News sports and weather for Raleigh, NC | The News & Observer & NewsObserver.com

Sports

Duke's Rasheed Sulaimon (14), at left, reacts with assistant coach Jon Scheyer and teammates Amile Jefferson and Justise Winslow near the end of the St. John's game at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday, January 25, 2015. Duke announced Sulaimon was dismissed from the team Thursday, January 29, 2015.

DeCock: Sulaimon dismissal leaves short-handed Duke in tough spot

Rasheed Sulaimon was never the player he looked like he might become after his freshman year, but after his sudden dismissal from Duke’s team, he’s still not easily replaced given the lack of depth elsewhere on the roster.

Local/State News

Councilman Russ Stephenson draws a visual representation of the Raleigh City Council’s workings at a planning retreat at N.C. State University’s Hunt Library on Thursday. Mayor Nancy McFarlane works in the background.

Taxes and 'loathing' in the City of Oaks? Raleigh council talks long-term

With a long election year ahead, Raleigh's elected officials spent hours on Thursday grappling with the city's growth, talking about the future and trying to make nice with each other at the first day of a planning retreat.

Business

Report: Storefront retailers, restaurants in downtown Raleigh increasing

Downtown Raleigh Alliance's Storefront Inventory Report shows that retailers and restaurants are increasing while viable spaces are decreasing.

Politics

Emmy Weaver ponders a math problem on a tablet in Emily Levinson's third-grade class at A.B. Combs Elementary School in Raleigh. Third-graders are required to take a major end-of-grade test.

Superintendents, education advocates join effort to reduce school testing

Parents have been complaining at least since the 1990s about the proliferation of school testing, which they say limits classroom creativity and puts too much pressure on children. Now superintendents and education advocacy groups are formally joining...

Nation/World News

In Monday, Jan. 26, 2015 photo provided by the Two Eagles Balloon Team, Troy Bradley of New Mexico and Leonid Tiukhtyaev of Russia set off from Saga, Japan, shortly before 6:30 a.m. JST Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in their quest to pilot their helium-filled balloon from Japan in a bid to reach North America and break two major records en route.

Balloon crew surpasses distance record; Mexico landing next

Two pilots in a helium-filled balloon on a record-setting journey across the Pacific Ocean entered the final leg of their trip Friday as they traveled along the California coast for an expected landing somewhere in Mexico. 35 minutes ago

Living

Aaron Benjamin’s restaurant, Gocciolina in Durham, is the Restaurant of the Year for 2015.

2015 Best Restaurants in the Triangle

Greg Cox names the best restaurants in the Triangle for 2015, including the Restaurant of the Year, Gocciolina in Durham.

Entertainment

The Raleigh-based Americana band American Aquarium will play two sold-out shows this weekend in Raleigh.

American Aquarium fills two shows at Lincoln Theatre

Raleigh-based Americana band American Aquarium will play two sold-out shows at Lincoln Theatre this weekend as part of an album release party for its latest offering, “Wolves.”