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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

In an emotional embrace, Crystal Little, 24, right, is congratulated Thursday by her mother, Lisa Little, after giving a speech during her JobStart commencement program held at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Raleigh. The JobStart program trains women nearing release from prison.

Women's prison class graduates with tears, honesty

Ten inmates from North Carolina Women's Correctional Institute for Women complete the JobStart program, the 26th class. During 16 weeks, they learned to write resumes and interview for jobs. They honed their typing skills and learned to make Excel... 1 hour ago

Business

CEO Jim Whitehurst welcomes guests to the grand opening of the new Red Hat building on E. Davie St. on Monday, June 24 in downtown Raleigh.

Red Hat, Dell expanding partnership to build private cloud computing

Red Hat and computer giant Dell have agreed to expand their long-time partnership by collaborating on developing the next generation of Red Hat's software platform for cloud computing. 3 hours ago

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... 1 hour 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... 15 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.

Entertainment

This image released by Fox Searchlight shows Chiwetel Ejiofor, center, in a scene from "12 Years A Slave." The Golden Globes nominations will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 12. Ejiofor was nominated for a Golden Globe for best actor in a motion picture drama 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. 1 hour 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.

Events Calendar

Financial

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