'All the symbols of this country are gone,' Haitian widow laments

The young man slowly climbed the flagpole that still stood guard over the crumbled presidential palace, reaching up to snatch what was left of the flag, a dusty red and blue cloth.For Haitians, the red and blue ---or black and blue, depending on the presidency -- flying atop the National Palace has always been a source of pride, for better or for worse, dictatorship or democracy.

Gospel great rocks house at annual meeting of Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People

Gospel great Shirley Caesar brought her world-class voice and a message about divine destiny to a hand-clapping audience Sunday night at the 75th annual meeting of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People.

Area thrift stores thriving

Economic downturn sends shoppers in search of bargains

At a time when many companies are trying to decide whether they can afford to stay in business, Durham’s thrift stores are thriving. “We’ve seen an increase in people coming to shop,” said Rich Carr, manager of the Durham Rescue Mission, which includes a thrift store.

Lewis plans run for U.S. Senate

Meet Kenneth Lewis. He is a 47-year-old African American Harvard Law graduate — and he’s campaigning to become North Carolina’s next US Senator.

Poll: Two-thirds of residents say they feel safe

Oct. 27--DURHAM -- About two-thirds of Durham residents asked say they feel safe or very safe, according to a poll commissioned by the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau in cooperation with the Durham Police Department.

Police fight culture of 'no snitching'

Oct. 12--DURHAM -- Someone knows who fired more than 30 bullets into a Shannon Road apartment in Durham in July, while three adults and a 4-year-old girl slept inside.

Women pay more in current health insurance market

Women of child-bearing age routinely pay more for health care because they're women. If they're pregnant, they can be legally denied coverage. Women face other problems in today's insurance market:

Unemployment rate is highest in 26 years

The nation's unemployment rate ticked up to 9.8 percent in September, its highest level in 26 years, as employers hastened their pace of layoffs, the government reported Friday in a worse-than-expected jobs report that was sure to quash any notion that the economic downturn is over.

UNC loses 203 of more than 900 posts cut

UNC system officials have been talking budgets and job cuts for quite some time now. But on Thursday, during a meeting of the Board of Governors, many of them got a first look at exactly where the more than 900 jobs being trimmed from the system's 17 campuses have come from over the past year.  

27 Jackson State students suspended for band hazing

Twenty-seven Jackson State University students in the Sonic Boom of the South have been suspended for two years following judicial hearings this week that found them guilty of hazing and moral turpitude.

N.C. poverty up; Triangle fares better

The proportion of North Carolinians living in poverty has increased this decade as the state's median household income has declined, according to new statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday.

Danger of swine flu is not what it is, but what it could become

Swine flu is not a danger for what it is, the experts say. It's a danger for what it could be. That's why officials are pushing swine flu vaccine, which should start arriving as early as Oct. 6.

Troubled waters (with video)

Studies show African-American youth drown at greater rates than whites

The statistics are as disturbing as they are stunning: Black children drown at rates almost three times the overall White rate and nearly 60 percent of Black children aged 6-15 years old are unable to swim, according to a May 2008 article in “USA Today.”