Triangle/Local
FEMA administrator continues pushback against false claims as Helene death toll hits 230
LAKE LURE, N.C. (AP) — The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is again forcefully pushing back against false claims and conspiracy theories about how her agency is responding to Hurricane Helene. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell appeared Monday in Asheville, North Carolina, to assure residents that the government is ready to help. Misinformation has spread over the past week in communities hit the hardest. Former President Donald Trump and other prominent Republicans have questioned FEMA’s response and falsely claimed that its funding is going to migrants or foreign wars. The death toll from Helene has risen to at least 230.
US disaster relief chief blasts false claims about Helene response as a ‘truly dangerous narrative’
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government’s top disaster relief official says false claims and conspiracy theories about the federal response to Hurricane Helene, which are being spread most prominently by Donald Trump, are “demoralizing” aid workers and creating fear in people who need recovery assistance. Deanne Criswell of the Federal Emergency Management Agency tells ABC that “it’s frankly ridiculous, and just plain false. This kind of rhetoric is not helpful to people.” She says the unfounded allegations have created a sense of fear and mistrust from residents against the thousands of FEMA employees and volunteers on the ground.
Red Cross deploys more than 600 volunteers to aid disaster relief in western North Carolina
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — As the aftermath of devastating flooding from Hurricane Helene continues to affect western North Carolina, more than 600 volunteers from across the country have mobilized to provide critical disaster relief. Heather Frazee, Executive Director of the American Red Cross’ Piedmont Triad Chapter, recently told Carolina Newsmakers host Don Curtis that the immediate focus of the relief operations is providing shelter, food, and basic necessities to those displaced by the flooding. Frazee also noted the challenging terrain in the mountains, compounded by road closures and dangerous conditions, which has made rescue and relief efforts more complex.
Death toll from Hurricane Helene rises to 227 as grim task of recovering bodies continues
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The death toll from Hurricane Helene has inched up to 227 as the grim task of recovering bodies continues more than a week after the monster storm ravaged the U.S. Southeast. Helene came ashore Sept. 26 as a Category 4 hurricane and carved a wide swath of destruction as it moved northward from Florida. It destroyed homes, washed away roads and knocked out electricity and cellphone service for millions. The death toll could rise even higher. It is not clear how many people are unaccounted for or missing. Helene is the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland U.S. since Katrina in 2005.
Harris pledges ongoing federal support as she visits North Carolina to survey Helene’s aftermath
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris has pledged ongoing federal support for those affected by Hurricane Helene as she visited North Carolina. The Democratic presidential nominee met with state and local officials Saturday in Charlotte, where she praised the work of strangers helping strangers. She also helped pack aid kits and met with volunteers, calling them “heroes among us.” It was her second trip in four days to the disaster zone. Republican nominee Donald Trump was in the state a day earlier, and has been spreading false claims about the federal response to the disaster. But Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper says that federal officials have been on the ground in the state helping “since the very beginning.”
State/Regional
NC joins a dozen states suing TikTok, claiming its platform is addictive and harms the mental health of children
NEW YORK (AP) — More than a dozen states and the District of Columbia have filed lawsuits against TikTok on Tuesday, alleging the popular short-form video app is harming youth mental health by designing its platform to be addictive to kids. At the heart of each lawsuit is the TikTok algorithm, which powers what users see on the platform by populating the app’s main “For You” feed with content tailored to people’s interests. The lawsuits also emphasize design features that they say make children addicted to the platform.
North Carolina residents impacted by Helene likely to see some voting changes
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina State Board of Elections has unanimously passed an emergency resolution to make several voting changes in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene devastated the region. The board is made up of both Democrats and Republicans. The resolution passed Monday includes changes for 13 affected counties in western North Carolina such as allowing absentee ballots to be dropped off at Election Day polling places by 7:30 p.m. It also lets impacted voters pick up absentee ballots in-person until the day before the election. County election boards may also make changes to where early voting and Election Day polling places are located.
Home insurers argue for a 42% average premium hike in North Carolina
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A hearing has started in North Carolina over the insurance industry’s request to raise homeowner premiums by more than 42% on average. A top lieutenant for Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey began hearing what’s expected to be multiple weeks of testimony and evidence on Monday. Any decision would likely come by year’s end. An industry attorney said inflation and more storms require rate increases to ensure claims are covered and companies get a fair profit. A lawyer for the state says the industry’s requests are inflated. In western counties hit hard by Helene, the insurers want 20.5%. They’re seeking 99% for some beachfront properties.
Voters in North Carolina and Georgia have bigger problems than politics. Helene changed everything
VILAS, N.C. (AP) — Residents in North Carolina’s Watauga County are focused on survival rather than politics after Hurricane Helene ravaged much of the western part of the state. The storm and the destruction that followed came only weeks before the president election. And North Carolina is one of the most important swing states. But the race between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris has taken a back seat as North Carolinians try to find loved ones who are missing and try to rebuild their homes and their lives. That hasn’t stopped the candidates from making frequent stops in North Carolina and neighboring Georgia in the storm’s aftermath.
