WPTF News Archives - Page 3 of 104

A power grab by Republicans in North Carolina becomes a referendum on democracy in the states

Author: The Associated Press | Date: December 19, 2024, 10:06 am

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democrats in North Carolina were celebrating big wins in the swing state after the November election, including victories for governor and other top statewide offices. But the political high didn’t last long. Republican lawmakers are stripping away these newly elected officials’ powers through a series of wide-ranging changes while anticipating they’ll lose their veto-proof majority next year. Critics say the moves were rushed through without any chance for public comment or analysis and undermine the will of the voters. But they have few options for undoing them, with Republicans controlling the legislature and having a majority on the state supreme court.… Read More

Stock market today: Wall Street sinks after Fed signals fewer rate cuts next year. Dow drops 1,100

Author: The Associated Press | Date: December 18, 2024, 4:19 pm

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks sank to their second-worst loss of the year after the Federal Reserve signaled that it may deliver fewer interest rates cuts in 2025 than earlier thought. The S&P 500 dropped 2.9% Wednesday to pull further from its all-time high set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank more than 1,100 points, and the Nasdaq composite dropped 3.6%. Fed officials released projections showing they’re penciling in just two cuts to interest rates next year, instead of the four they were projecting a few months ago. Treasury yields ramped higher to add pressure on the stock market.… Read More

Federal Reserve cuts its key rate by a quarter-point but envisions fewer reductions next year

Author: The Associated Press | Date: December 18, 2024, 2:08 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point — its third cut this year — but also signaled that it expects to reduce rates more slowly next year than it previously envisioned, largely because of still-elevated inflation. The Fed’s 19 policymakers projected that they will cut their benchmark rate by a quarter-point just twice in 2025, down from their previous estimate in September of four rate cuts. Their new quarterly projections suggest that consumers may not enjoy much lower rates next year for mortgages, auto loans, credit cards and other forms of borrowing.… Read More

House Ethics Committee secretly voted to release Matt Gaetz ethics report, source says

Author: The Associated Press | Date: December 18, 2024, 1:02 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee has voted in secret to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz. The move by the bipartisan panel raises the possibility that the allegations against the Florida Republican who was President-elect Donald Trump’s first choice for attorney general could be made public in the coming days. The decision by the bipartisan committee was made earlier this month, according to a person familiar with the vote who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. CNN first reported the vote. Gaetz lashed out on social media, again denying any wrongdoing.… Read More

Supreme Court will hear arguments over the law that could ban TikTok in the US if it’s not sold

Author: The Associated Press | Date: December 18, 2024, 11:41 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will hear arguments next month over the constitutionality of the federal law that could ban TikTok in the U.S. if its Chinese parent company doesn’t sell it. The justices said Wednesday they will hear arguments Jan. 10 about whether the law impermissibly restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The law, enacted in April, set a Jan. 19 deadline for TikTok to be sold or else face a ban in the United States. The popular social media platform has more than 170 million users in the U.S. It’s unclear how quickly the high court might issue a decision.… Read More

RFK Stadium site provision included in federal spending bill, a win for the Commanders and NFL

Author: The Associated Press | Date: December 18, 2024, 10:09 am

The Washington Commanders are another step closer to the possibility of returning to the franchise’s old home in the nation’s capital. A provision to transfer the land that is the site of the old RFK Stadium from the federal government to the District of Columbia is included in Congress’ short-term spending bill, which is expected to pass. It’s a significant victory for the organization and the NFL after controlling owner Josh Harris and Commissioner Roger Goodell lobbied lawmakers on Capitol Hill on the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act. The Commanders are considering places in the district, Maryland and Virginia to build a new stadium.… Read More

Elliot Cadeau, UNC ponder emotional loss to No. 7 Florida after comeback falls short

Author: The Associated Press | Date: December 17, 2024, 11:41 pm

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina guard Elliot Cadeau couldn’t hold back the tears as he walked off the floor at the Spectrum Center following the Tar Heels’ 90-84 loss to No. 7 Florida. The Tar Heels again suffered through a lackluster first half against a big-time opponent, only to awaken in the second half and turn a 17-point deficit into the 4-point lead. But the Tar Heels faltered down the stretch, the victim of poor rebounding and untimely mistakes. One of those belonged to Cadeau, who dribbled the ball off his leg and out of bounds along the baseline with 1:26 left in the game with the score tied at 84. North Carolina wouldn’t score again.… Read More

Will Richard scores 22 points, No. 7 Florida holds off UNC rally to remain unbeaten with 90-84 win

Author: The Associated Press | Date: December 17, 2024, 10:00 pm

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Will Richard scored 22 points, Alijah Martin added 19 points and No. 7 Florida held off a furious second half rally by North Carolina to remain unbeaten with a 90-84 victory in the Jumpman Invitational. R.J. Davis had 29 points and eight rebounds for the Tar Heels, who battled back from a 17-point first half deficit to take a 4-point the lead midway through the second half. Florida jumped out to a 35-17 lead after making 6 of 12 3-pointers, while UNC missed its first 11 shots from beyond the arc.… Read More

Congress nears funding deal with more than $100 billion in disaster aid

Author: The Associated Press | Date: December 17, 2024, 9:49 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders have unveiled legislation that will keep the federal government funded through March 14 and provide more than $100 billion in emergency aid to help states and local communities recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and other natural disasters. The stopgap measure will prevent a partial government shutdown set to begin after midnight Friday. It kicks final decisions on this budget year’s spending levels to a new Republican-led Congress and President-elect Donald Trump. Passage of the measure is one of the final must-pass bills that lawmakers will consider this week before adjourning for the holidays and making way for the next Congress.… Read More

Stock market today: Wall Street trims its stellar gains as Nvidia’s star dims again

Author: The Associated Press | Date: December 17, 2024, 4:29 pm

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes trimmed some of their stellar gains for the year. The S&P 500 slipped 0.4% Tuesday, though it’s still near its all-time high set earlier this month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 267 points, and the Nasdaq composite lost 0.3% from its record set the day before. Nvidia, the superstar stock that’s been a big reason for Wall Street’s run to records this year, fell for its eighth loss in the last nine days. Treasury yields held relatively steady after sales at U.S. retailers strengthened by more than expected. Bitcoin set another record.… Read More

Prosecutors charge suspect with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO as an act of terrorism

Author: The Associated Press | Date: December 17, 2024, 4:19 pm

NEW YORK (AP) — The accused killer of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has been charged with murder as an act of terrorism. Prosecutors disclosed the indictment Tuesday as they worked to bring Luigi Mangione to a New York court from from a Pennsylvania jail. The 26-year-old Mangione already had been charged with murder in the Dec. 4 killing of Brian Thompson. But the indictment could help move along procedural steps toward extraditing the suspect. Mangione’s lawyer hasn’t commented on the case.… Read More

More Roy Cooper lieutenants staying on the job in North Carolina Gov.-elect Stein’s Cabinet

Author: The Associated Press | Date: December 17, 2024, 4:11 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Several more top lieutenants of outgoing North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper have agreed to work for fellow Democrat and successor Josh Stein’s administration. They include Cooper’s transportation and public safety secretaries and the state budget director — all of whom will stay in their current posts. Each of them have had significant roles responding to Hurricane Helene. Stein already said this week that two other Cooper department secretaries will be on his team as well — albeit leading new departments Stein was elected governor last month and will take his oath of office early in the new year.… Read More