOP redistricting plan seeks another seat for Trump
By MAKIYA SEMINERA and GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democrats rallying Tuesday against a new U.S. House map proposed by North Carolina Republicans seeking another GOP seat at President Donald Trump’s behest acknowledged they’ll likely be unable to halt the redraw for now.…
World/National
Trump scraps tariffs on beef, coffee and tropical fruit in a push to lower grocery store prices
By WILL WEISSERT Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Friday that he was scrapping U.S. tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruits and a broad swath of other commodities — a dramatic move that comes amid mounting pressure on his administration to better combat high consumer prices.…
President Trump signs government funding bill, ending shutdown after a record 43-day disruption
By KEVIN FREKING, JOEY CAPPELLETTI and MATT BROWN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, ending a record 43-day shutdown that caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded scores of travelers at airports and generated…
Epstein email says Trump ‘knew about the girls,’ but White House calls release a Democratic smear
WASHINGTON (AP) — The sex-offending financier Jeffrey Epstein wrote in a 2019 email to a journalist that Donald Trump “knew about the girls,” according to communications released Wednesday, but the White House quickly accused Democrats of selectively leaking the emails to smear the president. The emails made…
Speaker Johnson faces an unruly House as lawmakers return for shutdown vote
By LISA MASCARO AP Congressional Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — After refusing to convene the U.S. House during the government shutdown, Speaker Mike Johnson is recalling lawmakers back into session — and facing an avalanche of pent-up legislative demands from those who have largely been sidelined from governing. Hundreds…
Senate approves bill to end the shutdown, sending it to the House
By MARY CLARE JALONICK and LISA MASCARO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed legislation Monday to reopen the government, bringing the longest shutdown in history closer to an end as a small group of Democrats ratified a deal with Republicans despite searing criticism from within their party.…
Entertainment
Americana troubadour Todd Snider, alt-country singer-songwriter, dies at 59
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Todd Snider, a singer whose thoughtfully freewheeling tunes and cosmic-stoner songwriting made him a beloved figure in American roots music, has died. He was 59. His record label said Saturday in a statement posted to his social media accounts that Snider died…
German Baumkuchen ‘tree cake’ survived a disaster and world wars to become a Japanese favorite
By MARI YAMAGUCHI and AYAKA MCGILL Associated Press NINOSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Baumkuchen originated in Germany but has become a wildly popular sweet in Japan, where a prisoner of war on a small western island started making the treat that has thrived in its new…
A look at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 inductees and how they were honored
By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has inducted its 2025 class of music giants. The ceremony held Saturday at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater was a mix of tributes, speeches and performances by acts like Soundgarden,…
Farmers’ Almanac says it will cease publication after 208 years, citing financial challenges
A 208-year-old publication that farmers, gardeners and others keen to predict the weather have relied on for guidance will be publishing for the final time. Farmers’ Almanac said Thursday that its 2026 edition will be its last, citing the growing financial challenges of producing and distributing…
Slime, Battleship and Trivial Pursuit join the Toy Hall of Fame
By CAROLYN THOMPSON Associated Press Slime, that gooey, sticky and often-homemade plaything, was enshrined into the National Toy Hall of Fame on Thursday along with perennial bestselling games Battleship and Trivial Pursuit. Each year, the Hall of Fame recognizes toys that have inspired creative play…
Sports
Wake Forest rides Carlos Hernandez’s big plays, defense past North Carolina 28-12
By BOB SUTTON The Associated Press WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Wake Forest’s Carlos Hernandez scored two touchdowns, including one by returning a teammate’s fumble, on plays that caught North Carolina off guard and the Demon Deacons didn’t allow a touchdown in a 28-12 victory Saturday.…
UNC’s Belichick says he has ‘not and will not’ pursue open NFL jobs, is committed to Tar Heels
By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer North Carolina coach Bill Belichick said he isn’t pursuing any jobs as a head coach in the NFL. In a statement posted on social media Friday night and coming amid the first changes of the current hiring cycle, the 73-year-old who…
PGA Tour returning to Asheville for the first time in 86 years as it adds to fall schedule
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — The PGA Tour is returning to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina for the first time in 86 years, announcing Monday a FedEx Cup Fall event starting next September to be sponsored by the Biltmore Estate and Explore Asheville. The…
No. 25 North Carolina guard Seth Trimble breaks arm in team workout
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — No. 25 North Carolina senior guard Seth Trimble is out indefinitely after suffering a broken left forearm during a workout on Sunday. The school said a timetable for Trimble’s return will be determined following surgery this week. “So sad for…
Tyler Shough throws for 2 TDs to earn first win as Saints defeat Panthers 17-7
By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Tyler Shough threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns, and the New Orleans Saints defeated the Carolina Panthers 17-7 on Sunday to snap a four-game skid. Shough — a rookie who began the season as…