Triangle/Local
Three red wolf pups born at Durham Museum of Life and Science
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — Officials at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham say three recently born red wolf pups are still in good health. The litter, all male, was delivered on May 3 by Martha, a 7-year-old red wolf and part of a…
13th annual Racing for Rescues set for Sunday in Cary to support local animal adoptions
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — Animal lovers and runners alike are invited to WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary this Sunday for the 13th Annual Racing for Rescues event. The fundraiser supports Second Chance Pet Adoptions, the Triangle’s oldest no-kill animal rescue organization. Registration begins at 8…
Morrisville Spring Fest returns with new chalk walk and flower power theme
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — The Town of Morrisville will host its annual Spring Fest celebration this Saturday at Indian Creek Trailhead, featuring family-friendly activities, local vendors, and a new creative addition: the town’s first-ever Chalk Walk. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.…
New graduates enter shifting job market with cautious optimism
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – As students across the country wrap up final exams, move out of their college housing, and cross the commencement stage, they’re entering a job market that’s different than the one they envisioned. CBS News Business Analyst Jill Schlesinger says the employment…
Brian Smith named new president and CEO of GoTriangle
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – The area’s mass transit efforts will soon have new leadership. According to a press release, GoTriangle, the Research Triangle’s transit system, has recently announced that on June 1, 2025, Brian Smith will be named the agency’s newest President and CEO. “We…
State/Regional
Cheerwine Festival returns to Salisbury with family fun and cherry-flavored favorites
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — North Carolina’s beloved cherry-flavored soft drink will once again be at the center of celebration as the annual Cheerwine Festival returns to Downtown Salisbury this Saturday. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and offers a full day of…
North Carolina justice sworn in after long battle over result
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs was sworn in to a new term on Tuesday after the Democrat won a monthslong fight against her Republican rival’s challenges to thousands of ballots. The State Board of Elections…
North Carolina lawmakers focus on guns, immigration and parental rights ahead of a key deadline
By MAKIYA SEMINERA and GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Gun access, parental rights and the response to illegal immigration were front and center this week in North Carolina as Republican lawmakers worked to keep their high-priority bills alive, while many other…
Republican concedes long-unsettled North Carolina court election to Democratic incumbent
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Republican challenger for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat conceded last November’s election on Wednesday to Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs, two days after a federal judge ruled that potentially thousands of disputed ballots challenged by Jefferson Griffin must remain…
Key Republican says he won’t back Trump’s pick for top DC prosecutor because of Jan. 6 ties
By MARY CLARE JALONICK and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Thom Tillis says he’s informed the White House that he won’t support Ed Martin, President Donald Trump’spick for top federal prosecutor in Washington, stalling the nomination in the Senate weeks before the…
World/National
More than 1,000 Starbucks baristas go on strike to protest new dress code
By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer More than 1,000 Starbucks baristas at 75 U.S. stores have gone on strike since Sunday to protest a new company dress code, a union representing the coffee giant’s workers said Wednesday. Starbucks put new limits starting Monday on what its baristas…
US overdose deaths fell 27% last year, the largest one-year decline ever seen
By MIKE STOBBE and GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press There were 30,000 fewer U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2024 than the year before — the largest one-year decline ever recorded. An estimated 80,000 people died from overdoses last year, according to provisional Centers for Disease Control and…
US overdose deaths fell 27% last year, the largest one-year decline ever seen
By MIKE STOBBE and GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press There were 30,000 fewer U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2024 than the year before — the largest one-year decline ever recorded. An estimated 80,000 people died from overdoses last year, according to provisional Centers for Disease Control and…
What the EPA’s partial rollback of the ‘forever chemical’ drinking water rule means
By MICHAEL PHILLIS Associated Press On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to weaken limits on some harmful “forever chemicals” in drinking water roughly a year after the Biden administration finalized the first-ever national standards. The Biden administration said last year the rules could reduce…
House works into the night as Republicans push ahead on Trump’s big bill
By LISA MASCARO and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Tax breaks tallying more than $5 trillion — but also sizable reductions in Medicaid health care, food stamps and green energy strategies to fight climate change — faced sharp debate as House lawmakers slogged through marathon overnight hearings on…
Entertainment
Cassie testimony against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs ends after she spent days describing abuse
By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — R&B singer Cassie finished testifying in the Sean “Diddy” Combs sex trafficking trial Friday after four emotional days on the witness stand during which she was questioned about the deepest, most disturbing secrets of her sex…
Cassie testifies that Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs raped her and threatened to release sex videos
By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The R&B singer Cassie testified Wednesday that Sean “Diddy” Combs raped her when she ended their decade-long relationship, after he locked her in a life of physical abuse by threatening to release degrading sexual videos of…
An Alaska Mother’s Day tradition: Mingling with ice age survivors on a farm
By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press PALMER, Alaska (AP) — It is one of Alaska’s favorite Mother’s Day traditions, getting up close and personal with animals that have survived the ice age. All moms get a daisy and free admission Sunday at the Musk Ox Farm…
A woodpecker has invaded a Massachusetts neighborhood. Residents are taking it in stride
By HOLLY RAMER and RODRIQUE NGOWI Associated Press ROCKPORT, Mass. (AP) — Rockport residents have a history of fighting off invaders, but not this time. During the War of 1812, townsfolk in the tiny fishing village hurled rocks at British soldiers using their stockings as…
Go inside the factory where Peeps are made
By TASSANEE VEJPONGSA and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) — Love them or hate them, those marshmallow Peeps that come in blindingly bright colors and an array of flavors are inescapable around the Easter holiday. Millions are made daily in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, by Just Born…
Sports
Svechnikov breaks late tie as the Hurricanes beat the Capitals to reach Eastern Conference final
By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Andrei Svechnikov scored the go-ahead goal with just under two minutes left and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Washington Capitals 3-1 in Game 5 on Thursday night, winning the second-round series and advancing to the Eastern…
PGA has strong field and big surprise: Jhonattan Vegas leads at 64 as stars fail to shine
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The strongest field of the majors gave way to a few surprises Thursday in the PGA Championship, starting with Jhonattan Vegas charging into the lead with a 7-under 64 and the top 10 players in…
Hurricanes and Stars ride stellar special teams to the verge of the conference finals
By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer Before starting the second round against the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery had a good sense of what would determine the series between the top two teams in the Metropolitan Division, fierce rivals who are very familiar with…
Scottie Scheffler is trending going into the PGA and inspired by Rory McIlroy’s win at the Masters
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler practically had the course to himself when he arrived a day early at the PGA Championship, a time to get reacquainted with Quail Hollow. He had played it only at the Presidents Cup…
Larry Miller, star on North Carolina’s ACC championship teams in 1967-68, dies at age 79
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Larry Miller, a two-time ACC player of the year for North Carolina and 2022 inductee in the College Basketball Hall of Fame, has died. He was 79. The UNC athletic department said Miller died Sunday in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. No cause of…