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Wake schools to test free breakfast program as way to improve student performance

Wake County schools will offer free breakfast to all students at eight elementary schools this year to encourage more children to begin their day with a healthy meal. The meals might also help student performance.
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- Link: Get the latest news on schools at our WakeEd blog
Suspect in UNC-CH professor’s murder was in between drug rehab programs

A suspect was in between drug rehab programs and scheduled to meet with his pretrial-release manager when police say he and another man fatally attacked UNC-Chapel Hill professor Feng Liu.
Rescued Afghanistan puppies reunited with Fort Bragg soldier

Two Afghan dogs - Rommel and Blitz - were reunited this week with their savior, a Fort Bragg U.S. Army Elite Special Forces soldier. The dogs, now about 8 months old, trotted around a suburban Fuquay-Varina backyard Wednesday sporting patriotic bandanas... 2 hours ago

Featured

Fans sit under the cover of an umbrella as a rainbow illuminates the field while starting pitcher Brett Anderson #30 of the Colorado Rockies delivers to home plate during the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field on July 25, 2014 in Denver, Colorado.

The Day's Best | 07.25.14

See some of the best photographs from around the world

An Apple employee holds up the new iPad Air on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in San Francisco. Apple unveiled a new, thinner, lighter tablet called the "iPad Air" along with a slew of new Macs Tuesday at an event in San Francisco. The iPad Air weighs just 1 pound, compared with 1.4 pounds for the previous version. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

You could win a 16GB iPad Air

Just like us on Facebook, and you’re in the running. Click here to enter.

Sports

Canes prospect Josh Wesley moves the puck during the Carolina Hurricanes development camp held at the PNC Arena on ThursdayJuly . Josh is the son of Glen Wesley, a former standout player for the Canes who is an assistant coach.

Canes’ Josh Wesley carries on hockey tradition

Being drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes and a week of development camp has been special and surreal for defenseman Josh Wesley and his father, Glen, the former Canes star.

Local/State News

At Harris Creek Elementary in Raleigh, about 125 students, including fifth-grader Dareun Henderson, 10, center, participate in the school’s breakfast program, which is open to all.

Wake schools to test free breakfast program as way to improve student performance

Wake County schools will offer free breakfast to all students at eight elementary schools this year to encourage more children to begin their day with a healthy meal. The meals might also help student performance.

Business

CORRECTS TO SAY SECOND NATIONAL CONVENTION INSTEAD OF FIRST - FILE - In this May 22, 2014 file photo, protesters gather outside of the McDonald's Corporation headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill., during the annual shareholders meeting demonstrating for higher wages and the right to unionize. On Friday, July 25, 2014, in Chicago, organizers are holding the second national convention of fast-food workers. They’ll be discussing how to move forward with the protests and other actions calling for higher wages that have been taking place in cities around the country since late 2012.

Fast food workers prepare to escalate wage demands

Fast food workers say they're prepared to escalate their campaign for higher wages and union representation, starting with a national convention in suburban Chicago where more than 1,000 workers will discuss the future of the effort that has spread... 9 minutes ago

Politics

McCrory reiterates veto threat; tax collection projections sink

Gov. Pat McCrory met with House Republicans on Friday after House budget negotiators worked late the night before on the $21 billion revised spending plan for this year.

Nation/World News

Investigators gather at the scene of a fatal accident in North Philadelphia, Friday July 25, 2014. Two children were killed and three people critically injured when a hijacked car lost control and hit a group of people near a fruit stand, according to police.

Carjacked SUV hits crowd, killing 3 young siblings

Two men carjacked a woman at gunpoint but soon sped out of control, killing three children Friday as they plowed into a group selling fruit to raise money for their church, Philadelphia police said.

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Living

This photo provided by St. Lynn’s Press shows plant materials gathered to dye a scarf: eucalyptus leaves, marigold petals, red and yellow onion skins, rose petals and avocado skins.

Crafts: Here’s a garden ‘to dye for’

Homegrown botanical dyes are in, part of the shift toward more natural and organic living. And you don’t need a degree in chemistry to create your own hues for scarves, sweaters or even Easter eggs.

Entertainment

Actress Angelina Jolie with Louis Zamperini, a U.S. Olympian and World War II veteran who survived 47 days on a raft in the Pacific.

Drescher: The Great Zamperini was unbroken, undented and undaunted

UNC grad Draggan Mihailovich, chronicler and friend of Louis Zamperini of “Unbroken” fame, was inspired by his ability to forgive.

Opinion

UNC-Chapel Hill takes refreshing steps to help athletes graduate

UNC-Chapel Hill is offering former athletes help to graduate. It’s a refreshing positive step.