Officials: 2 killed, 1 missing, dozens injured in explosion, collapse at NC Slim Jim plant

GARNER, N.C. — Two workers died when an explosion tore through a Slim Jim meat products plant in North Carolina Tuesday, punching holes in the building’s roof and blowing employees off their feet.

Police: Bodies of 2 workers found in rubble of NC meat plant that was rocked by explosion

GARNER, N.C. — Police say they have found the bodies of two people in the rubble of a North Carolina Slim Jim meat products plant that was rocked by an explosion.

26 NC lawmakers sit out of vote on resolution to honor late US Sen Jesse Helms

RALEIGH, N.C. — Twenty-six North Carolina legislators sat out a vote Tuesday on a resolution honoring the late U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, showing that the Republican remains a polarizing figure a year after his death.

Officials: 2 missing, 41 injured in explosion, partial collapse at NC Slim Jim plant

GARNER, N.C. — A blast at a Slim Jim meat products plant Tuesday blew workers off their feet, ripped the building’s roof off its supports and critically burned four people.

Officials: 1 found, condition unclear after blast, partial collapse at NC Slim Jim plant

GARNER, N.C. — An EMS official says a person has been found inside a North Carolina plant rocked by an explosion but authorities will not say whether the person is alive.

Officials: 3 missing, 41 injured by explosion, partial collapse at NC Slim Jim plant

GARNER, N.C. — An explosion at a Slim Jim meat products plant Tuesday injured at least 41 people, including four who suffered critical burns, and left a toxic cloud around the facility as authorities searched for three people still missing.

Officials: 3 missing, 38 injured by explosion, partial collapse at NC Slim Jim plant

GARNER, N.C. — An explosion at a Slim Jim meat products plant Tuesday injured at least 41 people, including four who suffered critical burns, and left a toxic cloud around the facility as authorities searched for three people still missing.

Two missing, 21 injured after blast at a Slim Jim meat products plant in N.C., officials say

GARNER, N.C. — Two people were missing and 21 injured, four critically, after an explosion at a Slim Jim meat products plant in North Carolina, officials said Tuesday. Jeffrey Hammerstein, district chief with Wake County Emergency Medical Services, said a third person initially reported missing was found and taken to the hospital. Authorities were searching for two others.

Officials: 2 missing, 38 injured by explosion, partial collapse at NC Slim Jim plant

GARNER, N.C. — An explosion at a Slim Jim meat products plant Tuesday injured at least 38 people, including four who suffered critical burns, and left a toxic cloud around the facility as authorities searched for two people still missing.

Officials: 2 missing, 21 injured by explosion, partial collapse at NC Slim Jim plant

GARNER, N.C. — Two people were missing and 21 injured, four critically, after an explosion at a Slim Jim meat products plant in North Carolina, officials said Tuesday.

Officials: 2 missing, 20 injured by explosion, partial collapse at NC Slim Jim plant

GARNER, N.C. — Officials now say only two people are unaccounted for after an explosion at a Slim Jim meat products plant in North Carolina.

Officials say 3 missing, 20 injured after explosion, partial collapse at NC food plant

GARNER, N.C. — Three people were missing and 20 taken to hospitals after an explosion at a Slim Jim meat products plant in North Carolina, officials said Tuesday.

ConAgra plant collapses in NC, mayor says 12 to 15 people have been taken to hospitals

GARNER, N.C. — Officials say about a dozen people are hurt after a food plant in a Raleigh suburb collapsed following a reported explosion.

ConAgra plant collapses in North Carolina, medical crews on scene, no word on injuries

GARNER, N.C. — The roof of a food plant has partially collapsed in a Raleigh suburb.

NC school ends former 1st lady’s job: new e-mails show former governor helped wife’s hiring

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina State University has axed former first lady Mary Easley’s $170,000-a-year job as newly released documents indicated her husband was involved in her hiring.

UNC system president says former first lady Mary Easley has been fired from controversial job

RALEIGH, N.C. — The wife of former North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley has been fired from her $170,000-a-year position at N.C. State University.

NC State chancellor resigns after questions arise over hiring of former governor’s wife

RALEIGH, N.C. — A top North Carolina education official has resigned amid questions about his role in the controversial hiring of a former first lady for a university post.

Bank of America names 4 outside directors to fill board vacancies

BOSTON — Bank of America Corp. on Friday named four outsiders to its embattled and newly expanded board of directors, after two others resigned from the board over the past week.

NC husband accused of having man rape wife pleaded guilty in 2008 to indecent exposure in Va.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina man who police say arranged on Craigslist for his wife to be raped by another man pleaded guilty last year to indecent exposure in Virginia.

Craigslist policing questioned after NC man accused of using online ads to solicit wife’s rape

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Craigslist has eliminated its criticized “erotic section” and pledged to screen entries to its replacement, but Connecticut’s attorney general asks whether it’s enough following the case of a husband accused of using the site to solicit his wife’s rape.

NC man charged with rape after police say he used Craigslist to arrange attack on his wife

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A man who police say arranged on Craigslist for his wife to be raped by another man was in jail on $200,000 bond Thursday and investigators were pursuing a “strong lead” as they searched for the attacker.

NC police searching computers, phones for clues to alleged rapist recruited on Craigslist

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Investigators in North Carolina are still trying to identify an alleged rapist they say a man found on Craigslist to assault his wife.

AP Source: American International Group agrees to sell HQ, adjacent building in New York

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The embattled insurer American International Group Inc. is selling its headquarters building in New York and a nearby building in a deal expected to close at the end of this summer, a person familiar with the matter said Wednesday.

Elizabeth Edwards plans to open furniture store near her North Carolina home

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Elizabeth Edwards is planning to open a furniture store near her North Carolina home.

Utility Duke Energy seeks 12.6 percent rate increase for North Carolina customers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Utility company Duke Energy said Tuesday it will ask North Carolina regulators to increase customer rates by an average of 12.6 percent beginning Jan. 1 as it seeks to recover costs for pollution control equipment and new power lines and plants.

Insurers continue to assess TARP, recapitalization options; Moody’s deems positive to ratings

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Although some insurance companies have shied away from accepting bailout money from the government, Moody’s Investors Service said insurers would benefit from the funds.

Abused woman in NC haunted by release of ex-husband who promised to kill her and 2 daughters

MONROE, N.C. — Heather Thompson’s blackened and bloodied face has served as a warning to battered women in North Carolina. On a billboard and in brochures, she tells them they can get help.

Former NC first lady now in the spotlight over questions about her public university job

RALEIGH, N.C. — As North Carolina’s first lady, Mary Easley mostly stayed out of the spotlight, content to focus on under-the-radar issues such as the arts and military families.

Dow Jones to replace Citigroup with former unit Travelers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Seven years after being spun off by Citigroup Inc., Travelers Cos. is supplanting its former parent as a member of the Dow Jones industrial average.

Hurricane insurance harder to get, costs up as 2009 storm season starts

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As the 2009 hurricane season arrives, many homeowners are finding insurance is either more expensive, or harder to get.