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A Democratic Republic of Congo soccer fan reacts during the African Cup of Nations quarter final soccer match between Congo and DR Congo in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Day's Best | 01.31.15

See some of the day's best photos from around the world

Cheerleading at Morehead School for the Blind

Listen to Cassidy Hooper, a student at the Governor Morehead School for the Blind, talk about her...

Standing between New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and a fourth Super Bowl ring are the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, the league’s top-ranked defense – and its young quarterback Russell Wilson. Game on.

Local/State News

Henry McCollum and his half brother, Leon Brown, are happy to be out of prison, but the adjustment to life on the outside has been hard.

For Henry McCollum and Leon Brown, freedom has a cost

Months after being exonerated of rape and murder, Henry McCollum and Leon Brown face financial and personal hardships. They await a pardon from the governor and compensation from the state.

Business

This image provided by Henkel shows a portion of the company's Loctite glue television ad scheduled to run during Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015.

Running Story: Super Bowl ads from start to finish

The Super Bowl's ad games have been underway for weeks now, but there are still some surprises left. 45 minutes ago

Politics

Watch video of new DENR secretary Donald van der Vaart talks about challenges facing him in his new position. Video by Craig Jarvis, cjarvis@newsobserver.com

New DENR head Donald van der Vaart charts recovery from cuts, coal ash, loss of confidence

Donald van der Vaart, the new head of North Carolina’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources is taking over an agency suffering from budget cuts, fallout from coal ash pollution, a grand jury investigation and a loss of confidence... 18 minutes ago

Nation/World News

This image provided by Toyota shows a portion of the company’s television ad scheduled to run during Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015.

Ad surprises still lurk ahead of Super Bowl

The Super Bowl’s ad games have been underway for weeks now, but there are still some surprises left. 19 minutes ago

Living

Our Lives: Navigating a hospital's emotional geography

Our Lives columnist Elizabeth Dreesen sees the hospital where she works in a new light after her mother-in-law's death.

Entertainment

Patricia Morton of Charlotte, an arts and civic activist who was recently elected chair of the board of the National Humanities Center, photographed at the Bechtler Museum on Monday, December 15, 2014. Morton sits on the board of directors of the Bechtler Museum, and is founder and CEO of PRM Advisors in Charlotte. In addition to her work with the National Humanities Center, she is a member of the board of directors of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, a trustee of Johnson C. Smith University, and a member of the national advisory boards for Carolina Performing Arts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.

National Humanities Center taps former Durham resident Patricia Morton as leader

Longtime Charlotte civic activist Patricia Morton takes her can-do spirit to a national arts organization. Morton, 59, is the first woman to lead the board since the center opened in 1978. The last North Carolina chairman was former UNC system president...