Triangle/Local
Goats on the Go: Raleigh taps four-legged crew to tackle invasive plants at Dorothea Dix Park
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – Raleigh has enlisted a team of 32 goats to help clear invasive plants at Dorothea Dix Park, thanks to a partnership between the city and Goats on the Go. The eco-friendly initiative uses goats to reach steep or tricky terrain where machines fall short. Stephen Paul, who runs the company’s Raleigh-Durham branch, says the herd—nicknamed the “a-team”—can clear an acre in just a few days and has built a growing reputation both online and off. From backyard jobs to citywide projects, these goats are making a big impact—one bite at a time.
JetZero plans to build $4.7B plant in North Carolina, aims to create 14,500 jobs
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A California-based company plans to build its first manufacturing plant for a next-generation passenger jet in central North Carolina. If successful, the project announced Thursday by JetZero and elected officials would create more than 14,500 jobs in a decade. Gov. Josh Stein called it the largest job commitment in North Carolina history. JetZero is developing a fixed-wing aircraft that would change the shape of passenger jetliners in the sky. The company would build the plant at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro. JetZero already has conditional jet purchase agreements with some airlines. The announcement comes with lots of economic incentives that would extend into the 2060s.
Trump says he will ‘liberate’ Los Angeles in speech to mark the 250th anniversary of the Army
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump called protesters in Los Angeles “animals” and “a foreign enemy” in a speech at Fort Bragg as he defended deploying the military on those protesting his immigration enforcement. Trump on Tuesday used a speech ostensibly supposed to be used to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army to denounce the protesters in Los Angeles while repeating his false statements about the 2020 election being rigged and attacking the previous commander-in-chief, former President Joe Biden. Trump has used the recent protests in Los Angeles as an opportunity to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines over the objections of California’s governor.
Poll shows broad support for vaccines, rising concern over decline in childhood immunizations
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – A new national poll from the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease reveals strong bipartisan support for FDA-approved vaccines, even as concerns grow over declining childhood immunization rates. Despite lingering mistrust fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, most Americans still trust their personal healthcare providers and back continued vaccine development. Experts like Candace DeMatteis say states like North Carolina play a key role in medical innovation—and maintaining public trust and access is essential to protecting public health.
Invasive Alabama bass threaten native fish and tournaments across North Carolina
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — North Carolina wildlife officials are sounding the alarm about the rapid spread of Alabama bass, an invasive species now disrupting ecosystems and bass fishing tournaments across the state. First found near the Georgia border, the fish has since spread from Lake Norman to rivers and reservoirs statewide—often through illegal introductions by anglers. Biologists warn the species poses a serious threat to native largemouth and smallmouth bass populations, with potential economic impacts for competitive sport fishing. The Wildlife Resources Commission is urging the public not to move fish between lakes and to report sightings as they work to slow the invasion.
State/Regional
Permitless concealed carry in North Carolina faces uphill battle after some GOP pushback
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina legislators have given final approval to a bill allowing eligible adults to carry a concealed handgun without a permit. However, the legislation faces a handful of challenges before it can become law. A likely veto from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein is the first. Republicans also lack a supermajority in the House that allows them to override the governor’s vetoes. A few Republican House members also joined in with Democrats to vote against the bill Wednesday. If passed, North Carolina would become the 30th state in the country to allow the concealed carry of a handgun without a permit.
North Carolina GOP sending immigration crackdown bills to Democratic Gov. Stein
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Republicans at the North Carolina legislature have given final approval to two pieces of immigration legislation. One would compel state agencies to participate in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and the other would toughen a recent law that required sheriffs to help federal agents seeking criminal defendants. A series of House and Senate votes on the measures on Tuesday means they now go to new Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who has yet to veto a bill and since taking office has tried to build rapport with lawmakers. The GOP’s legislative maneuvers happened as National Guard troops have been deployed by Trump to Los Angeles.
North Carolina auto insurance rates are going up 5% on average in settlement
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina automobile insurance rates are poised to increase statewide this fall by a 5% average as part of an agreement reached between state regulators and the insurance industry. The settlement announced Monday by Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey is lower than the average 22.6% rate increase for private passenger vehicles originally requested by the North Carolina Rate Bureau. A September public hearing on the request would have been held in September without the settlement. The changes take place Oct. 1 and includes an average 16.3% decrease on motorcycle liability insurance rates.
North Carolina governor forms council to recommend cannabis regulations
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein says he wants a council he’s created to recommend cannabis sales regulations to protect young people and provide a structure for an industry where products from otherwise lawful hemp are unregulated. The Democratic governor signed an executive order this week creating the panel. North Carolina is among a small number of states whose laws prohibit marijuana for both medicinal use or adult recreational use. The General Assembly would have to enact any law legalizing marijuana. Preliminary recommendations are due next March. Stein says there’s currently a “Wild West” market in which products being sold contain intoxicating levels of what’s known as THC.
