Category Archives: WPTF News

More than 100 vultures die in a mass poisoning in South Africa’s flagship national park

More than 100 vultures die in a mass poisoning in South Africa’s flagship national park

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — At least 123 vultures have died in South Africa’s flagship national park after eating the carcass of an elephant that was poisoned by poachers with agricultural pesticides. Park authorities and an animal conservation group say Thursday that another 83 vultures that were rescued from the site and transported for treatment by helicopter or a special vulture ambulance were recovering. National Parks agency SANParks says the mass poisoning was one of the worst seen in the famous Kruger National Park in northern South Africa. Many of Africa’s vulture species are listed as endangered or critically endangered, with poisoning one of the biggest threats to them.… Continue Reading

ACC cuts 20-game men’s basketball slate to make room for nonconference games in bid to boost sport

ACC cuts 20-game men’s basketball slate to make room for nonconference games in bid to boost sport

The Atlantic Coast Conference is reducing its 20-game men’s basketball schedule to 18. That will give teams two more spots for marquee nonconference games in a bid to boost a league getting a dwindling haul of NCAA Tournament bids. That’s according to a person familiar with the decision. That person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league hasn’t formally announced the move. It comes after the league has spent the past two seasons examining how to improve its bid chances. The league had four this season for its lowest haul since 2013.… Continue Reading

The election director in North Carolina, a key swing state, is ousted after a Republican power play

The election director in North Carolina, a key swing state, is ousted after a Republican power play

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s elections board has ousted the agency’s executive director after Republicans gained control. The State Board of Elections on Wednesday replaced executive director Karen Brinson Bell with Sam Hayes, the top lawyer for the GOP’s House speaker. Brinson Bell has been widely praised in election circles nationwide for her performance as executive director for nearly six years. The board’s composition got altered just last week through a state law enacted late last year by Republican lawmakers that stripped the Democratic governor of his appointment power and gave it to the Republican state auditor. The law got implemented even though trial judges struck it down as unconstitutional just two weeks ago.… Continue Reading

Federal Reserve leaves key rate unchanged as it sees risk of higher prices and higher unemployment

Federal Reserve leaves key rate unchanged as it sees risk of higher prices and higher unemployment

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday, brushing off President Donald Trump’s demands to lower borrowing costs, and said that the risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation have risen. The Fed kept its rate at 4.3% for the third straight meeting, after cutting it three times in a row at the end of last year. Many economists and Wall Street investors still expect the Fed will reduce rates two or three times this year, but the sweeping tariffs imposed by Trump have injected a tremendous amount of uncertainty into the U.S. economy and the Fed’s policies.… Continue Reading

Republican concedes long-unsettled North Carolina court election to Democratic incumbent

Republican concedes long-unsettled North Carolina court election to Democratic incumbent

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Republican challenger for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat has conceded last November’s election to the Democratic incumbent. Jefferson Griffin said in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday that he would not appeal a federal judge’s decision favoring Associate Justice Allison Riggs. Griffin’s decision sets the stage for Riggs to be officially elected to an eight-year term as an associate justice. It would end the nation’s last undecided race from the 2024 general election. The federal judge said disputed ballots challenged by Griffin must remain in the final tally and ordered results to be certified to show Riggs is the winner by 734 votes.… Continue Reading

Key Republican says he won’t back Trump’s pick for top DC prosecutor because of Jan. 6 ties

Key Republican says he won’t back Trump’s pick for top DC prosecutor because of Jan. 6 ties

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing President Donald Trump’s administration to enforce a ban on transgender people in the military, while legal challenges proceed. The high court acted Tuesday in the dispute over a policy that presumptively disqualifies transgender people from military service. The court’s three liberal justices said they would have kept the policy on hold. Just after beginning his second term in January, Trump moved aggressively to roll back the rights of transgender people. Among the Republican president’s actions was an executive order that claims the sexual identity of transgender service members “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life” and is harmful to military readiness.… Continue Reading

Supreme Court allows Trump ban on transgender members of the military to take effect, for now

Supreme Court allows Trump ban on transgender members of the military to take effect, for now

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing President Donald Trump’s administration to enforce a ban on transgender people in the military, while legal challenges proceed. The high court acted Tuesday in the dispute over a policy that presumptively disqualifies transgender people from military service. The court’s three liberal justices said they would have kept the policy on hold. Just after beginning his second term in January, Trump moved aggressively to roll back the rights of transgender people. Among the Republican president’s actions was an executive order that claims the sexual identity of transgender service members “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life” and is harmful to military readiness.… Continue Reading

Federal judge says results of North Carolina court race with Democrat ahead must be certified

Federal judge says results of North Carolina court race with Democrat ahead must be certified

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that disputed ballots in the still unresolved 2024 race for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat must remain in the final count. U.S. District Judge Richard Myers also ordered late Monday that the State Board of Elections certify results that show Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs the winner — by just 734 votes — over Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin. Myers delayed his decision in case Griffin wants to appeal. Myers agreed with Riggs that carrying out recent decisions by state appeals courts that directed potentially thousands of ballots be removed from the tally would violate the U.S. Constitution.… Continue Reading

From debate to dialogue: In a contentious era, ‘Ethics Bowl’ offers students a gentler alternative

From debate to dialogue: In a contentious era, ‘Ethics Bowl’ offers students a gentler alternative

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — The National High School Ethics Bowl has just concluded its competition at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Win or lose, many of the teenage participants say the experience helped them think more deeply about controversial topics. Unlike debate, Ethics Bowl teams are not assigned a specific position. Instead, team members make their own decisions about what they believe to be the true or best position. Scoring is based on how deeply they explore the issues, including other viewpoints. In a time when many are wondering whether it is still possible to have a principled, respectful disagreement over important issues, proponents of Ethics Bowl say it points the way.… Continue Reading

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