Triangle/Local
United Way launches tools to help North Carolinians navigate financial uncertainty
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — A new United Way of North Carolina report is spotlighting the state’s growing ALICE population—working families earning above the poverty level yet struggling to cover basic needs. Through tools like 24/7 resource support and “My Friend Ben,” the organization aims to connect individuals to vital assistance.
New NCInnovation grant supports breakthrough Alzheimer’s treatment development at UNC Pembroke
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – A research grant awarded through NCInnovation could bring promising new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease closer to reality. UNC Pembroke’s Dr. Ben Bahr, a nationally recognized neuroscientist, is developing low-cost, oral drug compounds designed to clear toxic proteins from the brain—offering a simpler and more accessible alternative to current treatments. The research is part of a broader initiative by NCInnovation to bridge the gap between North Carolina’s universities and commercial industries.
Orange High School Principal named 2025 N.C. Principal of the Year
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – Jason Johnson, principal of Orange High School, has been named the 2025 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year. Honored during a statewide ceremony in Cary, Johnson credited his students, staff, and the broader Orange County community, emphasizing that strong schools depend on strong partnerships between educators, parents, and students.
Meet Illicium: A Shade-Loving Shrub with Personality
I can remember a time when there were few shade-loving shrubs from which to choose for the North Carolina landscape. In the early years of the “Weekend Gardener,” Erv Evans or those who filled in for him, would primarily recommend: acubas, rhododendrons, azaleas, or hydrangeas. Now there are a plethora of woody plants for the darker areas of your yard. What I am building up to is the world of Illiciums or Illicium parviflorum, illicium floridanum and illicium parviflorum anise shrubs. The leaves of this species have a distinctively pleasant scent when crushed. Most people say it smells like licorice, which is not my favorite. However, I do think it has a unique fragrance. The flowers of the floridanum have another distinctive attribute. They are pretty, a red to maroon color with a raw fishy fragrance. Some say it smells like a wet dog. This odor is not apparent unless the flower is right up to your nose. The plant usually blooms in April and May.
State/Regional
North Carolina House advances more Hurricane Helene aid in $465M package
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina House has advanced another Hurricane Helene funding package to address pressing needs in the mountains eight months after the storm. The chamber approved a $465 million spending plan unanimously on Thursday. It’s about half what Democratic Gov. Josh Stein requested from the Republican-controlled General Assembly earlier this week. Republican lawmakers had been working on their package before Stein’s pitch. The General Assembly already has provided $1.6 billion in Helene recovery funding. But the needs are many times greater, and federal funds have been slow in reaching western North Carolina. The bill now heading to the Senate includes a business grant program.
Taxes, salaries, vacancy cuts make plain differences over rival North Carolina GOP budgets
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina House’s state budget proposal makes plain differences on taxes, salaries and job cuts between Republicans who control both General Assembly chambers. The House gave preliminary approval Wednesday to its plan to spend $32.6 billion in the year beginning July 1 and $33.3 billion the next year. The Senate approved its two-year plan last month. The chambers are soon expected to start negotiating a final measure to present to Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. The House plan appears more cautious on permitting future tax rate reductions compared to the Senate. One national conservative group warned of political consequences for House members who voted for the plan.
North Carolina governor urges state lawmakers to include more Helene aid in upcoming budget
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein made another request of state lawmakers to commit hundreds of millions more dollars to western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene last year. Stein’s proposal announced Monday totals $891 million. The governor says the money will go to addressing critical needs such as revitalizing local economies, repairing town infrastructure and providing housing assistance. The state legislature has already appropriated or made available more than $1 billion for Helene recovery since the storm ravaged the western part of the state in September. Stein also emphasized the need for state funds instead of waiting for “uncertain federal assistance.”
Cheerwine Festival returns to Salisbury with family fun and cherry-flavored favorites
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — The annual Cheerwine Festival returns to Downtown Salisbury on Saturday, offering a full day of music, food, crafts, and cherry-flavored fun. Created in 1917, Cheerwine remains a family-run business and the festival honors the drink’s North Carolina roots.
World/National
Court papers say suspect in embassy killings declared, ‘I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza’
WASHINGTON (AP) — The man charged with fatally shooting two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington as they were leaving an event at a Jewish museum told police after his arrest, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.” That’s according to court documents released Thursday charging 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez with the Wednesday night attack. The documents say the shooting was captured on surveillance video outside the museum. Authorities say the footage showed Rodriguez firing at the victims several times after they fell to the ground. Rodriguez faces charges of murder of foreign officials and other crimes, and additional charges are likely.
Judge blocks Trump’s order to dismantle the Education Department and fire employees
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Education Department and ordered the agency to reinstate employees who were fired in mass layoffs. U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston granted a preliminary injunction Thursday stopping the Trump administration from carrying out two plans announced in March that sought to work toward Trump’s goal to dismantle the department. It marks a setback to one of the Republican president’s campaign promises. The ruling came in two consolidated lawsuits that said Trump’s plan amounted to an illegal closure of the Education Department.
House Republicans pass Trump’s big bill of tax breaks and program cuts after all-night session
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans stayed up all night to pass their multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package. Speaker Mike Johnson defied the skeptics within his ranks and muscled President Donald Trump’s priority bill to approval Thursday. Last-minute concessions and a stern warning from Trump appeared to win over the hold outs to salvage what he calls the “big, beautiful bill.” The outcome caps an intense time on Capitol Hill, with days of private negotiations and public committee hearings. Democrats, without the votes to stop Trump’s package, tried to stall it. The Congressional Budget Office says the tax provisions would add $3.8 trillion to federal deficits.
