RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — Charlie Gaddy, one of North Carolina’s most recognizable broadcasters and a longtime anchor on WRAL-TV, has died at age 93.
Before beginning his television career, Gaddy worked for a time at WPTF, the flagship station of the North Carolina News Network. In a 2024 interview marking WPTF’s 100th anniversary, he recalled the early days of local radio programming, including a show called Ask Your Neighbor.
“It was just something that somebody came up with as an idea, and they tried it to see how it would work,” Gaddy said. “And it worked beautifully. It was a very popular program and lasted a long time. But that’s how it started.”
Gaddy was born in Biscoe, North Carolina, attended Guilford College, and served in the U.S. Army. He became a household name across central North Carolina during his years anchoring WRAL’s evening newscasts, known for his calm demeanor and trusted presence.
This weekend’s Classic American Top 40 shows are presented by Newcomb and Company: Where your comfort is our business.
Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1983. You want quirky songs? We’ve got ’em right here! Some of this week’s chart-toppers are “She Blinded Me with Science” by Thomas Dolby, “Der Kommissar” by After the Fire, and “Mr. Roboto” by Styx. It’s the first time we are hearing “Little Red Corvette,” “Flashdance,” and “Rio.” Of course, this is the Golden Age of MTV, so all these tunes have neat videos! Plus, Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” and David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” are primed to take the Top Spot. Who will prevail? Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday: from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 8 p.m. to midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem hosts an American Top 40 show that originally aired during this week in 1972. R&B rules the Top 10 with The Chi-Lites, Staple Singers, Roberta Flack, and Al Green. Cat Stevens turns an old hymn, “Morning Has Broken,” into a hit song. And Sammy Davis has a rare appearance on the charts with “Candy Man.” There’s good rockin’ with The Stones’ “Tumbling Dice” and Commander Cody’s “Hot Rod Lincoln!” Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon, only on KIX.
This weekend’s Classic American Top 40 shows are presented by Holly Springs Cultural Center’s performances of Finding Patience, beginning June 9th.
Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1984. Footloose is a hit on the silver screen and three songs from its soundtrack are in the survey: the theme song by Kenny Loggins, “Let’s Hear It for The Boy” by Deniece Williams, and “Dancing in the Sheets” by Shalamar. Also, enjoy more movie music from Phil Collins with “Against All Odds.” Plus, Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson are swoonin’ and croonin’ with “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.” All are contenders for the #1 Spot, but can they unseat Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” which was in the Top Spot the previous week? Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX on Saturday: from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. and from 8 p.m. – midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem hosts an American Top 40 show that originally aired this week in 1979. The women are rockin’ the Top 10: Blondie, Donna Summer, and Suzi Quatro. Enjoy a rare appearance by a non-movie or TV show instrumental, “Music Box Dancer” by Frank Mills. The new version of The Doobie Brothers featuring Michael McDonald have their first hit with “What A Fool Believes.” Peaches and Herb had the #1 song the previous week with “Reunited” …and it feels so good. Plus, they’re hoping for a repeat! Listen to The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon, only on KIX.
Holly Springs Cultural Center presents Finding Patience. Patience the 175-year-old ghost of a slave, uncovers the roots of Holly Spring, sharing its sorrows and heralding its hopes, revealing what every person wants most in this life – to be remembered. Performances June 9th through the 26th. Tickets are available now here or call the Holly Springs or call the Holly Springs Cultural Center Box Office.
This weekend’s Classic American Top 40 shows are presented by Pool Scouts: Our highly trained pool service experts provide reliable, professional pool services that keep your pool crystal clear and swim-ready. Make Pool Scouts your go-to source for a perfect pool, so you can spend your precious free time enjoying your pool instead of cleaning it! We give you the 5-star treatment with all our pool cleaning, maintenance, and specialty services.
Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1980! American Gigolo, starring Richard Gere, is in the theaters, and its theme song by Blondie, “Call Me,” is riding high on the charts. Pink Floyd has their only Top 5 hit with “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2.” Newcomer Christopher Cross has his first big song, “Ride Like the Wind.” And a couple of duets round out the Top 10: Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes’ “Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer,” and Billy Preston with Syreeta for “With You, I’m Born Again.” Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX on Saturday: from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m., and from 8 p.m. – midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem hosts an American Top 40 Show that originally aired this week in 1974. The 70s AT 40s are always so much fun, with a mixed bag of music! This week, three instrumentals grace the Top 10: “The Entertainer” by Marvin Hamlisch, “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” by MFSB, and Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells.” Solo Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are in the Second 10. Ray Stevens’ wacky “The Streak” makes a play for the top spot, but can it upend Grand Funk and “The Locomotion,” the previous week’s Number One? Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 a.m. – noon, only on KIX.
Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1988! The Top 10 is like a “Whatever Happened To…” VH-1 special as Terence Trent D’Arby, Taylor Dayne, and Pebbles all have their big shot at stardom. We’ll also hear from some regulars to The Countdown: Whitney Houston, INXS, and Gloria Estefan. The Pet Shop Boys remake Willie Nelson’s “Always on My Mind” and mall teen queen Tiffany redoes The Beatles’ “I Saw (Him) Standing There.” Plus, the act Johnny Hates Jazz with “Shattered Dreams” wins for Best Band Name of The Week. Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX on Saturday: from 6am – 10am and from 8pm – midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem hosts an American Top 40 show that originally aired during this week in 1976! It’s the first time Queen’s mega-hit “Bohemian Rhapsody” is in the Top 10. Dance music is well represented with “Boogie Fever,” “Disco Lady,” and “Get Up and Boogie.” Meanwhile, Welcome Back Kotter is on TV and John Sebastian’s theme song is near the top, but it must contend with Maxine Nightingale’s “Right Back Where We Started From” and The Bellamy Brothers’ “Let Your Love Flow” for the #1 slot! Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX.
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Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1982! “Chariots of Fire” was popular in the theaters and on the music charts. Newbies Huey Lewis and The News have their first hit, “Do You Believe in Love.” One-hit-wonder Tommy Tutone was on the charts with the phone number that everybody was calling: “867-5309.” Yacht Rockers Bertie Higgins with “Key Largo” and Paul Davis with “65 Love Affair” are making strides in the Top 10, but the women rule the charts with Joan Jett and The Go Gos vying for #1! Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 this Saturday on KIX: from 6am-10am and from 8pm-midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem hosts an American Top 40 show that originally aired this week in 1973! Space exploration is top of mind with the theme from “2001” as well as David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” A brand-new band called Steely Dan premieres with “Reeling in The Years.” Vicki Lawrence tells the lurid story of “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.” And Tony Orlando and Dawn are looking to have their first #1 with a song your parents danced to: “Tie A Yellow Ribbon!” Tune in for The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am-noon, only on KIX.
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Saturday on AT40 hear the big songs from this week in 1986! Robert Palmer and his Video-Ready Vixens are in the Top Ten with “Addicted to Love.” There are two songs named “I Can’t Wait” in The Countdown–one by Stevie Nicks and the other by Nu Shooz. The Rolling Stones remake a Motown classic, “Harlem Shuffle.” Just for fun, it’s Falco doing “Rock Me Amadeus.” And Prince and The Bangles battle for the top spot, with both songs written by the Purple One! Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday: from 6am-10am and from 8pm-midnight.
Easter Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem hosts an American Top 40 show that originally aired this week in 1974. The 70s AT40 countdowns never fail to entertain. Hear “The Lord’s Prayer” by Sister Janet Mead as well as “Tubular Bells,” the movie theme from “The Exorcist.” Also enjoy country staple Charlie Rich alongside soul favorite Gladys Knight and The Pips, newcomer Billy Joel with his first hit “Piano Man,” and chart-topping piano man Elton John’s “Bennie and The Jets!” Listen to The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am-noon, only on KIX.
This weekend’s American Top 40 shows are presented by The Butcher’s Market. The Butcher’s Market is known for their great meats but they also have the BEST Salmon in town! Fresh Atlantic Salmon, sustainably raised in the Faroe Islands of the Northern Atlantic. Simple and delicious idea is to just bake it with our House Seasoning or Maple Bourbon Grilling Sauce! Order online and your order will be waiting when you arrive!
Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1983! Michael Jackson ’s “Thriller” album rules MTV and radio, and posts two songs in the Top 10. A whole lot of AquaNet and mascara went into video hits from Duran Duran, Culture Club, and Dexy’s Midnight Runners. Frida of Abba has a song in the survey, “I Know There’s Something Going On,” featuring Phil Collins. And, if you like your music quirky, you’ll love the inclusion of “She Blinded Me with Science” by Thomas Dolby and “Der Kommisar” by After the Fire. Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday: from 6am – 10am and from 8pm – midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired this week in 1975. NC’s own Sammy Johns enters the Top 10 with “Chevy Van.” LaBelle’s first hit, “Lady Marmalade,” had everybody learning a little racy French. Minnie Riperton’s “Lovin You” is a big mover and will challenge Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom” for the #1 spot. Also, early in The Countdown, hear Sugarloaf’s song about the music and radio business, “Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You.” Listen to The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX.
