Triangle/Local
Tending God’s earth: a journey of faith through gardening
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener I have always believed that God is in everything. There can be nothing on Earth to which this idea applies more than a garden. Don’t forget — one of God’s first creations was the Garden of Eden. George Bernard…
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.…
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
Fleet of UPS planes grounded after deadly crash expected to miss peak delivery season
By SARAH RAZA Associated Press A fleet of planes that UPS grounded after a deadly crash isn’t expected to be back in service during the peak holiday season due to inspections and possible repairs, the company said Wednesday in an internal memo. The airline expects…
Some families are ‘adopting’ turkeys for Thanksgiving instead of eating them
By HALLIE GOLDEN and THOMAS PEIPERT Associated Press ERIE, Colo. (AP) — “Gus” the turkey has been spending Thanksgiving week much differently than millions of other unlucky gobblers across the U.S. As he trots in a sprawling animal sanctuary on the Colorado plains, he is stopped every…
Trump spares turkeys — but not his political opponents — at annual pardoning ceremony
By CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump didn’t bring much holiday cheer Tuesday when bestowing ceremonial pardons on two Thanksgiving turkeys, dispensing more insults than goodwill at the traditional White House ritual. He joked about sending the turkeys to an infamous prison in…
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…
Entertainment
Melania Trump reveals White House holiday decorations and her theme, ‘Home Is Where the Heart Is’
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Melania Trump on Monday unveiled the holiday decorations for her family’s first Christmas back at the White House and her theme is “Home Is Where the Heart Is.” The decor also nods to next year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of…
‘Zootopia 2’ roars to record-setting global box office with $556M opening
By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer “Zootopia 2” had a roaring and record-setting opening at the box office. The animated animal city sequel from the Walt Disney Company brought in $96 million in North America over the weekend, earned $156 million over the five-day Thanksgiving frame,…
Tom Stoppard, sparkling playwright who won an Oscar for ‘Shakespeare In Love,’ dies at 88
By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — British playwright Tom Stoppard, a playful, probing dramatist who won an Academy Award for the screenplay for 1998’s “Shakespeare In Love,” has died. He was 88. In a statement Saturday, United Agents said the Czech-born Stoppard — often hailed…
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…
Sports
Bussi makes 15 saves for 1st NHL shutout, Ehlers scores in OT in Hurricanes’ 1-0 win over Flames
By BOB SUTTON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina rookie Brandon Bussi made 15 saves for his first NHL shutout, Nikolaj Ehlers scored at 2:52 of overtime and Hurricanes beat the Calgary Flames 1-0 on Sunday for their second straight victory. Ehlers beat rookie…
Panthers take advantage of Stafford’s 3 turnovers to end Rams’ 6-game win streak with 31-28 victory
By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bryce Young completed 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns — two of them coming on fourth down — and the Carolina Panthers forced three turnovers by Matthew Stafford to beat Los…
NC State coach Dave Doeren is returning for a 14th season with the Wolfpack
By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — N.C. State coach Dave Doeren is returning for a 14th season with the Wolfpack. Athletic director Boo Corrigan confirmed Doeren’s return on Sunday. The previous night, Doeren’s Wolfpack beat rival North Carolina for the fifth straight…
Bill Belichick’s 1st season at North Carolina ends in a rivalry loss at NC State — and just 4 wins
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Bill Belichick stood at the microphone in a crowded room of reporters. North Carolina’s season had just ended with a lopsided loss to a fierce nearby rival to cap a four-win season. And the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach wasn’t in…
Wilson runs for 4 TDs as NC State beats UNC 42-19, winning rivalry game for 5th straight year
By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Short-yardage quarterback Will Wilson ran for four touchdowns while starter C.J. Bailey threw two scoring passes as N.C. State blew out rival North Carolina 42-19 on Saturday night, ending NFL icon Bill Belichick’s first college…