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A relative weeps as she waits for missing passengers of a sunken ferry at Jindo port on April 17, 2014 in Jindo-gun, South Korea. At least six people are reported dead, with 290 still missing. The ferry identified as the Sewol was carrying about 470 passengers, including students and teachers, traveling to Jeju Island.

Search continues at scene of South Korean ferry disaster | 04.17.14

Fears rose Thursday for the fate of more than 280 passengers still missing

Patient Lenox Barden, 5, gives a high five to Iron Man through a window on the fourth floor of WakeMed Children's hospital. Three window washers dressed as superheroes rappeled down the side of the building Wednesday, April 16, 2014 in Raleigh to bring a little fun and excitement to patients and staff. This was the second year that Batman, Iron Man and Spiderman have “dropped in” at the hospital.

Superheroes visit WakeMed Children's hospital patients

Superheroes Batman, Spiderman and Iron Man rappel down the side of WakeMed Children's Hospital...

Sports

Duke team mates Rodney Hood and Jabari Parker during the 2014 season.

Duke's Jabari Parker thanks Coach K on way to NBA

After much anticipation, Jabari Parker is entering the NBA draft. Hours after Parker's announcement, Yahoo! reported Rodney Hood also is entering the draft. Duke coaches have prepared to play without them next year. 14 minutes ago

Local/State News

McDonald's receipt leads to arrest in Wake Forest kidnapping

A McDonald's receipt led federal authorities to arrest Quantavious Thompson, a seventh suspect in the kidnapping of Frank Janssen, the father of a Wake County prosecutor, according to court documents and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 54 minutes ago

Business

FILE - This July 24, 1933 file photo shows President Franklin D. Roosevelt appealing to the nation via radio for immediate enrollment of all employers under the blanket agreement to raise wages and create jobs, in Washington. When the Senate debates a Democratic proposal to raise the federal minimum wage, some workers won’t benefit even if lightning strikes and the long-shot effort prevails. When Roosevelt signed the bill into law, the minimum wage was set at 25 cents an hour, mainly covering industrial jobs related to interstate commerce. To win crucial votes from Southern Democrats in Congress, Roosevelt agreed to exclude occupations including agriculture laborers and domestic workers, who were largely black.

Some exempted from minimum wage, increased or not

Some low-paid workers won't benefit even if a long-shot Democratic proposal to raise the federal minimum wage becomes law. 3 hours ago

Politics

AG Roy Cooper settles long-running suit, offers apology

NC Attorney General Roy Cooper ended a 14-year feud Thursday by apologizing for a political advertisement his campaign broadcast during his first bid for the statewide office. The settlement agreement ends a dispute between Cooper and former opponent... 3 hours ago

Nation/World News

An employee wipes a TV screen in a shop in Moscow, on April 17, 2014, during the broadcast of President Vladimir Putin's televised question and answer session with the nation. Putin accused today Ukraine's new authorities of driving the country towards the abyss but said that dialogue was the only way out of the intensifying crisis.

Deal reached on calming Ukraine tensions _ for now

In a surprise accord, Ukraine and Russia agreed Thursday on tentative steps to halt violence and calm tensions along their shared border after more than a month of Cold War-style military posturing triggered by Moscow's annexation of Crimea. 10 minutes ago