WFAE

10/09/2025

The conservative Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, along with Colorado therapist Kaley Chiles, is challenging the ban on conversion therapy, contending that it violates a therapist's right of free speech in talk therapy.

The court appeared ready to invalidate laws in some two dozen states that bar therapists from practicing a version of therapy that seeks to change a teenager's sexual orientation or gender identity.

10/08/2025

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy held a press conference at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, where he blamed the nationwide delays on a "slight tick-up in sick calls" by air traffic control workers. https://buff.ly/wisC3Z1

A dozen facilities saw air traffic control shortages on Monday, delaying flights at several airports. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed "a slight tick-up in sick calls" due to the shutdown.

10/08/2025

The former FBI director, who has long been one of President Trump's most vocal critics, was indicted last month on two counts stemming from his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2020.

The former FBI director, who has long been one of President Trump's most vocal critics, was indicted last month on two counts stemming from his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2020.

10/08/2025

Legal experts say Trump is testing the limits of presidential authority by using the rarely used statute to deploy federal troops to American cities without state approval.

President Trump is bucking tradition and legal precedent in pushing to deploy the National Guard to Democratic-led cities like Portland, Ore., and Chicago due to what he says is rampant crime and to support his crackdown on illegal immigration.

10/08/2025

A proposal for a new data center in Matthews has been withdrawn by the developer. Residents packed a community meeting earlier this month with many concerned about how much power the data center would require.

Mayor John Higdon announced on Facebook last night that Project Accelerate – which was proposed for 123 acres on East John Street at 485 – has asked that its rezoning request for the property be withdrawn. A spokesperson for Crosland Southeast said the move will allow additional time to explore options. A community meeting scheduled for Thursday has been cancelled.

More breaking news stories can be found at WFAE.org
📝: WFAE
📸: Town of Matthews

10/08/2025

🎃 It’s that time of year when tourists head to the mountains to see the changing leaves. Some may even come home with a pumpkin from one of the many pumpkin patches in western North Carolina.

According to the USDA, the state produced about 45 million pounds of pumpkins last year. But like other parts of the mountains, many pumpkin patches are still trying to recover after Hurricane Helene a year ago.

Cassandra Bare co-owns Harvest Farm in Valle Crucis in Watauga County. She joined WFAE’s Marshall Terry.

Full story: WFAE.orgor listen wherever you listen to your podcasts
📝: Marshall Terry
📸: Courtesy Harvest Farm

10/08/2025

Babies may soon join soldiers in the fight to ward off malaria.

Inspired by a military strategy to ward off disease-carrying mosquitoes, researchers see if the technique will help cut malaria infections in little ones.

10/08/2025

Listen to today's NewsWorthy: Sen. Thom Tillis says he's skeptical of sending National Guard troops to police cities. Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden faces criticism for pursuing a potential collaboration with rapper DaBaby. A proposed data center in Matthews has been withdrawn.

Sen. Thom Tillis says he's skeptical of sending National Guard troops to police cities. Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden faces criticism for pursuing a potential collaboration with rapper DaBaby. A proposed data center in Matthews has been withdrawn.

10/08/2025

A proposal for a new data center in Matthews has been withdrawn by the developer. Residents packed a community meeting earlier this month with many concerned about how much power the data center would require.

A proposal for a new data center in Matthews has been withdrawn by the developer. Residents packed a community meeting earlier this month, with many expressing concern about how much power the data center would require.

10/08/2025

Pregnancy and autism under the Trump administration

10/08/2025

Israel is commemorating a grim anniversary: two full years since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed nearly 1,200 people and resulted in 251 people being taken hostage.

On the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on Israel of Oct. 7, 2023, the leaders of Israel and Hamas are pushed by Arab countries and the U.S. toward a potential end to the war.

10/08/2025

NPR spoke with four former employees — all part of a lawsuit challenging their terminations — who said they would regularly review DHS immigration-related policies and programs to make sure there were no civil rights violations.

After layoffs, it's unclear how many people are policing civil rights violations inside the Department of Homeland Security, even as the Trump administration ramps up ICE detention.