Triangle/Local
Ex-congressman Nickel entering race to unseat North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel of North Carolina announced on Wednesday his candidacy to try to unseat Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026, saying a “fighter for what’s right for our state” is needed and…
Deputies kill armed man inside North Carolina hospital ER, sheriff says
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP) — Deputies fatally shot a man inside a North Carolina hospital’s emergency room Tuesday after authorities said he pointed a gun at them. Law enforcement officers arrived at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center in Elizabeth City at 1:18 a.m. in response to…
Rare greenhouse gas law in NC could get pulled back by GOP legislators
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican lawmakers and the Democratic governor worked together in 2021 to enact a rare energy law in the South that sought to sharply reduce power plant emissions by 2030 and ultimately reach carbon neutrality. “Today,…
First disappointment and then a celebration as video captures high school band’s big surprise
SNOW HILL, N.C. (AP) — It had been decades since Greene Central High School’s band competed in North Carolina’s statewide competition for musicians. While band members hoped to do well, they weren’t prepared for the surprise they got. It started when band director Andrew Howell…
North Carolina judge challenging outcome of race wore Confederate uniform in college photo
By BRIAN SLODYSKO and MICHAEL BIESECKER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge challenging the outcome of his North Carolina Supreme Court race was photographed wearing Confederate military garb and posing before a Confederate battle flag when he was a member of a college fraternity…
State/Regional
North Carolina Supreme Court rules most challenged ballots must stay in election count
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Supreme Court ruled on Friday that tens of thousands of cast ballots challenged by the trailing candidate in November’s unresolved election for a seat on the court must remain in the election count. The decision…
Court directive to notify voters in close North Carolina election blocked for now
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Supreme Court temporarily halted enforcement on Monday of an appeals court decision that favored a Republican candidate in a close and unresolved November election for a seat on the state’s highest court. In a pair of one-sentence…
North Carolina judges side with Republican colleague in close Supreme Court race
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina appeals court sided Friday with the trailing Republican candidate in an extremely close state Supreme Court election, a ruling that could flip the result of the nation’s only 2024 race that is…
What you do before and during a tornado could mean the difference between life and death
By JEFF MARTIN Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — With new innovations and technology, scientists have learned from major tornado outbreaks over the years how to improve safety guidance. During tornado season, forecasters try to get the word out about staying safe during a storm — but also…
North Carolina Senate Republicans pick Lee as next majority leader
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Senate Republicans chose a new majority leader on Tuesday, elevating a veteran lawmaker who has won close swing district races to a top position in the chamber’s GOP caucus. A news release said…
World/National
Vultures are among the least loved animals. African conservationists are trying to change that
By GERALD IMRAY Associated Press CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Vultures have an image problem. Seen as ugly and associated with death, they are among the least loved animals in the world. But conservationists in Africa are trying to change that. They’ve launched an…
Supreme Court says Trump administration must work to bring back mistakenly deported Maryland man
By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday said the Trump administration must work to bring back a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to prison in El Salvador, rejecting the administration’s emergency appeal. The court acted in the case of Kilmar Abrego…
House approves budget framework for Trump’s ‘big’ bill after intense wrangling sways GOP holdouts
By LISA MASCARO and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans narrowly approved their budget framework Thursday, a political turnaround after Speaker Mike Johnson worked into the night to satisfy GOP holdouts who had refused to advance trillions of dollars in tax breaks without deeper spending cuts.…
Supreme Court allows Trump’s firings of independent agency board members to take effect, for now
By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the Trump administration to oust two board members who oversee independent agencies, for now. The action seems to signal the court’s support for President Donald Trump’s effort to remove limits on his power to…
Roof collapse at Dominican club kills at least 113 as officials scramble to identify victims
By MARTÍN ADAMES ALCÁNTARA and DÁNICA COTO Associated Press SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The legendary Jet Set club in Santo Domingo was packed with musicians, professional athletes and government officials when dust began falling from the ceiling and into people’s drinks. Minutes later, the entire roof…
Entertainment
Final Four games average 15.3 million viewers, its biggest audience in 8 years
NEW YORK (AP) — Saturday night’s Final Four games averaged 15.3 million viewers on CBS according to fast national numbers from Nielsen, the most-watched national semifinals in eight years. The data also includes some out-of-home data. Numbers are expected to increase when the final numbers…
Val Kilmer, ‘Top Gun’ and Batman star with an intense approach, dies at 65
By MARK KENNEDY and ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writers LOS ANGELES (AP) — Val Kilmer, the brooding, versatile actor who played fan favorite Iceman in “Top Gun,” donned a voluminous cape as Batman in “Batman Forever” and portrayed Jim Morrison in “The Doors,” has died. He…
What to know about the bird flu outbreak in wild birds and what it means for backyard bird feeders
By CHRISTINA LARSON AP Science Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Bird flu has devastated poultry and dairy farms, and sent the price of eggs soaring in the United States since it was first detected in North America in late 2021. But what has been the toll on wild birds? More than…
Why are clocks set forward in the spring? Thank wars, confusion and a hunger for sunlight
By JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press DALLAS (AP) — Once again, most Americans will set their clocks forward by one hour this weekend, losing perhaps a bit of sleep but gaining more glorious sunlight in the evenings as the days warm into summer. Where did this all come…
Angry Birds, Frogger and others are finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — This year’s finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame include trailblazers in esports, electronic pets and portable gaming, as well as the arcade favorite brought to life in a 1998 episode of “Seinfeld.” The Hall of Fame revealed the…
Sports
John Andrzejek won a national title with Florida to start the week. Now he’s Campbell’s head coach
By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer BUIES CREEK, N.C. (AP) — John Andrzejek is finally done with juggling coaching duties. Andrzejek spent nearly three weeks fitting in work as the newly named head coach at Campbell between his duties as an assistant at Florida. Now, less…
Hearing begins for $2.8 billion NCAA settlement, could lock in seismic changes for college sports
By EDDIE PELLS and JANIE McCAULEY Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A federal judge opened the final hearing for a landmark $2.8 billion settlement that will impact every corner of college athletics by saying she will not be granting formal approval on Monday. U.S. District Judge…
Duke’s push for 6th NCAA title falls apart in unlikely late collapse against Houston in Final Four
By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Up by double figures in the second half at the Final Four, closing in on the chance to play for yet another national championship, Duke was right where it had worked all season to be.…
ACC is moving its women’s basketball tournament from Greensboro to the Atlanta area in 2026
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball tournament will move from its longtime home in North Carolina to the Atlanta area in 2026, the league announced Thursday. The tournament will be held at the 13,000-seat Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia, which…
Sears, Alabama can’t duplicate record 3-point night, fall to Duke with Final Four at stake
By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Mark Sears shot a free throw late in the second half that could have cut Alabama’s deficit to 10 — a last-gasp effort at a comeback still within reach — and watched the ball clang…