This weekend’s American Top 40 shows are presented by SMOKEY: Music and Memories at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. Don’t miss a night with one of the greats! Legendary singer-songwriter William “Smokey” Robinson is coming to Koka Booth on August 19th! Purchase tickets now here.
Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1984! It’s all about music from movies and videos. The themes from “Footloose” and “Against All Odds” are Top Five hits. MTV mainstays Hall & Oates, Cyndi Lauper, Huey Lewis, Culture Club, and Van Halen dominate. First -timer and one-hit-wonder, Nena, is in with “99 Luftballons.” And… just for fun, Weird Al scores with “Eat It!” Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 this Saturday on KIX: from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. and from 8 p.m. – midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired this week in 1977. The Eagles are fast movers with their new single “Hotel California.” It’s a mixed bag in the Top 20 as Glen Campbell plays alongside Abba, Paul McCartney and Wings, and Atlanta Rhythm Section. While Hall & Oates ruled the roost during the previous week with “Rich Girl,” can they do it again? Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 am – noon, only on KIX.
This weekend’s American Top 40 Shows are brought to you by Sunrise Dental.
Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1985! Madonna is on fire with two entries in the top twenty: “Material Girl” and “Crazy for You.” ”We are the World” continues its presence after four weeks on the charts. Young Julian Lennon has a fast mover with “Too Late for Goodbyes.” And it’s a tight race for #1 this week between REO Speedwagon’s “I Can’t Fight This Feeling” and Phil Collins’ “One More Night.” Who will prevail? Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday: from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. and from 8 p.m. – midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired this week in 1979. Dance music is king with rhythmic hits from Gloria Gaynor, Rod Stewart, and Amii Stewart. It’s the first time we heard “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits and the Michael McDonald version of The Doobie Brothers’ “What A Fool Believes.” It would be a “Tragedy” without The Bee Gees chart-topping a late 70s AT40, and this week is no exception! Listen early in The Countdown and hear the just-for-fun “Rubber Biscuit” by The Blues Brothers. Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 a.m. – noon, only on KIX!
Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1987! Bruce Hornsby has two songs that he wrote in the Top 10: “Mandolin Rain,” with his band The Range, and “Jacob’s Ladder,” which is performed by Huey Lewis and The News. Bruce Willis was on TV in “Moonlighting” and on the radio with “Respect Yourself.” Get your “big hair” rock on with Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer” and Europe’s “The Final Countdown,” which are back-to-back in The Countdown. Also, first-timers Club Nouveau have a monster hit with their remake of 70s classic “Lean on Me,” which may headed to the top spot! Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday: from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. and from 8 p.m. – midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired this week in 1972. Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold” is heading toward the top and Neil Young sound-alike, America, is right behind him with “Horse with No Name.” Donny Osmond has back-to-back hits in the Top 10: his solo “Puppy Love” and “Down by the Lazy River” with The Osmonds. Get funky with “Jungle Fever” by The Chakachas and “I Gotcha” by Joe Tex. Also enjoy a modern-day classic as newcomer Don McLean debuts his epic “American Pie.” Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 a.m. – noon, only on KIX.
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Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1980! Pink Floyd is in the survey with their only Top Five hit, “Another Brick in the Wall.” First-timer Christopher Cross is riding high with “Ride Like the Wind.” Donna Summer is on the radio with “On the Radio.” ”American Gigolo” is in theaters and its theme, “Call Me” by Blondie, is on the charts. Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” has held the top spot for the past three weeks and is primed to make it four! Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday: from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. and from 8 p.m. – midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired this week in 1976. “S.W.A.T” is a popular TV show and the theme song by Rhythm Heritage is in the Top 10. The CB radio craze brings Cledus Maggard’s “White Knight” to the countdown. The Eagles are establishing themselves as a serious musical force with “Take It to The Limit.” And, just for fun, it’s Larry Groce with “Junk Food Junkie.” Enjoy the Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 a.m. – noon, only on KIX.
This week’s Classic American Top 40 shows on KIX are brought to you by A.R.S. Rescue Rooter… who are “making it work, making it right.”
Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1988. It’s a case of when-movie-stars-sing as “Dirty Dancing” star Patrick Swayze refuses to “put Baby in a corner” in his hit single” She’s Like the Wind,” which is at #2. David Lee Roth finds success away from Van Halen with his solo hit “Just Like Paradise,” which is in the Top 10. Sports arena classics “Pump Up the Volume” by M.A.R.R.S. and “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa are first heard. And George Michael and Rick Astley have big hair and big hits with “Father Figure” and “Never Gonna Give You Up” — which are battling for the #1 position. Who will prevail? You’ll find out during two chances to listen to AT40 this Saturday on KIX: from 6am -10am and during an encore presentation from 8pm – midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired during this week in 1974. Oh, what a fun mixed bag of music! It’s the first time we hear Barbra Streisand’s signature “The Way We Were.” We’ll also get to “Boogie Down” with Eddie Kendricks and do the “Jungle Boogie” with Kool and The Gang. Couple-of-the-week James Taylor and Carly Simon team for “Mockingbird.” Just for kicks, it’s “Spiders and Snakes” by Jim Stafford. And, just for cheese, enjoy “Seasons in the Sun” by Terry Jacks — which was the previous week’s #1 song. Enjoy the Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX.
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Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1981. They have a real country flavor with Eddie Rabbitt, Dolly Parton, and Delbert McClinton in the Top 10. A perennial holiday favorite by Dan Fogelberg, “Same Auld Lang Syne,” makes its first chart appearance. Blondie scores with two songs in the Top 20: “The Tide is High” and “Rapture.” And… John Lennon does the same with “Woman” and “Just Like Starting Over.” Early in the Countdown, rockers will enjoy the inclusion of AC/DC’s “Back in Black” and The Outlaws’ “Ghost Riders in the Sky.” Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 this Saturday on KIX: from 6am – 10am and an encore presentation from 8pm to midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired this week in 1977. Barbra Streisand is on the big screen in “A Star is Born” and has a hit with the movie’s theme song. TV’s David Soul from “Starsky and Hutch” sings “Don’t Give Up On Us” and it’s really good! This is also the first time we hear modern-day classics like “Dancing Queen,” “Fly Like An Eagle,” “Night Moves,” and “New Kid in Town” — which is a fast mover for The Eagles and on its way to #1! Enjoy the Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – noon… only on KIX 102.9FM!
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Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1986. “Rocky IV” is a knockout in theaters and on the charts, with two songs in the survey: “Burning Heart” by Survivor and “Living in America” by James Brown. Also included in the Countdown is more movie music from Billy Ocean, “When The Going Gets Tough,” from “Jewel of the Nile” and Paul McCartney’s theme from “Spies Like Us.” Dionne Warwick and friends’ ”That’s What Friends Are For” is vying for the top spot with Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know.” Tune in to see who will prevail. Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 this Saturday on KIX: from 6am – 10am and from 8pm – midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired during this week in 1978. It’s total domination by the Bee Gees: three songs from “Saturday Night Fever” are in the Top 20, brother Andy Gibb is in the top five, and the Brothers Gibb sing on Samantha Sang’s smash hit “Emotion!” It’s the first time we hear Queen’s epic “We Will Rock You/ We Are The Champions” as well as Player’s “Baby Come Back.” Plus, there’s even music to summon the aliens with two versions of the theme from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind!” Enjoy the Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications, every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX.
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Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1982. It’s the usual 80s suspects in the Top 10: Hall & Oates, Journey, and Olivia Newton-John — with what would become the top song of the decade. For Valentine’s weekend, the Countdown is chock full of love songs by Air Supply, George Benson, and Foreigner. Just for fun, we’ll hear Buckner and Garcia with “Pac Man Fever.” And The J.Geils Band begins a l-o-n-g stay at #1 with “Centerfold.” Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday: from 6am – 10am or during an encore presentation from 8pm – midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired on Valentine’s Day 1976. Paul Simon’s “love” song “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” was #1 the previous week and hopes to repeat. Just in time for the Valentine’s weekend, the hits are hot and bothered this week — from Donna Summer’s “Love to Love You, Baby” and “You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate to “Love Machine” by The Miracles. Elsewhere in the Countdown, it’s a mixed bag of tunes: the theme from TV hit “S.W.A.T” to The Who with “Squeeze Box” and CW McCall with “Convoy.” Enjoy the Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications… every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX.
Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1983. Patti Austin and James Ingram have a big hit with “Baby Come to Me,” after it was featured in daytime drama’s “General Hospital.” For the first time, we were hearing The Stray Cats’ “Stray Cat Strut” and Adam Ant’s “Goody Two Shoes.” Duets from Crystal Gayle and Eddie Rabbitt as well as Michael Jackson with Paul McCartney are in the Top 10. And the AT40 Travelogue takes you to the chart-topping land “Down Under” and “Africa!” Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX; on Saturday from 6am – 10am, as well as an encore presentation from 8pm – midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes from this week in 1979. It’s all about the dance music with Rod Stewart, Gloria Gaynor, and Earth, Wind & Fire in the Top 10. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton add some country flavor to the Countdown. The Village People are fast movers with “YMCA,” but Chic has had a hold on the #1 spot for the past five weeks with “Le Freak!” Enjoy the Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX.
Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1987. The ladies rule the Top 10: Madonna’s “Open Your Heart,” Janet Jackson with “Control,” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Change of Heart.” Rock out Southern-style from The Georgia Satellites with “Keep Your Hands To Yourself.” Early in the countdown, hear Bruce Willis’s only Top 40 hit, “Respect Yourself.” And, if you’re going to have a one-hit wonder, might as well take it to the top — that’s the case of Billy Vera’s “At This Moment!” Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday: from 6am – 10am, with an encore presentation from 8pm – midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes from this week in 1971. What a fun mixed bag: Country sensation Lynn Anderson with “Rose Garden” plays back to back with Soul’s King Floyd “Groove Me”. The Osmond’s share the Top 10 with new artist Elton John, as do George Harrison and Barbra Streisand. Can these superstars upend Tony Orlando and Dawn’s “Knock Three Times,” which was last week’s Number One? Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and The Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX!
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Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1985. Soap star Jack Wagner was heating up TV and radio with his smash “All I Need.” A couple of Eagles have solo hits: Don Henley with “The Boys of Summer” and Glenn Frey with “The Heat is On.” Robert Plant’s and The Honeydrippers’ only two hits are both in this countdown with “Sea of Love” and “Rockin’ at Midnight.” That’s all good and well, but can anybody top the Queen of Controversy, Madonna, who has been at #1 for a whopping five weeks with “Like A Virgin”? Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on Saturday on KIX: from 6am – 10am and with an encore presentation from 8pm to midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes from this week in 1978! It’s a mixed bag where Dolly Parton, Queen, The Bee Gees and Styx all live harmoniously in the Top 10 and where we first hear modern standards like “Baby Come Back,” “You’re in My Heart,” and “How Deep is Your Love.” And if you listen to the countdown at the beginning, you’ll hear two versions of the theme from “Close Encounters of The Third Kind” — one by John Williams and the other by Meco. Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX.
KIX Cares and The Carolina Junior Hurricanes have huddled up to help Keep the Shelves Stocked for The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina!
Although the season of giving is over, hunger is happening year-round. There’s an even greater need as more folks continue to navigate through the challenges of the pandemic.
There are a few ways to help, including:
Volunteering
Donating to the virtual food drive
Donate at the Food Drive-Thru!
Food Drive-Thru on Feb 12th from 10 AM – 12 PM:
We are teaming up with the Carolina Junior Hurricanes for KIX Cares this month… helping out the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina!
Where: Wake Competition Center
When: Saturday, February 12, from 10am to Noon
What: A Drive-Thru style food drive
How can you help?
The Food Bank is taking anything that they can get, but here are a few items they will need:
Boxed Pasta
Canned Fruits/Vegetables
Rice
Hygiene Products (Soaps, toothpaste, toilet paper, paper towels, etc)
The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina (the Food Bank) is a nonprofit organization that has provided food for our friends and neighbors facing hunger in 34 counties in central and eastern North Carolina for 40 years. The Food Bank is an affiliate member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Simply put, the Food Bank works every day to provide food to people in need while building solutions to end hunger in our communities.
The Carolina Junior Hurricanes Hockey Association (CJHHA) is a not-for-profit organization founded in May of 1987. CJHHA has served the Raleigh and Triangle area for 25 years. CJHHA is the largest USA Hockey travel-based association in the Carolinas with nearly 550 members ranging in age from 8 to 18. The Junior Hurricanes work collaboratively with area House/Recreational programs to develop youth hockey player’s skills and provide additional competitive playing opportunities.
Classic American Top 40 on KIX is brought to you by Newcomb and Company, “Where your comfort is our business.”
Saturday on AT 40, hear the big songs from this week in 1984. Progressive rock band, Yes, has their only Top Five hit with “Owner of A Lonely Heart.” Regular residents of the Top 10, Hall & Oates, are in with “Say It Isn’t So.” Lionel Richie has back-to-back chart favorites. They are all worthy contenders for the top spot, but Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson have a monster hit with “Say, Say, Say,” which has been at #1 for the past five weeks! Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX on Saturday: from 6am – 10am, with an encore presentation from 8pm to midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes from this week in 1977! R&B rules the roost with Top 10 entries by Stevie Wonder, Rose Royce, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., and Brick. Listen early in the countdown for an appearance by Lynyrd Skynyrd and their signature “Free Bird” and listen later on for Leo Sayer making a case at #1 with “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing!” Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – Noon, only on KIX!
This weekend KIX wraps up our American Top 40 Holiday Specials. Saturday Casey Kasem is your host for the Top 100 Songs of 1981 part 2, and Sunday morning it’s the Top 100 of 1979 part 2. Brought to you by ARS Rescue Rooter: Making it work, making it right! For all your Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing needs. Go to www.arsraleighdurham.com/specials.aspx and see online specials.
It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem featuring the Top 100 Hits of 1981 and 1979 part 1! Presented by North Carolina Symphony: Join us for North Carolina Symphony’s “Best of Broadway” January 21st and 22nd at Raleigh’s Meymandi Hall. Enjoy an exciting evening with music from The Phantom of the Opera, Little Shop of Horrors, Chicago, and more! For tickets visit NCSymphony.org or click here.
It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem featuring hits from this week in 1980 and 1973! Presented by ARS Rescue Rooter. For all your Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing needs. Go to www.arsraleighdurham.com/specials.aspx and see online specials.
Saturday on AT 40, hear the big songs this week in 1980! With only days until Christmas now, good girls and boys are dreaming about these under the tree: the latest albums by Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Blondie, Pat Benatar, and The Police. The loss of John Lennon is only a couple of weeks old, and John’s “Just Like Starting Over” continues to rise. Kenny Rogers’ “Lady” has spent an astounding five weeks at #1! Can he go another round? Classic 80s AT 40 on KIX, Saturday 6-10am, with an encore presentation from 8 to midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes this week in 1973! Santa’s list was full of 8-track tapes, albums, and 45s by these artists: The Carpenters are on “Top of The World” and near the top of the heap, Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” album was just out in October and in the top five, and the top ten is rounded out nicely with The Staple Singers, Chicago, and Jim Croce, but they’re up against a worthy contender: Charlie Rich’s “The Most Beautiful Girl”! The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications, every Sunday from 9-noon, only on KIX!
It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem featuring hits this week in 1981 and 1976! Presented by Got To Be NC Seafood: This holiday serve the freshest and best seafood raised and harvested right here in North Carolina. Get inspired by the flavors, colors, seasons and sounds of North Carolina with recipes and ideas for exploring our state’s agricultural offerings. Discover how to experience North Carolina agriculture and recipes from both our members and Local Dish host and Got To Be NC partner Lisa Prince: gottobenc.com/inspiration/
Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs this week in 1981! New albums by The Police, Foreigner, and The Go Go’s were on the Christmas wish list of good girls and boys. Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham have solo hits in the Top Ten. Hall & Oates were red hot with two songs in the top twenty and Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” has been parked at #1 for 3 weeks…will it be four? Classic 80s AT 40 on KIX, Saturday 6-10am, with an encore presentation 8pm to midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes this week in 1976! “Nadia’s Theme” from “The Young and The Restless” is a big hit. It’s the first time we heard Boston’s “More Than a Feeling”, “Beth” by Kiss, and the silly “Muskrat Love” by The Captain and Tennille. Rod Stewart has held the top spot for the last four weeks with “Tonight’s The Night”, but The Spinners’ “Rubberband Man” and Bee Gees’ “Love So Right” are worthy challengers! The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications, every Sunday 9-noon, only on KIX!
It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem featuring hits this week in 1984 and 1977! Presented by Rolesville Furniture: Having a going out of business forever sale, with total liquidation at sacrifice prices! All in stock and ready to bring home now.
Saturday on AT 40, hear the big songs this week in 1984! CDs by these artists were likely to end up under the tree: newcomers Wham, veterans Hall & Oates, and video darlings Cyndi Lauper and Duran Duran, they all have songs in the Top Ten! MTV favorites Prince, Madonna, and Huey Lewis round out the second ten and first-timer Billy Ocean has two entries in the countdown this week. Classic 80s AT 40 on KIX, Saturday 6-10am, with an encore presentation 8pm to midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes this week in 1977! Modern Day Classics were heard for the first time: “We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions”, “You Make Lovin Fun”, and “How Deep is Your Love”. Linda Ronstadt is red-hot with two Top Ten hits! Paul Nicholas has his One Hit Wonder with “Heaven On The 7th Floor” and the eternally sappy “You Light Up My Life” just won’t go away, having spent 8 weeks at #1! The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 to noon, only on KIX.
It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem featuring hits from this week in 1978 and 1983! Presented by ARS Rescue Rooter. For all your Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing needs. Go to www.ars.com/raleigh and see online specials. Or call 919-865-7777.
Saturday on AT40 hear the big songs this week in 1983! The top five includes famous duets: Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers with “Islands in The Stream” and Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson with “Say Say Say”. Michael is also just outside the top ten with “PYT”. Prepare to have your world rocked from Quiet Riot “Cum on Feel The Noize” followed by the ultra-melancholy “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler. We’re mixing it up for you on this classic AT40 show on KIX, Saturday 6-10am, with an encore presentation 8 to midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes this week in 1978! Barbra Streisand teams with Neil Diamond for “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”. Kenny Loggins gets a vocal assist from Stevie Nicks on “Whenever I Call You Friend”. Ballads from Ambrosia, Anne Murray, and Gino Vanelli dominate the top ten, but Foreigner is ready to rock with “Double Vision”. Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” held the #1 spot last week and is hoping for a repeat! The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications, every Sunday 9-noon, only on KIX!
It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem, featuring hits from this week in 1970 and 1982!
Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs this week in 1982! Rockers Rush make their only AT40 appearance with “New World Man”. It’s the first of many entries for newcomers Men at Work with “Who Can It Be Now”, Lionel Ritchie with “Truly” and Michael McDonald with “I Keep Forgettin” are finding great solo success outside The Commodores and The Doobie Brothers. An Officer and A Gentleman is top at the box office and it’s theme “Up Where We Belong” is making a strong case for #1! Hear the complete 80s classic American Top 40 shows on KIX, Saturday 6-10am, with an encore presentation 8 to midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes this week in 1970! These acts were brand spankin’ new: The Partridge Family with “I Think I Love You”, James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain”, and The Carpenters’ “We’ve Only Just Begun”. The Top Ten is shared by rockers Sugarloaf with “Green Eyed Lady”, along with One Hit Wonders R. Dean Taylor with “Indiana Wants Me” and Brian Hyland with “Gypsy Woman”, but the Jackson Five is looking mighty-mighty at #1 for the past four weeks with “I’ll Be There”! The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications, every Sunday 9-noon, only on KIX!
Presented by NC Theatre’s Lady Day about the life and music of Billie Holiday. Showing through this Sunday, in downtown Raleigh. Learn more at NCTheatre.com
It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem, featuring hits from this week in 1977 and 1980! Presented by Newcomb and Company! Turn to the experts at Newcomb and Company. Your comfort is our business www.newcombandcompany.com
Saturday on AT40 hear the big songs this week in 1980! The Divas rule the Top Ten with Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, and Donna Summer all registering hits. Rounding out the Top Ten are soft rockers by Kenny Rogers and The Pointer Sisters. It’s up to songs by Queen, Pat Benatar, and Stevie Wonder to rock things up a bit. And get ready to pogo with your flower-pot-hats on! Devo is in the countdown with “Whip It”! Hear the complete 80s classic AT40 shows on KIX, Saturday 6-10AM, with an encore presentation 8PM to midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes this week in 1977! Dance music is King, with hits by Heatwave, The Commodores, and the disco “Star Wars” medley in the Top Ten. You’ll hear Country/Pop crossover artists Crystal Gayle with “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” and Rita Coolidge with “We’re All Alone”. A tribute to Elvis Presley “The King Is Gone” by Ronnie McDowell. Prepare for a Sugar Coma – the sweet and sappy “You Light Up My Life” by Debby Boone has been at #1 for the past three weeks! The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications, every Sunday 9AM-noon, only on KIX.
It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem featuring hits from 1976 and 1985!
This Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs this week in 1985! Miami Vice was huge on TV… it was like watching an hour-long music video, and you’ll hear its theme song plus “You Belong To The City” by Glenn Frey, as heard on the show…the 8 minute ad for MTV “Money For Nothing” is included. PLUS two songs from the St. Elmo’s Fire soundtrack. Video music rules the charts, but can these hits upend fast riser “Part Time Lover” by Stevie Wonder? Hear the complete 80s classic AT40 shows on KIX, Saturday 6-10am, with an encore presentation 8 to midnight.
Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes this week in 1976! In the top ten you’ll hear newcomer, fast mover, and former KIX-AM DJ, Rick Dees with the silly “Disco Duck”. First timers Wild Cherry with “Play That Funky Music” plus Hall & Oates with “She’s Gone”. Also included is from TV’s The Young and The Restless, the beautiful instrumental “Nadia’s Theme”. Peter Frampton and Boz Scaggs from their now classic albums “Frampton Comes Alive” and “Silk Degrees”. Veterans Chicago are making a strong case for the second week at #1 with “If You Leave Me Now”. The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications, every Sunday 9AM-noon, only on KIX.
Presented by North Carolina Opera featuring Fidelio! On Sunday, November 14, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Meymandi Concert Hall, Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts FIDELIO is generously sponsored by Ross Lampe, Jr. FIDELIO is Beethoven’s only opera, based on a true story from the French Revolution about a woman who, disguised as a man, freed her husband from prison. The original version of the opera received its premiere in 1805 in Vienna, but thanks to Napoleonic invasion and French occupation, it attracted little notice at first. Beethoven took the opportunity to rewrite the piece – including several versions of the overture – and it was successful in its final version in 1814. The inspired music, the vigor and excitement of the rescue scene, the great chorus, the beauty of the Act I quartet (that has the same feel of a slow movement from one of Beethoven’s symphonies) won over the Viennese public and subsequent audiences. At the same time, the opera’s message of hope, and of liberation from tyranny has made the piece resonate with audiences around the world even beyond its musical impact. Arthur Fagen conducts the NCO Orchestra and Chorus. Alexandra LoBianco (previously seen here in Tosca and Siegfried) sings Leonore, and Carl Tanner (previously seen here in Pagliacci and Samson et Dalila) sings Florestan. Other returning artists include Kenneth Kellogg as Rocco and Takaoki Onishi as Don Fernando.
FIDELIO lasts approximately 2h30m, including one intermission. Sung in German with English supertitles Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Librettist: Joseph Sonnleithner Premiere: 1814, Theater am Kärntnertor, Vienna, Austria
It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem featuring hits from 1970 and 1984. Presented by ARS Rescue Rooter! For all your Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing needs. Go to www.arsraleighdurham.com and see online specials.
It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem, featuring hits from this week in 1975 and 1987! Presented by Rolesville Furniture and Affordable Dentures!
Presented by Rolesville Furniture: For everyday guaranteed lowest prices on brand name furniture, including Ashley, you can bring home today. Stop in Rolesville Furniture’s huge showroom just ten minutes north of Raleigh! Visit us online at rolesvillefurniture.com
Presented by Affordable Dentures and Implants. Everyone deserves to love their smile. Now open at Plantation Point Shopping Center near Capital Boulevard and 5-40 in Raleigh. Or go to affordabledentures.com
Get Ready to Pump it Up! Play Twisted Trivia just after 8am with Jenn LuMaye for your chance to win tickets to see Elvis Costello and the Imposters. Stopping here on Elvis’s “Hello Again” tour for one night only, October 18th, at the Duke Energy Center in downtown Raleigh.
Click HERE to buy tickets now through Ticketmaster.com
It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem … featuring hits from 1972 and 1982. Presented by Habitat for Humanity Restores and Affordable Dentures and Implants!
CHICAGO (AP) — When it comes to NASCAR’s upcoming return to downtown Chicago, Julie Giese has a long list of responsibilities. The track president is monitoring an ambitious construction schedule for the street course, to go along with everything else that goes into the busy weekend.
What happens next is going to have to wait.
