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Deer sightings such as these were a rarity during the 2014 season in North Carolina. The harvest dropped about 20 percent.

A down year for deer hunting

For many Tar Heels, deer season was a disappointment. Not only was the harvest down, so were deer...

A screenshot from the new website, The Recipe, that is dedicated to recipes, food photography and how-tos based on the work of News & Observer food writer Andrea Weigl and photographer Juli Leonard.

Our new food site: The Recipe

The News & Observer has a new cooking website featuring favorite recipes, hunger-inducing photos...

Sports

N.C. State's Trevor Lacey reacts to a foul called on him during the second half of Clemson's 68-57 victory at PNC Arena in Raleigh.

Poor start dooms NC State in 68-57 loss to Clemson

The Clemson Tigers raced to a 20-point first-half lead and withstood an NC State rally in the second half for a 68-57 victory at PNC Arena, handing the Wolfpack a third straight loss. 2 hours ago

Local/State News

Students file past Duke University’s new Penn Pavilion Wednesday, January 28, 2015. Duke trustee Bob Penn and his wife, Katherine, made a $10-million donation in support of a new 25,000-square-foot events and dining pavilion for students.

Area universities report robust donations in 2014

Last year was a record year for fund raising at US universities, including Duke University, according to a new report.

Variety Wholesalers on Thursday will open a Roses in the former Kroger building on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the first step in a strategy to bring groceries back to a neighborhood where there are few local options for fresh, affordable food.

Politics

NC NAACP president Rev. William Barber, left, is stopped by NC Legislature Lt. Martin Brock, right, from crossing in front of the NC House doors while the session was in progress Wednesday, January 28, 2015. Rev. Barber led a march of about 50 gathered clergy of various faiths Wednesday morning after a press conference and then march to a preach-in and pray-in at the NC General Assembly.

NAACP returns to Raleigh with goals and concerns for NC legislators

NAACP protesters returned to Raleigh on Wednesday hoping to visit with legislators about their concerns and goals for this General Assembly session, and they clashed with police outside the entrance doors to the North Carolina legislative chambers.

Nation/World News

Attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch, President Barack Obama's choice to run the Justice Department, is sworn in before the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015. If confirmed, Lynch would replace Attorney General Eric Holder, who announced his resignation in September after leading the Justice Department for six years. She is now the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. This is the first nomination hearing under the new Republican majority.

Attorney general nominee Lynch holds her own at Senate hearing

Attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch maneuvered deftly through her confirmation hearing Wednesday, pledging to retain her independence and restore some frayed relations on Capitol Hill.