Triangle/Local
Lantana: The sun-loving, pollinator-friendly powerhouse
I have grown to love lantana. I never really had anything against it. It’s just the fact I haven’t had a lot of sun areas in my landscape and lantana can take up a fair amount of room if it is happy. Most of North Carolina is hot throughout the summer and we certainly have drought periods. Lantana is made to order for these conditions. Lantana is in the verbena family and is sometimes called “shrub verbena.” It comes in various sizes from 1 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide according to my friends at the Cooperative Extension Service. It loves full sun, moist, but well-drained soil to fully perform. Lantana grows particularly well in the piedmont and thrives on the coastal plain and coast of North Carolina. It is even salt tolerant.
Record-breaking heat wave scorches Southeast US
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Residents in the Southeast U.S. are no strangers to hot weather in the summertime, but the sweltering heat this week set at least one record, and forecasters urged residents to limit being outside if possible and to hydrate. The all-time high temperature record at Tampa International Airport was broken on Sunday when the thermometer hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The previous record had been 99 degrees Fahrenheit set in June 2020. The National Weather Service said Tuesday that the prolonged heat wave was expected to peak in the southeast U.S. at mid-week.
Wiley Nickel exits North Carolina Senate race the day after Roy Cooper announces candidacy
CARY, N.C. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel has decided to quit his bid for a Senate seat in North Carolina after Democrat Roy Cooper announced his candidacy. Nickel endorsed Cooper on Tuesday, citing leadership and inspiration by the former two-term governor. Cooper launched his campaign on Monday to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. On the GOP side, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is expected to run with Donald Trump’s support. Nickel had formally launched a Senate campaign in April, but his activities were always overshadowed by what Cooper decided to do next. Nickel hinted at future political endeavors in his Tuesday statement.
Heat advisories and warnings issued for Southeast and Midwest as temperatures and humidity soars
The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories for the southeastern United States. The advisories cover areas from central Florida to Virginia through the weekend. Temperatures are expected to reach the upper 90s, with heat indexes between 105 and 110. Extreme heat warnings are in effect for eastern North Carolina and parts of South Carolina. Forecasters warn of dangerously hot conditions, with temperatures approaching 100 degrees in parts of the Carolinas. Over 30 million people could be affected. The Midwest is also experiencing extreme heat, with watches in place for Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota. Storms in Iowa have triggered flash flood warnings.
Crocosmia: From Sweet Melissa’s Grandparents to Your Garden
We have enjoyed growing the very colorful Crocosmia-“montbretia” or “Coppertips”- a summer-blooming flower that reminds me of a miniature gladiola. Crocosmia grows from corms which are sort of like bulbs that store nutrients. Crocus, Dalias, Anemones, and Gladiolus do too. We have had them in our landscape for decades. This flower grew abundantly in Sweet Melissa’s grandparents’ landscape in Pittsboro and she transplanted a few bulbs to our yard. The few are now many. Melissa’s paternal grandparents, Marvin and Myrtle Reeves were special people. Everyone who knew them said so. That makes our crop of Crocosmia extra special.
State/Regional
Some North Carolina Democratic lawmakers break from party to pass Republican priorities
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican lawmakers and some Democrats have overridden eight of Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s 14 vetoes. Tuesday’s override votes were a test for the GOP after the House lost its Republican supermajority during last year’s election. Republicans succeeded in enacting some bills targeting transgender rights and allowing guns on private school property. They accomplished the overrides with the help of some House Democrats. Democrats did block override votes on bills on permitless concealed carry and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Those bills can still be overridden at a later date.
Union Pacific and Norfolk seek 1st transcontinental railroad through a massive merger
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific is seeking to buy Norfolk Southern in a $85 billion deal that would create the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S, and potentially trigger a final wave of rail mergers across the country. The proposed merger, announced Tuesday, would marry Union Pacific’s rail network in the West with Norfolk’s rails that snake across Eastern states. The nation was first linked by rail in 1869, when a golden railroad spike was driven in Utah to symbolize the connection of East and West Coasts. Yet no single entity has controlled that coast-to-coast passage that so many businesses rely on.
Former Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will run for Senate in 2026
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper will run for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina, giving Democrats a proven statewide winner in an open-seat race that is expected to be one of the most competitive 2026 contests. Cooper made the announcement Monday with a video released on social media and his campaign website. The former two-term governor will immediately become the front-runner for the Democratic nomination in the race to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley plans to run for the GOP nomination, with President Donald Trump’s blessing. Cooper’s candidacy is a big recruiting win for Democrats, who see the open seat as a top pick-up opportunity in what will be a challenging year.