The future of NASCAR in Chicago is murky going into its third edition on the first weekend in July. The three-year contract between the motorsports organization and the city that was announced in 2022 has two mutual options, and their fate is unclear.
Giese said there have been “good conversations” between NASCAR and the city, and there is time to work on the possibilities beyond the event.
“So really right now the focus is on let’s execute a really great 2025,” Giese said. “We’ll continue to have the conversations with the city. But right now, honestly, the more consistent conversations are the planning conversations.”
Messages were left by The Associated Press seeking comment from Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office. Johnson’s predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, was in charge when the original agreement between NASCAR and the city was finalized.
The Athletic reported on June 18 that NASCAR was nearing an agreement to put a street race in the San Diego area next year. An announcement could come as soon as July.
Asked if she had spoken with NASCAR or anyone in the San Diego area about a Southern California street race, Giese said her focus is on Chicago. She also said she feels there is room for multiple street courses on NASCAR’s calendar.
“We have multiple road course races on the schedule,” she said. “So I mean … I’ve not ever heard where it has to be one or the other. I mean there is room. This event, we went into it that first year knowing full well it was a proof of concept. And we showed that it is possible.”
The Xfinity and Cup Series races in Chicago — held on a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course against the backdrop of Lake Michigan and Grant Park — are the main events in a festival-like weekend that also includes music and entertainment options.
It is geared as much to a new audience in one of NASCAR’s most important regions as it is to the most ardent racing fans. NASCAR used to race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, a 45-mile drive from downtown, but it pulled out after the 2019 season.
“This is a top-three market for us, worldwide frankly, for NASCAR fans,” NASCAR executive Ben Kennedy said when the Chicago event was announced in 2022.
There was some concern for drivers and their teams about the course ahead of the first weekend, and it wasn’t exactly warmly received by local businesses and residents because of the street closures in a heavily trafficked area for tourists in the summer.
But organizers have shrunk the construction schedule from 43 days in 2023 to 25 this year. Based on input from fans, they also have made adjustments to the race viewing areas and moved the concert stage to the start-finish line. Admission is free for kids 12 and under on Saturday and Sunday this year.
The weekend also has won over at least some people inside of NASCAR.
“This was very different. But now it’s fun to see and hear from people in the industry that are coming in early, and they’re going to just enjoy the city for a few days,” Giese said. “The one piece that I hear from our drivers, especially, is they love just staying right at a hotel right across the street. They’re walking across Michigan Avenue and they’re at the course.”
Quite often with an umbrella. Wet weather had a major effect on each of the first two editions. Heavy rain nearly scuttled the inaugural weekend, and last year’s Cup Series race was shortened because of a rain delay and fading sunlight.
When the drivers were on the course, the racing was compelling. Shane van Gisbergen outdueled Justin Haley and Chase Elliott on his way to a historic Cup victory in 2023, and Alex Bowman stopped an 80-race drought with his victory last year.
“I think they’ve been up against it as far as conditions are concerned,” Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin said. “The track has been good, it’s been racy and has passing zones and the scenery is fantastic as far as the backdrop we are racing in. There’s a lot of positives for the Chicago Street Race.
“It will probably move around in the future, but it’s in the mold in which I would like to see any street race they continue to implement in the future.”
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are adding to their records on Monday as Wall Street nears the finish of a second straight winning month.
The S&P 500 was 0.2% higher in its first trading after completing a stunning rebound from its springtime sell-off of roughly 20%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 146 points, or 0.3%, as of 10:30 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.2% higher.
Stocks got a boost after Canada said it’s rescinding a planned tax on U.S. technology firms and resuming talks on trade with the United States. On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump had said he was suspending talks with Canada because of his anger with the tax, which he called “a direct and blatant attack on our country.”
One of the main reasons U.S. stocks came back so quickly from their springtime swoon has been hope that Trump will reach deals with other countries to lower his stiff proposed tariffs. Otherwise, the fear is that trade wars could stifle the economy and send inflation higher.
Many of Trump’s announced tariffs are currently on pause, and they’re scheduled to kick back into effect in a little more than a week.
In an interview with Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Trump said his administration will notify countries that the trade penalties will take effect unless there are deals with the United States. Letters will start going out “pretty soon” before the approaching deadline, he said.
The U.S. stock market being back at a record high could actually raise the risk of renewed escalations on tariffs, according to strategists at Deutsche Bank led by Parag Thatte and Binky Chadha. They point to the pattern in 2018 and 2019 of rallies for the market prompting escalations for tariffs, which then drove market pullbacks followed by relents on tariffs that then sparked rallies again.
“Despite the rhetoric to the contrary, this dynamic looks alive and well,” the strategists wrote in a report. “In our view, beyond the market reaction, if negative impacts of tariffs on growth, earnings or inflation start to materialize, we will get further relents.”
On Wall Street, GMS’ stock jumped 11.8% after the supplier of specialty building products said it agreed to sell itself to a Home Depot subsidiary in a deal that would pay $110.00 per share in cash. That would give it a total value of roughly $5.5 billion, including debt.
Less than two weeks ago, another company, QXO, said it was offering to buy GMS for $95.20 per share in cash. After the announcement of the Home Depot bid, QXO’s stock rose 1.9%, and Home Depot’s stock slipped 0.5%.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise rallied 13.1% and Juniper Networks climbed 8.4% after saying they had reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that could clear the way for their merger go through, subject to court approval. HPE is trying to buy Juniper in a $14 billion deal.
In the bond market, Treasury yields eased a bit ahead of major economic reports later in the week. The highlight will be Thursday’s jobs report. It’s often the most anticipated economic data of each month, and it will come a day earlier than usual because of the Fourth of July holiday.
The job market has remained relatively steady recently, even in the face of tariffs, but hiring has slowed. Economists expect Thursday’s data to show another slowdown in overall hiring, down to 115,000 jobs in June from 139,000 in May.
Such data has kept the Federal Reserve on hold this year when it comes to interest rates. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has said repeatedly that it’s waiting for more data to show how tariffs will affect the economy and inflation before resuming its cuts to interest rates. That’s because lower rates can fan inflation higher, along with giving the economy a boost.
Trump, meanwhile, has been pushing for more cuts to rates and for them to happen soon. Two of his appointees to the Fed have said recently they could consider cutting rates as soon as the Fed’s next meeting in less than a month.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.27% from 4.29% late Friday.
In stock markets abroad, indexes dipped modestly in Europe following a more mixed finish in Asia.
Stocks fell 0.9% in Hong Kong but rose 0.6% in Shanghai after China reported its factory activity improved slightly in June after Beijing and Washington agreed in May to postpone imposing higher tariffs on each others’ exports, though manufacturing remained in contraction.
By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors started deliberating Monday in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking case, weighing charges that could put the hip-hop mogul in prison for life.
After receiving legal instructions from federal Judge Arun Subramanian for more than 2 hours, the jury of eight men and four women headed behind closed doors to deliberate. They’ll be sifting through seven weeks of sometimes graphic and emotional testimony about the rap, fashion and reality TV impresario ’s propensity for violence and his sexual predilections, including drug-fueled sex marathons dubbed “ freak-offs ” or “hotel nights.”
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking — relating to two of his ex-girlfriends — and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution for allegedly arranging to fly sex workers across state lines.
In closing arguments last week, federal prosecutors and Combs’ defense team took their last shots at convincing jurors to convict or acquit the Grammy Award-winning founder of Bad Boy Records.
“The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said. “He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law.”
She said that he used his “close inner circle and a small army of personal staff, who made it their mission to meet the defendant’s every desire, promote his power and protect his reputation at all costs.”
Defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo countered, “This isn’t about crime. It’s about money.” He noted that one of Combs’ accusers in the criminal case also sued him in civil court.
“He is not a racketeer. He is not a conspirator to commit racketeering. He is none of these things. He is innocent. He sits there innocent. Return him to his family, who have been waiting for him,” the lawyer told jurors.
In all, 34 witnesses testified, headlined by Combs’ former girlfriends Cassie — the R&B singer born Casandra Ventura — and “ Jane,” who testified under a pseudonym. Both women said he often was violent toward them. Cassie said he forced her into hundreds of sexual encounters with paid male sex workers while Jane recounted numerous “hotel nights.”
Jurors also saw now-infamous security camera video of Combs beating, kicking and dragging Cassie at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016 and clips from videos of sexual encounters.
Combs chose not to testify, and his lawyers didn’t call any witnesses in their defense case. His attorneys elected instead to challenge the accusers’ credibility during lengthy cross-examination questioning.