Mexican immigrant families plagued by grief, questions after plant workers swept away by Helene
ERWIN, Tenn. (AP) — Hurricane Helene left a devastating mark on the small Latino community that makes up a disproportionate number of workers at a plastics factory in Erwin, Tennessee. Six of its workers were swept away, four of them Mexican Americans. Loved ones and supporters have been gathering for vigils in front of churches, a high school and a grocery store to honor those lost. They question why Impact Plastics workers weren’t told to leave the job sooner. Company President Gerald O’Connor says no employees were forced to keep working. He says they were evacuated at least 45 minutes before the massive force of the flood hit the industrial park.
World/National
Stock market today: Wall Street holds firmer after Hong Kong stocks fall to worst day since 2008
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are steadying themselves as falling oil prices release some of the pressure that’s built up on the market. The S&P 500 was 0.6% higher in Tuesday morning trading and clawing back some of its losses from the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 30 points, while the Nasdaq composite was 1% higher. Wall Street held firm even though stock markets around the world sank following scary swings in China, as euphoria about possible stimulus for the world’s second-largest economy gave way to disappointment. Stocks tumbled 9.4% in Hong Kong for their worst day since 2008.
Tampa Bay hasn’t been hit directly by a major hurricane since 1921. Milton may be the one
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is seeking to assure residents of the state’s western coast as a dangerous Hurricane Milton approaches that there is enough gas for them to fuel up and get out of harm’s way. Milton could land a once-in-a-century direct hit on the populous Tampa Bay region with towering storm surges. DeSantis said Tuesday morning at a news briefing that “fuel continues to arrive in the state of Florida” despite long lines at gas stations. With the storm expected to retain hurricane strength as it crosses Florida, parts of the eastern coast are also under hurricane warnings.
Vigils, protests around the world commemorate the anniversary of Hamas attack on Israel
NEW YORK (AP) — Commemorations and protests are being held across the world to mark a year since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Many world leaders are calling for an end to antisemitism and the release of Israeli hostages. Pro-Palestinian protesters are decrying the toll of death and destruction in Gaza from Israel’s military response last year’s cross-border attack. It killed about 1,200 people and left the world facing the prospect of another major conflict in the Middle East. Those divisions were visible in New York, where a crowd gathered for an evening remembrance ceremony in Central Park even as a blocks-long column of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through midtown Manhattan.
Stock market today: Wall Street slides after Treasury yields climb back above 4% and oil rises
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks slid after Treasury yields hit their highest levels since the summer and oil prices continued to climb. The S&P 500 fell 1% Monday, though it’s still close to its all-time high set a week ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.9% from its record set on Friday. The Nasdaq composite lost 1.2%. Stocks felt pressure from jumping Treasury yields, as traders ratchet back forecasts for how deeply the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rates following Friday’s blowout jobs report. Crude oil prices added to their big gains from the prior week.
Hurricane Milton is a Category 5. Florida orders evacuations and scrambles to clear Helene’s debris
BELLEAIR BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Milton has become a Category 5 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico on a path toward Florida’s west coast. Milton’s growth Monday sets the stage for a dangerous storm surge in Tampa Bay and potential mass evacuations less than two weeks after a catastrophic Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline. Milton’s center could come ashore Wednesday in the Tampa area, and it could remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean. It is threatening Florida less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene caused deaths and catastrophic damage in that state and well inland.
Entertainment
Harris is still introducing herself as she sets out on a media tour with voting already underway
NEW YORK (AP) — Kamala Harris has three media appearances on Tuesday in New York. She sat for a conversation with the women of “The View,” will speak with radio host Howard Stern and will tape a show with late-night comedian Stephen Colbert. The blitz comes after Harris has largely avoided interviews since replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket. Long past the midway point of her unexpected presidential campaign and with voting already underway, Harris is still introducing herself to Americans who will determine this year’s presidential election.
After years of finding the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame cold as ice, Foreigner now knows what love is
NEW YORK (AP) — The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is about to rectify a wrong that some rock fans may celebrate with their lighters up in the air — the band Foreigner will be finally welcomed in. The English-American rockers — with hits like “Cold as Ice,” “Hot Blooded” and “Waiting for a Girl Like You” — topped the charts in the ’70s and ’80s but never made it into the hall — much less a ballot — until last year, despite being eligible for more than 20 years. The belated embrace by rock’s establishment has a bittersweet taste, since two original members have died and guitarist Mick Jones has Parkinson’s disease. They’ll be inducted Oct. 19.
