News & Observer

newsobserver.com — RALEIGH -- In an undercover "sting" video that has caused a stir since debuting online last week, a national group led by conservative activist James O'Keefe cites the cases of three Wake County voters in an effort to show that it's easy to commit voter fraud here.

newsobserver.com — It wasn't too long ago the Carolina Hurricanes had a long line of forward prospects knocking on the door of the NHL. Two years later, they're still knocking. At one point, it was fair to wonder if all of Zach Boychuk, Zac Dalpe, Drayson Bowman or Riley Nash would become NHL regulars.

blogs.newsobserver.com — Chef Jimmy Crippen, owner of Crippen's Country Inn and Restaurant, has brought his Iron Chef-style cooking competition to the Triangle starting June 11. Crippen is the force behind the annual Fire on the Rock competition, which started seven years ago in Blowing Rock. This year, Crippen teamed up with the N.C.

blogs.newsobserver.com — American Idol (8pm, Fox) - The winning singer -- Jessica Sanchez vs. Phillip Phillips -- is revealed. Performers tonight include Rihanna and Aerosmith. Also, last season's winner Scotty McCreery will also be in attendance. The Middle (8pm, ABC) - In the third season finale, Mike's brother plans to get married at the Hecks' home, but he doesn't run the idea past them first.

projects.newsobserver.com — U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers laid out her case this morning for why constituents should vote for Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney instead of President Obama. In an Op-Ed penned for the Fayetteville Observer, Ellmers cites Romney's business experience and leadership of the Salt Lake City Olympics.

newsobserver.com — Raleigh sisters’ spicy mac-n-cheese takes top prize in reader recipe contest

newsobserver.com — A Catawba County pastor's sermon in which he called for gays and lesbians to be placed in a form of concentration camp has spurred a protest planned at the church this Sunday. A group calling itself Catawba Valley Citizens Against Hate says it plans a peaceful protest Sunday outside Providence Road Baptist Church, an independent Baptist church where Rev.

blogs.newsobserver.com — A reader sent in a question last week about which local farmers markets have bakers selling gluten-free goods. I know about Abilicious Bakery, which sells at the Chatham Mills, Saxapahaw and Pittsboro markets. If you know of any markets with such goods or bakers who sell gluten-free baked goods at local markets, please leave a comment below and share your knowledge.

newsobserver.com — GREENSBORO -- John Edwards has been described many ways throughout his trial, as a philandering husband, an opportunistic political climber and an egotistical, tragic character. But he also is a single father of two school-aged children who lost their mother to cancer almost 18 months ago.

newsobserver.com — A year ago, the Carolina RailHawks were 5-1-1 in their first seven games. This year, they're 0-4-3 and in last place in the NASL. With a new coach and an almost entirely new roster, these growing pains really hurt. Modified: 05/12/12 06:57:35 AM

newsobserver.com — RALEIGH -- State lawmakers announced Tuesday a cease-fire between WakeMed Hospital and UNC Health Care, bringing to a civil end an unseemly public battle that had landed at the legislature with WakeMed trying to buy its cross-town rival Rex Hospital.

newsobserver.com — GREENSBORO -- John Edwards might be the one with the most to win or lose with the jury deliberating his fate, but the U.S. Department of Justice has a lot riding on his case, too.

blogs.newsobserver.com — American Idol (8pm, Fox) - The two finalists perform in part one of the season finale, and last season's winner Scotty McCreery also performs. The winner is revealed tomorrow night. Glee (9pm, Fox) - It's graduation time (and season finale time) for McKinley High's class of 2012 and the glee kids look back on their time in high school and contemplate their futures.

newsobserver.com — A US Airways flight flying from Paris to Charlotte, N.C., has been diverted to Maine because of what an airline spokesman describes as a "security issue."

blogs.newsobserver.com — Giveaway time! This time it's an unabridged audiobook of Dan Rather's new memoir, "Rather Outspoken." Rather was the anchor of the "CBS Evening News" for 24 years. In the memoir, he tells the story of his final months at CBS, including his removal from the anchor chair in the wake of the controversy surrounding his story on George Bush and the Texas Air National Guard.

blogs.newsobserver.com — Chef Tom Ferguson of Durham Catering Co. is looking for a space in Durham for his latest business venture, Rise, a doughnut and biscuit restaurant. Ferguson was inspired to start this new business venture by several eateries across the country: Pine State Biscuits and Voodoo Doughnuts, both in Portland, and Doughnut Plant in New York City.

blogs.newsobserver.com — It's kind of giddy making when you hear Eric Braeden's voice on the phone. This is the man, after all, who has played the iconic Victor Newman -- The Mustache as his nemesis Jack Abbott calls him -- the bazillionaire anti-hero on "The Young and the Restless" for more than 30 years.

blogs.newsobserver.com — Scotty McCreery is heading back to the show that made him famous this week as "American Idol" crowns its newest winner. Scotty, the Garner High School student who won Season 10 of the popular singing show a year ago, will perform on Tuesday night's show and then be on hand for the blowout "Idol" finale on Wednesday night.

projects.newsobserver.com — A Rowan County high school teacher can be heard on video shouting at a student and suggesting he could be arrested for criticizing President Obama. "Do you realize that people were arrested for saying things bad about Bush?" the teacher says of former President Bush.

newsobserver.com — RALEIGH, N.C. -- A North Carolina man whose innocence claim on a rape conviction will be heard later this year was released from prison Monday on parole after serving almost 24 years of his life sentence. Willie Grimes, 65, was released from the Gaston Correctional Center, where he was held on his conviction of raping a 69-year-old Hickory woman in 1987.

newsobserver.com — See a live video Q&A with acclaimed sports journalist Frank Deford when he begins speaking this afternoon.

blogs.newsobserver.com — House (8pm, Fox) - Tonight's two-hour series finale includes a retrospective and the final episode, in which House's (Hugh Laurie) treatment of an ailing drug addict leads him to sift through his own life and speculate on his future.