Category Archives: WPTF News

Rex White, who was NASCAR’s oldest living champion and a Hall of Famer, dies at 95

Rex White, who was NASCAR’s oldest living champion and a Hall of Famer, dies at 95

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Rex White, who was NASCAR’s oldest living champion, has died at 95. White won the 1960 Cup Series title and 28 races during his nine-season career and earned a reputation for consistency and dominance on short tracks. Born in North Carolina during the Great Depression, he overcame polio as a child and began racing in 1954. By 1960, he was named NASCAR’s most popular driver and driver of the year. NASCAR chairman Jim France called White a pioneer who helped shape the sport. White remained an ambassador for NASCAR throughout his life.… Continue Reading

Tech company CEO resigns after controversy over video captured at Coldplay concert

Tech company CEO resigns after controversy over video captured at Coldplay concert

A tech company CEO has resigned after controversy over a video captured on the big screen at a Coldplay concert. Andy Byron resigned from his job as CEO of Astronomer Inc., according to a statement posted on LinkedIn by the company Saturday. “Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,” the company said in its post on LinkedIn. The move comes a day after the company said that Byron had been placed on leave and the board of directors had launched a formal investigation into the incident, which went viral.… Continue Reading

Parry makes the first hole-in-one at this year’s British Open

Parry makes the first hole-in-one at this year’s British Open

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The British Open at Royal Portrush has had its first hole-in-one. English golfer John Parry hit an 8-iron at the 192-yard No. 13 that landed at the front of the green, took a couple of bounces and hopped straight into the cup. There were big celebrations on the tee with Parry congratulated by playing partner Justin Leonard, the 1997 Open champion. Parry says “the atmosphere was absolutely amazing.” Parry guessed it was “about” the 10th hole-in-one of his career and was “definitely the best one, 100%.” Parry shot a 4-under 67 and was 3 under for the tournament.… Continue Reading

Chevron gets go ahead for $53B Hess deal, and access to one of the biggest oil finds this decade

Chevron gets go ahead for $53B Hess deal, and access to one of the biggest oil finds this decade

HOUSTON (AP) — Chevron has scored a critical ruling in Paris that has given it the go-ahead for a $53 billion acquisition of Hess and access to one of the biggest oil finds of the decade. Chevron said Friday that it completed its acquisition of Hess shortly after the ruling from the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. Exxon had challenged Chevron’s bid for Hess, one of three companies with access to the massive Stabroek Block oil field off the coast of Guyana. Guyana is a country of 791,000 people that is poised to become the world’s fourth-largest offshore oil producer, placing it ahead of Qatar, the United States, Mexico and Norway. It has become a major producer in recent years.… Continue Reading

Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ canceled by CBS, ends May 2026

Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ canceled by CBS, ends May 2026

CBS is axing “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” in May 2026. The announcement on live air Thursday came two days after Colbert spoke out against Paramount Global settling with President Donald Trump over a “60 Minutes” story. The news was also announced in a press release sent from CBS with a link to a clip of Colbert’s announcement on Instagram. The comedian and TV personality began by telling the audience he was sharing something he learned the night before. Colbert said, “I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”… Continue Reading

Wall Street hangs near its record as PepsiCo and United Airlines fly and health care stocks sink

Wall Street hangs near its record as PepsiCo and United Airlines fly and health care stocks sink

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is hanging near its records following some better-than-expected updates on the economy and a mixed set of profit reports from big U.S. companies. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Thursday and was just below its all-time high set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 59 points, and the Nasdaq composite tacked 0.1% onto its record set the day before. PepsiCo jumped after delivering revenue and profit that topped Wall Street’s expectations. That helped offset drops for some big health care companies following their latest profit reports. Treasury yields were mixed after better-than-expected reports on retail sales and unemployment claims.… Continue Reading

Prodded by lawsuits, North Carolina seeks to tighten voter ID records for roughly 200,000 people

Prodded by lawsuits, North Carolina seeks to tighten voter ID records for roughly 200,000 people

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina election officials are taking steps to tighten up voter registration records in a pivotal swing state. On Thursday, the State Board of Elections launched an online database of 103,000 voters who need to add their driver’s license numbers or partial Social Security numbers to the state records. Requirements for the numerical identifiers have been in place since 2004, but an outdated voter registration form helped lead to missing information. The state board is seeking to collect the ID information in part to address a lawsuit by President Donald Trump’s Justice Department. Critics worry the process could disenfranchise voters.… Continue Reading

Severe weather in tropical storm’s wake triggers North Carolina state of emergency

Severe weather in tropical storm’s wake triggers North Carolina state of emergency

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina election officials are taking steps to tighten up voter registration records in a pivotal swing state. On Thursday, the State Board of Elections launched an online database of 103,000 voters who need to add their driver’s license numbers or partial Social Security numbers to the state records. Requirements for the numerical identifiers have been in place since 2004, but an outdated voter registration form helped lead to missing information. The state board is seeking to collect the ID information in part to address a lawsuit by President Donald Trump’s Justice Department. Critics worry the process could disenfranchise voters.… Continue Reading

North Carolina governor doesn’t appeal ruling on who gets say over highway patrol commander

North Carolina governor doesn’t appeal ruling on who gets say over highway patrol commander

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has decided not to appeal a trial court’s decision to dismiss one of his legal challenges against state Republican legislative leaders. The court’s decision focused on a provision in a broader state law that said Stein does not have the authority to appoint his own State Highway Patrol Commander. It instead keeps current commander Col. Freddy Johnson in his post until 2030. Stein says he challenged the provision because it was too ambiguous on if he has the ability to remove Johnson if necessary. The trial court last month ruled the provision wasn’t unconstitutional.… Continue Reading

An Alaska tsunami warning had residents scrambling for high ground after 7.3 magnitude earthquake

An Alaska tsunami warning had residents scrambling for high ground after 7.3 magnitude earthquake

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Communities along a 700-mile stretch of Alaska’s southern coast ordered their residents to higher ground after a powerful earthquake, but officials quickly downgraded and then canceled a tsunami warning in the area. There were no immediate reports of significant damage. Officials said the earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3, struck at 12:37 p.m. local time south of Sand Point. The first waves were projected to land there, but the state’s emergency management division said an hour after the quake that it had received no reports of damage. The earthquake was reportedly felt as far away as Anchorage, almost 600 miles to the northeast.… Continue Reading

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