After fighting virus, storms and Republicans, departing North Carolina Gov. Cooper focuses on wins

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is leaving his job after eight years in which the southern Democrat picked his moments against a Republican-dominated legislature, winning big on Medicaid expansion and clean energy while falling short in fights over private-school vouchers and...

North Carolina man charged with murder in fatal shooting of officer at supermarket, police say

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina man has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a police officer who was responding to a report of a man with a gun in a supermarket, authorities announced Tuesday. Tarell Isaac McMillian, 34, has been charged with first-degree...

No. 14 Gonzaga's matchup with No. 22 UCLA is the headliner on the week's light AP Top 25 schedule

Gonzaga coach Mark Few hadn't been off the court long over the weekend when the focus turned to preparing for the 14th-ranked Bulldogs' matchup with a ranked opponent days after Christmas. The good news was he could start thinking about it after a win, unlike UCLA's Mick Cronin —...

Latest challenge to North Carolina's power-shifting law focuses on state elections board control

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's current governor and his successor tacked on another lawsuit Monday disputing a key provision within a GOP law that erodes the powers of several incoming Democratic state leaders — the latest in a longstanding power struggle between North Carolina's...

Bryce Young has added key element to his game in Year 2, showing an ability to scramble, make plays

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Perhaps the biggest improvement in Bryce Young’s game in Year 2 has been his ability to improvise and use his legs to create plays. On Sunday, Young ran five times for a career-high 68 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown on a scramble in Carolina’s 36-30...

Police: Officer fatally shot in a North Carolina grocery store, and a suspect is in custody

Third entangled endangered whale spotted in span of a week off East Coast

A third endangered whale has been spotted entangled in fishing gear off the East Coast, marking an alarming end to the year for a species threatened with extinction. The whales are North Atlantic right whales, which number fewer than 400 and are vulnerable to ship collisions and...

Cardinals fall short of playoffs for 3rd straight season with loss to lowly Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — For the better part of the season, the Arizona Cardinals looked like a playoff team. The Cardinals led the NFC West in early November with a 6-4 record before their postseason hopes quickly faded with four losses in five games, culminating in an...

Jayden Taylor scores 16 to lead N.C. State to 89-63 victory over Rider

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Jayden Taylor scored 16 points to lead N.C. State to an 89-63 romp over Rider on Sunday. Taylor made 5 of 7 shots with 3-pointers and 3 of 5 free throws for the Wolfpack (8-4), who improved to 8-1 at home. Ben Middlebrooks and reserve Breon Pass...

Mayo and Dickinson power No. 8 Kansas to an 87-53 win over Brown

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Zeke Mayo scored 25 points, Hunter Dickinson had 15 points and 13 rebounds and No. 8 Kansas defeated Brown 87-53 on Sunday. Mayo hit two of his five 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to extend the Kansas lead to 25 points with 12 minutes to play. He was...