Cissy Houston, a Grammy-winning gospel singer and Whitney Houston’s mother, dies at 91
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cissy Houston, a two-time Grammy-winning singer who performed alongside superstar musicians like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin and the mother of Whitney Houston, has died. She was 91. Her daughter-in-law Pat Houston tells The Associated Press that Houston died Monday morning in her New Jersey home while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease. The acclaimed gospel singer was surrounded by family members. Houston was in the well-known vocal group, the Sweet Inspirations, with Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warwick. Houston won Grammys for her albums “Face to Face” in 1997 and “He Leadeth Me” the following year in the best traditional soul gospel album category.
‘Magical’ flotilla of hot air balloons take flight at international fiesta amid warm temperatures
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A flotilla of hot air balloons ascended into a clear desert sky on Saturday to kick off a colorful mass ascension at the 52nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The nine-day gathering draws hundreds of thousands of spectators and pilots to New Mexico each fall for the rare opportunity to be within arm’s reach as giant balloons are unpacked and inflated. Balloons took flight to screams of delight after a brief weather delay and were spirited away by a gentle breeze. Propane burners roared and hundreds of balloons — from traditional globes to cartoonish figures — speckled the sky with color.
Keanu Reeves spins out at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in pro auto racing debut
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Hollywood star Keanu Reeves made his professional auto racing debut in an event in which “The Matrix” star spun out at famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Reeves spun into the grass Saturday without a collision on the exit of Turn 9 a little more than halfway through the 45-minute race. He re-entered and continued driving, signaling he was uninjured. Reeves, who is 60 years old, is competing at Indianapolis in Toyota GR Cup, a Toyota spec-racing series and a support series for this weekend’s Indy 8 Hour sports car event. He has a second race Sunday.
Sports
NCAA’s $2.78 billion settlement with colleges to allow athlete payments gets preliminary approval
A judge has given preliminary approval to the $2.78 billion legal settlement that figures to transform college sports. U.S District Judge Claudia Wilken released an order Monday setting a timeline for a deal that would put millions of dollars into the pockets of college athletes, who can begin applying for payment on Oct. 18. A final hearing is set for April 2025. If finalized, the deal would allow the biggest schools to establish a pool of about $21.5 million in the first year to distribute to athletes, who would still be able to cut name, image and likeness deals with outside groups.
Blowout loss to Bears another reminder of just badly the Panthers botched 2023 trade for Bryce Young
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Sunday’s game served as yet another unneeded reminder for the Carolina Panthers of just how badly they botched the trade for Bryce Young in 2023 — and how far back it has set the franchise. Caleb Williams threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns. Both of those went to former Carolina wide receiver D.J. Moore as the Bears routed the Panthers 36-10 in Chicago. Moore was part of the deal in which the Panthers also sent four draft picks to the Bears to move up to the No. 1 overall pick to acquire a franchise quarterback. The Panthers took Young over C.J. Stroud, and things have been a disaster ever since. Young is 2-16 as a starter and is now a backup.
Stenhouse snaps 65-race losing streak after late crash at Talladega scrambles playoff picture
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. snapped a 65-race losing streak by winning in overtime at Talladega Superspeedway after a late crash collected more than half the field, including eight of the 12 championship contenders. Stenhouse is not in the playoffs and his victory Sunday marked the second consecutive week a driver not competing for the Cup Series title has won. The victory was the first for Stenhouse and his JTG Daugherty Racing team since he won the season-opening Daytona 500 to start 2023. Four drivers will be eliminated from the playoffs next Sunday on the hybrid road course/oval at Charlotte. Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe are all below the cutline.
Caleb Williams and DJ Moore lead the way in Bears’ 36-10 rout of Panthers
CHICAGO (AP) — Caleb Williams threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns in his best performance to date, DJ Moore added 105 yards receiving and two scores against his former team and the Chicago Bears beat the Carolina Panthers 36-10. The Bears won their second straight after dropping two in a row, with the two key pieces they acquired as a result of a blockbuster trade with Carolina in 2023 leading the way. Chicago also got a big performance from D’Andre Swift. He had 120 yards from scrimmage and a TD. Williams picked apart a banged-up defense that ranks among the NFL’s worst. The No. 1 overall draft pick completed 20 of 29 passes with no interceptions and a 126.2 rating that was his best.
Holstein powers Pitt past struggling Tar Heels 34-24 for its first 5-0 start since 1991
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Eli Holstein threw three touchdowns and rushed for another as Pittsburgh beat North Carolina 34-24 Saturday. Holstein completed 25-of-42 passes for a career-best 381 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for a team-high 76 yards and a score to lead the Panthers (5-0, 1-0 ACC). It’s the third consecutive loss for UNC (3-3, 0-2 ACC) Omarion Hampton paced the offense with 106 rushing yards and a score. UNC defensive back Kaleb Cost had an 84-yard pick-six in the first quarter, but the Tar Heels failed to seize momentum as Pitt piled up 520 yards of total offense.
