North Carolina residents can now seek state aid after Tropical Storm Chantal

North Carolina residents can now seek state aid after Tropical Storm Chantal

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Individuals in central North Carolina counties whose homes and belongings were damaged by massive rains last month from Tropical Storm Chantal can now seek state-funded financial grants for temporary assistance.

The aid for residents in eight counties within or near the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area is available after Gov. Josh Stein issued a state disaster declaration on Tuesday.

As much as 9 to 12 inches (22.9 to 30.5 centimeters) of rain fell in the region at the close of the July 4 weekend, sending some rivers to record-breaking levels, affecting public water systems and damaging homes and businesses. There were at least six storm-related deaths, law enforcement agencies said.

Stein also wrote President Donald Trump and the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday asking them to issue a federal major disaster declaration that would accelerate federal aid to help local governments with the costs of rebuilding roads and utilities, and for removing debris. Public assistance damage estimates have already totaled more than $42 million, according to Stein’s office.

Stein’s state-of-emergency declaration three weeks ago in 13 central counties was designed to jump-start the process to seek federal recovery assistance.

Stein’s letter on Tuesday to Trump and FEMA said that Chantal’s rains at the time resulted in more than 100 roads in the region being impassable because of flooding, sinkholes and structural damage.

Dozens of flood-related rescues were carried out in Durham and Orange counties. Water service was interrupted in Mebane, and Hillsborough’s water treatment plant was offline for several days. Many displaced residents ended up in hotels.

Individual aid from the state for items such as rental housing assistance, personal property replacement and medical expenses can be sought at disaster recovery centers in Orange, Durham and Alamance counties. Home and business owners already can seek U.S. Small Business Administration loans.

Funeral held for Dr. Greg Brannon, North Carolina tea party favorite and ex-Senate candidate

Funeral held for Dr. Greg Brannon, North Carolina tea party favorite and ex-Senate candidate

CARY, N.C. (AP) — A funeral was held over the weekend for Dr. Greg Brannon, a physician in North Carolina and past favorite of political conservatives who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate and House in the 2010s.

Brannon, an early personality in the tea party movement, delivered babies over 27 years as an OB-GYN. He died July 27 at his home at age 64, according to an obituary posted by Wake Funeral & Cremation. Funeral home director Britt Paynter confirmed Brannon’s death on Wednesday but said he couldn’t provide information about a cause.

Brannon, from Cary, billed himself as a constitutional conservative when he sought the 2014 Republican nomination for Senate. He finished as the May 2014 primary runner-up to Thom Tillis with 27% of the vote. Tillis went on to defeat Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan that November.

Brannon also finished second to then-U.S. Sen. Richard Burr in the March 2016 GOP primary. Three months later, he ran for a Raleigh-area congressional seat but lost in the party primary.

Born in a Los Angeles suburb to a single mother, Brannon attended the University of South California and ultimately finished medical school at a Chicago school. Eventually he moved to North Carolina and went into private practice in 1993.

Later in life Brannon was the medical director and founder of a hormone replacement therapy company called Optimal Bio. Messages from mourners on the funeral home website recalled his medical work, in particular during complicated and challenging pregnancies.

Brannon’s funeral was held last Saturday at Cross Assembly Church in Raleigh. Brannon became an evangelical Christian as a young adult.

“Greg’s goals were to teach people about the love of Jesus Christ, adore Jody, pour into his family, and make people’s lives healthier and happier,” his posted obituary read.

Survivors include his wife, Jody, seven children and two grandchildren, according to the obituary.

Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders to play in Browns preseason opener against Panthers

Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders to play in Browns preseason opener against Panthers

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Rookie Shedeur Sanders will play for the Cleveland Browns in their preseason opener Friday night against the Carolina Panthers with Tyler Huntley, who signed with team earlier this week.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said he hasn’t determined yet who will start.

Joe Flacco, Cleveland’s projected starting quarterback this season, is healthy but will not play. Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel will sit out while rehabbing from injuries, Stefanski said.

Stefanski announced the news prior to the team’s joint practice against the Panthers on Wednesday morning in Charlotte.

