• NC judge Belk abruptly steps down while facing misconduct charges and possible removal

  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina judge facing misconduct charges and possible removal from the bench has resigned. more

• North Carolina flea market reopens at State Fairgrounds after closing for state fair

  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina flea market that annually closes for the state fair is reopening in Raleigh. more

• Women look for inspiration and skills as NC university offers weekend training sessions

  GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina business school is giving female entrepreneurs an extra boost of knowledge about how to run their companies. more

• 5 in a row for Kyle: Busch wins NASCAR Trucks race to start Texas tripleheader

  FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Kyle Busch started his Texas tripleheader with another NASCAR Trucks Series victory. more

• Thompson paces No. 6 North Carolina in 107-59 exhibition victory over Belmont Abbey Photo

  CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Deon Thompson had 23 points and eight rebounds to help No. 6 North Carolina beat Belmont Abbey 107-59 on Friday night in its only exhibition game. more

• Jason Blake scores winner, Maple Leafs beat Hurricanes for second win of season

  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Jason Blake scored on a power play with 8:24 left and Jonas Gustavsson made 34 saves to help the Toronto Maple Leafs win for the second time in 14 games this season, 3-2 over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night. more

• Raja Bell scores 24 points and low-scoring Bobcats break out against Hawks in 103-83 win Photo

  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Raja Bell scored 24 points and the Charlotte Bobcats looked nothing like the NBA's lowest scoring team in beating the road-weary Atlanta Hawks 103-83 on Friday night. more

• Kenseth earns pole for Nationwide race in Texas, points leader Kyle Busch 6th

  FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Matt Kenseth will start on the pole for the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Texas, five spots ahead of points leader Kyle Busch. more

• Basnight writes letter endorsing Nesbitt to become next majority leader in NC Senate

  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Senate's top leader is endorsing Sen. Martin Nesbitt of Buncombe County to become his top lieutenant. more

• Pastor: NC man agreed to help for signs of mental illness hours before killing family, self

  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A pastor says a North Carolina real estate developer was showing signs of mental illness and agreed to get treatment several hours before his killed his wife, two teenage children and himself. more

• Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough to debut Friday against Wizards

  INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough will make his pro debut Friday night against Washington after missing the preseason and four regular-season games with a right shin injury. more

• Chase is on _ for 2nd place between Martin and Gordon with 3 Sprint Cup races left Photo

  FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Mathematically, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon still have a chance to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup title. more

• NC Supreme Court sides with tobacco companies over ending payments to Md., Pa. growers

  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's highest court says three cigarette companies no longer have to make payments to tobacco farmers in Maryland and Pennsylvania through a decade-old settlement. more

• Appeals court affirms 20-year sentence for former NC teacher in molestation case

  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld a 20-year prison sentence for a former North Carolina teacher convicted of taking children out of state to have sex with them. more

• No. 10 Georgia Tech and Wake Forest focused on different goals, but both need two wins Photo

  ATLANTA (AP) — Two is a crucial number for both Georgia Tech and Wake Forest. more

• With 2 NCAA titles in 5 years, Tar Heels hold edge on Blue Devils in long-running rivalry race

  CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — These days, North Carolina is enjoying an edge on Duke in the long-running, back-and-forth race between college basketball's fiercest rivals. more

• Maryland, NC State meet in matchup of Atlantic Division's 2 worst teams

  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — No teams in the ACC's Atlantic Division have been bigger disappointments than Maryland and North Carolina State. more

• Family of Fort Hood officer who helped bring down gunman not surprised by her heroics

  CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. (AP) — The stepmother of the police officer who shot an Army psychiatrist suspected of opening fire on fellow soldiers says the woman's heroics are not surprising. more

• North Carolina's touted defense gets next shot at trying to slow Lewis, rolling Duke offense

  CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina and Duke meet Saturday with both teams just two wins away from becoming bowl eligible. more

• K John Kasay, 5 other Panthers questionable vs. Saints with injuries; FB Hoover won't play

  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers kicker John Kasay is questionable for Sunday's game at New Orleans after missing a second straight practice with a groin injury. more

• Utah workers who lost jobs because of foreign competition qualify for career retraining, pay

  LINDON, Utah (AP) — The U.S. Department of Labor says workers laid off in Utah by a business-services company will qualify for special federal assistance because their jobs were lost to foreign competition. more

• Camp Lejeune says Marine arrested in death of fellow Marine, other details sparse

  CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina Marine has been arrested in the death of a fellow Marine at Camp Lejeune. more

• NC child care experts say stimulus money should go toward child care subsidies, not workshops

  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Critics of North Carolina's plan to spend thousands in federal stimulus money to send consultants to a workshop say the funds would be better spent on subsidizing child care for struggling families. more

• North Carolina sea turtles to get health plan upgrade with new hospital

  WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina contractor says plans for a new sea turtle hospital in Surf City are in the works. more

• Sex-toy study at Duke study ruffles feathers among campus religious community

  DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — A sex-toy study at Duke University has raised some eyebrows in the campus religious community. more

• NC lawmakers, governor mulling possibility of special session to deal with inmate issue

