WPTF News Archives - Page 13 of 91

Unexpectedly, news outlets wind up having a relatively traditional election night experience

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 6, 2024, 10:51 pm

After months of reporting on what polls described as a remarkably close race, news outlets finally have the chance to report on actual results. But it turned out to be relatively traditional experience — from the first report of exit poll results, the night moved inexorably in Donald Trump’s direction and away from Kamala Harris. Broadcast networks, cable news networks and digital news sites were all pouring efforts into reporting on the results. They knew going in that it might take much time for the picture to become clear. In 2020, President Joe Biden wasn’t declared the victor over Trump until the Saturday after Election Day.… Read More

Controversial Australian Olympic breaker Rachael Gunn retires from competition

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 6, 2024, 9:56 pm

SYDNEY (AP) — Australian breaker Rachael Gunn has told a Sydney radio station that she plans to retire from competition just three months after her unconventional routine at the Paris Olympics led to her being ridiculed and spawned conspiracy theories about how she qualified for the Games. The now 37-year-old Sydney university lecturer failed to get on the scoreboard in all three of her competition rounds in August, with a routine that included unorthodox moves such as a kangaroo hop. Gunn had initially planned to keep competing but said the experience had been so “upsetting” that she changed her mind.… Read More

Trump receives congratulations and an invitation to the White House as Biden nudges on transition

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 6, 2024, 9:27 pm

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump spent his first day as president-elect receiving congratulatory phone calls from his defeated opponent, world leaders and President Joe Biden as he began the process of turning his election victory into a government. Trump was keeping a low profile, staying out of the public eye after addressing supporters in Florida during the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Vice President Kamala Harris called Trump to concede the race and to congratulate him, while Biden invited the man he ousted from the White House four years ago to an Oval Office meeting to prepare to return the keys. A Trump spokesman says the president-elect looks forward to the meeting.… Read More

Democrats gain another statewide position in North Carolina with Rachel Hunt victory

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 6, 2024, 7:30 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The group of North Carolina elected executive branch positions known as the Council of State will have equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans come January. Democrats flipped the positions of lieutenant governor and superintendent of public instruction, while a Republican defeated the incumbent Democratic state auditor. Rachel Hunt’s victory for lieutenant governor capped other top Democratic wins, including Josh Stein for governor and Jeff Jackson for attorney general. Hunt is the daughter of former four-term Gov. Jim Hunt. Meanwhile, Republicans continued their recent dominance in appellate court races by winning three seats and leading narrowly in a fourth.… Read More

No involuntary manslaughter charges in boy’s death at nature therapy camp

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 6, 2024, 5:38 pm

LAKE TOXAWAY, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina prosecutor says he won’t pursue involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of a 12-year-old boy at a nature therapy camp. District Attorney Andrew Murray said Wednesday that Clark Harman’s death in February was tragic, but it “did not involve criminal intent or recklessness sufficient to warrant criminal charges for involuntary manslaughter under the law.” Medical examiners said in an autopsy report in June that the boy died of asphyxia. They said he couldn’t breathe in the tentlike structure he was sleeping in. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has since revoked the program’s license, citing several deficiencies.… Read More

North Carolina’s next governor could have a more potent veto with even a small Democratic gain

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 6, 2024, 5:25 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Stein’s veto could become more effective than outgoing Gov. Roy Cooper’s stamp has been recently, should the margin in a legislative district election hold. Results show Democrats winning 48 state House seats and leading a Republican incumbent in another race that remains close. If that pending advantage holds, the GOP’s current veto-proof majority in the chamber would end come January. Since last year, Republicans have held the exact House and Senate majorities needed to override Cooper’s vetoes, helping them advance their conservative agenda. The likely next House speaker downplayed any small shift and said successful overrides are still possible with help from Democrats.… Read More

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is elected as the state’s governor

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 6, 2024, 5:20 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has been elected the state’s next governor. The Democrat defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson on Tuesday. His victory maintains Democratic leadership of the chief executive’s office in a state where the GOP has been in recent control of the legislature and the appeals courts. Stein will succeed Democrat Roy Cooper, who was term-limited from seeking reelection. Stein is a former state senator who was first elected attorney general in 2016. The son of a prominent civil rights lawyer, he will be North Carolina’s first Jewish governor. Democrats have resided in the governor’s mansion in Raleigh for all but four years since 1993.… Read More

Harris says nation must accept election results while urging supporters to keep fighting

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 6, 2024, 5:14 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kamala Harris is expected to speak on Wednesday afternoon after losing the presidential election to Donald Trump. A senior adviser to the vice president says Harris called Trump on Wednesday afternoon to concede the election and congratulate him on his victory. Harris trailed Trump in every battleground state, a profound rejection by American voters. In a bitter footnote, as the sitting vice president Harris is expected to oversee Congress’ ceremonial certification of the election. In the campaign, she faced steep odds after replacing Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket with only 107 days until the end. Biden plans to address the election results on Thursday. The White House said Biden spoke with Trump on Wednesday and he invited the president-elect to meet with him soon.… Read More

Special counsel evaluating how to wind down two federal cases against Trump after presidential win

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 6, 2024, 4:50 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith is evaluating how to wind down the two federal cases against Donald Trump before he takes office in light of longstanding Justice Department protocol that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. That’s according a person familiar with the matter. Smith charged Trump last year with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. But Trump’s election defeat of Kamala Harris means that he can no longer face prosecution in accordance with a decades-old Justice Department legal opinion. The person familiar with Smith’s plans was not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. NBC News first reported Smith’s plans.… Read More

Stocks and bitcoin jump after Trump’s victory. So do worries about inflation as Dow surges 1,500

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 6, 2024, 4:31 pm

LONDON (AP) — The price of bitcoin has hit a new high as investors bet that former President Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election will be a boon for cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin jumped nearly 8% in early trading, climbing above $75,000 and smashing the previous record set in March. Other cryptocurrencies like ether also soared. So did shares of crypto-related companies like Coinbase. Trump has has pledged to make America “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a strategic reserve of bitcoin. Ahead of the election, he also launched a new venture to trade cryptocurrencies called World Liberty Financial.… Read More

Panthers stick with Bryce Young vs. Giants, but QB’s long-term future in Carolina still unclear

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 6, 2024, 3:44 pm

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bryce Young will remain Carolina’s starting quarterback, even as his long-term future with the Panthers remains murky. Panthers coach Dave Canales made the announcement following Wednesday’s practice that Young will make his third straight start on Sunday in Munich, Germany, against the New York Giants. Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, led Carolina to a come-from-behind 23-22 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday to improve to 3-17 as an NFL starter.… Read More

GOP candidate concedes race to Democratic US Rep Don Davis in NC’s 1st Congressional District

Author: The Associated Press | Date: November 6, 2024, 2:46 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Republican challenger has conceded after a close contest for North Carolina’s only toss-up congressional district. Laurie Buckhout issued a statement Wednesday morning congratulating incumbent first-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis in the state’s 1st Congressional District. Davis also issued a statement declaring victory and thanking his supporters. The Associated Press has not yet called the race. The contest in one of the few competitive districts across the Southeast has attracted millions of dollars from both parties. The district extends from Currituck County to a small portion of Granville County, in the northeastern part of the state.… Read More