“My expectation for Shedeur is no different than the rest of the guys,” Stefanski said. “I just expect him to go out and operate. When you get in these preseason games you try to keep it very simple so guys can play very fast. It’s all concepts that these guys know and don’t have to think too much about.”

Stefanski said he wants to determine how much of the playbook Huntley can digest before the game before determining who starts and how to split reps at quarterback.

Pickett and Gabriel were scheduled to participate in 7-on-7 drills in practice, but not team drills.

The 6-foot-1, 212-pound Sanders fell to the fifth round of the NFL draft after winning the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award following his final season playing for his father Deion Sanders at Colorado. Sanders remains fourth on the Browns’ depth chart, but injuries have increased his reps in practice. He took some reps with the second team in practice Wednesday.

Sanders has battled some recent shoulder soreness, but Stefanski said that is no longer an issue.

Sanders played two seasons at Jackson State before transferring to Colorado, where he played for two more seasons. He played in 50 games in college, completing 1,267 of 1,808 passes for 14,353 yards with 134 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. He also ran for 17 touchdowns.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales previously said Bryce Young will start at quarterback against the Browns, a change from last year. The 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick did not play in the first two preseason games last year and only saw action in one series in the preseason finale.

Canales cited having a “pretty young team,” saying he can’t pass up the chance to get players some reps and develop some chemistry.

Trump envoy Witkoff meets Putin ahead of Russia-Ukraine peace deadline, the Kremlin says

Trump envoy Witkoff meets Putin ahead of Russia-Ukraine peace deadline, the Kremlin says

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday, the Kremlin said, days before the White House’s deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine or potentially face severe economic penalties that could also hit countries buying its oil.

The meeting between Putin and Witkoff lasted about three hours. Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said that Putin and Witkoff had a “useful and constructive conversation” that focused on the Ukrainian crisis and, in a nod toward improving relations between Washington and Moscow, “prospects for possible development of strategic cooperation between the U.S. and Russia.”

Earlier, Witkoff took an early morning stroll through Zaryadye Park, a stone’s throw from the Kremlin, with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president’s envoy for investment and economic cooperation, footage aired by TASS showed. Dmitriev said later on social platform X that “dialogue will prevail.”

Dmitriev played a key role in three rounds of direct talks between delegations from Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul in recent months, as well as discussions between Russian and U.S. officials. The negotiations made no progress on ending the three-year war following Russia’s invasion of its neighbor.

Trump’s deadline for Putin ends on Friday. Washington has threatened “severe tariffs” and other economic penalties if the killing doesn’t stop.

Trump has expressed increasing frustration with Putin over Russia’s escalating strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine, intended to erode morale and public appetite for the war. The intensified attacks have occurred even as Trump has urged the Russian leader in recent months to relent.

Overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, Russian forces hit a recreational center in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, killing two people and injuring 12, including two children, regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov said Wednesday.

Russian forces launched at least four strikes on the area and initially attacked with powerful glide bombs.

“There is zero military sense in this strike. Only cruelty to intimidate,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram.

Russia also struck the Ukrainian power grid and facilities for heating and cooking gas, Zelenskyy said, as Ukraine makes preparations for winter.

Western analysts and Ukrainian officials say Putin is stalling for time and avoiding serious negotiations while Russian forces push to capture more Ukraine land. A Russian offensive that started in the spring and is expected to continue through the fall is advancing faster than last year’s push but is making only slow and costly gains and has been unable to take any major cities.

The situation on the front line is critical for Ukrainian forces but defenses are not about to collapse, analysts say.

On Tuesday, Trump said “we’ll see what happens” regarding his threat to slap tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, which could increase import taxes dramatically on China and India.

“We have a meeting with Russia tomorrow,” Trump said. “We’re going to see what happens. We’ll make that determination at that time.”

The president said that he has not publicly committed to a specific tariff rate.

Stepping up diplomatic and economic pressure on the Kremlin risks stoking international tensions amid worsening Russia-U.S. relations.

