More than 12,000 people spent a sunny afternoon watching professional baseball in the Triangle on Labor Day.

You'll be late getting to work Wednesday. Better tell your boss today.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Jefferson Thomas, who as a teenager was among nine black students to integrate a Little Rock high school in the nation's first major battle over school segregation, has died. He was 68.

RALEIGH - Timothy E. Helms, a mentally ill inmate whose skull was smashed following an August 2008 fire in his prison cell, died at a Greensboro hospital Sunday morning.

RALEIGH - Republicans and Democrats celebrated Labor Day by kicking off the county-to-county, household-to-household fight for political dominance of North Carolina.

It was 12th-grade math class. As the teacher droned, I had my textbook open - to the latest copy of Mad magazine. So engrossed was I in the spoof rag tucked inside my textbook that I didn't notice that the teacher had materialized beside me.

Icagen will make a new move this month to avoid having its shares delisted from the Nasdaq.

DURHAM - Police have revised the number of people wounded during a Sunday morning shooting.

WENDELL - A raft of rule changes proposed by Town Commissioner Sid Baynes could require the town to seek changes to its charter - and possibly state law - before they take effect.

Peters & Associates, Inc says they are selling million dollar houses with a new approach.

Police said James A. Butler was last seen walking north on Woodbriar Avenue around 2:50pm.

Asheboro police warn some businesses have mistakenly accepted fake $100 bills.

Jancey MacDonald, a rising sixth-grader at West Cary Middle School and daughter of Jay and Teresa MacDonald of Cary, has earned her Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can attain.

Corinne Jurney, a Broughton High School student, recently served as a page in the N.C. House of Representatives.

Panther Creek High School student Kristen Johnson recently completed a week as a page in the N.C. House of Representatives.

Welcome to The News & Observer's Thumbs Up page, your place for news about the achievements and adventures of young people from across the Triangle. Each Tuesday, we'll bring you stories and photos of the kids who make this a great place to live.

Carolyn Marie Caggia of Cary has been awarded the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting.

When most high schoolers work over the summer, it's to make a little extra money for themselves.

Andrew Turner of Raleigh has earned the highest achievement in Boy Scouting, his Eagle Scout rank.

Meghan Stuchel of Wake Forest has earned the highest award possible for a Junior Girl Scout, her Bronze Award.