Topic: North Carolina

Can Democrats find moderate candidates in time for midterms?

Democrats may struggle to recruit moderate and conservative-leaning candidates for the 2014 midterm elections in states with the most competitive Senate races.

Latin America Monitor What does genocide conviction of Ríos Montt mean to Guatemalans abroad?

Many in the Guatemalan diaspora celebrated the historic conviction of ex-dictator Ríos Montt. But some say one conviction alone can't resolve the aftermath of the 36-year-long bloody conflict.

In Gear Tesla Motors can't email customers, says North Carolina law

A new law passed by the North Carolina state Senate would apparently make it illegal for Tesla Motors to e-mail its customers, Voelcker writes. The law is an effort to prevent what the North Carolina Automobile Dealers' Association terms 'unfair competition' by Tesla Motors.

Opinion: Why are Obamacare supporters attacking job creators?

When seemingly organized Obamacare supporters attack small business leaders who express concern about the health-care law, job creators are no longer just uncertain about how their business will be impacted by the law. They are afraid – for their businesses and to speak out.

Why Obama agenda group faces pushback from some Democrats

Organizing for Action, an issue-advocacy group that spun off from President Obama's reelection campaign, is going after some Democrats and competing for fundraising dollars.

The dog is my homework: Attentive pups listen, help students read

Students in Alabama learned to love reading because of who was listening — a dog. Once a week, Maggie, a German shepherd, comes to class to hear the kids read books. 

Saving Money It's family vacation time. Best deals to Florida, California, and more.

Vox News Stephen Colbert stung by sister's loss to Mark Sanford. Will he seek revenge? (+video)

Stephen Colbert rarely breaks out of his on-screen persona, but a bit of honest, raw anger seemed to peek out when he addressed his sister's loss to Mark Sanford in a congressional race.

In Los Angeles, 1 in 10 residents is an illegal immigrant, study says

A new study looks at California's illegal immigrant population in detail, providing insights on how immigration reform proposals in Washington could affect the community nationwide.

Change Agent Chris Bradshaw ships books to Africa to help make the impossible possible

The African Library Project has sent 1 million books overseas and built 1,000 libraries in nine different countries.

NBA playoffs: Bulls, Spurs win opening games in conference semifinals

Monday night, Chicago defeated the Miami Heat. San Antonio needed two overtimes to best the Golden State Warriors in their respective Eastern and Western Conference semifinal opening games.

In Gear Electric-car enthusiasts eye world records in cross-country trip

In the Ride The Future Tour, a collection of electric vehicle enthusiasts aim to travel almost 3,000 miles east to west across the US, Ingram writes. Several Guinness World Records are up for the taking, including "longest journey on an electric scooter," "longest journey on an electric motorcycle," and "longest journey in an electric car."

Zip-tied 4-year-old: Two arrested for child abuse

A man and woman zip-tied a 4-year-old to a baby gate, say Raleigh police. The 4-year-old has been taken out of their custody.

Chapter & Verse David Sedaris's new essay collection: big sales, mixed reviews

David Sedaris's new essay collection, 'Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls,' is his first work focusing on his own life since 'When You Are Engulfed in Flames' in 2008.

Teen mom banned? Kaitlin Tiller's photo not allowed in yearbook (+video)

Kaitlin Tiller, the teen mom whose photo was banned from her school's yearbook, just wanted to have a photo of her in the yearbook with what she cherished most – her son. The teen mom banned from the yearbook told her local news station, "I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for him."

How astronomy solved a Civil War mystery

Why did Confederate troops shoot their own general, 'Stonewall' Jackson? The position of the moon played a big role, an astronomer discovers.

How Boston bombing suspect's friends hid backpack, laptop

When three college friends of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev realized he was involved in the Boston marathon bombing, instead of contacting authorities, they proceeded to conceal the evidence, according to an FBI affidavit.  

Prague building explosion injures up to 40 people

A police spokesman said the cause of the blast is more than likely a natural gas leak.

Waters off Northeast US coast unusually warm, says NOAA

Sea surface temperatures on the Northeast US Continental Shelf reached the highest recorded in 150 years, says an advisory issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Rare nickel – 40 years in closet – fetches $3.1 million (+video)

Rare nickel is one of only five 1913 Liberty head nickels. Before selling for more than $3.1 million Thursday, the rare nickel was involved in a car accident, forgotten for four decades, and declared a fake. 

2013 NFL draft: Bring on the beef

The 2013 NFL draft started with beefy lineman Eric Fisher. Then came beefy lineman Luke Joeckel, also an offensive tackle. The quarterbacks didn't show up in the 2013 NFL draft till the No. 16 draft pick, Florida State's EJ Manuel.

Are you 21? New York City looks to raise minimum age to buy cigarettes

New York City proposed a change to its policies governing cigarette purchases that would ban the sale of a pack of smokes to customers under 21-years-old. Cigarette companies have not yet responded directly to the proposal, scheduled for a hearing May 2. 

Senate's failure to pass meaningful gun control 'shameful,' Obama says (+video)

The Senate on Wednesday failed to get the 60 votes necessary to pass a bipartisan bill that would have expanded gun-control background checks to gun shows and Internet sales.

Decoder Wire Four reasons the Senate gun control bill may be kaput

The Senate is slated to vote Wednesday on nine gun control provisions, but prospects for passage for several – including expanding background checks to more gun buyers – look dim. Here's why.

Tax VOX What happened to state tax reform?

Months ago, several Republican governors proposed major tax reform plans, Gleckman writes, but by tax day, two of those governors had abandoned their tax reform plans. What happened?