Triangle/Local
North Carolina’s first standalone children’s hospital set to bring 8,000 jobs to Apex
APEX, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s first standalone children’s hospital will be built in a bedroom community of Raleigh. UNC Health and Duke Health announced the Apex location on Thursday. The announcement follows their January agreement to jointly develop the 500-bed pediatric hospital. The campus will also include outpatient care, over 100 behavioral health beds, and a research and education center. The project is expected to bring 8,000 jobs to the area and will be incorporated into a mixed-use development location. A campus construction groundbreaking is set to begin in 2027, with an estimated cost of $2 billion to $3 billion.
3 potential storm deaths in North Carolina after Chantal, officials say
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Officials in North Carolina say there were three potential storm-related deaths amid flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal. North Carolina Emergency Management spokesperson Justin Graney says state health officials are working on confirmation of the deaths in Chatham, Orange and Alamance counties. During a visit to Mebane in Alamance County on Tuesday, Gov. Josh Stein said the storm destroyed homes and impaired businesses and lives were lost. He says officials are still assessing the scale of the damage and working on a final number of deaths. Officials say crews are working to restore power, utilities and road access.
Family of 4, including 2 children, killed in North Carolina plane crash
SANFORD, N.C. (AP) — A family of four from North Carolina has died in a small plane crash as they flew back from Florida. Officials say the crash happened Monday afternoon, just miles from the plane’s base in Sanford, which is southwest of Raleigh. The victims were 35-year-old Travis and Candace Buchanan as well as their children, 10-year-old Aubrey Buchanan and 9-year-old Walker Buchanan. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. Local community members say the family owned a farm in Sanford and an employee says the family was heading back from the beach.
Twisting the truth: study finds fake news often rides on real headlines
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – A new study published in Nature reveals that fake news doesn’t always come from fake sources. Researchers found that social media users often share reputable headlines in misleading ways—using real facts to back false claims. Duke University’s Jon Green says it’s not just about who publishes the information, but how it’s framed and shared online.
Nine months after Helene: The Southeast still reels from rare hurricane damage
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – It’s been nine months since Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeast, leaving behind deadly floods, unprecedented wind damage, and a recovery process still far from over. While originally classified as a rain event, experts now say Helene’s wind damage—especially in North Carolina’s mountains—was far worse than initially thought. New research using satellite imagery is shedding light on just how intense and unusual the storm’s impact truly was.
State/Regional
North Carolina governor vetoes another set of bills, including one on guns in private schools
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Josh Stein has cleared his desk of the last of the legislation passed to him from the North Carolina General Assembly this legislative session. The governor vetoed three of the bills Wednesday. One of the vetoed bills would allow certain people to carry firearms on private school property with permission from certain school administrators. Stein says the bill would make children less safe. Republican proponents say the bill would help private schools in rural areas. The two other vetoes deal with nonprofit donor information and removing unauthorized people from residential property. Possible veto override attempts could occur starting later this month.
Swain County sheriff steps down after sexual misconduct charges
BRYSON CITY, N.C. (AP) — The longtime sheriff of a western North Carolina county who was suspended following allegations of sexual misconduct has retired. Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran was first elected in 2006. He stepped down effective July 1. He faces multiple state charges, including sexual battery and felonious restraint, as well as tribal charges from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Two women say Cochran made unwanted sexual advances toward them last month. The local district attorney filed papers seeking to have him permanently removed from office.
Flooding from Chantal’s remnants forces dozens to flee homes in North Carolina
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Officials in North Carolina say heavy rain and flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal forced dozens of people to flee their homes. The Chapel Hill Fire Department and neighboring agencies completed more than 50 water rescues, many of them in areas where floodwaters entered or threatened to enter apartments. Chapel Hill officials said Monday that more than 60 people were displaced Sunday and Monday. In Orange County, the possibility of the failure of the Lake Michael Dam prompted officials to issue a voluntary evacuation for areas downstream. In Chatham County, Sheriff Mike Roberson warned residents that water may have subsided in some areas, but it was still dangerous to travel. He says officials were searching for some missing persons.
North Carolina governor vetoes anti-DEI and transgender rights bills, calling them ‘mean-spirited’
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has vetoed three anti-DEI bills and another targeting transgender rights. Stein criticized on Thursday the Republican-led legislature for prioritizing what he called “mean-spirited” bills that it sent to his desk. The anti-DEI bills would cut or eliminate diversity programs in government and education. The transgender-related bill includes restrictions on state-funded gender-affirming care for prisoners and other provisions. Republicans argue these laws promote fairness and parental rights. The legislature may attempt to override the vetoes later this month. Stein has vetoed 11 bills since January, all within the past two weeks.