New salmonella outbreak tied to same Florida grower with tainted cucumbers last year
U.S. health officials are investigating a new outbreak of salmonella illnesses tied to a Florida grower whose tainted cucumbers were linked to more than 500 illnesses last year. Cucumbers grown by Florida-based Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales are linked to at least 26 illnesses in 15 states. Nine people have been hospitalized. The outbreak was detected as part of a follow-up inspection in April to a 2024 outbreak that ended in August. Investigators traced that outbreak to untreated canal water. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration and stomach cramps.
Entertainment
Rapper Kid Cudi to testify at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial this week
NEW YORK (AP) — Rapper and actor Kid Cudi is expected to testify at the Sean “Diddy” Combs sex trafficking trial on Thursday. He’ll tell the jury about his brief relationship 14 years ago with Combs’ ex-girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie. Cassie testified last week that Combs was enraged when she left him for a period of time in 2011 and began dating Cudi. Prosecutors say Combs was so upset that he arranged to have Cudi’s convertible firebombed. Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges that he oversaw a racketeering enterprise that controlled Cassie and others through threats and violence. His lawyers say the evidence doesn’t amount to a criminal racket or sex trafficking.
George Wendt, who played beloved barfly Norm on ‘Cheers’ and found another home onstage, dies at 76
NEW YORK (AP) — George Wendt, an actor with an Everyman charm who played the affable, beer-loving barfly Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy “Cheers,” has died. He was 76. Wendt in later life crafted a stage career that took him to Broadway in “Art,” “Hairspray” and “Elf.” Despite a long career of roles onstage and on TV, it was as gentle and henpecked Norm Peterson on “Cheers” that he was most associated, earning six straight Emmy Award nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series from 1984-89. The series was centered on lovable losers in a Boston bar and starred Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, Kirstie Alley and Woody Harrelson.
SAG-AFTRA files unfair labor practice charge over use of AI to make Darth Vader’s voice in Fortnite
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood’s actors’ union filed an unfair labor practice charge against Llama Productions on Monday, alleging the company replaced actors’ work by using artificial intelligence to generate Darth Vader’s voice in Fortnite without notice. Lllama parent Epic Games did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cassie testimony against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs ends after she spent days describing abuse
NEW YORK (AP) — R&B singer Cassie has finished testifying at her ex-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial. She spent four emotional days on the witness stand during which she was questioned about the deepest, most disturbing secrets of her sex life and described being beaten and raped by a man she once loved. When Judge Arun Subramanian told her she could leave Friday, Cassie glanced once toward the jury but never looked in Combs’ direction as she walked out of the courtroom for the final time. Combs has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and other charges. He denies allegations that he exploited his status as a music executive and businessman to force women into group sex.
Sports
Bennett, Verhaeghe help Panthers roll past Hurricanes 5-0, take 2-0 lead in Eastern final
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sam Bennett scored one of his two goals in Florida’s three-goal first period, Sergei Bobrovsky made 17 saves and the Panthers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-0 on Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference final. Gustav Forsling and Matthew Tkachuk also scored in another tone-setting opening 20 minutes for the reigning Stanley Cup champions, while Carter Verhaeghe had three assists. Bennett scored a second time by skating in to clean up an attempt at the right post in the final minute of the second period to make it 4-0, ending a long shift in Carolina’s end prolonged by Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns being stuck on the ice after breaking his stick. Aleksander Barkov scored midway through the third as punctuation.
Reigning Stanley Cup champ Florida Panthers beat Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 in Eastern final opener
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carter Verhaeghe and Aaron Ekblad scored two tone-setting first-period goals while Sergei Bobrovsky remained strong in net as the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 in Tuesday night’s opener of their Eastern Conference final series. A.J. Greer added a goal by finishing off a perfect 2-on-1 transition chance in the second period for Florida. Sam Bennett and Eetu Luostarinen scored in the third period. Sebastian Aho and Jackson Blake scored Carolina’s lone goals in the opener of a series that is a rematch of the 2023 Eastern final. Game 2 is Thursday night at Carolina.
Great Scottie! Scheffler pulls away to win PGA Championship for 3rd major title
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler has won the PGA Championship for his third major title. He won by five shots but this one was a nail-biter until the final hour. Jon Rahm made a furious charge and tied Scheffler for the lead on the back nine. But then golf’s No. 1 player was mistake-free and left the blunders to everyone else. Scheffler shot a 71 and picked up the Wanamaker Trophy. That puts him halfway home to the career Grand Slam and leaves no doubt about his status in the game. Bryson DeChambeau was among three players who tied for second.
The Carolina Hurricanes keep leaning on their penalty kill in another deep postseason push
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes continue to lean on a reliable penalty kill in their latest playoff run. The Hurricanes have been the No. 1 kill through the past seven regular seasons of coach Rod Brind’Amour’s tenure. That unit has stepped up to deny 28 of 30 power plays in two rounds this postseason. They also have a shorthanded goal. The Hurricanes are back in the Eastern Conference final for the second time in three seasons. They’ll face the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers
