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Car inspection industry squelches bill to end required checks for new cars

bsiceloff@newsobserver.com (Bruce Siceloff) — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:00:00 EDT

Citing garage jobs that would be lost and investments put at risk and citing safety concerns, too a legislative committee kills a bill that would end inspection requirements…

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Fracking bill advances in N.C. legislature

jmurawski@newsobserver.com (John Murawski) — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:00:00 EDT

A proposed fracking bill would legalize the natural gas drilling technique in the state within two years, giving state officials until 2014 to develop regulations to protect the environment and…

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NCCU’s head football coach arrested, charged with assault

() — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:00:00 EDT

Henry Frazier III was arrested in Morrisville and charged with assault on a female, according to arrest warrants.

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Amile Jefferson picks Duke over N.C. State

jgiglio@newsobserver.com (J.P. Giglio) — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

The McDonalds All-American recruit announces his intent to play for the Blue Devils, passing on offers from the Wolfpack, Kentucky, Ohio State and Villanova.

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Defense rests without calling Edwards, mistress

Associated Press (MICHAEL BIESECKER) — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:07:46 EDT

John Edwards' defense team rested Wednesday without calling the two-time Democratic presidential candidate or his one-time mistress to the witness stand, a sign of confidence after presenting little more than…

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Past UNC president William Friday hospitalized in critical condition

jstancill@newsobserver.com (Jane Stancill) — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:04:26 EDT

William Friday, president emeritus of the University of North Carolina, is in critical condition at UNC Hospitals.

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Williford acknowledges raping Taft, fracturing her skull

jshaffer@newsobserver.com (Josh Shaffer) — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

In a tense and hushed courtroom, Jason Williford stood and confirmed this story: he entered Kathy Tafts bedroom, seeking an adrenaline rush, then raped her and hit her three times…

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Strong storms expected in Triangle this afternoon

FROM STAFF REPORTS () — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:53:18 EDT

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has predicted that strong storms will hit the Triangle on Wednesday afternoon.

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Man killed in Fayetteville home; woman missing

The Associated Press () — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:27:29 EDT

Police say a man is dead and his girlfriend missing after a shooting in the victim's Fayetteville home.

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Theft charges filed against ex-US House candidate

The Associated Press () — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:57:29 EDT

A former chairman of the University of North Carolina's governing board and two-time Democratic congressional candidate faces criminal charges that he stole more than $2 million from law clients.

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Shaw University board elects new chairman

jstancill@newsobserver.com (Jane Stancill) — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Longtime chairman Willie Gary will remain on the board, but Joseph Bell will now lead the trustees.

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FTC: Skechers deceived consumers with shoe ads

Associated Press (JENNIFER C. KERR) — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:03:43 EDT

The government wants you to know that simply sporting a pair of Skechers' fitness shoes is not going to get you Kim Kardashian's curves or Brooke Burke's toned tush.

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41 percent of teens text while driving, 43 percent say parents do too

From staff reports () — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:03:24 EDT

A survey conducted as part of AT&T's It Can Wait campaign revealed that most teens consider texting while driving to be very dangerous, but do it anyway. So do their…

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Carrboro considers Family Dollar Wednesday night

dhart@newsobserver.com (Dave Hart) — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

In an unusual move, the developer, Stronach Properties, has asked that written public comments be withheld from the materials presented to the Board of Adjustment.

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Oro restaurant in downtown Raleigh to open Sunday night

From staff reports () — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:32:00 EDT

Oro Restaurant and Lounge , a new tapas place in downtown Raleigh's RBC Plaza building, will open Sunday night.

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N.C. State baseball coach Elliott Avent suspended

ctudor@newsobserver.com (Caulton Tudor) — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

The ACC has suspended the Wolfpack coach three games following Avents ejection from Sundays road loss to Virginia Tech. He will be back in the dugout for N.C. States regular-season…

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Wheeler: This time, don’t be drawn into a breastfeeding battle

bwheeler@newsobserver.com (Burgetta Eplin Wheeler) — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:51:10 EDT

The provocative Time magazine cover asks Are you mom enough? I say enough of pitting mother against mother.

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NCSU professor honored by New Zealand for disaster mission

jprice@newsobserver.com (Jay Price) — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:25:35 EDT

One-time Navy pilot John Williamson flew harrowing recovery flights after an Air New Zealand crash in Antarctica in 1979.

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GOP ad attacking Democrat Walter Dalton distorts truth

jfrank@newsobserver.com (John Frank) — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:41:45 EDT

A fact-check of the new Republican Governors Association TV ad attacking Democratic candidate Walter Dalton reveals a number of distortions in its claims.

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Bluegrass awards show coming to Raleigh in 2013

dmenconi@newsobserver.com (David Menconi and Thomas Goldsmith) — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Raleigh is drawing the highest-profile event in bluegrass to the state many consider to be the musics ancestral home. The International Bluegrass Music Association awards show, the genres equivalent to…

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