Triangle/Local
High tides raise flood risk in Carolinas as tropical storms churn in Atlantic and Pacific
MIAMI (AP) — A storm without a name and unusual king tides were causing some flooding on the Carolina coast as tropical storms churned in the Atlantic and along Mexico’s Pacific coast. About a dozen streets were already flooded in Charleston, South Carolina, where a high tide of 8.5 feet was forecast Friday morning. The unnamed coastal storm and unusually high king tides threatened to bring days of heavy winds that could cause coastal flooding. Along the Outer Banks, forecasters said the worst weather should occur Friday through the weekend. Tropical Storms Priscilla and Raymond threatened heavy rain along the Mexican coast, and Priscilla could cause flash flooding across the U.S. Southwest through the weekend.
North Carolina state House member charged with sex crimes
HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina state House member has been charged with sex-related crimes involving a teenager. Court records show six-term Democratic Rep. Cecil Brockman was arrested Wednesday on charges of statutory sexual offense and taking indecent liberties with a child. The alleged crimes involve a 15-year-old. Brockman was jailed without bond. The North Carolina Democratic Party and top state House leaders have called on Brockman to resign immediately. An assistant for Brockman said the legislator didn’t have a comment Thursday morning. A voice message left on a phone number connected to Brockman wasn’t immediately returned. Electronic court records provided no information on an attorney.
Duke researchers receive $15M federal grant to expand AI model designed to predict mental illness
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Researchers at Duke University have received a $15 million federal grant to expand an artificial intelligence model designed to predict mental illness in adolescents. The Duke Predictive Model of Adolescent Mental Health is used to predict who is most likely to develop a mental illness within a year. It also identifies the key factors driving those predictions, creating the potential to offer preventive interventions. The model achieved 84% accuracy in identifying adolescents ranging in age from 10 to 15 who are at risk for future serious mental health issues. The new grant will fund a study of the tool in evaluating 2,000 adolescents in rural areas in North Carolina, Minnesota and North Dakota.
Battleship North Carolina to honor U.S. Navy and Marine Corps anniversaries
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WPTF) — As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, the Battleship North Carolina is inviting Americans to participate in a significant act of remembrance and gratitude. In honor of the 250th anniversaries, the Battleship will raise 250 American flags, each representing the generations who have served and sacrificed for the nation.
The ceremonial flag raisings are scheduled for Monday, Oct. 13, coinciding with the Navy Anniversary, and Monday, Nov. 10, for the Marine Corps Anniversary. These events will take place aboard the historic ship in collaboration with the Friends of the Battleship North Carolina and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps.
North Carolina governor signs criminal justice bill into law after Ukrainian refugee’s death
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Democratic governor has signed into law a criminal justice measure pushed by the Republican-controlled legislature in response to the stabbing death of a Ukrainian refugee on a Charlotte train. While Gov. Josh Stein criticized portions of the bill on Friday, his signature still affirms in law reforms sought by GOP politicians and their allies. The bill had received bipartisan support in the state House. The new law bars cashless bail for certain violent crimes and limits magistrates’ discretion in pretrial release decisions. The bill authors also seek to restart executions in North Carolina, where capital punishment has not been carried out since 2006.
State/Regional
Lumbee leader to join North Carolina statehouse as tribe’s federal recognition push gains attention
LUMBERTON, N.C. (AP) — The leader of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is set to join the state legislature. Robeson County Republican Party committee members unanimously recommended John Lowery on Tuesday to fill a state House seat most recently held by his brother. Jarrod Lowery resigned this week to take a job with the U.S. Interior Department. John Lowery has been Lumbee Tribe chairman since 2022 and plans to remain at that post as well. He’s been chairman during a period of both momentum and obstacles for the Lumbee Tribe in attaining full federal recognition, which could bring access to health care and grants.
All injured in deadly North Carolina waterfront bar shooting released from the hospital
SOUTHPORT, N.C. (AP) — Six people hospitalized after a deadly shooting at a North Carolina coastal bar have all been released. Authorities initially said five people were injured in the Sept. 27 attack at the American Fish Company in Southport. But officials said Friday that a sixth person had admitted themself to a hospital. Shooting suspect Nigel Max Edge faces three counts of first-degree murder and other charges. Authorities allege he glided up to the wharf in a motorboat and opened fire. The Marine Corps veteran is in jail without bond pending an Oct. 13 probable cause hearing.
Authorities identify those killed in weekend North Carolina bar shooting
SOUTHPORT, N.C. (AP) — The three people killed in a mass shooting at a waterfront bar last weekend in Southport, North Carolina, have been identified. Police named Joy Rogers of Southport, Solomon Banjo of Virginia and Michael Durbin of Ohio. Five others were injured in the attack Saturday night. Authorities have arrested a former Marine and charged him with multiple counts of murder, attempted murder and assault. Police allege the suspect used a boat to approach the bar and opened fire on patrons. The investigation is ongoing, and the defendant has not entered a plea.
