Triangle/Local
USDA scholarship for students at North Carolina A&T suspended
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal scholarship aimed at boosting students from underserved and rural areas attending historically Black colleges and universities has been put on hold. The U.S. Department of Agriculture suspended the 1890 Scholars Program, which provided recipients with full tuition and fees for students studying…
Snowy roads lead to hundreds of Virginia and North Carolina crashes as Arctic air brings record cold
By BEN FINLEY, MAKIYA SEMINERA and SARAH BRUMFIELD Associated Press NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Officials in Virginia and North Carolina asked drivers to avoid travel Thursday as unusually heavy snow led to hundreds of accidents, including crashes on an interstate that involved more than 50…
Winter-weary East Coast hit with another storm as temperatures plunge elsewhere
By BEN FINLEY and JOHN RABY Associated Press NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Officials urged people to stay off the roads Wednesday in portions of Virginia and North Carolina where a storm dropped heavy snow and caused hundreds of accidents in places unaccustomed to significant accumulations.…
Gov Stein declares State of Emergency in advance of winter storm
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has declared a state of emergency as a major winter storm approaches, expected to bring snow, sleet, and freezing rain across the state starting Wednesday. State agencies, power companies, and local authorities are gearing up for…
What is a polar vortex? US gets a taste of the Arctic this week
The term “polar vortex” usually refers to the gigantic circular upper air weather pattern in the Arctic region. It is a normal pattern that is stronger in the winter and keeps some of the coldest weather bottled up near the North Pole. But at times…
State/Regional
North Carolina’s insurance commissioner is out of the hospital after heart surgery
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey was released from the hospital Thursday, a spokesperson said, 10 days after undergoing heart surgery that wasn’t revealed publicly until well after it occurred. Department spokesperson Jason Tyson said the Republican commissioner, who won a third four-year…
Phil Berger’s confirms reelection bid, setting up likely 2026 primary with local sheriff
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger confirmed plans Tuesday to seek reelection to his chamber seat in 2026, days after his home-county sheriff said he’d run for the seat regardless of whether his fellow Republican would seek it again. Longtime Rockingham County Sheriff…
Arctic air sweeping south over Plains shatters record temperatures in North Dakota
By JACK DURA Associated Press BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — More than 95 million people are facing gripping cold Tuesday as a polar vortex sends temperatures plunging to record levels, closing schools, bursting pipes and forcing communities to set up more temporary shelters for the homeless.…
World/National
Judge rejects immediately restoring AP’s access to White House but urges government to reconsider
By MATT SEDENSKY AP National Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Monday refused to immediately order the White House to restore The Associated Press’ access to presidential events, saying the news organization had not demonstrated it had suffered any irreparable harm. But he…
FDA moves to rehire medical device, food safety and other staffers fired days earlier
By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Barely a week after mass firings at the Food and Drug Administration, some probationary staffers received unexpected news over the weekend: The government wants them back. Beginning Friday night, FDA employees overseeing medical devices, food ingredients and…
Patients struggle with lack of consistent coverage for popular weight-loss drugs
By TOM MURPHY AP Health Writer Supplies of high-demand obesity treatments are improving, but that doesn’t mean it’s easier to get them. Many employers and insurers are scaling back coverage of Wegovy and Zepbound and a key government program, Medicare, doesn’t cover the drugs for obesity. Meanwhile,…
Pope Francis is in critical condition after a long respiratory crisis, requiring oxygen at high flow
By NICOLE WINFIELD and SILVIA STELLACCI Associated Press ROME (AP) — Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection, the Vatican said. The 88-year-old pope, who remains conscious,…
Trump loyalist Kash Patel is confirmed as FBI director by the Senate despite deep Democratic doubts
By ERIC TUCKER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday narrowly voted to confirm Kash Patel as director of the FBI, moving to place him atop the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency despite doubts from Democrats about his qualifications and concerns he will do…
Entertainment
Joy Reid is leaving MSNBC as her evening show is canceled
NEW YORK (AP) — Joy Reid is leaving MSNBC, the network’s new president announced in a memo to staff on Monday, marking an end to the political analyst and anchor’s prime time news show. Reid’s namesake show, “The ReidOut,” has been a fixture of MSNBC’s…
Roberta Flack, Grammy-winning singer with an intimate style, dies at 88
By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer and pianist whose intimate vocal and musical style made her one of the top recordings artists of the 1970s and an influential performer long after, died Monday. She was 88. She died…
Monty the giant schnauzer wins Westminster dog show
By JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — This time, the giant schnauzer went the full Monty. After coming close in the last two years, Monty the giant schnauzer won the top prize at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday night, leaving handler and co-owner…
Irv Gotti, music executive who created Murder Inc. Records, dies at 54
NEW YORK (AP) — Irv Gotti, a music mogul who founded Murder Inc. Records and was behind major hip-hop and R&B artists such as Ashanti and Ja Rule, has died. He was 54. Def Jam Recordings, which was the parent company of Murder Inc., announced…
Beyoncé wins album of the year at the 2025 Grammys for ‘Cowboy Carter’
By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Beyoncé won album of the year for “Cowboy Carter” at Sunday’s Grammys, delivering her — at last — the show’s elusive top award. The superstar, who is both the most awarded and nominated artist in Grammys history, has been…
Sports
RJ Davis, Seth Trimble lead North Carolina to 96-85 victory over Florida State
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — RJ Davis had 20 points, Seth Trimble came off the bench to score 17 and North Carolina cruised to a 96-85 victory over Florida State on Monday night. Davis made 5 of 9 shots with three 3-pointers and 7 of 8…
Withers had 16 points, 11 rebounds in North Carolina’s 81-66 win over Virginia
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Jae’Lyn Withers scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Ian Jackson also scored 16 points and North Carolina defeated Virginia 81-66 on Saturday. Withers was 4 of 6 on 3-pointers in posting his second double-double this season and Jackson added…
Robot umpires are getting their first MLB test during spring training
By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A computerized system that calls balls and strikes is being tested during Major League Baseball spring training exhibition games starting Thursday after four years of experiments in the minor leagues. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is…
RJ Davis scores 21 to help North Carolina beat NC State 97-73
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — RJ Davis scored 21 points, Seth Davis added 15 on 6-of-9 shooting and North Carolina never trailed Wednesday night as the Tar Heels beat in-state rival N.C. State 97-73. Ven-Allen Lubin scored 13 points and Ian Jackson 12 for North…
NASCAR files appeal against 23XI and Front Row just 1 hour before Daytona 500 qualifying begins
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — NASCAR filed a 68-page appeal Wednesday night — roughly one hour before the start of Daytona 500 qualifying — arguing a federal judge erred in recognizing 23XI Motorsports and Front Row Motorsports as chartered teams…