Medicaid, food aid recipients worry about safety net cuts in bill sent to Trump
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The nation’s social safety net would face massive changes under a bill headed to President Donald Trump’s desk. There would be a work requirement for many people to get or keep Medicaid health insurance, and a similar requirement for older adults to receive food assistance. Paperwork requirements would also increase. Planned Parenthood could no longer get federal funding for its non-abortion health services. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says that by 2034, the bill would result in nearly 12 million more uninsured people in the U.S. Supporters say the measures will save taxpayers money, enhance personal responsibility and block fraud.
World/National
Stocks close higher, nudging the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to more highs
Stocks are off to a sluggish start on Wall Street, while Delta Air Lines led a rally in airline stocks after releasing a solid outlook for the rest of 2025. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% in early trading Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 55 points, or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.4%. The Nasdaq, which is heavily weighted with big technology companies, set an all-time high the day before. Cereal maker WK Kellogg soared after agreeing to be acquired by Nutella maker Ferrero Group. Copper prices rose.
Flamingos are stirring up trouble and ravaging rice for risotto in Italy’s northeast
JOLANDA DI SAVOIA, Italy (AP) — Farmers in Italy’s northeastern Po Delta region are battling an unusual pest: flamingos. These birds have been invading rice paddies and damaging crops while searching for food like mollusks and insects. Farmers are using noisy tactics such as gas cannons and banging barrels to scare them off, but the birds often move to nearby fields. Some farmers report losing up to 90% of their crops. There have been no studies to determine why flamingos seek food inland where farmers flood fields from late spring to early summer. Ornithologists suggest humane solutions like planting hedges or lowering water levels in paddies to deter the birds while protecting the rice.
Nutella maker Ferrero plans to buy century-old cereal maker WK Kellogg for $3.1 billion
Italian confectioner Ferrero, known for brands like Nutella and Kinder, is buying the century-old U.S. cereal company WK Kellogg in a deal valued at approximately $3.1 billion. The Ferrero Group said Thursday it will pay $23 for each Kellogg share. The transaction includes the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of WK Kellogg Co.’s portfolio of breakfast cereals across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Kellogg was founded in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1906. It makes Fruit Loops, Special K, Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies. The deal still needs the approval of WK Kellogg’s shareholders.
Harrowing stories of rescue emerge from Texas floods as crews search for over 160 reported missing
HUNT, Texas (AP) — Texas police described some of the harrowing rescues they conducted after flash floods engulfed camps and homes in the state’s Hill Country. An officer who was trapped himself spotted dozens of people stranded on roofs and waded out to bring them to safety. That’s according to a fellow officer who spoke Wednesday to a news conference. Another off-duty officer tied a garden hose around his waist so he could reach two people clinging to a tree above swirling floodwaters. More than 160 people still are believed to be missing and at least 118 have died in the floods. The floods are now the deadliest from inland flooding in the U.S. since 1976.
Gains for tech stocks push Nasdaq to another record
A rally in big tech stocks led Wall Street to a higher close, lifting the Nasdaq to another all-time high. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.9%. Nvidia became the first public company to top $4 trillion in value. Merck rose after announcing it would buy Verona Pharma, a U.K. company that focuses on respiratory diseases. Copper prices eased after spiking a day earlier as President Donald Trump said he would impose 50% tariffs on imports of the metal. Treasury yields slipped in the bond market.
Entertainment
Latest ‘Tiger King’ twist finds ‘Doc’ Antle sentenced to 1 year in prison for animal trafficking
Bhagavan “Doc” Antle from the Netflix series “Tiger King” could be sent to prison as he is sentenced in a federal courtroom in South Carolina. Antle pleaded guilty in November 2023 to charges of exotic animal trafficking and money laundering. Prosecutors say he illegally traded animals like lions and cheetahs and laundered over $500,000, allegedly tied to human smuggling. Antle ran Myrtle Beach Safari and gained fame for offering pricey animal encounters. His sentencing marks the final legal chapter of the “Tiger King” saga that captivated audiences during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. Joe Exotic and other figures from the series are also serving prison sentences for various crimes.
Ozzy Osbourne says farewell to live performance with a hometown show for 40,000 fans
LONDON (AP) — Ozzy Osbourne has performed what he says is his final live show, thrilling 40,000 fans in Birmingham, England, on Saturday. The 76-year-old heavy metal icon sang from a black throne and reunited with Black Sabbath bandmates for the first time in 20 years. The band closed their set with the classic song “Paranoid.” The performance capped a day-long metal festival featuring acts including Metallica and Guns N’ Roses. Osbourne, who revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020, thanked fans, calling them “special.” Osbourne formed Black Sabbath in 1968 in Birmingham, a city that became the crucible of the British metal sceneKnown as a pioneer of heavy metal. He reached a new audience through the MTV reality show “The Osbournes.”
