Featured

Actors and actresses of the day were a popular subject for cigarette cards.

Past Times: Kids collected cigarette trading cards in late 1800s

The collecting of trading cards goes back much further than Pokemon or even baseball cards. In 1949...

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.

N&O launches new The Recipe website

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

Sports

Duke guard Justice Winslow has his shot blocked by Notre Dame guard Steve Vasturia, left, and Zach Auguste in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, in South Bend, Ind.

No. 4 Duke falls at No. 8 Notre Dame 77-73

Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant had 23 points, including a crucial basket in the closing minutes to lead the Fighting Irish to a 77-73 win over the Duke Blue Devils in South Bend. 1 hour 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.

Business

Ariel Rogers, 22, and Jamila Edelen, 20, stock shelves at Roses in Southeast Raleigh on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015. The store is scheduled to open Thursday in a building Kroger left two years ago.

Roses to open in former SE Raleigh Kroger space

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. 29 minutes ago

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.

Living

Opt for a leather shoe or boot. Rubber boots aren’t warm enough unless they’re insulated. Ahnu Montara boots, $150.

The art of layering: How to dress for fluctuating temps

How do you dress when the temps hit close to 50 in the afternoons but we're leaving for work or school in the mornings while it's at or below freezing outside? Layers.

Entertainment

Keri Russell as Elizabeth Jennings on “The Americans” on FX.

What to Watch on Wednesday: Season 3 of ‘The Americans’ starts on FX

Season 3 of “The Americans” starts with Elizabeth losing important intel and Stan trying to fix his marriage.

Opinion

Wake must meet the cost of growing needs

Wake County commissioners and school board members look to impending needs.

Financial