Democrats and Republicans share core values but still distrust each other

WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans on the right and the left have a lot more in common than they might think - including their strong distrust of each other. A survey published on Wednesday finds that when asked about core values including fairness, compassion and personal responsibility, about nine in 10 Democrats and Republicans agreed they were very or extremely important. Yet only about a third of either group said they

North Carolina governor signs sports, horse racing betting law; wagering to begin in early 2024

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Regulated sports betting and horse racing should begin across North Carolina in the first half of next year after Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law Wednesday legislation that greatly expands gambling opportunities in the ninth-largest state. The Democratic governor held the bill-signing ceremony at Spectrum Center, home to the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. It could house one of several anticipated sportsbooks allowed at or near professional sports

How Pennsylvania plans to fix collapsed section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia

Gov. Josh Shapiro said Wednesday that crews will work 24 hours a day in Philadelphia to reopen a collapsed section of an important East Coast highway, but he wouldn't estimate how long it will take to get traffic flowing through an artery that is critical to commerce. Investigators continued to look into why a truck hauling gasoline went out of control on an off-ramp and flipped on its side, igniting

White House press secretary has violated rule against politics on the job, watchdog says

WASHINGTON (AP) - Since taking on the role of White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre has become known for frequently dodging questions by citing the Hatch Act. The law bars civil servants from politicking during their day jobs, and Jean-Pierre uses it to deflect reporters' questions involving campaigns. But apparently she wasn't careful enough. The Office of Special Counsel, a government agency that enforces the Hatch Act, said in a

Southern Baptists refuse to take back megachurch because it has women pastors

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Southern Baptist Convention has refused to welcome Saddleback Church back into its fold, rejecting an appeal by the California megachurch over its February ouster for having women pastors. Southern Baptist church representatives at their annual meeting here also rejected a similar appeal by a smaller church, Fern Creek Baptist of Louisville, Kentucky, which is led by a woman pastor. The results of the Tuesday votes

North Carolina Republicans seek to strip Democrat governor of elections board control

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina Senate Republicans filed legislation Monday to strip Gov. Roy Cooper of power to appoint State Board of Elections members, intensifying a yearslong struggle over state government powers between the GOP-led General Assembly and the Democratic governor. The unveiling of the bill came almost two hours after a panel Cooper created recommended changes designed to ease the current GOP dominance of University of North Carolina

What to expect when Trump appears in federal court in Miami to face felony charges

[AP] Donald Trump makes his first appearance in a Miami federal court on Tuesday facing 37 counts related to the mishandling and retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Here's a look at the charges, the special counsel's investigation and how Trump's case differs from those of other politicians known to be in possession of classified documents: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Trump was to surrender to federal authorities ahead of

10 wounded in Denver mass shooting after the Nuggets win NBA Finals

DENVER (AP) - Ten people were wounded in a mass shooting early Tuesday in Denver in an area where basketball fans had been celebrating the Nuggets first NBA title win, police said, and a suspect was taken into custody. The shooting happened about 12:30 a.m. - about 3 1/2 hours after the game - and three of the injured were in critical condition, the Denver Police Department said in a

Trump pledges to endorse Mark Robinson for North Carolina governor

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) - Former President Donald Trump said Saturday night in North Carolina that he would endorse Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson for governor in a move many delegates expect will cement Robinson's place as the front-runner in a competitive GOP primary and propel him to the governor's office. Trump threw his support behind the similarly sharp-spoken Robinson at the state GOP convention in Greensboro during one of his

Supreme Court won’t review North Carolina’s decision to nix license plates with Confederate flag

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court said Monday it won't review North Carolina's decision to stop issuing specialty license plates with the Confederate flag. As is typical, the court did not comment in declining to hear the case, which challenged the state's decision. The dispute was one of many the court said Monday it would not hear. It was similar to a case originating in Texas that the court heard