U.S. Democratic Party
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, left, congratulates Cheri Beasley after naming her as the next Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court during a news conference at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh, N.C., Feb. 12, 2019. Gov. Cooper gave Beasley his full-throated endorsement for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022 attempting to secure a smoother path for her to become the Democrats' nominee to wrest a seat held by a Republican since 2005. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, file)
Beasley leads NC Senate fundraising; GOP side stays close

By Gary D. Robertson Jan. 31, 2022 06:15 PM EST

FILE - Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron holds aloft the ball he hit for his 715th career home in Atlanta. Aaron, who endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth but went on to break the career home run record in the pre-steroids era, died early Jan. 22, 2021. He was 86. (AP Photo, File)
Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2021

By Bernard Mcghee Dec. 10, 2021 01:48 PM EST

FILE - Naomi Osaka, of Japan, wears a protective mask due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak, featuring the name "George Floyd", while arriving on court to face Shelby Rogers, of the United States, during the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York, in this Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, file photo. In a most unusual year already thrown into chaos by the coronavirus pandemic, many athletes took unprecedented steps when a nationwide reckoning on race spilled into the streets of American cities after the killing of Floyd, a Black man, while in Minneapolis police custody. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Athletes act: Stars rise up against racial injustice in 2020

By Cliff Brunt Dec. 29, 2020 01:41 PM EST

In this image from video, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during the first night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. (Democratic National Convention via AP)
Whitmer touts Biden for auto rescue, rips Trump on virus

By David Eggert Aug. 17, 2020 10:46 PM EDT