By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press Spear points, hammer stones and picks lost to history under layers of leaves, roots and rocks — it was the evidence Scott Ashcraft was looking for. The ancient tools…

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has commuted what have been lengthy sentences served by six criminal offenders in state prisons — five of whom were convicted of murder — and granted…

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina public schools can seek financial assistance from the state to take students on field trips to state museums, aquariums and historic sites through a $1 million pilot project unveiled…

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP) — A cruise ship rescued four people from a disabled catamaran that was taking on water hundreds of miles (kilometers) off the coast of Bermuda on Sunday, officials said. The disabled…

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — More than half of the monkeys bred for medical research that escaped from a compound in South Carolina last week have now been recovered unharmed, officials said Sunday. Twenty-four monkeys were captured on…

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — One of 43 monkeys bred for medical research that escaped a compound in South Carolina has been recovered unharmed, officials said Saturday. Many of the others are still located a few yards from…