Putin has given no hint that he might be ready to make concessions. Instead, the Russian leader and senior Kremlin officials have talked up the country’s military strength.

Putin announced last week that Russia’s new hypersonic missile, which he says cannot be intercepted by current NATO air defense systems, has entered service.

Russia announced Tuesday that it no longer regards itself as bound by a self-imposed moratorium on the deployment of nuclear-capable intermediate range missiles, a warning that potentially sets the stage for a new arms race.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, meantime, warned that the Ukraine war could bring Russia and the U.S. into armed conflict. Trump responded to that by ordering the repositioning of two U.S. nuclear submarines.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday welcomed Witkoff’s visit. “We consider (talks with Witkoff) important, substantive and very useful,” he said.

Trump initially gave Moscow a 50-day deadline, but later moved up his ultimatum as the Kremlin continued to bomb Ukrainian cities.

However, Trump himself doubted their effectiveness, saying Sunday that Russia has proven to be “pretty good at avoiding sanctions.”

“They’re wily characters,” he said of the Russians.

The Kremlin has insisted that international sanctions imposed since its February 2022 invasion of its neighbor have had a limited impact.

Ukraine maintains the sanctions are taking their toll on Moscow’s war machine and wants Western allies to ramp them up.

Mini BBQ Chicken Pizzas

Mini BBQ Chicken Pizzas

These mini pizzas make for a great appetizer or light meal, and they’re super easy to put together. You can also spice them up with different toppings of your choice.

Ingredients

  • 1 flour tortilla (per pizza)
  • 2 tbsp bbq sauce
  • 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella or cheese of your choice
  • a handful of cubed/shredded chicken (rotisserie or cubed frozen chicken works great for this recipe)
  • 5-6 small slices of red onion
  • 4-5 small cubes of pineapple (optional)
  • a sprinkle of diced jalapeños (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven
Preheat oven to 425 degrees f.

2. Sauce it up
Spread bbq sauce on tortilla in a thin layer.

3. Toppings time
Top the mini pizza with a layer of shredded cheese, then the chicken, onions, pineapple and jalapeños (or other toppings of choice).

4. Cook the pizza
Bake the pizza for about 15 minutes or until golden brown on the edges.

5. Serve it hot
Serve and enjoy a personal-sized mini pizza.

August 6th 2025

August 6th 2025

Thought of the Day

August 6th 2024

May you never miss a rainbow or a sunset because you are always looking down.

Win the KIX Rocket Man Show VIP Package!

Win the KIX Rocket Man Show VIP Package!

Enter to win the KIX Rocket Man Show VIP Package below! One lucky grand prize winner receives: four VIP box seats, VIP parking, and access to the DPAC President’s Club. Runner-up winners receive: four tickets to The Rocket Man Show on Friday, August 22nd. It’s the #1 Elton John Tribute Show, starring Scotsman Rus Anderson, hand-picked by Elton John himself, who has recreated the magic and live persona and young Elton like no other!

Contest ends Tuesday, August 19th at 11:59 p.m.

US stocks slip following the latest discouraging signal on the economy

US stocks slip following the latest discouraging signal on the economy

By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes slipped on Tuesday following the latest discouraging signal on the U.S. economy.

The S&P 500 fell 0.5%, coming off a whipsaw stretch where it went from its worst day since May to its best since May. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 61 points, or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.7%.

A weaker-than-expected report on activity for U.S. businesses in services industries like transportation and retail added to worries that President Donald Trump’s tariffs may be hurting the economy. But increased hopes for coming cuts to interest rates by the Federal Reserve, along with a stream of stronger-than-expected profit reports from U.S. companies, helped to keep the losses in check. The S&P 500 remains within 1.4% of its record.

Edgewell Personal Care, the company behind the Schick, Playtex and Banana Boat brands, fell 18.8% after reporting lower profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. CEO Rod Little said it was a very weak season for sun care in North America, while tariffs are acting as a drag on profits.

All kinds of companies have been telling investors how much they expect tariffs to shave off their earnings this year, and trade policy was one of the most common topics U.S. services businesses talked about in the latest monthly survey compiled by the Institute for Supply Management about their activity.

