Syria’s Assad to head to China as Beijing boosts its reach in the Middle East

Security software helps cut down response times in school emergenciesMajority of Americans support labor unions, new poll finds. See what else the data shows.

Nebraska volleyball stadium event could draw 90,000-plus and set women’s world attendance recordAn Atlanta-area hospital system has completed its takeover of Augusta University’s hospitalsLawsuit accuses University of Minnesota of not doing enough to prevent data breach

Authors Jesmyn Ward and James McBride are among the nominees for the 10th annual Kirkus PrizesThe only defendant in the Georgia election indictment to spend time in jail has been granted bond

Jed Arnold wins special election to fill southwest Virginia House seat

Syria’s US-backed Kurdish troops and militia remove militia’s commander in bid to end deadly clashesA sweet challenge: New Hampshire's Ice Cream Trail puts dozens of delicious spots on the map

This Zillow Gone Wild church-turned-mansion breathes new life into former gathering spaceSouth Carolina state Sen. John Scott, longtime Democratic lawmaker, dies at 69

Officers fatally shoot armed man in North Carolina during a pursuit, police say2 dead after plane strikes power line, crashes in lake in western North Carolina, authorities say