The defense has acknowledged that Combs veered into violence, but his lawyers maintain that the sex acts were consensual. They contend that prosecutors are intruding in Combs’ personal life and that he’s done nothing to warrant the charges against him.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s big bill to cut taxes and reduce federal spending on some social safety net programs could have large implications for states, but for many it’s too late to do much about it this year.
Tuesday marks the start of a new budget year in 46 states. Though some legislatures are still working, most already have adjourned and finalized their spending plans without knowing whether federal funding will be cut and, if so, by how much.
“The ebb and flow of rumors and reality have created great uncertainty and some anxiety in state governments,” said David Adkins, executive director of The Council of State Governments.
Several states have taken preemptive steps, setting aside money in reserves or tasking committees to monitor the impact of federal funding reductions. Others are tentatively planning to return in special sessions this year to account for potential funding cuts to joint federal-state programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Others will have to wait until their legislatures are back in session next year.What’s at stake for states?
“If there are significant cuts, states wouldn’t be able to fully absorb those,” said Brian Sigritz, director of state fiscal studies at the National Association of State Budget Officers.
Nationally, the Medicaid health care program for lower-income residents accounts for 30% of total state expenditures, according to the health policy research organization KFF. That makes it the costliest program in many states, ahead of even K-12 education. The bulk of Medicaid money comes from the federal government, meaning any changes in federal policy can create big ripples for states.
Legislation pending in Congress would affect Medicaid in several ways. New work requirements are expected to reduce enrollment by millions of people, while other proposed changes also could reduce federal payments to states.
Until now the federal government also has covered the full cost of SNAP benefits and half the administrative costs. Trump’s bill would shift more of those costs to states, leaving them to either divert money from other purposes or trim back their food assistance programs.
The Medicaid and SNAP changes are just the latest in a series of Trump policies affecting state finances, including the rollback of grants for transportation and high-speed internet projects and attempts to withhold federal funds from sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.Some legislatures are stocking up on savings
A surge in federal aid and state tax revenue during the coronavirus pandemic led to booming budgets and historic cash surpluses in many states. As revenues slow and those surpluses get spent, some states now are trying to guard against federal funding reductions.
New Mexico enacted a law this year creating a Medicaid trust fund gradually stocked with up to $2 billion that can be tapped to prop up the program if federal funding cuts would otherwise cause a reduction in coverage or benefits.
Hawaii lawmakers, in crafting the state’s budget, left an extra $200 million in the general fund as a contingency against federal funding uncertainty. They plan to return for a special session.
And Vermont’s budget sets aside up to $110 million in case federal funding is cut. That includes $50 million that can be spent while the Legislature is not in session and up to $60 million that could be appropriated in the future to address federal funding shortfalls.
Though not necessarily tied to federal cuts, Florida lawmakers approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would set aside $750 million a year — or an amount equal to up to 25% of the state’s general revenue, whichever is less — in a reserve fund that lawmakers could use for emergencies. That measure still must go before voters.Some governors are cutting back on spending
Because of legislative deadlines, some state lawmakers had to craft budgets well before the details of Trump’s bill took shape.
Virginia lawmakers passed a budget in February for their fiscal year that starts Tuesday. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced several dozen line-item vetoes in May with the goal of creating a roughly $900 million financial cushion.
“There are some short-term risks as President Trump resets both fiscal spending in Washington and trade policies that require us to be prudent and not spend all of the projected surplus before we bank it,” Youngkin said in a statement.
Other states also have left money unspent, even though it has not always been touted as a buffer against federal cuts.
States are “enacting really cautious budgets, knowing that they may have to kind of revise them in special sessions or address changes in next year’s sessions,” said Erica MacKellar, a fiscal affairs program principal at the National Conference of State Legislatures.Some are taking a wait-and-see approach
Before adjourning their sessions, some state legislatures established procedures to monitor federal funding cuts and recommend budgetary changes.
Montana’s budget includes $50,000 for an analysis of the financial implications of federal actions, but that spending kicks in only upon the cancellation of at least $50 million of previously approved federal funding or the anticipated loss of at least $100 million of future revenue.
If federal funding to Maryland decreases by at least $1 billion, a provision approved by lawmakers requires the state budget office to submit a report to the General Assembly with proposed actions and potential spending reductions.
The spending plan passed by Connecticut lawmakers also requires the state budget office to respond quickly to federal reductions by identifying state funds that could be used to preserve programs, particularly those providing health care, food assistance, education and other priorities.
North Dakota lawmakers left room for more work. They adjourned their biennial session six days shy of their 80-day limit, allowing time to reconvene if needed.
Do you remember when arcades were everywhere and you could go and spend hours roaming the games and racking up points? One of those games was the pinball machine and some people have become masters of the flippers. But did you know there is a place to go explore over 80 games in one location for the pinball game? Asheville has a museum for the pinball machine and was awarded the “Best Arcade” award of 2025.
Photo by Getty Images
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
North Carolina’s coast is nicknamed the Graveyard of the Atlantic because of the thousands of ships found along the shores. This maritime museum honors those shipwrecks and gives great information about the recovery and preservation of the history just below the water’s surface.
Photo by Getty Images
Sylvan Heights Bird Park
Take a trip to the world’s largest waterfowl park which features over 2,500 birds located in Scotland Neck, North Carolina. These birds come from all over the world and some are even endangered. There is fun for all ages at this adventure.
Photo by Getty Images
Wheels Through Time Transportation Museum
Have you ever been to Maggie Valley, North Carolina? Have you ever heard of the Wheels Through Time Transportation Museum? Well you should take a quick trip down to this fun museum that is all about rare American motorcycles and memorabilia. Many folks who visit say that you might need two days to view and experience everything.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said Sunday he will not seek reelection next year, an abrupt announcement that came one day after he staked out his opposition to President Donald Trump’s tax breaks and spending cuts package because of its reductions to health care programs.
His decision creates a political opportunity for Democrats seeking to bolster their numbers in the 2026 midterm elections, creating a wide-open Senate race in a state that has long been a contested battleground. It could also make Tillis a wild card in a party where few lawmakers are willing to risk Trump’s wrath by opposing his agenda or actions. Trump had already been threatening him with a primary challenge, and posted Sunday that Tillis’ announcement was “Great News!”
“In Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,” Tillis said in a lengthy statement.
Tillis said he was proud of his career in public service but acknowledged the difficult political environment for those who buck their party and go it alone.
“I look forward to having the pure freedom to call the balls and strikes as I see fit and representing the great people of North Carolina to the best of my ability,” Tillis said in a statement.
Republicans hold a 53-47 edge in the Senate.
Trump, in social posts, had berated Tillis for being one of two Republican senators who voted on Saturday night against advancing the massive tax bill.
The Republican president accused Tillis of seeking publicity with his “no” vote and threatened to campaign against him, accusing the senator of doing nothing to help his constituents after last year’s devastating floods in western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene.
“Tillis is a talker and complainer, NOT A DOER,” Trump wrote.
The announcement from the two-term senator surprised senior Republicans with its timing, but not necessarily the substance. Tillis had planned to announce his reelection plans later this year, likely September at the latest, but had been heavily leaning in favor of retiring, according to a person close to the senator.
In the hours before his announcement, Tillis was weighing two questions: whether Trump and the White House would give him freedom to campaign with some independence, and whether Tillis would have the full protection of Senate Republican leaders, said the person, who was granted anonymity to discuss internal dynamics.
The GOP leadership’s decision to forge ahead with cuts to Medicaid that Tillis repeatedly warned would devastate North Carolina, and the president’s Truth Social post calling for a primary challenger to the senator made it clear to him that the answers to those two questions were no.
Tillis then decided he would announce his retirement, with the thinking that it would remove any ambiguity whether he would flip his opposition to the GOP’s sweeping tax bill.
He informed Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Saturday night of his decision to retire.
The North Carolina Republican Party chairman, Jason Simmons, said the party wishes Tillis well and “will hold this seat for Republicans in 2026.” Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the chairman of the campaign arm for Senate Republicans, did not mention Tillis in a statement but said the party’s winning streak in North Carolina will continue. Scott noted that Trump won the state three times.
Democrats expressed confidence about their prospects.
“I’ve flipped a tough seat before and we’re going to do it again,” Nickel said in a statement.
Some said Tillis’ decision is another sign of the dramatic transformation of the Republican Party under Trump, with few lawmakers critical of the president or his agenda remaining in office.
It “proves there is no space within the Republican Party to dissent over taking health care away from 11.8 million people,” said Lauren French, spokesperson for the Senate Majority PAC, a political committee aligned with the chamber’s Democratic members.
Tillis rose to prominence in North Carolina when, as a second-term state House member, he quit his IBM consultant job and led the GOP’s recruitment and fundraising efforts in the chamber for the 2010 elections. Republicans won majorities in the House and Senate for the first time in 140 years.
