WPTF News Archives

Student loans in default to be referred to debt collection, Education Department says

Author: The Associated Press | Date: April 21, 2025, 5:27 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Education Department will begin collection next month on student loans that are in default, including the garnishing of wages for potentially millions of borrowers, officials said Monday. Currently, roughly 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans. Beginning May 5, the department will begin involuntary collection through the Treasury Department’s offset program, which withholds payments from the government, including tax refunds, federal salaries and other benefits, from people with past-due debts to the government. After a 30-day notice, the department will also begin garnishing wages for borrowers in default.… Read More

Wall Street and the dollar tumble as investors retreat further from the United States

Author: The Associated Press | Date: April 21, 2025, 5:25 pm

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street weakened as investors worldwide get more skeptical about U.S. investments because of President Donald Trump’s trade war and his criticism of the Federal Reserve, which are shaking the traditional order. The S&P 500 fell 2.4% Monday to drop 16% below its record set two months ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 2.5%, and the Nasdaq composite lost 2.6%. Big Tech stocks led the way lower ahead of earnings reports coming this week from Tesla and others. Perhaps of more concern, prices also sank for longer-term U.S. government bonds, while the value of the U.S. dollar slid against the euro and other currencies.… Read More

Statewide tributes pour in as North Carolinians mourn Pope Francis

Author: WPTF Staff | Date: April 21, 2025, 4:33 pm

North Carolinians are joining the world in mourning the death of Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88. Political leaders, religious figures, and local communities across the state have shared messages of remembrance, highlighting the pope’s legacy of compassion, humility, and service. Catholic churches in Raleigh, Charlotte, and beyond are holding prayer services, while leaders from both government and faith organizations reflect on the pope’s influence both globally and locally.… Read More

Duke freshman Cooper Flagg is headed to the NBA as the favorite to be the No. 1 overall draft pick

Author: The Associated Press | Date: April 21, 2025, 1:13 pm

Duke star Cooper Flagg is headed to the NBA as the favorite to be the No. 1 overall draft pick. The program announced Flagg’s move in a social media post Monday. That came after a lone college season that saw the 18-year-old become only the fourth freshman named as The Associated Press national player of the year while leading the Blue Devils to the Final Four. The 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward from Newport, Maine, averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals to lead Duke in each category.… Read More

What to know about the death of Pope Francis

Author: The Associated Press | Date: April 21, 2025, 10:38 am

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. Francis’ death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell. The Irish-born Vatican camerlengo’s position will be important in the election of the next pope. Francis made his final public appearance a day earlier on Easter Sunday. Francis’ death now sets off the process of allowing the faithful to pay their final respects. That will be followed by a funeral to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals and a conclave to elect a new pope.… Read More

Alito’s dissent in deportation case says court rushed to block Trump with middle-of-the night order

Author: The Associated Press | Date: April 20, 2025, 10:54 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Samuel Alito has written a sharp dissent that castigates the seven-member majority for blocking the Trump administration from deporting any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th-century wartime law. The dissent was released Saturday night, hours after the court’s intervention against the Republican administration. Alito says the Supreme Court acted “literally in the middle of the night” and without sufficient explanation. Alito says there was “dubious factual support” for granting the request in an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union. That group contends that immigration authorities appeared to be moving to restart such removals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.… Read More

Stankoven strikes twice in playoff debut with Carolina as Hurricanes beat Devils

Author: The Associated Press | Date: April 20, 2025, 10:40 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Logan Stankoven provided an immediate jolt in his first playoff game with the Carolina Hurricanes. The 22-year-old forward scored twice in the second period Sunday to help the Hurricanes beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 in the opener of their first-round playoff series. It was part of a strong debut that included his work on the Hurricanes’ top defensive forward line with captain Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook. Stankoven’s second goal came on the power play and gave Carolina a 3-0 lead.… Read More

Judge pauses Trump administration’s plans for mass layoffs at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Author: The Associated Press | Date: April 18, 2025, 5:24 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire nearly everyone at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been paused by a federal judge, who says she’s “deeply concerned” about the plan. Friday’s decision leaves in limbo a bureau created after the Great Recession to safeguard against fraud, abuse and deceptive practices. Trump administration officials argue the bureau oversteps its authority. The Republican administration Thursday moved to fire 1,500 people, leaving 200. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson says she’s worried the layoffs would violate her earlier order stopping the administration from shutting the bureau. The judge is considering a lawsuit filed by an employee union that wants to preserve the bureau. There’s a hearing April 28.… Read More

Teeing off for a cause: NCFC raises over $45k at 20th annual golf tournament to support youth soccer

Author: WPTF Staff | Date: April 18, 2025, 5:12 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – The North Carolina Football Club (NCFC) announced the group’s annual golf tournament generated more than $45,000 to expand opportunities for youth soccer. NCFC spokesperson Katherine Eberhardt says the tournament offered people a chance to showcase their swing while also supporting the club’s mission to grow the game of soccer across North Carolina. “The event has grown over the years, it was our 20th annual event, and we’ve now taken over all three courses at Preston Wood which is a fantastic venue to host golfers. We raised more than $45,000 and had more than 281 golfers on the course. And all those funds are going to go right back into our community,” said Eberhardt.… Read More

South Alabama QB Gio Lopez announces plan to transfer to North Carolina

Author: The Associated Press | Date: April 18, 2025, 3:54 pm

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez is transferring to North Carolina. Lopez announced his decision on social media Thursday night to join Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels, who wrapped up spring practices last weekend. Lopez proved to be a dual-threat option in his first full season as the starter, throwing for 2,559…… Read More

Trump administration takes aim at Harvard’s international students and tax-exempt status

Author: The Associated Press | Date: April 17, 2025, 11:40 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration has escalated its ongoing battle with Harvard, threatening to revoke the university’s ability to host international students, who make up 27% of the campus. The threat emerged as the president called for withdrawing the school’s tax-exempt status. The Department of Homeland Security ordered Harvard late Tuesday to turn over detailed records of the school’s foreign student visa holders’ “illegal and violent activities” by April 30. The move deepens the crackdown on Harvard. On Monday, it became the first university to openly defy the administration’s demands related to activism on campus, antisemitism and diversity. The federal government has already frozen more than $2 billion in grants and contracts to the Ivy League institution.… Read More

Unsettled North Carolina election could be determined by which ballots are subject to court orders

Author: The Associated Press | Date: April 17, 2025, 7:47 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Supreme Court decided recently that ballots from two categories should have been left out of the tally of an unresolved November election for a seat on the court. But there’s still legal friction about the number of ballots that must be scrutinized by election officials tasked with removing them from the count and giving voters the chance to provide information so their race choices can remain. The number is critical since Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs leads Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin by just 734 votes. Griffin hopes enough ballots are removed to flip the result. Riggs says federal law prevents these ballots from being removed.… Read More