Triangle/Local
Is college worth the cost? Universities work to show the return on investment of a degree
By COLLIN BINKLEY AP Education Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — For a generation of young Americans, choosing where to go to college — or whether to go at all — has become a complex calculation of costs and benefits that often revolves around a single question: Is the…
Ironweed: The resilient perennial transforming North Carolina landscapes
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener We all want resilient plants for our landscape. Frankly we want something that is cost effective. A plant which fulfills that description and expectation is “Ironweed” (Vernonia noveboracensis). This seems to be the most common variety grown in North…
High tides raise flood risk in Carolinas as tropical storms churn in Atlantic and Pacific
MIAMI (AP) — A storm without a name and unusual king tides were causing some flooding on the Carolina coast early Friday as tropical storms churned in the Atlantic and along Mexico’s Pacific coast. About a dozen streets were already flooded in Charleston, South Carolina,…
North Carolina state House member charged with sex crimes
HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina state House member has been charged with sex-related crimes involving a teenager earlier this year, court records show. Six-term Democratic state Rep. Cecil Brockman, 41, of High Point, was arrested Wednesday on two counts each of statutory…
Duke researchers receive $15M federal grant to expand AI model designed to predict mental illness
By WILLIAM GIM The Chronicle DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — A team at Duke University has secured a $15 million federal grant to expand an artificial intelligence model designed to predict mental illness in adolescents. The Duke Predictive Model of Adolescent Mental Health (Duke-PMA), co-developed by Professor of…
State/Regional
North Carolina GOP’s proposed map seeks to thwart Democratic incumbent’s reelection
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Republican legislators offered a redrawn U.S. House district map for North Carolina on Thursday, seeking to help President Donald Trump retain GOP control of Congress by attempting to thwart the reelection of the Democrat now…
North Carolina court: GOP can narrow governor’s appointment powers on some boards
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Decade-long political quarrels over legislative and executive powers in North Carolina advanced Wednesday as a state appeals court permitted the Republican-controlled General Assembly to chip away at the Democratic governor’s appointment authority for several key commissions. The…
North Carolina GOP announce plans to vote on new House map amid nationwide redistricting battle
By GARY ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican legislative leaders announced plans Monday to vote next week on redrawing the state’s U.S. House district map, with a likely aim to secure another GOP seat within already right-leaning boundaries. The move comes…
North Carolina effort wipes out $6.5B in medical debt for 2.5M people
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — More than 2.5 million North Carolina residents are getting over $6.5 billion in medical debt eliminated through a state government effort that offered hospitals extra Medicaid funds from Washington if they gave patients the financial relief and…
There are no survivors in the blast at a Tennessee explosives factory, sheriff says
By ADRIAN SAINZ and TRAVIS LOLLER Associated Press McEWEN, Tenn. (AP) — The blast in rural Tennessee that leveled an explosives plant and was felt for miles around left no survivors, authorities said Saturday. The total number of dead was unclear, as was the cause…
World/National
Wall Street rises to finish its best week in 2 months after bank stocks stabilize
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street cruised to the finish of a winning week on Friday after banks recovered some of their sharp losses from the day before. The S&P 500 rose 0.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 238…
Trump tells Zelenskyy he’s reluctant to sell Ukraine Tomahawk missiles after warning Russia he might
By AAMER MADHANI and SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signaled to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday that he’s leaning against selling long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv, while offering optimism that the war is moving toward an end that would mitigate a need…
Hamas reaffirms commitment to ceasefire as delays in returning hostages’ bodies fray nerves
By WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas moved Friday to shore up its brittle ceasefire agreement with Israel by reaffirming its commitment to the terms of the deal, including a pledge to hand over the remains of all dead Israeli…
Ex-Trump national security adviser Bolton charged with storing and sharing classified information
By ERIC TUCKER, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — John Bolton, who served as national security adviser to President Donald Trump during his first term and later became a vocal critic of the Republican leader, was charged Thursday with storing top secret…
Senate Democrats, holding out for health care, reject government funding bill for 10th time
By STEPHEN GROVES and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats rejected for the 10th time Thursday a stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government, insisting they won’t back away from demands that Congress take up health care benefits. The vote failed…
Entertainment
Ace Frehley, Kiss’ original lead guitarist and founding member, dies at 74
By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM Associated Press Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of the glam rock band Kiss who captivated audiences with his elaborate makeup and smoke-filled guitar, died Thursday. He was 74. Frehley died peacefully surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey, following a…
Instagram says it’s safeguarding teens by limiting them to PG-13 content
By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writer Teenagers on Instagram will be restricted to seeing PG-13 content by default and won’t be able to change their settings without a parent’s permission, Meta announced on Tuesday. This means kids using teen-specific accounts will see photos and videos…
Diane Keaton, Oscar-winning star of ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘The Godfather,’ dies at 79, reports say
By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning star of “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather” films and “Father of the Bride,” whose quirky, vibrant manner and depth made her one of the most singular actors of a generation, has died. She was 79. People Magazine reported…
Judge tosses out Drake’s defamation lawsuit against label over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’
By LARRY NEUMEISTER and ANDREW DALTON Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge tossed out a defamation lawsuit that Drake brought against Universal Music Group on Thursday, ruling that lyrics branding the superstar as a pedophile in Kendrick Lamar’s dis track “Not Like…
Dolly Parton responds to concerns about her health: ‘I’m not dying’
By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Dolly Parton “ain’t dead yet,” the country superstar said on social media Wednesday following public speculation about her health. “There are just a lot of rumors flying around. But I figured if you heard it from me,…
Sports
Brent Austin’s goal-line heroics secure California’s 21-18 win over Belichick and North Carolina
By JOSH DUBOW AP Sports Writer BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Brent Austin forced a fumble at the goal line and recovered it in the end zone to preserve the lead in the fourth quarter, giving California a 21-18 victory over Bill Belichick and North Carolina on Friday…
Seth Jarvis scores twice and the Carolina Hurricanes stay unbeaten, beating the Ducks
By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Seth Jarvis scored his 100th and 101st NHL goals and added an assist, and the Carolina Hurricanes remained the NHL’s only unbeaten team with a 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night. Alexander…
March Madness in October? Top programs using exhibitions to cash in and check team chemistry
By TERESA M. WALKER AP Sports Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Rick Barnes saw a chance to bring Duke to campus for the first time in nearly 50 years and jumped at it. His No. 18 Volunteers host sixth-ranked Duke on Sunday in an exhibition…
Panthers going for 3 wins in a row for the first time with Bryce Young as QB when they face 0-6 Jets
By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Bryce Young’s arrival in Carolina came with huge expectations. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, hoped by the Panthers to be the quarterback to help lead the…
No. 6 Duke picked to win ACC again; NC State’s Darrion Williams named Preseason Player of the Year
By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The No. 6 ranked Duke Blue Devils have been picked to repeat as Atlantic Coast Conference champions despite losing Cooper Flagg and four other players to the NBA draft, while N.C. State senior forward Darrion Williams was…