“Tariffs are causing additional costs as we continue to purchase equipment and supplies,” one company in the health care and social assistance business said, for example. “Though we need to continue with these purchases, the cost is significant enough that we are postponing other projects to accommodate these cost changes.”

Another business in the real estate, rental and leasing industry told the institute that economic “uncertainty remains the dominant theme. However, the tariff talk has turned out to be much more bluster than actual policy, and businesses have seemed to tune out the noise.”

The threat of tariffs isn’t seeming to slow the juggernaut of investment flowing into artificial-intelligence technology.

Palantir Technologies rose 7.8% after the AI-platform provider reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The AI darling also raised its forecast for revenue over the full year, and its stock climbed further after it had already doubled for the year so far coming into the day.

“We continue to see the astonishing impact of AI leverage,” CEO Alex Karp said.

Axon Enterprise leaped 16.4% after the company, which sells Tasers, body cameras and software to public safety departments, reported a much stronger profit than analysts expected. It also cited growth in its AI offerings, which can save time for transcriptions and other tasks, and raised its forecast for revenue this year.

On the losing side of Wall Street was American Eagle Outfitters, which dropped 9.5% to give back some of its 23.6% jump from the day before. That’s when Trump weighed in on the debate surrounding the retailer’s advertisements, which highlight actor Sydney Sweeney’s great jeans.

Some critics thought the ad’s reference to the blonde-haired and blue-eyed actor’s “great genes” may be extolling a narrow set of beauty standards, while Trump said that being “WOKE is for losers.”

Yum Brands fell 5.1% after the company behind KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut reported results for the latest quarter that came up just short of analysts’ expectations.

All told, the S&P 500 sank 30.75 points to 6,299.19. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 61.90 to 44,111.74, and the Nasdaq composite fell 137.03 to 20,916.55.

The pressure is on companies to report bigger profits after the U.S. stock market surged to record after record from a low point in April. The big rally fueled criticism that the broad market had become too expensive.

For stock prices to look like better bargains, companies could produce bigger profits, or interest rates could fall. The latter may happen in September, when the Federal Reserve has its next meeting.

Expectations have built sharply for a rate cut at that meeting since a report on the U.S. job market on Friday came in much weaker than economists expected. Lower interest rates would make stocks look less expensive, while also giving the overall economy a boost. The potential downside is that they could push inflation higher.

Treasury yields sank sharply after Friday’s release of the jobs report, and they haven’t recovered. The yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.19% from 4.22% late Monday and from 4.39% just before the release of the jobs report. That’s a significant move for the bond market.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia.

India’s Sensex was an outlier and dipped 0.4% on concerns about trade tensions with the United States as the Trump administration pushes for cutbacks in the country’s oil purchases from Russia.

___

AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

Panthers RB Rico Dowdle looks to prove he’s worthy of being NFL starter after leaving Cowboys

Panthers RB Rico Dowdle looks to prove he’s worthy of being NFL starter after leaving Cowboys

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers weren’t necessary looking to add a starting-caliber running back in free agency after giving Chuba Hubbard a four-year, $33 million contract extension last November.

They found one anyway.

Coach Dave Canales said he’s been “ecstatic” since the Panthers signed Rico Dowdle in March, giving the team added depth in the backfield with a second 1,000-yard rusher. In so doing, they’ve added a highly motivated player who’s eager to prove that he’s still worthy of being a No. 1 back — and being paid like one — after the Dallas Cowboys opted not to re-sign him.

“I definitely thought I would have had the opportunity to get a shot with the ones this year, but it didn’t come down to that,” Dowdle said of his time on the free-agent market.

Some running back-needy teams opted for the draft to fill their needs rather than sign the 27-year-old Dowdle.

So he chose to bet on himself, agreeing to a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Panthers that could pay him up to $6 million with performance incentives. Dowdle hopes that if all goes well he can parlay his success into a big contract next spring.