Bermuda lashed by distant hurricane and prepares for the stronger Imelda
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The outer bands of Hurricane Humberto are lashing Bermuda ahead of a more direct pass from the stronger Hurricane Imelda on the tiny British territory. Humberto is passing well north of the island in the north Atlantic, but wind gusts and some rain were forecast into Wednesday. Imelda had 85 mph winds late Tuesday and is forecast to strengthen. Its center is expected to be near the island Wednesday evening. A hurricane warning was in effect. The island’s international airport, schools and government offices were to close Wednesday. Both hurricanes were creating ocean swells that were likely to cause dangerous surf conditions on Bermuda, the Bahamas and the U.S. East Coast.
5 homes collapse into the surf of the Outer Banks as hurricanes rumble in Atlantic
Five unoccupied houses along North Carolina’s Outer Banks have collapsed into the ocean. Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda are far offshore but are churning the surf on the U.S. East Coast. The National Park Service says these are the latest private beachfront structures to fall in recent years. The homes that collapsed Tuesday were in the island community of Buxton. Video footage shows debris and entire homes being battered by waves on the shore. The park service warns more collapses are possible. North Carolina’s coast is eroding because of rising sea levels, with 17 houses in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore collapsing since 2020.
World/National
Speaker Johnson keeps the House away as he fights to end the government shutdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — House members’ absence during the government shutdown is creating a political dilemma for Republican Speaker Mike Johnson and is testing his leadership. The Louisiana congressman sent members home three weeks ago, and they haven’t been back in working session since. In the intervening weeks, the government has shut down. President Donald Trump threatened a mass firing of federal workers. And Democrat Adelita Grijalva won a special congressional election in Arizona but has not been sworn in. Johnson says the House already did its job, passing a bill to fund the government. Johnson blames Democrats in the Senate, which is also controlled by Republicans. Democrats want health care funds for insurance subsidies that are set to expire.
Israeli military says ceasefire takes effect in Gaza, raising hopes for ending the war
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Israeli military says a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has come into effect in Gaza. The announcement came Friday, hours after Israel’s Cabinet approved a deal to pause the fighting and exchange the remaining hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Tens of thousands of people who had gathered in central Gaza in the morning started walking north after the military’s announcement. Beforehand, Palestinians reported heavy shelling in parts of Gaza throughout Friday morning, but no significant bombardment was reported after. The ceasefire marks a key step toward ending a ruinous two-year war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, reduced much of Gaza to rubble, and left dozens of hostages, living and dead, in the territory.
Frustrated lawmakers say lack of trust is making it harder to end the government shutdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers are openly venting their frustration as they try to gain traction to end the government shutdown. Groups of lawmakers have tried to brainstorm ways out of the standoff that for nine days has shuttered government offices, kept hundreds of thousands of federal employees at home and threatened their pay. But they have found themselves running up against a fundamental lack of trust in each other. President Donald Trump and Republicans have so far held to the stance that they will only negotiate on Democratic demands around health care benefits after they vote to reopen the government.
Israel and Hamas agree to part of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, will free hostages and prisoners
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first Phase” of his peace plan to pause fighting and release at least some hostages and prisoners. “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Trump wrote Wednesday. “All Parties will be treated fairly!” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “With God’s help we will bring them all home.” Negotiators have been meeting in Egypt for days to hash out a Trump-backed peace plan that he hopes will ultimately result in a permanent end to the two-year war.
Wall Street gets back to rising as gold keeps setting records
NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is getting back to rising. The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% Wednesday and is on track to top its all-time high, a day after breaking a seven-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 13 points, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.9%. Stocks benefiting from the artificial-intelligence boom continue to pull the market higher following a nearly relentless rise since April. Gold continued its stellar year and pushed further past $4,000 per ounce. Treasury yields eased in the bond market, while stock indexes rose in Europe following a weaker finish in Asia.
Entertainment
Judge tosses out Drake’s defamation lawsuit against label over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has tossed out a defamation lawsuit Drake brought against Universal Music Group over a Kendrick Lamar dis track. Judge Jeannette A. Vargas rejected the lawsuit on Thursday in a written opinion, saying the purportedly libelous words were opinion. The January lawsuit alleged that UMG published and promoted Lamar’s dis track “Not Like Us” even though it included false pedophilia allegations against Drake and suggested listeners should resort to vigilante justice. Lamar was not named in the lawsuit. Universal Music Group is the parent record label for both artists. It denied the allegations.
