News sports and weather for Raleigh, NC | The News & Observer & NewsObserver.com

Top Stories

NC residents and charities struggle despite rising employment

Though the economy is creating more jobs, NC charities are serving record numbers of people.
Related
- Gallery: First Look: Loaves and Fishes Ministry for Children | 12.07.13
- 2013 Holiday Giving Guide
For a Beaufort teen, the breath of life comes with a new procedure

Neither Allie Cayton nor her mother could have imagined the months with Allie close to death. Or that doctors would need to try something completely new to save her, an experiment that could now give hope to other children.
Florida State rolls over Duke 45-7 to win ACC Championship

In the end, what seemed inevitable all week came to be. No. 1 Florida State completed its undefeated run to the BCS National Championship Game with a 45-7 win over Duke in the ACC Championship game in Charlotte.

Featured

Filipino groom Earvin Nierva, left, kisses his bride Riza as they pose for their wedding pictures beside damaged homes and a ship that was washed ashore when Typhoon Haiyan hit Tacloban city, central Philippines on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. The newly-wed couple decided to have the photo shoot at the area to symbolize that they can overcome tragedy and to urge residents to "stand up and rise again." They are residents of Tacloban and also victims of the typhoon. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

The Day's Best | 12.07.13

See some of the best photographs from around the world

Take The N&O news quiz

What happened in the news last week? Check out your current events savvy with our quiz.

Sports

New Orleans Saints fans will witness the first of two games in a December doubleheader with the Carolina Panthers that will determine the NFC South champion.

Carolina Panthers face Saints for control of the NFC South

The Carolina Panthers will face the Saints in New Orleans on Sunday, with an eight-game winning streak, control of the NFC South, a playoff bye in the balance, in a playoff atmosphere. No extra motivation necessary.

Local/State News

Bill Sears, 70, salvaged a tobacco storage barn, which is more than 100 years old, from his family’s property in Cary to build his SearStone senior living community. The 75 acre property, where he was born, dates back eight generations.

A family’s needs spawn a nonprofit retirement community in Cary

Architect Bill Sears has designed projects of all kinds. He put those skills to work in a new project that he started after seeing the retirement needs of his parents.

Business

An ambulance on Sixth Avenue in New York, Nov. 27, 2013. Although ambulances are often requested by a bystander or summoned by 911 dispatchers, they are almost always billed to the patient involved, and the charges, as well as insurance coverage, range widely, from zero to tens of thousands of dollars.

Think the ER was expensive? The ambulance ride could be more

Kira Milas has no idea who called 911, summoning an ambulance filled with emergency medical technicians. Milas, 23, was working as a swim instructor for the summer and had swum into the side of the pool, breaking three teeth.

Politics

Congresswoman Renee Ellmers

Rep. Ellmers calls Affordable Care Act a ‘war on women’

The Affordable Care Act is an example of a “war on women,” U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers of North Carolina said Saturday in the Republicans’ weekly address.

Nation/World News

A Palestinian child holds a lit candle as he prays in front of a poster of late South African leader Nelson Mandela, during a special service in his honor at the Holy Family Church, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. Palestinians mourned Mandela as a loyal champion of their cause, lighting candles for him in special church services on Sunday and holding up his picture in confrontations with Israeli troops in the West Bank.

Palestinians remember Mandela as an inspiration

Palestinians mourned Nelson Mandela as their most loyal champion, lighting candles in special prayer services Sunday and holding his picture like a shield in confrontations with Israeli troops. 6 minutes ago

Senate Dems push Obama nominees, GOP bides time 6 minutes ago
Obama taps former top aide to work on health law 6 minutes ago
Mandela's jailer praises the anti-apartheid icon 6 minutes ago
Pentagon chief plans to stop in Pakistan on Monday 6 minutes ago

Living

Harry Manning, left, and Mike Gearon mix corn syrup, sugar and water to make Peach Buds at Butterfields Candy company.

Raleigh woman revives NC company that made Peach Buds hard candy

Butterfields’ candy company is producing hard candy in five flavors: peach, lemon, key lime, holiday and honeybell orange after being revived by Raleigh’s Dena Manning.

Entertainment

Fantasia performs during The Official Fantasia Album Release Party Hosted By Fantasia & Friends held at Label Night Club in the NC Music Factory on Monday April 29, 2013.

Fantasia leads North Carolina’s Grammy hopefuls with three nominations

North Carolina acts have seven Grammy Award nominations, three of them for High Point native Fantasia.

Opinion

Gov. McCrory and his reindeer games

Tim Tyson and William Barber say they’d rather share a cup with Gov. Pat McCrory than complain at him. They wish him a Merry Christmas – merrier, no doubt, than that of the 500,000 people who have been denied federally expanded Medicaid...