Tillis was later elected as state House speaker and helped enact conservative policies on taxes, gun rights, regulations and abortion while serving in the role for four years. He also helped push a state constitutional referendum to ban gay marriage, which was approved by voters in 2012 but was ultimately struck down by the courts as unconstitutional.
In 2014, Tillis helped flip control of the U.S. Senate to the GOP after narrowly defeating Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan. During his more than a decade in office, he championed issues such as mental health and substance abuse recovery, Medicaid expansion and support for veterans.
As a more moderate Republican, Tillis became known for his willingness to work across the aisle on some issues. That got him into trouble with his party at times, most notably in 2023 when North Carolina Republicans voted to censure him over several matters, including his challenges to certain immigration policies and his gun policy record.
“Sometimes those bipartisan initiatives got me into trouble with my own party,” Tillis said, “but I wouldn’t have changed a single one.”
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Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Joey Cappelletti in Washington and Makiya Seminera in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.
DETROIT (AP) — Aldrich Potgieter ended the protracted Rocket Classic, making an 18-foot birdie putt on the fifth playoff hole to outlast Max Greyserman for his first PGA Tour title on Sunday.
“I finally got one to the hole,” Potgieter said after missed opportunities on the green by three players led to the longest playoff of the season on the tour.
He celebrated by embracing his caddie and shaking hands with Greyserman and his caddie before giving his father, Heinrich, a hug.
The 20-year-old Potgieter is the youngest player on the tour and its biggest hitter, averaging 326-plus yards off the tee. He became the ninth player to win for the first time this season.
Potgieter was born in South Africa, moved to Australia when he was 8 and returned to South Africa at age 17 because the COVID-19 pandemic limited his opportunities to compete.
“We had to give up a lot, moving to Australia, moving back,” he said. “Emigrating is definitely not the easiest thing. Coming alone at the start of my career to the States and giving it a grind, and having my dad here has helped so much.”
Potgieter won the British Amateur at the age of 17 and became the youngest Korn Ferry Tour winner last year, paving the way for him to become the second-youngest player to earn a PGA Tour card through the minor league just after his 20th birthday. The youngest was Jason Day, who was 19 in 2007.
Chris Kirk was eliminated after missing a 4-foot putt on the second playoff hole — that after pushing a 9-foot putt past the cup on the first extra hole with a chance to win.
Greyserman and Potgieter each had opportunities to win end it on the 72nd hole at Detroit Golf Club, but couldn’t convert on birdie opportunities to break a tie at 22 under with Kirk.
“This one’s going to sting for a little bit,” Greyserman said.
Potgieter, two strokes ahead entering the round, closed with a 3-under 69, and Greyserman and Kirk each shot 67.
Greyserman missed a 12-foot putt and Potgieter came up short on an uphill, 42-foot putt. That set up Kirk with an opportunity to win it, but he couldn’t take advantage. After Greyserman two-putted from 39 feet for par and Potgieter did the same from 20 feet, Kirk had a chance to win it with a 9-foot putt only to push it to the right of the cup to extend the playoff.
The trio then went to the par-3, 158-yard 15th and Greyserman was the only one who was accurate off the tee and didn’t take advantage.
The trend continued on the par-4 16th, where both Greyserman and Potgieter missed 16-foot putts with a chance to win.
At the par-5 14th, Greyserman hit is drive 361 yards — his longest of the week — and was just 2 yards behind Potgieter’s blast. Potgieter hit his approach from 195 yards to 19 feet and he pulled his putt. Greyserman two-putted from from 29 feet for birdie.
Back at No. 15 for a second time in the playoff, Greyserman two-putted from 34 feet and then Potgieter finally ended it.
“Just wasn’t my time,” said Greyserman, who finished second for the fourth time after coming up short for his first PGA Tour victory.
Michael Thorbjornsen (67) and Jake Knapp (68) finished a stroke out of the playoff.
Collin Morikawa, meanwhile, is still waiting to end his drought.
He shot a 68 to finish 19 under and in an eighth-place tie. The two-time major winner, who was the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 5 in the world, has not won the PGA Tour since October 2023 at the Zozo Championship in Japan.
Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, who rose to No. 7 in the world after winning the Travelers Championship last week, closed with 67 to tie for 41st at 12 under.
A T-shirt worn by Beyoncé during a Juneteenth performance on her “Cowboy Carter” tour has sparked a discussion over how Americans frame their history and caused a wave of criticism for the Houston-born superstar.
The T-shirt worn during a concert in Paris featured images of the Buffalo Soldiers, who belonged to Black U.S. Army units active during the late 1800s and early 1900s. On the back was a lengthy description of the soldiers that included “their antagonists were the enemies of peace, order and settlement: warring Indians, bandits, cattle thieves, murderous gunmen, bootleggers, trespassers, and Mexican revolutionaries.”
Images of the shirt and videos of the performance are also featured on Beyoncé’s website.
As she prepares to return to the U.S. for performances in her hometown this weekend, fans and Indigenous influencers took to social media to criticize Beyoncé for wearing a shirt that frames Native Americans and Mexican revolutionaries as anything but the victims of American imperialism and for promoting anti-Indigenous language.
A spokesperson for Beyoncé did not respond to a request for comment.
Who were the Buffalo Soldiers?
The Buffalo Soldiers served in six military units created after the Civil War in 1866. They were comprised of formerly enslaved men, freemen, and Black Civil War soldiers and fought in hundreds of conflicts — including in the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II — until they were disbanded in 1951.
As the quote on Beyoncé’s shirt notes, they also fought numerous battles against Indigenous peoples as part of the U.S. Army’s campaign of violence and land theft during the country’s westward expansion.
Some historians say the moniker “Buffalo Soldiers” was bestowed by the tribes who admired the bravery and tenacity of the fighters, but that might be more legend than fact. “At the end of the day, we really don’t have that kind of information,” said Cale Carter, director of exhibitions at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston.
Carter and other museum staff said that, only in the past few years, the museum made broader efforts to include more of the complexities of the battles the Buffalo Soldiers fought against Native Americans and Mexican revolutionaries and the role they played in the subjugation of Indigenous peoples. They, much like many other museums across the country, are hoping to add more nuance to the framing of American history and be more respectful of the ways they have caused harm to Indigenous communities.
“We romanticize the Western frontier,” he said. “The early stories that talked about the Buffalo Soldiers were impacted by a lot of those factors. So you really didn’t see a changing in that narrative until recently.”
There has often been a lack of diverse voices discussing how the history of the Buffalo Soldiers is framed, said Michelle Tovar, the museum’s director of education. The current political climate has put enormous pressure on schools, including those in Texas, to avoid honest discussions about American history, she said.
“Right now, in this area, we are getting pushback from a lot of school districts in which we can’t go and teach this history,” Tovar said. “We are a museum where we can at least be a hub, where we can invite the community regardless of what districts say, invite them to learn it and do what we can do the outreach to continue to teach honest history.”
Historians scrutinize reclamation motive
Beyoncé’s recent album “Act II: Cowboy Carter” has played on a kind of American iconography, which many see as her way of subverting the country music genre’s adjacency to whiteness and reclaiming the cowboy aesthetic for Black Americans. Last year, she became the first Black woman ever to top Billboard’s country music chart, and “Cowboy Carter” won her the top prize at the 2025 Grammy Awards, album of the year.
“The Buffalo Soldiers play this major role in the Black ownership of the American West,” said Tad Stoermer, a historian and professor at Johns Hopkins University. “In my view, (Beyoncé is) well aware of the role that these images play. This is the ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour for crying out loud. The entire tour, the entire album, the entire piece is situated in this layered narrative.”
But Stoermer also points out that the Buffalo Soldiers have been framed in the American story in a way that also plays into the myths of American nationalism.
As Beyoncé’s use of Buffalo Soldiers imagery implies, Black Americans also use their story to claim agency over their role in the creation of the country, said Alaina E. Roberts, a historian, author and professor at the University of Pittsburgh who studies the intersection of Black and Native American life from the Civil War to present day.
“That’s the category in which she thought maybe she was coming into this conversation, but the Buffalo Soldiers are even a step above that because they were literally involved in not just the settlement of the West but of genocide in a sense,” she said.
Online backlash builds ahead of Houston shows
Several Native influencers, performers, and academics took to social media this week to criticize Beyoncé or decry the shirt’s language as anti-Indigenous. “Do you think Beyoncé will apologize (or acknowledge) the shirt?” indigenous.tv, an Indigenous news and culture Instagram account with more than 130,000 followers, asked in a post Thursday.
