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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. The former Marine captain and law student has been missing since 2012. Now, a massive media campaign is trying to raise awareness about Tice's disappearance.

Sports

Miami’s Angel Rodriguez, right, move the ball past North Carolina’s Joel Berry II (2) and Joel James (42) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, in Coral Gables, Fla.

UNC finishes strong in 73-64 victory over Miami

North Carolina, which has faltered down the stretch in recent losses, finished strong against Miami, the Tar Heels topping the Hurricanes 73-64 in Coral Gables. 2 hours ago

Local/State News

Joey Rossi takes a run Saturday along the Reedy Creek Greenway adjacent to the N.C. State University Equine Educational Unit on Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh. Temperatures below freezing have preserved the snowy landscape after a winter storm moved through the area on Wednesday night.

Raleigh slowly returns to life after snowstorm

As the weather slowly warmed Saturday in Raleigh, trash trucks rolled, the power flickered back in the last darkened homes and nonprofits tended to those isolated by last week’s snowstorms. 1 hour ago

Business

In this photo taken Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, photos by Scott Garlock are seen on display at an exhibit entitled "Rural Revival: Photographs of Home and Preservation of Place" at the Museum of History in Raleigh, N.C. The timing of the opening of the exhibit of abandoned houses as legislators reconsider a historic preservation tax credit is serendipitous but not intentional, say the curator and the photographer.

Abandoned house photos make accidental political statement

The timing is coincidental, but organizers hope it's also serendipitous: An exhibit of photographs of abandoned houses in eastern North Carolina is opening at the state Museum of History as lawmakers returning for a new legislative session are being...

Politics

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.

Nation/World News

An opposition member shouts slogans against Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro during a protest in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. Marchers are taking to the streets of Caracas in dueling protests, with one group calling attention to a crackdown on opponents of the government and another showing support for the embattled socialist administration.

Venezuela slaps restrictions on US diplomats and tourists

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says he will limit the number of U.S. diplomats allowed to work in the socialist South American country and also will require U.S. citizens to apply for visas if they want to visit. 26 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

Shaofu Zhang, holding an Oscar, poses with Patrick Osborne, director of the Oscar-winning animated short film “Feast” the morning after the Academy Awards. Zhang, who works for Disney, graduated from Sanderson High School in 2002.

Sanderson High School graduate finds success in film animation

Sanderson High graduate Shaofu Zhang worked on two animated films that took home Oscars in February: "Big Hero 6" and "Feast."

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.

Financial