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Austin Tice, a freelance journalist for McClatchy and other news outlets, vanished in Syria. Tice is thought to be still alive, and he isn’t a prisoner of the Islamic State, which executed two American journalists last year. But there’s been no direct communication with his captors since he vanished near Damascus as he was traveling to Beirut.

Drescher: Remember journalist Austin Tice, missing in Syria

Austin Tice's commitment to action prompted him to report from Syria and photograph its battles...

Jessica Richardson, night guard in the Wells Fargo building in downtown Raleigh, crafted this snow Yoda about 3 a.m. Thursday.

Shaffer: Creative snow sculptors use the force of densely packed slush

With their power cut, their houses dark and their iPads temporarily unavailable, Triangle residents...

Sports

The Canes Justin Faulk (27) and the Capitals Alex Ovechkin (8) dive for the puck during the second period of an NHL game played between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. on Feb. 27, 2015.

Canes honor Ward, then ride Khudobin to win over Caps

The Carolina Hurricanes honored goalie Cam Ward before Friday's game against the Washington Capitals, then won the game with Anton Khudobin shutting out the Caps 3-0. 27 minutes ago

Local/State News

Liz Baird, director of education for the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, takes a selfie this week in front of the skeleton of a Postosuchus, a 200-million-year-old dinosaur that greets people at the entrance to the museum’s new branch in Whiteville.

NC Museum of Natural Sciences opens mini branch in Whiteville

The NC Museum of Natural Sciences will open a mini version of itself Saturday in Whiteville, a town of less than 6,000 residents two hours from the museum's Raleigh home. It's a test of whether the museum in Raleigh can reach out through branch facilities... 31 minutes ago

Business

Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO Brad Wilson speaks with Tamara McCulloch, left, and Gary Bolt during the Shop Talk Breakfast.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC posts first loss in 15 years

Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Carolina's largest health insurer, said Friday it posted its first financial loss in nearly two decades as a result of insuring older and sicker people under the Affordable Care Act.

Politics

Voters cast their ballots on Election Day, Nov. 5, at Precinct 01-44, at Millbrook Elementary School in Raleigh.

Wake judge allows case on voter ID law to proceed to trial

A judge rejected NC lawmakers' request to dismiss a challenge to the voter ID law. The League of Women Voters of North Carolina and others contend the requirement violates the NC Constitution.

Nation/World News

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky walks to the Senate chamber from his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, as Congress closed in on approving a short-term spending bill for the Homeland Security Department that would avert a partial agency shutdown hours before it was to begin. The legislation also leaves intact Obama administration executive actions on immigration that Republicans have vowed to overturn.

Congress passes temporary funding fix for Homeland Security, averts shutdown

A night of political brinkmanship ended late Friday when the House and Senate approved a one-week temporary spending bill to avert the partial shutdown at midnight of the Department of Homeland Security. 35 minutes ago

Living

Nandina contain a form of cyanide that is toxic to animals, especially birds.

Backyard Wildlife: Your choices may hurt, not help animals' diets

Your garden contains numerous threats to animals and birds, from toxic plants to everyday junk you overlook.

Entertainment

In this May 14, 2013 file photo, Leonard Nimoy arrives at the LA premiere of “Star Trek Into Darkness” at The Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. Nimoy, famous for playing officer Mr. Spock in “Star Trek” died Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 in Los Angeles of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 83.

Leonard Nimoy, Mr. Spock of ‘Star Trek,’ dies at 83

Leonard Nimoy, the sonorous, gaunt-faced actor who won a worshipful global following as Mr. Spock, the resolutely logical human-alien first officer of the Starship Enterprise in the television and movie juggernaut “Star Trek,” died on...

Opinion

Raleigh should keep free parking at night

The city of Raleigh should not institute new downtown parking fees at night to pay for cleaning up trash and parking decks. Other revenue sources can meet that cost without discouraging downtown visits. 44 minutes ago

Financial