Renaming of military bases stirs debate over Confederate ties
More than half a dozen Army bases’ names were changed in 2023 because they honored Confederate leaders. Those same bases are reverting back to their original names, this time with different namesakes who share Confederate surnames. Critics of the latest name changes argue it undermines efforts to move away from Confederate associations. The issue has long split people who favor preserving an aspect of southern heritage and those who want slavery-supporting rebels stripped of valor. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to restore the names is his latest move to align with Trump’s purging of diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Parts of the Appalachian Trail are still damaged after Helene. Volunteers are fixing it by hand
UNICOI COUNTY, Tenn. (AP) — Volunteers are still rebuilding parts of the iconic Appalachian Trail in eastern Tennessee nearly a year after Hurricane Helene devastated the region. Two damaged spots along the trail require hikers to take detours. A group of volunteers and staffers with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and local groups worked on repairs at a spot on the trail near the destroyed Cherry Gap Shelter in mid-July. Volunteers say their priority is fixing root ball holes in the ground caused by fallen trees. The work is intensive and slow. But the group hopes it can improve the trail’s resiliency against future severe weather.
World/National
8.8-magnitude earthquake sends small tsunami into coasts of Russia, Japan and Alaska
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s meteorological agency says that a powerful earthquake has hit near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula and issued a tsunami advisory for Japan. The agency said the quake registered a preliminary magnitude of 8.0 when it hit early on Wednesday. It issued an advisory for a tsunami of up to 1 meter (yard) along the Pacific coast of Japan. The quake was about 250 kilometers (160 miles) away from Hokkaido and was felt only slightly. That’s according to Japan’s NHK television. So far no damage has been reported. A tsunami watch, which is a relatively low-level warning, has been issued for Hawaii.
Wall Street coasts for now ahead of a week packed with potential flashpoints
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks coasted to a quiet finish to begin a week full of potentially market-moving events. The S&P 500 edged up by less than 0.1% on Monday to set an all-time high for a sixth straight day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.3% to its own record. Stocks held steady after the United States and European Union agreed on the framework for a trade deal, one that still has many details to be worked out. Later this week will come Big Tech profit reports, a decision on interest rates by the Federal Reserve and other highly anticipated updates.
US-EU deal sets a 15% tariff on most goods and averts the threat of a trade war with a global shock
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — The United States and the European Union have agreed to a trade framework setting a 15% tariff on most goods. President Donald Trump announced the agreement on Sunday after meeting with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland. This deal prevents higher import taxes that could have impacted global economies. Trump described the negotiation as beneficial for both parties. Von der Leyen noted the deal brings stability and predictability for businesses. The agreement includes major U.S. energy purchases and investments by the EU. Some strategic products will have zero tariffs, but details are still being finalized.
Trump plays golf in Scotland while protesters take to the streets and decry his visit
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — President Donald Trump has played golf at his course on Scotland’s coast while protesters around the country took to the streets to decry his visit and accuse United Kingdom leaders of pandering to the American. Trump and his son Eric played on Saturday near Turnberry, a historic course that the Trump family’s company took over in 2014. Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the U.S. Consulate about 100 miles away in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital. Protests were planned in other cities. While in Scotland, Trump is set to talk trade with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president.
In Epstein furor, Trump struggles to shake off a controversy his allies once stoked
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump faces ongoing questions about the Jeffrey Epstein case, overshadowing his administration’s achievements. On Friday, reporters pressed the Republican president about pardoning Epstein’s accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, but he deflected, emphasizing his administration’s successes. Despite enacting significant policies, Trump’s past ties to Epstein continue to stir controversy. Supporters demand transparency, believing Epstein’s death in a New York jail cell six years ago hides a larger conspiracy. Administration officials who previously fueled theories now claim there’s nothing more to reveal. Trump denies prior knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and urges supporters to move on. But the Epstein case remains a challenging distraction.
Entertainment
Company involved in Coldplay KissCam drama hires Gwyneth Paltrow as spokesperson
BOSTON (AP) — A tech company whose CEO resigned after being caught on video at a Coldplay concert embracing another employee has hired Gwyneth Paltrow as a temporary spokesperson. The “Shakespeare in Love” and “Ironman,” star, who was previously married to the band’s frontman Chris Martin, appeared in a video on Astronomer’s X account Friday to announce her new role. The move follows the resignation of the company’s CEO Andy Byron and a human resources executive, Kristin Cabot, after they were caught cuddling on a KissCam at Coldplay concert in July. The video resulted in endless memes, parody videos and screenshots of the pair’s shocked faces.