Dolly Parton responds to concerns about her health: ‘I’m not dying’
NEW YORK (AP) — Dolly Parton says not to worry, she “ain’t dead yet.” That’s what the country superstar shared in a video on social media Wednesday following public speculation about her health. Late last month Parton postponed her first Las Vegas residency in 32 years, citing “health challenges.” She was scheduled to perform six shows in December. Her dates have been moved to next year, in Sept. 2026. She did not provide additional details. On Tuesday, a Facebook posted shared by her sister Freida Parton escalated concerns around Parton’s health when she wrote that she had been “up all night praying for my sister, Dolly.” Dolly Parton has clarified that her doctors say she is dealing with nothing major.
Bari Weiss is the new editor-in-chief of CBS News after Paramount buys her website
NEW YORK (AP) — Paramount is buying the successful news commentary website The Free Press and installed its founder, Bari Weiss, as editor-in-chief of CBS News. The move, while anticipated, is a bold one for David Ellison, new corporate leader of Paramount and CBS. Weiss will report directly to Ellison and be responsible for shaping editorial priorities and driving innovation at CBS News. Ellison said he believes the majority of the country wants news that is balanced and fact-based, and he wants CBS to be their home. Some at CBS News have expressed worry that the move will be seen as friendly to President Donald Trump.
Rush announce reunion tour five years after the death of drummer Neil Peart
NEW YORK (AP) — Five years after their influential drummer Neil Peart died of glioblastoma, the Canadian band Rush have announced a reunion tour Monday. Rush co-founders Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson revealed a 12-date, seven city tour is scheduled for summer 2026. It will kick off in June at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. That’s where the band played their final show in 2015. The reunion tour will end in Cleveland and they’ll also hit Mexico City; Fort Worth, Texas; Chicago; New York and Toronto. Taking Peart’s place is award-winning German composer and producer Anika Nilles. She has previously toured with Jeff Beck.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs gets 4 years in prison for case involving sex workers, violence and ‘freak-offs’
NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to over four years in prison for transporting people across state lines for sexual encounters. The judge’s decision on Friday caps a federal case involving harrowing testimony against the hip hop mogul. The 55-year-old Combs has already served a year in jail, meaning he could be released in about three years. He was also fined $500,000. In July, a jury convicted Combs of flying people around the country for drug-fueled sexual encounters. He was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Shortly before sentencing, Combs apologized for his actions, calling them “disgusting” and “shameful.”
Sports
Panthers running back Rico Dowdle says Cowboys’ 32nd-ranked defense better ‘buckle up’ on Sunday
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle has sent a strong message to his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, after rushing for a career-best 206 yards against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Dowdle, who spent five seasons with the Cowboys, said the upcoming game will be very physical and warned the Cowboys that they better buckle up. The Cowboys, who have the 32nd-ranked defense, insist they’ll be prepared. Dowdle’s performance came as he filled in for the injured Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard was ruled out for a second straight game on Friday after not practicing all week.
Bill Belichick’s 1st season at North Carolina has run into problems on and off the field
Bill Belichick’s first season at North Carolina has run into problems both on and off the field. The Tar Heels are 2-3 but have lost in lopsided fashion in all three of their games against power-conference opponents. A person with knowledge of the situation said the school has also suspended an assistant coach while it looks into potential NCAA rules violations tied to improper benefits. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school hasn’t publicly discussed the suspension. UNC is off this week and next plays at California on Oct. 17.
Wall Street’s feverish rally takes a break as US stocks and gold pull back from their records
NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is taking a pause. The S&P 500 fell 0.2% Thursday, coming off its latest all-time high and its eighth gain in the last nine days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 160 points, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.2%. Drops for Tesla and Dell Technologies helped to offset a big gain for Delta Air Lines after it delivered a stronger profit for the summer than analysts expected. The price of gold also pulled back from its latest record following its stellar run this year, while Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market.
NC State visits No. 16 Notre Dame, No. 25 Florida State hosts Pittsburgh to top ACC’s weekly slate
N.C. State’s visit to No. 16 Notre Dame and Pittsburgh’s trip to No. 25 Florida State headline the Atlantic Coast Conference’s weekly slate. The Fighting Irish need to keep winning to help their College Football Playoff case. The Seminoles have lost to No. 19 Virginia and No. 2 Miami for an 0-2 league start. They face a Pitt team that made a surprise switch at quarterback to a true freshman. The schedule has seven of 17 teams on a open week.
The ACC has been going through a sideline overhaul. This year that includes 4 new head coaches
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference’s multiyear coaching overhaul will include four new head coaches for the 2025-26 season. Those are Florida State’s Luke Loucks, Miami’s Jai Lucas, N.C. State’s Will Wade and Virginia’s Ryan Odom. The league has seen 14 of its 18 programs change coaches at least once going back to the 2020-21 season. Those losses include retiring Hall of Famers in North Carolina’s Roy Williams, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim. Loucks said during the ACC’s preseason media days that there’s “a new wave of youthfulness” among the new coaches coming into the league.
