Washington state lawmakers voted to approve gay marriage Wednesday, setting the stage for the state to become the seventh in the nation to allow same-sex couples to wed.

Republicans are looking to deny child tax credits to illegal immigrants - refund checks averaging $1,800 - in an effort that has roused anger among Hispanics and some Democratic lawmakers.

The long drive to renovate Athens Drive High School's aging stadium made a crucial gain Tuesday courtesy of the Wake County school board.

The Wake County school board voted Tuesday to accept a bid of $2.61 million from a Raleigh developer for a building on 10 acres off Noble Road.

State Sen. Dan Blue of Raleigh said Tuesday that he is seriously considering seeking the Democratic nomination for governor.

U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick's surprise announcement Tuesday that she'll leave Washington after nine terms sparked a scramble by would-be successors that reached halfway around the world - literally.

It's getting hard to keep up with who's running for office or not these days.

Resurgent Rick Santorum said his sweep of three GOP contests earned his shoestring campaign $250,000 overnight, cash he needs to take his upstart bid for the Republican presidential nomination to Mitt Romney's turf.

State Rep. Jennifer Weiss, an outspoken veteran Democrat, announced Tuesday she would not seek another term.

Republicans in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri will vote for presidential candidates today, and while Mitt Romney is favored to win, many conservatives appear eager to signal their unease with him by voting for Rick Santorum.

Transportation advisers expect to vote Wednesday morning on their favored route for a light-rail line between Chapel Hill and Durham, but the Orange County commissioners could throw in a complication with vote of their own tonight.

Triangle Transit Authority presented a draft plan to the Raleigh City Council today recommending new commuter and light-rail services among other major transportation improvements.