WPTF News Archives

Comcast to spin off cable networks that were once the entertainment giant’s star performers

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 20, 2024, 8:19 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Comcast is spinning off into a new company many of its cable television networks that were once at the heart of the entertainment giant, as consumers increasingly swap out their cable TV subscriptions for streaming platforms. Those one-time stars for Comcast’s NBCUniversal cable television networks include USA, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel, as well as CNBC and MSNBC. Peacock will remain with Comcast, as will Bravo, which provides significant content for the Peacock streaming service. How exactly this split will impact customers has yet to be seen, particularly as Comcast aims to complete the transition over the next year. But some analysts speculate that the spun-off networks may have more freedom to bring their content elsewhere.… Read More

North Carolina Republicans push through bill weakening incoming governor and attorney general

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 20, 2024, 6:36 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republicans have advanced legislation that would weaken the powers of the incoming governor, attorney general and schools superintendent. All those are Democrats who were elected two weeks ago. The final measure was made public Tuesday shortly before the GOP-controlled House started debate during a lame-duck General Assembly session. Republicans are likely to lose their veto-proof majority beginning in January following electoral losses in the House. So this could be the best chance to move partisan changes as Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper leaves office. The bill would prevent Gov.-elect Josh Stein from choosing State Board of Elections members starting next summer and give that authority to the Republican state auditor.… Read More

FEMA head sounds the alarm over disaster funding after double hurricanes

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 20, 2024, 5:21 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency says money available to help communities hit by disasters has shrunk after back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton. Deanne Criswell warned during a Senate hearing Wednesday that the funding problems might jeopardize the ability to respond to new disasters in the future. The Biden administration has requested nearly $100 billion for disaster aid. The largest chunk of that money, about $40 billion, would go to FEMA’s disaster relief fund.… Read More

Stock market today: Wall Street weakens as Target tumbles

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 20, 2024, 4:42 pm

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks drifted to a mixed finish, though the modest moves for indexes masked some thrashing underneath the surface. The S&P 500 ended barely changed Wednesday after trading lower for much of the day. The Nasdaq composite slipped 0.1%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average eked out a gain of 0.3%. Target led the market lower and lost more than a fifth of its value after the retailer gave a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season. The day’s headliner is due after the close of trading, when Nvidia will release its latest earnings report.… Read More

Republicans on the House Ethics Committee reject releasing report on Matt Gaetz

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 20, 2024, 4:32 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans on the House Ethics Committee voted Wednesday against releasing a report on their long-running investigation into President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz. That’s according to the top Democrat on the panel, Rep. Susan Wild of Pennsylvania. She said the ethics panel, which is evenly split between the two parties, voted at a lengthy closed-door meeting, and no Republican joined Democrats who wanted to release the report. Gaetz met for hours behind closed doors Wednesday with Republican senators who have questions about the sexual misconduct and other allegations against him. At least one Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham, decried the “lynch mob” forming against Gaetz.… Read More

North Carolina Republicans complete a veto override of voucher, immigration bill

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 20, 2024, 4:23 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Republican-dominated North Carolina legislature has completed its override of Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of legislation that addresses both private school scholarship grants and immigration. The Senate voted on Wednesday to enact the bill despite Cooper’s objections, one day after the House conducted a similar vote. Republicans hold veto-proof majorities in each chamber. The bill is now law. It means that about $463 million will be provided to the Opportunity Scholarship program in part to eliminate a waitlist of families. The bill also directs local sheriffs to comply with federal immigration agents’ requests to detain inmates believed to be in the country illegally.… Read More

Man convicted of murder in killing of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 20, 2024, 1:07 pm

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A Venezuelan man has been convicted of murder in the killing of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. Jose Ibarra was charged with murder and other crimes in Riley’s February death, and the guilty verdict was reached Wednesday by Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard. Ibarra had waived his right to a jury trial, meaning that Haggard alone heard and decided the case. The killing added fuel to the national debate over immigration when federal authorities said Ibarra illegally entered the U.S. in 2022 and was allowed to stay in the country while he pursued his immigration case.… Read More

Phil Berger is poised to continue his run leading North Carolina’s Senate

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 20, 2024, 12:48 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Senate Republicans have left their leadership team mostly intact for the next two years. That includes choosing Sen. Phil Berger again to hold the chamber’s most powerful position. The Senate Republican Caucus met Wednesday and agreed to nominate Berger to an eighth two-year term as Senate leader when the next two-year term convenes in early January. His election as Senate president pro tempore is a virtual lock as the GOP will hold at least 30 of the chamber’s 50 seats. The caucus also again picked Sens. Ralph Hise and Paul Newton of Cabarrus County for other positions.… Read More

Maui Invitational returns to a Lahaina still grappling with raw emotions left by deadly wildfire

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 20, 2024, 12:20 am

HONOLULU (AP) — Residents of the Hawaii town devastated by last year’s wildfire are awaiting the return of one of the nation’s most prestigious basketball tournaments with mixed feelings. Fans are excited about the Maui Invitational bringing high-caliber competition to Lahaina. And they welcome the economic boost Lahaina will get from the thousands of travelers eating in restaurants and staying in hotels. But there’s also a fear that travelers might show disrespect by wandering into the burn zone and taking photos of the devastation. And there is worry tourists might trigger unpleasant memories with questions about that catastrophic day. Residents say feelings are still raw.… Read More

Trump picks Dr. Oz to run Medicare and Medicaid, Linda McMahon for Education, Lutnick for Commerce

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 19, 2024, 9:35 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump has promised to dismantle. He also selected Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former television talk show host and heart surgeon, to head the agency that oversees health insurance programs for millions of older, poor and disabled Americans. And Trump chose Wall Street executive Howard Lutnick to lead the Commerce Department. All three have been has been outspoken supporters of Trump, and McMahon and Lutnick have helped lead his transition team.… Read More

How a viral, duct-taped banana came to be worth $1 million

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 19, 2024, 8:25 pm

NEW YORK (AP) — Walk into any supermarket and you can usually buy a banana for less than $1. But a banana duct-taped to a wall? That might sell for more than $1 million at an upcoming auction at Sotheby’s in New York. The yellow banana fixed to a white wall with silver duct tape is an artwork entitled “Comedian,” by Maurizio Cattelan. It debuted at the Art Basel Miami Beach fair in 2019. “Comedian” is expected to fetch between $1 million and $1.5 million at the Nov. 20 auction. Bidders won’t be buying the same fruit that was on display in Miami. Those bananas are long gone. Sotheby’s says the fruit always was meant to be replaced regularly.… Read More

A recount will happen in the extremely close race for a North Carolina court seat

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 19, 2024, 7:03 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The narrowly trailing Republican candidate in the race for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat has formally requested a statewide recount. Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin sent the request before a midday Tuesday deadline. Associate Justice Allison Riggs led Tuesday by 625 votes over Griffin from more than 5.5 million ballots cast in the race. Recounts in five General Assembly races also have been requested. Republicans would need to flip a state House seat the GOP candidate is currently trailing in if it wants to retain the veto-proof majority that they have held for the past two years.… Read More