  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Gov. Beverly Perdue says she hopes she doesn't have to recall North Carolina lawmakers to settle a dispute over whether 27 inmates can be released from prison. more

• NC school's conference considers a century of black activism; look at current black community

  GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina college takes stock of the history and future of black activism. more

• Williams runs for 179 yards, No. 22 Virginia Tech beats East Carolina, 16-3 Photo

  GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Freshman Ryan Williams ran for a season-high 179 yards and No. 22 Virginia Tech avoided its first three-game losing streak in six years, holding off East Carolina 16-3 on Thursday night. more

• NAACP president, NC leader tell Congress the uninsured can't wait any longer for overhaul

  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The president of the NAACP says too many North Carolina residents lack health insurance for people on Capitol Hill to delay passage of a health care overhaul bill until 2010. more

• East Carolina's Marshall, Kass leave Virginia Tech game with injuries

  GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — East Carolina safety Dekota Marshall and tight end Rob Kass were injured in the first half against No. 22 Virginia Tech on Thursday night. more

• East Carolina's Marshall leaves Virginia Tech game with 1st quarter leg injury

  GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — East Carolina safety Dekota Marshall left Thursday night's game against No. 22 Virginia Tech with a right leg injury. more

• Hurricanes, losers of 10 straight, recall 2008 1st-round pick Zach Boychuk

  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The reeling Carolina Hurricanes are hoping last year's first-round draft pick, Zach Boychuk, can help them snap their long losing streak. more

• Senators: Nesbitt wants to be NC majority leader, seeks backers; Boliek wants Rand's seat

  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — People are already lining up to replace Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand one day after he announced he was leaving the Legislature for North Carolina's parole commission. more

• Tough to bring down, DeAngelo Williams quickly moves to the top of Carolina's record book

  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — It was third-and-8 and Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams appeared bottled up at the line of scrimmage. The television camera was fixed on the scrum — before jerking to the right while Arizona players looked on in bewilderment. more

• ACC adds Sun, Independence bowls to postseason lineup for 2010-13

  GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference will send teams to the Sun and Independence bowls starting next year. more

• Federal judge denies preliminary attempts to block tobacco marketing restrictions

  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that a tobacco industry attempt to block new restrictions on marketing tobacco has little chance of succeeding. more

• Federal judge rules that law restricting tobacco marketing can take effect

  LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A federal judge has turned away an effort to block a new federal law that restricts how tobacco is marketed and gives the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority over it. more

• Federal appeals court upholds strict new sex offender registration requirements

  ATLANTA (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld an aggressive federal program aimed at tracking and monitoring sex offenders. more

• Meineke Bowl moves up in selection order in new deal with ACC that runs through 2013

  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Meineke Bowl is moving up one spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference selection order in a new deal that runs through 2013. more

• NC Sen. Hagan withdraws nomination of judge who ruled for company that includes her husband

  GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan has withdrawn her support for a possible lifetime federal appointment for a state judge who ruled in favor of a company that includes Hagan's husband. more

• NC Muslims want police to investigate continued vandalism against Durham mosque as hate crime

  DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina and national Muslim leaders want police to investigate if continuing vandalism to a Durham mosque is a possible hate crime. more

• Fayetteville VA head retires in the face of low satisfaction ratings, veterans' complaints

  FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — The director of the Fayetteville VA Medical Center is retiring amid reports of dissatisfaction among employees and patients. more

• NC hospital workers left jobs after failing to take seasonal flu shot by September deadline

  GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Three workers at a major North Carolina hospital are gone after failing to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu. more

• NC home daycare closed while police investigate death of 3-month-old girl there

  APEX, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina home daycare is closed while authorities investigate the death of an infant. more

• Authorities find loaded 9mm handgun in NC high school student's backpack

  ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say a loaded handgun was found in the backpack of a North Carolina high school student. more

• DA wants death penalty for husband, co-worker charged with stabbing Fort Bragg soldier

  FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the husband and co-worker of a Fort Bragg soldier slain last year. more

• Sales tax holiday weekend on Energy Star appliances set to begin in NC; bigger break in store

  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A higher sales tax means North Carolina consumers will get a larger break when they purchase energy-efficient appliances compared to a year ago. more

• More than 3,000 school librarians from around the country gather in NC for conference

  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — More than 3,000 school librarians from around the country are gathering in North Carolina to talk about the future of their profession. more

• Stars in the making? 'One Tree Hill' needs extras for upcoming scenes to be filmed in NC

  WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — A casting agency in North Carolina is accepting applications for background actors, also known as extras, for an episode of "One Tree Hill" that's about to be filmed. more

• 3 North Carolina business trailblazers to be honored with induction into hall of fame

  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina business leaders are cheering three of their heroes. more

Hot on the web

• VIDEO: David Hasselhoff drunk at MTV Europe awards

• Sgt. Kimberly Munley, 'Hero Mom' took down Fort Hood shooter

• Report: Orlando office shooting, multiple dead

• Special Section: Fort Hood shootings

• Fort Hood Shooting: The latest information on the Texas shooting