Local search for North Carolina

27+ min ago (475+ words) The Justice Department violated the constitutional rights of a close friend of James Comey and must return to him computer files that prosecutors had hoped to use for a potential criminal case against the former FBI director, a federal judge said Friday. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly represents not only a stern rebuke of the conduct of Justice Department prosecutors but also imposes a dramatic hurdle to government efforts to seek a new indictment against Comey after an initial one was dismissed last month. Richman alleged that the Justice Department violated his Fourth Amendment rights by retaining his records and by conducting new warrantless searches of the files, prompting Kollar-Kotelly to issue an order last week temporarily barring prosecutors from accessing the files as part of its investigation. The Justice Department said the request for the return of…...

54+ min ago (700+ words) New York is the eighth state found to routinely issue commercial driver's licenses to immigrants that are valid long after they are no longer legally authorized to be in the country, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Friday, and he threatened to withhold $73 million in highway funds unless the system is fixed and any flawed licenses are revoked. New York was the fourth state run by a Democratic governor, called out publicly by Duffy in his effort to make sure truck and bus drivers are qualified to either haul passengers or 80,000 pounds of cargo down the highway. He previously questioned similar practices in California, Pennsylvania and Minnesota. But letters have gone out to other states as well, without fanfare or comments from Duffy, including Republican-run Texas and South Dakota. In addition to finding licenses that remained valid longer than they should…...

1+ hour, 38+ min ago (173+ words) The state of Washington saw intense flooding this week as a powerful atmospheric river brought massive amounts of rain to western portions of the state, dumping the rain over several days and causing rivers to swell to dangerous levels. The severe weather prompted evacuations and dramatic rescues, some of which were caught on camera. In King County, the county sheriff's office shared video of a deputy using a drone to give a life jacket to a man who was stuck on a car's roof as Snoqualmie River floodwaters rose. King County Sheriff's Office Communications Manager Brandyn Hull said this was the first time that drone pilots had ever delivered a life jacket to a person, according to CNN. In a Facebook post, the sheriff's office commended the deputy for using modern technology to save a life. "Another case of a…...

1+ hour, 40+ min ago (242+ words) WILMINGTON, N.C. Wilmington small business owner Jessica Bichler filed for candidacy in N.C. Senate District 7, announcing her bid for a seat Democrats view as a key opportunity to break the Republican supermajority in 2026. District 7 encompasses most of New Hanover County and represents one of the Democrats" best chances to pick up a Senate seat in the next election cycle. "I"m not a career politician, I"m a working mother," Bichler said. "I"m stepping forward because our community deserves leadership focused on real solutions. I"m ready to fight for an affordable, safe, and healthy New Hanover for all, and I"m excited to get to work." "New Hanover families deserve a senator who will always put their needs first and fight for better opportunities and prosperity for the entire region," Batch said. "Jessica Bichler will bring with her energy, integrity,…...

2+ hour, 24+ min ago (175+ words) Actor Hailee Steinfeld and her husband, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, are expecting their first baby together. Steinfeld, known for her roles in "Hawkeye," "Sinners" and the "Pitch Perfect" franchise, announced her pregnancy Friday in her Substack newsletter as part of a list of her favorite moments of the year. At the end of the roundup was a video of the couple holding hands next to a tiny snowman. Steinfeld is seen wearing a sweater that reads "mother," and Allen kneels to kiss her baby bump. The announcement came a day after Steinfeld's birthday. She and Allen are both 29. The couple tied the knot earlier this year at a private ceremony in California after dating since 2023. Congratulations poured in Friday from across the sports and entertainment worlds, with the NFL sharing the video to its social media. Allen and the…...

2+ hour, 52+ min ago (751+ words) The Justice Department asked an appeals court Friday to block a contempt investigation of the Trump administration for failing to turn around planes carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador in March. The department also is seeking Chief Judge James Boasberg's removal from the case, accusing him of a "radical, retaliatory, unconstitutional campaign" against the Trump administration. It marks a dramatic escalation in the Justice Department's lengthy feud with the judge appointed to the bench by Democratic President Barack Obama, setting the stage for a showdown over the judiciary's power to serve as a check on an administration that has pushed the boundaries of court orders. The department asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to rule on its requests before Monday, when Boasberg is scheduled to hear testimony from a former government attorney who filed a…...

3+ hour, 15+ min ago (219+ words) The 2025 NCHSAA 2A Football Championship will feature a titanic showdown between two small-school dynasties when the undefeated Tarboro Vikings (14-0) face the surging Murphy Bulldogs (12-2) Saturday night at Moretz Stadium in Hickory. Tarboro, last year's 1A state champion, brings a dominant 24-game winning streak into the final after dismantling Warren County 40-0 in the semifinals. The Vikings will face a formidable challenge from Murphy, a defending 1A quarterfinalist that has caught fire with 10 consecutive victories, including a defensive masterclass in its 14-2 semifinal win over Starmount. Both programs have championship pedigrees and contrasting styles that should make for a compelling battle as they compete for the 2A crown under the lights in what promises to be one of North Carolina's most anticipated high school championship matchups of the season. Opening kickoff is set for 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 13 with a live TV broadcast on NFHS Network. " WATCH:…...

3+ hour, 58+ min ago (337+ words) The 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team defied nearly insurmountable odds to defeat the Soviet Union, the world's largest hockey superpower, propelling them to win a gold medal and the nation's adulation. And now 45 years later, the "Miracle on Ice" team reunited in the Oval Office Friday for another medal ceremony as President Donald Trump signed a bill to award the players congressional gold medals. The team, according to the bipartisan legislation Trump signed, "(revitalized) American morale at the height of the Cold War, inspiring generations and transforming the sport of hockey in the United States." "This was one of the greatest moments in the history of U.S. sports," the president said during the signing ceremony. Captain Mike Eruzione, goaltender Jim Craig, and forward Buzz Schneider, along with other players, attended the signing. Family members of the team's late coach, Herb Brook,…...

4+ hour, 27+ min ago (118+ words) Grimsley completed its quest to win back-to-back state championships Friday night with a 24-14 win over Clayton in the 7A state title game. Grimsley completed its quest to win back-to-back state championships Friday night with a 24-14 win over Clayton in the 7A state title game. After the Comets scored first, the Whirlies put together two-straight scoring drives to lead 14-7 at the break. Makai Yon started off the scoring in the second half with a pick-6 for the Whirlies to close things out 24-14. Grimsley has now won three state championships in the last four seasons, not to mention back-to-back seasons with an undefeated record....

5+ hour, 3+ min ago (469+ words) A U.S. Army soldier accused of shooting five people at a Georgia base in August will stand trial in a military court on charges including attempting murder, Army prosecutors said Friday. Charges against Sgt. Quornelius Radford are being referred to a general court-martial, which handles cases involving the most serious crimes under military law, the Army's Office of Special Trial Counsel said in a news release. In the player above: File video shows Fort Stewart soldier accused in base shooting appear in court as victims express forgiveness Officials say Radford opened fire with a personal handgun Aug. 6 on members of his supply unit at Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia, injuring four soldiers and a civilian worker before fellow soldiers were able to disarm and restrain him until military police arrived. The Army initially said all five victims were soldiers. A week…...