Comic-Con salutes James Gunn and gets first looks at ‘Coyote vs. Acme,’ and new ‘Star Trek’ forays
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The day three highlights at Comic-Con included a standing ovation from thousands for “Superman” director James Gunn, led by John Cena. Cena was in full costume at a panel on his HBO series “The Peacemaker,” part of Gunn’s take on the DC Comics screen universe. The day in Comic-Con’s vaunted Hall H also included a preview of Ryan Gosling’s forthcoming space adventure “Project Hail Mary.” And fans also get a sneak peek at “Coyote v. ACME,” a hybrid live-action and animated project featuring Cena. This film was shelved by Warner Bros., but it will now get a theatrical release.
Teens say they are turning to AI for friendship
Teenagers are increasingly turning to AI for advice, emotional support and decision-making, according to a new study. Common Sense Media found that over 70% of teens have used AI companions, with many finding the interactions as satisfying as talking to real friends. Experts warn this trend could harm social skills and mental health, as teens rely on AI for validation and avoid real-world challenges. Concerns also include inappropriate content and the lack of regulation of AI platforms. Researchers emphasize that while AI can assist, it should not replace human connections, especially during adolescence, a critical time for social and emotional development.
Ozzy Osbourne, who led Black Sabbath and became the godfather of heavy metal, dies at 76
The gloomy, demon-invoking lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath who became the throaty, growling voice of heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne has died. A family statement said he died Tuesday, just weeks after his farewell show. He was 76. The statement did not include a cause but in 2020, Osbourne revealed he had Parkinson’s disease. Either clad in black or bare-chested, the singer was often the target of parents’ groups for his imagery and once caused an uproar for biting the head off a bat. Later, he would reveal himself to be a doddering and sweet father on the reality TV show “The Osbournes.”
Hunter Biden lashes out at George Clooney, other Democrats, over Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden has criticized prominent Democrats and party advisers in a recent interview. In a podcast published Monday, he expressed frustration over George Clooney’s call for President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 race. Hunter Biden questioned Clooney’s authority to undermine his father, who later exited the race after a poor debate performance. He also accused longtime Democratic strategists of profiting from the party without helping its current efforts. As for the disastrous June 2024 debate, Hunter Biden said his father had taken the sleep aide Ambien and was still affected by it.
Sports
PGA Tour ends regular season in Carolina. LPGA wraps up major season with Women’s British Open
The PGA Tour wraps up its regular season at the Wyndham Championship. At stake is the top 70 advancing to the FedEx Cup playoffs. Jordan Spieth is back in the field trying to fortify his position in the FedEx Cup. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley also is playing. This also is the week for the final major of the year. The Women’s British Open is at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. Nelly Korda is still searching for her first win this year. The attention shifts to Lottie Woad. She won the Women’s Scottish Open last week in her professional debut.
Max Homa and Sahith Theegala played in the Presidents Cup. Now both might miss PGA Tour postseason
The Wyndham Championship closes out the PGA Tour’s regular season. It’s the last chance for players to get into the top 70 in the FedEx Cup and advance to the postseason. And it’s a reminder that golf doesn’t offer guarantees. Max Homa, Sahith Theegala and Adam Scott played in the Presidents Cup. All three are among those outside the top 70 going into the Wyndham Championship. LIV Golf is going to South Africa next year. A Sports Business Journal report says the Saudi-funded league also is going to provide a $10 million purse for the team competition next year.
Max Homa and Sahith Theegala played in the Presidents Cup. Now both might miss PGA Tour postseason
The Wyndham Championship closes out the PGA Tour’s regular season. It’s the last chance for players to get into the top 70 in the FedEx Cup and advance to the postseason. And it’s a reminder that golf doesn’t offer guarantees. Max Homa, Sahith Theegala and Adam Scott played in the Presidents Cup. All three are among those outside the top 70 going into the Wyndham Championship. LIV Golf is going to South Africa next year. A Sports Business Journal report says the Saudi-funded league also is going to provide a $10 million purse for the team competition next year.
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase placed on paid leave as part of MLB sports betting investigation
Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of a Major League Baseball investigation into sports betting. Clase, a three-time All-Star, becomes the second Guardians pitcher to be placed on leave in connection with a sports gambling probe. Luis Ortiz also is on non-disciplinary leave through Aug. 31. It was unclear if the cases were related in any way. The Guardians said in a statement they “have been informed that no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted.”
Football season looms with no clear guidance in athlete battles to win more eligibility from NCAA
The wave of lawsuits from college athletes seeking another season of eligibility seems to be slowing down. With fall football practice starting this week, players hoping for a judge’s approval to play may be left waiting. Legal expert Sam Ehrlich says it’s likely too late for athletes to file cases and get relief. Judges have provided inconsistent rulings, and the issue might end up in a higher court. Some athletes, like Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, have won their cases. Others remain in limbo. The NCAA wants limited liability protection from Congress to address these eligibility lawsuits.