Amazon planning $10B investment in North Carolina for data center and AI campus
HAMLET, N.C. (AP) — Amazon is expanding its cloud computing infrastructure and artificial intelligence activities into a rural North Carolina county. The company said Wednesday it intends to invest $10 billion toward building a campus in Richmond County. This will bring a shot in the arm to a region where textile and apparel jobs dried up a generation ago. Amazon said its investment should create at least 500 jobs and support thousands more through construction and data center supply chain providers. Gov. Josh Stein says the investment is one of the largest in state history.
World/National
Air India’s sole crash survivor narrates his escape
NEW DELHI (AP) — The lone passenger who survived the Air India crash that killed 241 people onboard couldn’t believe he was alive when he opened his eyes, surrounded by flames, debris and charred bodies. Viswashkumar Ramesh was headed to London when the flight crashed minutes after taking off from India’s northwestern city of Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. He narrated his ordeal to India’s national broadcaster, saying the aircraft seemed stuck midair after takeoff. Seated in 11A, he said his side of the plane where he was seated fell onto the ground floor of a building and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open.
Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear sites and its top military leaders. Iran retaliates with drones
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel has attacked Iran’s capital in strikes that targeted the country’s nuclear program and raised the potential for an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries. It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq. Multiple sites around the country were hit, including Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility, where black smoke could be seen rising into the air. The leader of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami and chief of staff of Iranian armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, were also confirmed dead. Israeli security officials say the Mossad spy agency smuggled weapons into Iran ahead of the strikes.
House approves Trump’s request to cut funding for NPR, PBS and foreign aid
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has voted to cut about $9.4 billion in spending as President Donald Trump’s administration looks to follow through on work done by the Department of Government Efficiency when it was overseen by Elon Musk. The package narrowly passed Thursday targets foreign aid programs and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides money for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service as well as thousands of public radio and television stations around the country. The vote was 214-212. Republicans are characterizing the spending as wasteful and unnecessary, but Democrats say the rescissions are hurting the United States’ standing around the world.
Wall Street’s rally stalls as US stocks dip for their 1st loss in 4 days
NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street’s rally stalled after stocks climbed back within 2% of their all-time high. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% Wednesday for its first drop in four days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended little changed, and the Nasdaq composite lost 0.5%. The action was stronger in the bond market, where Treasury yields eased after a report showed inflation ticked up by less last month than economists expected. That raised expectations for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates later this year. Markets didn’t react much to the conclusion of two days of trade talks between the U.S. and China.
Southern Baptist delegates at national meeting overwhelmingly call for banning same-sex marriage
DALLAS (AP) — Southern Baptist delegates at their national meeting overwhelmingly endorsed banning same-sex marriage — including a call for a reversal of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 10-year-old precedent legalizing it nationwide. They also called for legislators to curtail sports betting and to support policies that promote childbearing. The votes came at the gathering of more than 10,000 church representatives at the annual meeting of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. A proposed resolution says legislators have a duty to “pass laws that reflect the truth of creation and natural law — about marriage, sex, human life, and family” and to oppose laws contradicting “what God has made plain through nature and Scripture.”
Entertainment
Rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, briefly shows up to support Sean “Diddy” Combs at trial
NEW YORK (AP) — Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, says he came to the New York sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs to support him. Dressed in white, Ye arrived at Manhattan federal court before noon on Friday while the trial was on a break. He was asked if he was at the courthouse to support Combs, and he said “yes,” But he didn’t appear to respond when a reporter asked if he might testify when the defense begins presenting its case as early as next week. The 55-year-old Combs has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges alleging that he used his fame, fortune and violence to commit crimes.
Jury convicts Harvey Weinstein of top charge in the retrial of his landmark #MeToo sex crimes case
NEW YORK (AP) — Former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has been convicted of one of the top charges in his sex crimes retrial. But the former movie mogul was also acquitted Wednesday of another charge, and jurors were as yet unable to reach a verdict on a third charge. The split verdict meted out a measure of vindication to his accusers and prosecutors. It was also to Weinstein after the landmark case was thrown into limbo. Weinstein was initially convicted five years ago. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and told the court before the partial verdict was read Wednesday that the trial was not fair.
Brian Wilson, Beach Boys visionary leader and summer’s poet laureate, dies at 82
Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys has died at 82. One of the world’s most beloved and influential musicians, his family posted news of his death to his website Wednesday. The Beach Boys’ many hits include “Good Vibrations,” “California Girls” and “Surfin’ USA.” The eldest and last surviving of three musical brothers, he and his fellow Beach Boys rose from local California act to national hitmakers to international ambassadors of the American dream. Wilson himself was celebrated for his beautiful music and agonizing perfectionism and pitied for the demons that plagued him.