Many of her critics, as well as fans, agree. A flood of social media posts called out the pop star for the historic framing on the shirt.
“The Buffalo Soldiers are an interesting historical moment to look at. But we have to be honest about what they did, especially in their operations against Indigenous Americans and Mexicans,” said Chisom Okorafor, who posts on TikTok under the handle @confirmedsomaya.
Okorafor said there is no “progressive” way to reclaim America’s history of empire building in the West, and that Beyoncé’s use of Western symbolism sends a problematic message: “That Black people, too, can engage in American nationalism.”
“Black people, too, can profit from the atrocities of (the) American empire,” she said. “It is a message that tells you to abandon immigrants, Indigenous people, and people who live outside of the United States. It is a message that tells you not only is it a virtue to have been born in this country, but the longer your line extends in this country, the more virtuous you are.”
BEIJING (AP) — While China’s men’s soccer team hasn’t generated much excitement in recent years, humanoid robot teams have won over fans in Beijing based more on the AI technology involved than any athletic prowess shown.
Four teams of humanoid robots faced off in fully autonomous 3-on-3 soccer matches powered entirely by artificial intelligence on Saturday night in China’s capital in what was touted as a first in China and a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, set to take place in Beijing.
Four teams of humanoid robots faced off in a fully autonomous 3-on-3 soccer match powered entirely by artificial intelligence in Beijing on Saturday night. (AP Video)
According to the organizers, a key aspect of the match was that all the participating robots operated fully autonomously using AI-driven strategies without any human intervention or supervision.
Equipped with advanced visual sensors, the robots were able to identify the ball and navigate the field with agility
They were also designed to stand up on their own after falling. However, during the match several still had to be carried off the field on stretchers by staff, adding to the realism of the experience.
China is stepping up efforts to develop AI-powered humanoid robots, using sports competitions like marathons, boxing, and football as a real-world proving ground.
Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics, the company that supplied the robot players, said sports competitions offer the ideal testing ground for humanoid robots, helping to accelerate the development of both algorithms and integrated hardware-software systems.
He also emphasized safety as a core concern in the application of humanoid robots.
“In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe,” Cheng said. “For example, a robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn’t matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe.”
Booster Robotics provided the hardware for all four university teams, while each school’s research team developed and embedded their own algorithms for perception, decision-making, player formations, and passing strategies—including variables such as speed, force, and direction, according to Cheng.
In the final match, Tsinghua University’s THU Robotics defeated the China Agricultural University’s Mountain Sea team with a score of 5–3 to win the championship.
Mr. Wu, a supporter of Tsinghua, celebrated their victory while also praising the competition.
“They (THU) did really well,” he said. “But the Mountain Sea team (of Agricultural University) was also impressive. They brought a lot of surprises.”
China’s men have made only one World Cup appearance and have already been knocked out of next years’ competition in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
By LISA MASCARO, KEVIN FREKING and JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans voting in a dramatic late Saturday session narrowly cleared a key procedural step as they race to advance President Donald Trump’s package of tax breaks, spending cuts and bolstered deportation funds by his July Fourth deadline.
The tally, 51-49, came after a tumultuous night with Vice President JD Vance at the Capitol to break a potential tie. Tense scenes played out in the chamber as voting came to a standstill, dragging for more than three hours as holdout senators huddled for negotiations, and took private meetings off the floor. In the end, two Republicans opposed the motion to proceed, joining all Democrats.
Senate Republicans voting in a dramatic late Saturday session narrowly cleared a key procedural step as they race to advance President Donald Trump’s package of tax breaks, spending cuts and bolstered deportation funds by his July Fourth deadline. The tally, 51-49, came after a tumultuous session with Vice President JD Vance on hand if needed to break the tie. (AP Video)
There’s still a long weekend of work to come.
Republicans are using their majorities in Congress to push aside Democratic opposition, but they have run into a series of political and policy setbacks. Not all GOP lawmakers are on board with proposals to reduce spending on Medicaid, food stamps and other programs as a way to help cover the cost of extending some $3.8 trillion in Trump tax breaks.
“It’s time to get this legislation across the finish line,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.
Ahead of roll call, the White House released a statement of administrative policy saying it “strongly supports passage” of the bill. Trump himself was at his golf course in Virginia on Saturday with GOP senators posting about the visit on social media.
But by nightfall, Trump was lashing out against holdouts, threatening to campaign against one Republican, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had announced he could not support the bill because of grave Medicaid cuts that he worried would leave many without health care in his state. Tillis and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky voted against. The president was working the phones from the Oval Office late Saturday night, according to a person familiar with the discussions who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Pressure was mounting from all sides — billionaire Elon Musk criticized the package as “utterly insane and destructive.”
The 940-page “One Big Beautiful Bill Act was released shortly before midnight Friday, and senators are expected to grind through all-night debate and amendments in the days ahead. If the Senate is able to pass it, the bill would go back to the House for a final round of votes before it could reach the White House.
With the narrow Republican majorities in the House and Senate, leaders need almost every lawmaker on board. A new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the Senate bill would increase by 11.8 million the number of people without health insurance in 2034.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said Republicans unveiled the bill “in the dead of night” and are rushing to finish the bill before the public fully knows what’s in it. He immediately forced a full reading of the text late Saturday in the Senate, which would take hours.
Make-or-break moment for GOP
The weekend session could be a make-or-break moment for Trump’s party, which has invested much of its political capital on his signature domestic policy plan. Trump is pushing Congress to wrap it up and has admonished the “grandstanders” among GOP holdouts to fall in line.
The legislation is an ambitious but complicated series of GOP priorities. At its core, it would make permanent many of the tax breaks from Trump’s first term that would otherwise expire by year’s end if Congress fails to act, resulting in a potential tax increase on Americans. The bill would add new breaks, including no taxes on tips, and commit $350 billion to national security, including for Trump’s mass deportation agenda.
But the cutbacks to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy investments, which a top Democrat, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said would be a “death sentence” for America’s wind and solar industries, are also causing dissent within GOP ranks.
The Republicans are relying on the reductions to offset the lost tax revenues but some lawmakers say the cuts go too far, particularly for people receiving health care through Medicaid. Meanwhile, conservatives, worried about the nation’s debt, are pushing for steeper cuts.
Tillis said he spoke with Trump late Friday explaining his concerns. Paul of Kentucky had been opposed to the bill’s provision to raise the nation’s debt limit by $5 trillion.
And GOP Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who initially voted no, switched hours later after private talks to agree to advance the bill.
As the roll call teetered, attention turned to Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska who was surrounded by GOP leaders in intense conversation. She voted to proceed.
A short time later, Thune drew conservative holdouts Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming to his office, with Vance and Johnson also joining. Talks dragged on.
Then swiftly, Vance led them all back in to vote.
Later, Scott said he had met with the president, adding, “We all want to get to yes.”
Lee said the group “had an internal discussion about the strategy to achieve more savings and more deficit reduction, and I feel good about the direction where this is going, and more to come.”
After setbacks, Republicans revise some proposals
The release of the bill’s draft had been delayed as the Senate parliamentarian reviewed the measure to ensure it complied with the chamber’s strict “Byrd Rule,” named for the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va. It largely bars policy matters from inclusion in budget bills unless a provision can get 60 votes to overcome objections. That would be a tall order in a Senate with a 53-47 GOP edge and Democrats unified against Trump’s bill.
But over the past days, Republicans have quickly revised those proposals and reinstated them.
The final text includes a proposal for cuts to the Medicaid provider tax that had run into parliamentary hurdles and objections from several senators worried about the fate of rural hospitals. The new version extends the start date for those cuts and establishes a $25 billion fund to aid rural hospitals and providers.
The CBO had said that under the House-passed version of the bill, some 10.9 million more people would go without health care and at least 3 million fewer would qualify for food aid. The budget office has started releasing initial assessments of the Senate draft, which proposes steeper reductions.
Top income-earners would see about a $12,000 tax cut under the House bill, while the package would cost the poorest Americans $1,600, the CBO said.
SALT dispute shakes things up
The Senate included a compromise over the so-called SALT provision, a deduction for state and local taxes that has been a top priority of lawmakers from New York and other high-tax states, but the issue remains unsettled.
The current SALT cap is $10,000 a year, and a handful of Republicans wanted to boost it to $40,000 a year. The final draft includes a $40,000 cap, but limits it for five years. Many Republican senators say that is still too generous, but House Republicans are not fully satisfied either.
House Speaker Mike Johnson sent his colleagues home for the weekend with plans to be on call to return to Washington.
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Associated Press writers Ali Swenson, Fatima Hussein, Michelle L. Price and Matthew Daly contributed to this report.
