Triangle/Local
North Carolina justices decide family can sue over unwanted COVID-19 shot
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina mother and son can sue a public school system and a doctors’ group on allegations they gave the boy a COVID-19 vaccine without consent, the state Supreme Court ruled on Friday, reversing…
North Carolina’s largest public university NC State names new chancellor
By MAKIYA SEMINERA Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The University of North Carolina Board of Governors has chosen the next person to lead the state’s largest public university by enrollment after its longtime chancellor is set to retire soon. Kevin Howell was named the…
North Carolina GOP town hall gets rowdy as attendees hurl scathing questions on Trump
By MAKIYA SEMINERA Associated Press ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Before answering an attendee’s question about President Donald Trump’s “destructive and disastrous trade war,” U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards made a plea to the rowdy crowd at his Thursday town hall in Asheville, North Carolina. “Let me…
Tens of billions in Hurricane Helene aid to start by March 21
By JEFF AMY and RUSS BYNUM Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Tens of billions in aid for victims of Hurricane Helene should start flowing later this month, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins pledged Wednesday, but delays are already making it hard this year for some…
Schools use AI to monitor kids, hoping to prevent violence. Our investigation found security risks
By CLAIRE BRYAN of The Seattle Times and SHARON LURYE of The Associated Press One student asked a search engine, “Why does my boyfriend hit me?” Another threatened suicide in an email to an unrequited love. A gay teen opened up in an online diary…
State/Regional
North Carolina lawmakers approve additional $528M for Hurricane Helene recovery
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina lawmakers agreed Wednesday to spend another $528 million on still-pressing needs from Hurricane Helene’s historic flooding nearly six months ago, with an emphasis on home and private road repairs, agriculture and infrastructure to aid businesses.…
New North Carolina governor seeks to freeze tax cuts, phase out school vouchers in budget
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Democratic Gov. Josh Stein on Wednesday urged Republicans in charge of the legislature to roll back upcoming income tax rate cuts and scale back private school vouchers that now can be received by families of…
North Carolina’s new governor seeks more Helene aid, help for families in legislative address
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — New North Carolina Democratic Gov. Josh Stein gave his first address to a joint General Assembly session Wednesday night, hitting on familiar campaign and early-term themes of helping Hurricane Helene victims, making living expenses affordable and focusing…
A South Carolina man executed by firing squad is the first US prisoner killed this way in 15 years
By JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina man who killed his ex-girlfriend’s parents with a baseball bat was executed by firing squad Friday, the first U.S. prisoner in 15 years to die by that method, which he saw as preferable…
North Carolina lawmakers close in on another injection of Helene relief funds
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina state Senate Republicans advanced a disaster recovery measure Tuesday to direct $533 million in additional spending to meet still-pressing needs from Hurricane Helene’s historic flooding and destruction last fall, but it also locates more relief…
World/National
Trump orders a plan to dismantle the Education Department while keeping some core functions
By COLLIN BINKLEY and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday calling for the dismantling of the U.S. Education Department, advancing a campaign promise to take apart an agency that’s been a longtime target of conservatives. Trump has derided the…
Unredacted JFK assassination files released, sending history buffs hunting for new clues
By JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press DALLAS (AP) — Unredacted documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy were released Tuesday following an order by President Donald Trump shortly after he took office. More than 1,100 files consisting of over 31,000 pages were posted on the U.S. National Archives and Records…
Social Security Administration to require in-person identity checks for new and existing recipients
By FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — In an effort to limit fraudulent claims, the Social Security Administration will impose tighter identity-proofing measures — which will require millions of recipients and applicants to visit agency field offices rather than interact with the agency over the phone.…
Americans increased spending tepidly last month as anxiety over the economy takes hold
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER and ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Business Writers WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. shoppers stepped up their spending just a bit in February after a sharp pullback the previous month, signaling that Americans are shopping more cautiously as concerns about the direction of the economy mount. Retail sales…
St. Patrick’s Day brings boisterous parades and celebrations to New York and other cities
NEW YORK (AP) — St. Patrick’s Day, the annual celebration of all things Irish, is being marked in cities across the country on Monday with boisterous parades and celebrations. New York City hosts one of the largest and oldest parades in the United States. The…
Entertainment
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…
The Florida attorney general’s office is investigating Andrew and Tristan Tate
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s attorney general announced Tuesday that his office has opened a criminal investigation into Andrew and Tristan Tate, who are charged with human trafficking in Romania, days after they returned to the U.S. Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on social media that he directed his…
Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s husband of nearly 60 years who inspired ‘Jolene,’ dies at 82
By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s devoted husband of nearly 60 years who avoided the spotlight and inspired her timeless hit “Jolene,” died Monday. He was 82. According to a statement provided to The Associated Press by Parton’s publicist, Dean died in Nashville,…
Sports
McNeese’s Will Wade signs a 6-year deal to become NC State coach, AP source says
By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — McNeese coach Will Wade has a signed six-year deal to take over as N.C. State’s next coach, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday. The person spoke to the…
Tobacco Road is front and center of March Madness with 3 women’s sites and men’s site in area
By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Oregon coach Kelly Graves was excited when he saw his team was headed to Duke to play in the NCAA Tournament. The Ducks had success there a few years back when they played in the…
Tar Heels and Rebels fighting for respect going into NCAA tourney matchup
By RICH ROVITO Associated Press MILWAUKEE (AP) — On one side of the court, it’s Seth Trimble and North Carolina. On the other, it’s Jaemyn Brakefield and Mississippi. Two motivated teams facing off in the NCAA Tournament on Friday. North Carolina was a controversial selection…
McNeese State’s Will Wade confirms he’s been in contact with NC State about its coaching job
By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — McNeese State coach Will Wade knows his name is in the mix during the college basketball coaching carousel. And unlike some coaches during this time of year, he’s not being coy talking about it. Asked…
Davis perfect on six 3s as North Carolina routs San Diego State 95-68 in First Four
By JEFF WALLNER Associated Press DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — RJ Davis and his North Carolina teammates certainly looked as though they belonged in the NCAA Tournament on Tuesday night. Davis scored 26 points and shot 6 of 6 from 3-point range to help the Tar…