Michael Madsen, ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ star, dies at 67
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Madsen, whose menacing characters in “Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill” made him a standout in Quentin Tarantino’s films, has died. He was 67. Madsen’s manager says the actor was found unresponsive in his home in Malibu, California, on Thursday and was declared dead from what appeared to be cardiac arrest. Madsen’s career spanned more than 300 credits stretching back to the early 1980s, many in low budget films. But his most memorable screen moment may have been the sadistic torture of a captured police officer in 1992’s “Reservoir Dogs.” He would become a Tarantino regular, appearing in the “Kill Bill” films and “The Hateful Eight.”
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is denied bail after mixed verdict clears him of top charges in sex crimes case
NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has declined to set Sean “Diddy” Combs free on bail to await sentencing in his sex crimes case. Combs was convicted Wednesday of federal prostitution-related offenses but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges. The 55-year-old Combs has been behind bars since his September arrest. He stands convicted of two counts of a crime that carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. But the jury cleared him of charges that could have put him behind bars for life. The judge will decide Combs’ punishment and suggested Oct. 3 as a sentencing date. A virtual hearing is set for Tuesday on the defense’s request for an earlier date.
No verdict on first day of jury deliberations at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial
NEW YORK (AP) — Jury deliberations got underway in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial and quickly hit a snag. But, by end of day Monday, jurors indicated they were making progress weighing complex charges that could put the hip-hop mogul in prison for life. The first day of deliberations saw several notes from the jury and Combs and his supporters bowing their heads in prayer in the courtroom — but no verdict. The jury of eight men and four women are sifting through sometimes graphic and emotional testimony about the rap, fashion and reality TV impresario’s propensity for violence and his sexual predilections, including drug-fueled sex marathons dubbed “freak-offs.”
Sports
Joe Coleman, No. 3 pick in the first MLB draft who pitched for Senators and Tigers, dies at 78
Joe Coleman, a lanky right-hander who won 142 games in 15 major league seasons and was an All-Star in 1972 with Detroit, has died. He was 78. Casey Coleman said his father died in his sleep Wednesday morning in Jamestown, Tennessee. Coleman became the No. 3 pick in baseball’s inaugural amateur draft in 1965 when he was selected by the Washington Senators. He enjoyed his greatest individual success with the Tigers, going 88-73 with a 3.82 ERA from 1971-76. Coleman’s father, also named Joe, pitched in the majors from 1942-55. Casey Coleman pitched in the majors from 2010-14.
Former Olympic wrestler and MMA star Ben Askren recovering from double lung transplant
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Olympic wrestler and former UFC fighter Ben Askren has undergone a double lung transplant after battling severe pneumonia. In a social media post Wednesday, Askren shared that he is now recovering. He revealed he remembers little from a 45-day ordeal between late May and early July, during which he was on a ventilator and his heart stopped four times. Askren lost 50 pounds during the experience but expressed gratitude for the love and support he received. Known for his amateur wrestling and MMA career, Askren retired in 2019 and briefly returned for a boxing match in 2021.
Clayton Kershaw makes his 11th All-Star team. James Wood is the youngest All-Star at 22
NEW YORK (AP) — Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has been selected for his 11th All-Star Game, joining the roster as a Legend Pick by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. At 37, Kershaw is the oldest National League All-Star for the July 15 game at Atlanta’s Truist Park while 22-year-old James Wood is the youngest overall. There are 19 first-time All-Stars and five 23 or younger, with Wood joined by Paul Skenes, Elly De La Cruz and elected starters Pete Crow-Armstrong and Jacob Wilson.
Djokovic’s daughter steals the show at Wimbledon with her victory dance
LONDON (AP) — Seven-year-old Tara Djokovic wowed Wimbledon with a victory dance after dad’s win on Saturday. Novak Djokovic had just clinched his 100th Wimbledon singles win and was asked during his on-court interview to shed light on the little dance he’s been doing recently. He said it’s done to a song called “Pump It Up.” A smiling Djokovic looked into the crowd and asked, “You want to show it darling?” The TV camera then panned to Tara, who showed everyone how it’s done: pump your fists down, then left, right and overhead. The crowd roared.
Joey ‘Jaws’ Chestnut reclaims title in Famous hot dog eating contest, wins 17th Mustard Belt
Famed competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut has reclaimed his title at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest after skipping last year’s event. The 41-year-old from Westfield, Indiana, secured his 17th Mustard Belt in 20 appearances before cheering fans at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. He had missed the 2024 competition over a contract dispute involving a deal he had struck with a competing brand, the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods. Defending champion Miki Sudo won her 11th title in the women’s division. The event, held outside the original Nathan’s Famous restaurant, dates back to 1972 and draws large crowds of fans.