Disney to pay almost $439 million to take full control of streaming service Hulu
Disney will pay Comcast’s NBCUniversal nearly $439 million for its stake in Hulu, taking full control of the streaming service. Disney said in 2023 that it was acquiring a 33% stake in Hulu from Comcast for at least $8.6 billion. That amount reflected Hulu’s guaranteed floor value of $27.5 billion, according to a regulatory filing. Disney said in the filing on Monday that its appraiser arrived at a valuation below the guaranteed floor value during the initial phase of the appraisal process, while NBCUniversal’s appraiser arrived at a valuation substantially in excess of the guaranteed floor value. A third appraiser was brought in and concluded that The Walt Disney Co. will pay $438.7 million for the Hulu stake.
Judge dismisses Justin Baldoni’s $400M lawsuit against ‘It Ends With Us’ costar Blake Lively
A judge has dismissed the lawsuit that Justin Baldoni filed against his “It Ends With Us” costar Blake Lively after she sued him for sexual harassment. The ruling is the latest development in the bitter legal battle surrounding the film. Lively sued Baldoni in late December. Baldoni then sued Lively and her husband, “Deadpool” actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion. The judge ruled that Baldoni can’t sue Lively for defamation over claims she made in her lawsuit, because allegations made in court are exempt from libel claims. And the judge ruled that Baldoni’s claims that Lively stole creative control of the film didn’t count as extortion under California law. Baldoni’s lawyers say they will amend the lawsuit.
Sports
Denny Hamlin to miss NASCAR’s first international race after birth of son
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Denny Hamlin will miss NASCAR’s first international race of the modern era to remain in North Carolina following the birth of his child. Ryan Truex will replace him Sunday in Mexico City. Hamlin and fiancee Jordan Fish now have three children, two daughters and a son born Wednesday. Hamlin had been on baby watch the last 12 days as Fish went nearly two weeks past her predicted due date. He had planned to get out of the car at Michigan last Sunday if she went into labor early in the race, but when the first stage passed with no word, he went on to score his third win of the season. The victory was the 57th of his career and made him the all-time winningest driver at Joe Gibbs Racing.
Denny Hamlin to miss NASCAR’s first international race after birth of son
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Denny Hamlin will miss NASCAR’s first international race of the modern era to remain in North Carolina following the birth of his child. Ryan Truex will replace him Sunday in Mexico City. Hamlin and fiancee Jordan Fish now have three children, two daughters and a son born Wednesday. Hamlin had been on baby watch the last 12 days as Fish went nearly two weeks past her predicted due date. He had planned to get out of the car at Michigan last Sunday if she went into labor early in the race, but when the first stage passed with no word, he went on to score his third win of the season. The victory was the 57th of his career and made him the all-time winningest driver at Joe Gibbs Racing.
J.J. Spaun leads U.S. Open at Oakmont on a wild day of great shots and shockers
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — J.J. Spaun is the U.S. Open leader at Oakmont after a relatively calm day compared with everyone else. Spaun played bogey-free for a 66 that matches the lowest opening round for a U.S. Open at Oakmont. He leads by one over Thriston Lawrence. Brooks Koepka is back in the major mix with a 68. So is Jon Rahm at 69. They were among 10 players to break par, so Oakmont was plenty tough. Scottie Scheffler made five bogeys in his round of 73. Rory McIlroy shot a 41 on his second nine and shot 74. Oakmont was as tough as advertised.
J.J. Spaun leads U.S. Open at Oakmont on a wild day of great shots and shockers
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — J.J. Spaun is the U.S. Open leader at Oakmont after a relatively calm day compared with everyone else. Spaun played bogey-free for a 66 that matches the lowest opening round for a U.S. Open at Oakmont. He leads by one over Thriston Lawrence. Brooks Koepka is back in the major mix with a 68. So is Jon Rahm at 69. They were among 10 players to break par, so Oakmont was plenty tough. Scottie Scheffler made five bogeys in his round of 73. Rory McIlroy shot a 41 on his second nine and shot 74. Oakmont was as tough as advertised.
US Open tee time awaits Docherty less than a month after horrific car accident
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — It’s no stretch to say Alistair Docherty is simply happy to be at the U.S. Open, but the journeyman player is looking for more than just a good memory out of this trip to Oakmont. Docherty will tee off in the tournament only three weeks after the minivan he was driving got T-boned at an intersection in Tennessee. After getting cleared of major injuries at the hospital, Docherty was back on the course June 2, where he punched his ticket after the 36-hole qualifier in North Carolina. Now, he’s in Pennsylvania playing in his first major championship.
