Category Archives: Triangle/Local

Duke University study finds EVs quickly overcome their energy-intensive build to be cleaner than gas cars

Duke University study finds EVs quickly overcome their energy-intensive build to be cleaner than gas cars

DETROIT (AP) — Producing and manufacturing electric vehicles and their batteries uses a lot of energy, leading many to be skeptical about the environmental benefits of going electric. But a new study says that after two years of use, EVs have a cleaner bottom line than gas-powered vehicles. The study also found gasoline vehicles lead to two to three times more damage to the climate and air quality than EVs in the long term. The work offers insight into a transportation sector that makes up a big part of U.S. emissions. Researchers from Northern Arizona University and Duke University published their findings Wednesday in the journal PLOS Climate.… Continue Reading

A North Carolina man is charged with 4 murder counts after telling authorities he killed his kids

A North Carolina man is charged with 4 murder counts after telling authorities he killed his kids

ZEBULON, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina man who told authorities he killed four of his children and that the bodies were in the trunk of a vehicle at his home has been charged with one murder count. Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that Wellington Delano Dickens III is charged with one count of murder and is being held without bond in the Johnston County Jail. It says sheriffs deputies found human remains in his garage after he dialed 911 on Monday evening. Multiple additional charges were anticipated, according to the news release.… Continue Reading

Composting Made Easy: Tips from the WPTF Weekend Gardener

Composting Made Easy: Tips from the WPTF Weekend Gardener

One of the most economical and practical things you can do for the plants in your landscape and vegetable garden is to start a compost pile. We’ve discussed it fairly often on the “WPTF Weekend Gardener” over the last 40 years. The first step is to find a relatively shady well-drained location in your back yard. You don’t have to buy a container, just build your own or find a proper spot on the ground. A wire cylinder 3 to 4 feet in diameter will work or build a three-sided box that’s 4 to 5-feet high and wide. However, if you prefer, ready-made bins are easy to find.… Continue Reading

Black enrollment is waning at many elite colleges after affirmative action ban, AP analysis finds

Black enrollment is waning at many elite colleges after affirmative action ban, AP analysis finds

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Associated Press analysis finds that the number of Black students enrolling at many elite colleges has dropped in the two years since the Supreme Court banned affirmative action in admissions. New enrollment figures from 20 selective colleges provide mounting evidence of a backslide in Black enrollment. Many campuses have also seen decreases in Hispanic enrollment, though they have been more scattered and less pronounced. At Princeton and some others, the number of new Black students has fallen by nearly half. Some colleges attribute it to natural fluctuations. Some students say the changes are too big to ignore.… Continue Reading

Federal grand jury indicts man for fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee on North Carolina train

Federal grand jury indicts man for fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee on North Carolina train

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted a man for fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee on a commuter train in Charlotte, North Carolina. The indictment on Wednesday charges him with causing death on a mass transportation system, keeping the possibility of a federal death penalty on the table. Brown allegedly stabbed 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska in a random attack captured on video. Brown had cycled through the criminal justice system for more than a decade, including earlier this year when he was arrested after repeatedly calling 911 from a hospital, claiming people were trying to control him.… Continue Reading

COVID-19 vaccines may help some cancer patients fight tumors

COVID-19 vaccines may help some cancer patients fight tumors

WASHINGTON (AP) — The most widely used COVID-19 vaccines may offer a surprise benefit for some cancer patients by boosting their immune systems to help fight tumors. Research reported Wednesday in the journal Nature found that people with advanced lung or skin cancer lived longer if they received a Pfizer or Moderna shot within 100 days of starting a type of immunotherapy. The mRNA in these vaccines appears to enhance the immune system’s response. Now the research team is preparing a more rigorous study of the potential connection, to see if mRNA vaccines should be deliberately paired with cancer drugs called checkpoint inhibitors.… Continue Reading

Millions of Indians celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights

Millions of Indians celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights

NEW DELHI (AP) — Millions of Indians are celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali, marking the victory of light over darkness. Homes and streets across the country were illuminated Monday. The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar and typically fall in late October or early November. The festival involves socializing, exchanging gifts and setting off fireworks. The celebrations were most visible in Ayodhya city in Uttar Pradesh state, where over 2.6 million lamps were lit. Hindus believe the deity Lord Ram was born there and returned after 14 years in exile. People light earthen lamps to mark his homecoming.… Continue Reading

How to watch the Orionid meteor shower, debris of Halley’s comet

How to watch the Orionid meteor shower, debris of Halley’s comet

The Orionid meteor shower peaks this year with the arrival of a new moon, offering a rare chance to see shooting stars without moonlight interference. During Tuesday morning’s peak, exerts predict up to 20 meteors per hour could be visible under ideal conditions. Viewing lasts until early November. The source of the Orionids is debris from Halley’s comet. You don’t need special equipment to see the various meteor showers that flash across annually, just a spot away from city lights.… Continue Reading

Is college worth the cost? Universities work to show the return on investment of a degree

Is college worth the cost? Universities work to show the return on investment of a degree

WASHINGTON (AP) — For many young Americans, deciding on college has become a complex choice. Increasingly, a main question is whether a degree is worth its cost. Confidence in higher education has dropped due to high tuition, student loans and a tough job market. Colleges are now trying to prove their value. New rankings and reports focus on the financial benefits of degrees. Research shows most bachelor’s degrees still pay off, but not all lead to good salaries. More students are choosing technical schools or trades over four-year universities to avoid debt. In response, colleges are working to align degrees with job market needs.… Continue Reading

Ironweed: The resilient perennial transforming North Carolina landscapes

Ironweed: The resilient perennial transforming North Carolina landscapes

We all want resilient plants for our landscape. Frankly we want something that is cost effective. A plant which fulfills that description and expectation is “Ironweed” (Vernonia noveboracensis). This seems to be the most common variety grown in North Carolina. Anne Clapp used to say: “A weed is a plant you don’t want in your yard,” but you definitely will want Ironweed! It is a popular and hardy herbaceous perennial that you’ll find in a lot of landscapes in North Carolina. Herbaceous means it does not have a woody stem and dies back to the ground after it flowers. By the way, “Ironweed” was named for the English botanist William Vernon who traveled extensively in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s.… Continue Reading

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