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Loretta Ruppert, of Cary, shops for holiday gifts during her first time to the Deco Raleigh store. She found a unique gift for her Secret Santa that she says "couldn't be found anywhere else." Customers got treated to an after-hours holiday shopping party there in downtown Raleigh, N.C. on Monday, December 9, 2013. Owner Pam Blondin (not seen) partnered with Yellow Dog Creative in Hillsborough, N.C. and the graphic design firm sent out about 200 invitations to their clients. The store donated 10% of their profits from the day to Dress for Success and Yellow Dog Creative matched with 15%. The Dress for Success organization helps disadvantaged women to get support and career advice and attire for their professional wardrobes.

Holiday Faces 2013

A collection of images by N&O photojournalists featuring people in the area that capture the...

Sports

North Carolina guards Leslie McDonald (left) and P.J. Hairston are expected to sit out for the ninth consecutive game when the Tar Heels host Kentucky on Saturday.

UNC coach Roy Williams: No update, still, on P.J. Hairston and Leslie McDonald

P.J. Hairston and Leslie McDonald, the Tar Heels' most experienced guards, are set to sit out their ninth consecutive basketball game on Saturday when North Carolina hosts Kentucky.

Local/State News

Legislative Monday protest defendants Charles Van Der Horst, center, and Tye Hunter, left, confer with attorney Geeta Kapur, right, as they have their cases tried in Wake Co. District Court on Nov. 6, 2013. They were not able to finish the trial that day, they will have to come back at a later date to finish.

UNC AIDS researcher gets emotional at 'Moral Monday' trial

Dr. Charles van der Horst, an internationally known AIDS researcher, testified about his reasons for protesting NC legislative decisions that he said would have a negative impact on his patients.

Business

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013, photo, a shopper takes a selfie as crowds pour into the Macy's Herald Square flagship store in New York. The government reports on sales at U.S. retailers in November on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013.

Consumers' big purchases lift hopes for US economy

Americans ramped up spending at retail businesses in November, providing a boost to the economy just in time for the holidays.

Politics

Sharon Decker

Decker says changes at Commerce Department will affect 61 state workers

State Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker confirmed this week that the pending move of the Commerce Department's business recruiting and marketing functions to a private nonprofit is expected to affect 61 state workers, and could cost the state as much... 2 hours ago

Nation/World News

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., center, flanked by Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin of Ill., left, and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY., right, the Democratic Policy Committee chairman, listens during a news conference on budget, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Budget peace breaks out _ after Boehner tough talk

Battle-fatigued and suddenly bipartisan, the House voted Thursday night to ease across-the-board federal spending cuts and head off future government shutdowns, acting after Speaker John Boehner unleashed a stinging attack on tea party-aligned conservative... 18 minutes ago

Living

Children rehearse for Walltown Children’s Theatre’s production of “Indigo Blue,” an original adaptation of the tale of the Pied Piper.

Family Picks: Treat the kids to some affordable live holiday shows

Can’t swing those $100-a-person "Grinch" tickets for the whole family? Check out some of these affordable live shows taking place over the holidays. 58 minutes ago

Entertainment

This film image released by CBS FIlms shows Oscar Isaac in a scene from "Inside Llewyn Davis." Isaac was nominated for a Golden Globe for best actor in a motion picture musical or comedy for his role in the film on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. The 71st annual Golden Globes will air on Sunday, Jan. 12.

'12 Years' and 'Hustle' top a varied Globes field

Heaping seven nominations on both the con-artist melodrama "American Hustle" and the grimly historical "12 Years a Slave," the Golden Globes nominations set up a showdown of contrasts: comedy and drama, light and dark, white and black. 2 hours ago

Opinion

Congress needs to act on Farm Bill

It's a big bill, but vitally important. Known as the "Farm Bill," it's now in doubt because of Republican cuts to the food stamp program for the needy. 1 hour ago

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Financial

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