Category Archives: WPTF News

Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, handlers say, predicting 6 more weeks of wintry weather

Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, handlers say, predicting 6 more weeks of wintry weather

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — Punxsutawney Phil’s team of top-hatted associates says he has seen his shadow and is predicting six more weeks of wintry weather. The prognosticating woodchuck made his forecast as the sun rose Sunday in western Pennsylvania. The annual ritual goes back more than a century and has far older roots in European agricultural life. The event’s date of Feb. 2 doesn’t just divide the calendar between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It’s also a time of year that figures in the Celtic calendar and the Christian holiday of Candlemas.… Continue Reading

No. 2 Duke jumps all over rival North Carolina, rolls to 87-70 win to stay unbeaten in ACC

No. 2 Duke jumps all over rival North Carolina, rolls to 87-70 win to stay unbeaten in ACC

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Cooper Flagg had 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in his Duke-North Carolina rivalry debut to help the second-ranked Blue Devils beat the Tar Heels 87-70. Fellow freshman Kon Knueppel added 22 points for Duke. The Blue Devils shot 53% and made 10 of 20 from 3-point range to win their 15th straight game. The Blue Devils are also 11-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. RJ Davis and Drake Powell each scored 12 to lead the Tar Heels. UNC fell behind 40-13 and trailed by as many as 32 points. The Tar Heels have lost four of five.… Continue Reading

NASCAR champion Joey Logano tunes out critics and insists playoff format is ‘very entertaining’

NASCAR champion Joey Logano tunes out critics and insists playoff format is ‘very entertaining’

NASCAR driver Joey Logano has found a way to tune out months of criticism surrounding his third championship. He says “I can’t hear it because my trophies, they kind of, like, echo around me.” Logano’s title in November sparked debate about whether NASCAR’s current playoff format is the best way to determine the series champion. Logano got two huge breaks in 2024. But NASCAR says no tweaks will be made to the championship format this year. Instead, officials plan to study it for another year. Logano, not surprisingly since he’s won two of the last three Cup Series titles, welcomed the decision.… Continue Reading

Google to change map names for Gulf of Mexico and Denali when US updates them based on Trump order

Google to change map names for Gulf of Mexico and Denali when US updates them based on Trump order

Google says it will take its cue from the U.S. government if it has to change the names of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali on its Maps service. The company said Monday that it will only make changes when the government updates its official listings for the body of water and the mountain. After taking office, President Donald Trump ordered that the water bordered by the Southern United States, Mexico and Cuba be renamed to the Gulf of America. He also ordered America’s highest mountain peak be changed back to Mt. McKinley.… Continue Reading

Democrats and voting groups say a bid to toss out North Carolina ballots is an attack on democracy

Democrats and voting groups say a bid to toss out North Carolina ballots is an attack on democracy

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — There are still some unresolved races from the 2024 election, and one of them involves a seat on North Carolina’s highest court. The trailing Republican candidate wants tens of thousands of ballots thrown out. Jefferson Griffin is arguing that they came from ineligible voters. The result that shows Allison Riggs, a Democratic associate justice, narrowly winning has been affirmed by two recounts. Democrats, voting rights activists and good government groups say Griffin’s actions and support for them by the state GOP are an affront to democracy. The challenge is playing out in both state and federal courts. Riggs remains on the court while the legal battles play out.… Continue Reading

How key Republican senators are responding to Trump allies’ primary threats

How key Republican senators are responding to Trump allies’ primary threats

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Allies of President Donald Trump have been quick to threaten primary challengers for Republican senators who don’t back Trump’s Cabinet picks and legislative priorities. Five senators in particular have drawn early attention. They are Joni Ernst of Iowa, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, John Cornyn of Texas, and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. But all bring their own strengths and a history of winning in their states.… Continue Reading

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