In the meantime, he felt Carolina, with an improving offensive line led by highly paid guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, was the best fit for him. It also afforded him the opportunity to return to the Carolinas where he played high school football in Asheville, North Carolina, and college ball at South Carolina.

“Great to be home,” he said with a smile.

Despite rushing for 1,079 yards and averaging 4.6 yards per carry and catching 39 passes for 249 yards and totaling five TDs in his first year as a starter, the Cowboys didn’t express much interest in re-signing Dowdle despite a late-season surge that included three straight 100-yard rushing games.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones instead drafted Jaydon Blue from Texas in the fifth round and signed veteran free agents Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, who was Hubbard’s backup last season.

“To have two 1,000-yard backs in the same room and guys with experience, guys who can really do it all — can pass protect really well, catch the ball out of the backfield, I mean I was ecstatic,” Canales said. “When we were kind of working through things (in free agency) and it starting looking like we were going to have a chance to get this guy, I couldn’t have been more excited.”

Hubbard remains the starter in Carolina, coming off a career-high 1,195 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns in 2024 — despite sitting out the final two games.

But Canales sees a role for the 5-foot-11, 215-pound Dowdle, although he was sparse on the details.

Dowdle could have to compete for reps with fourth-round draft pick Trevor Etienne from Georgia, who has looked strong and fast in training camp. Carolina selected Texas’ Jonathon Brooks in the second round in 2024, but he’ll miss the entire season after reinjuring his ACL as a rookie.

“He’s exactly what we’re looking for out of our running backs,” Canales said of Dowdle. “Our backs, they run the runs exactly the way they’re supposed to be run — with discipline. And once they get past that first level they run with violence. (Dowdle) does those things.”

Dowdle would love to parlay a big season into a big paycheck.

But for now he said he’s here to help the Panthers win.

He’s in a familiar position, having to prove himself all over — just as he had to do coming into the league as an undrafted rookie in 2020.

“Coming from the position of being undrafted and obviously having to make the roster every, every year, I always feel like I got something to prove,” Dowdle said. “And I will have something to prove until I get to where I wanna go.”

Browns to visit

The Panthers practiced Tuesday in a downpour and more rain is in the forecast for Wednesday’s joint practice with the Cleveland Browns. Despite the weather, Canales said he expects practices to go on as expected with plenty of full-contact drills and live hitting.

Titan submersible disaster that killed 5 on way to Titanic ruins was preventable, Coast Guard says

Titan submersible disaster that killed 5 on way to Titanic ruins was preventable, Coast Guard says

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Coast Guard’s report on the Titan submersible disaster that killed five on the way to the Titanic said Tuesday the implosion was “preventable”

The Coast Guard convened its highest level of investigation in the aftermath of the 2023 implosion off Canada. The disappearance of the Titan led to a search that grabbed worldwide attention.

There were no survivors. The Titan was owned by OceanGate, a private company based in Washington state. The operator of the submersible, OceanGate head Stockton Rush, was among the five on board who died.

The report found the company’s safety procedures were “critically flawed,” noting that the core of the failures inside the company came down to “glaring disparities” between their safety protocols and actual practices.

The submersible disaster has led to lawsuits and calls for tighter regulation of the developing private deep sea expedition industry.

Jason Neubauer, with the Marine Board of Investigation, said that the findings will help prevent future tragedies.

“There is a need for stronger oversight and clear options for operators who are exploring new concepts outside of the existing regulatory framework,” he said in a statement.

Investigators found that the submersible’s design, certification, maintenance and inspection process were all inadequate. A Coast Guard statement said OceanGate also had a “toxic workplace culture,” and its mission was hindered by lack of domestic and international framework for submersible operations.

Numerous OceanGate employees have come forward in the two years since the implosion to support that claim.

The report alleges that for several years preceding the Titan’s explosion, OceanGate “leveraged intimidation tactics, allowances for scientific operations, and the company’s favorable reputation to evade regulatory scrutiny.”

“By strategically creating and exploiting regulatory confusion and oversight challenges, OceanGate was ultimately able to operate TITAN completely outside of the established deep-sea protocols,” the report found.

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