60 Hurricanes forward Chad LaRose has signed a two-year contract that will pay him $1.5 million next year and $1.9 million in the second season, general manager Jim Rutherford said today. www.newsobserver.com/1593199 N.C. State gymnast Taylor Seaman hasn't returned home for Easter in four years. The holiday typically comes during the heart of the Wolfpack's spring season, and spending that weekend with family conflicts with the team schedule. www.newsobserver.com/1591980 Coach Tom O’Brien announced that sophomore cornerback Dominique Ellis is transferring. Three players who signed with N.C. State in February – Tyson Chandler, Raynard Randolph and Bryan Underwood – will not enroll in the fall. www.newsobserver.com/1592456 South Stanly defensive end Justin Taylor has committed to Virginia Tech, picking the Hokies over fellow finalist N.C. State. www.newsobserver.com/1592367 But while the Canes quickly were able to reach an agreement with Erik Cole, general manager Jim Rutherford said Wednesday night that unrestricted free-agent forward Chad LaRose likely would sign with another team. www.newsobserver.com/1592024 The dominance of men's basketball in ACC athletics can be measured by how thoroughly the sport has ruled the league's athlete-of-the-year awards. www.newsobserver.com/1592021 Canes center Eric Staal and goaltender Cam Ward have earned invitations to participate in Canada's National Men's Team orientation camp. www.newsobserver.com/1592397 The best area high school girls soccer players will have a choice next spring: play for their high school team or play for a club. www.newsobserver.com/1592028 Jeremy Mayfield won a big battle Wednesday -- getting a temporary injunction that will allow him to race again immediately -- but his war against NASCAR will continue. www.newsobserver.com/1592032 Jeremy Mayfield missed the deadline to enter this weekend's race after successfully fighting NASCAR to get back behind the wheel following a failed random drug test. www.newsobserver.com/1592354 North Carolina has signed a new 10-year, $37.7 million contract with Nike, with the majority coming in the form of apparel and equipment for the school's 28 sports teams. www.newsobserver.com/1591985 Lauren Crandall thought her field hockey-playing days had ended when she graduated from Wake Forest in 2007. www.newsobserver.com/1592000 Tim Fedroff has no regrets about leaving the University of North Carolina after his sophomore season last year to begin his professional baseball career. www.newsobserver.com/1592026 Florida State says it's unfair to take wins off the individual records of football coach Bobby Bowden and other coaches and athletes who had no role in an academic cheating scandal. www.newsobserver.com/1591978 Clemson's 7-foot-2 center, Catalin Baciu, is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. www.newsobserver.com/1591983 Two months after a positive drug test for methamphetamines, Jeremy Mayfield is getting ready to return to NASCAR. www.newsobserver.com/1592036 Kobe Bryant insisted his contract status wouldn't be an issue, and he was right. www.newsobserver.com/1592004 The Chicago Blackhawks dipped deep into the NHL free-agent market by signing star forward Marian Hossa away from the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday with a 12-year, $62.8 million contract. www.newsobserver.com/1592053 Dara Torres plans to have major surgery on her arthritic left knee at the end of the summer. www.newsobserver.com/1592002 There will be an Andy in the Wimbledon final. www.newsobserver.com/1592055 It doesn't seem like to a good time to start a new boat company, but Tuesday saw a giant step for Island Style Custom Yachts and founder Scott Quaintance of Ocean Isle Beach. www.newsobserver.com/1591783 On the track, NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte has "been there and done that" -- 510 starts, 21 Sprint Cup wins, including the 2000 Sprint Cup title, and more than $55 million in prize money. www.newsobserver.com/1591782 Two years ago, Rob Alderman most likely would have spent a Saturday morning driving the beaches of Hatteras Island and fishing in the surf. But recently, Alderman and I paddled our fishing kayaks past the breakers and out into the ocean. www.newsobserver.com/1591776 Today www.newsobserver.com/1592022