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North Carolina is expected to host one of the nation's toughest U.S. Senate races next year. First-term Democrat Kay Hagan is seeking re-election, but recent polls show that even though her GOP opponent won't be known until the spring, her support for President Obama and the Affordable Care Act have already hurt her standing with state voters. She's also being targeted by outside groups, who are spending millions of dollars in hopes of unseating her.

The Senate is back from vacation and trying to get a budget deal completed. The House plans to leave town for the year at the end of the week, which means the heat is on to settle on spending levels for 2014 and 2015. Democrats would also like to insert money for extended unemployment benefits, which expire at the end of December. If nothing else, negotiators want to agree on a "topline" spending amount to avoid another government shutdown when the current stopgap spending measure expires Jan. 15.

If the Obama administration winds up losing a Supreme Court case challenging President Obama's recess appointments, the Senate back story could make the win especially gratifying for Republicans.

Andre Le Notre helped turn an old hunting lodge into the Versailles we know today, taking his profession way beyond a trade. Experts say Le Notre's work was so groundbreaking, it continues to influence contemporary urban architecture. This year marks the 400th anniversary of Le Notre's birth.

Wreaths are made from greens collected by "tippers," who snip about 14 or 15 inches off the limbs of fir trees. But Christmas wreaths are valuable enough to attract tree poachers, who cut limbs and even whole trees on private land. That means the wreath on your front door could contain stolen goods.

New York State’s highest court has agreed to look at an appeal of a lower court ruling that freed a Syracuse man convicted of the state’s first hate…

With a mix of joyful, mournful and soulful music tens of thousands of South Africans and dozens of world leaders gathered in a huge soccer stadium to celebrate the country's emancipator. Nelson Mandela was remembered as an "incomparable force of leadership."

South Africans paused Tuesday to bid farewell to the country's first black president, but there was nothing somber about it. They sang and shouted and ululated, with some making themselves hoarse even before a memorial service at the country's biggest stadium.

The lack of law enforcement in many regions has spurred looting that killed at least five people and injured hundreds. Some shop owners are taking up arms to defend themselves; others are closing down.

Mary Barra will become the new leader of General Motors in January, the company announced Tuesday. The company veteran's tenure as CEO will begin after current leader Dan Akerson retires on Jan. 15.