Triangle/Local
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…
Friends say Army captain killed in midair collision was a ‘brilliant and fearless’ patriot
By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. Army captain who died in Wednesday’s midair collision of a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet was “brilliant and fearless” and “meticulous in everything she did,” friends and fellow soldiers…
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.…
Durham woman among soldiers who died in helicopter and airliner crash
By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army on Saturday released the name of the third soldier who died Wednesday when an Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet near Reagan National Airport in D.C. Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, N.C., served as an…
World/National
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…
Sen. Mitch McConnell won’t seek reelection in 2026, ending long tenure as Republican power broker
By BRUCE SCHREINER and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell announced on Thursday that he won’t seek reelection next year, ending a decadeslong tenure as a power broker who championed conservative causes but ultimately ceded ground to the fierce GOP populism of…
Senate confirms Kelly Loeffler, former Georgia senator, to lead Small Business Administration
By MEG KINNARD Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Kelly Loeffler, a Georgia businesswoman and former senator, to lead the Small Business Administration, returning a stalwart supporter of President Donald Trump to Washington. At SBA, Loeffler will oversee the entity that describes itself…
DOGE notches courtroom wins as Elon Musk crusades to slash federal government
By LINDSAY WHITEHURST, CHRIS MEGERIAN and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Although some parts of President Donald Trump ’s agenda are getting bogged down by litigation, Elon Musk ’s Department of Government Efficiency is having better luck in the courtroom. Labor unions, Democrats and federal employees have…
Trump and Zelenskyy trade barbs as US-Ukraine relations sour over the war with Russia
By HANNA ARHIROVA and JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Relations between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump deteriorated rapidly Wednesday as Zelenskyy said Trump was living in a Russian-made “disinformation space” and Trump called Zelenskyy “a dictator without elections” in comments…
Entertainment
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
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…
Tar Heels GM Lombardi working to implement NFL-style approach under Belichick
By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Michael Lombardi is a key piece of Bill Belichick’s foray into college coaching, the general manager charged with reshaping North Carolina’s program into a mini pro franchise. Fittingly, the former NFL executive’s days sound a…
Eagles deny the Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat with dominant defense in 40-22 rout
By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Cooper DeJean, Josh Sweat and the Philadelphia Eagles’ ferocious defense denied Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat. It wasn’t even close. DeJean got a pick-6 on his 22nd birthday,…