President Barack Obama invited a broad spectrum of established and budding scientists to the White House for a science fair, including some people with North Carolina ties.

When one of the student presenters -- an eighth-grader from Arizona named Joey -- displayed his air cannon, the president couldn't resist learning more.

And when the president learned the air cannon could fire marshmallows up to 176 feet, he talks Joey into firing the cannon. Indoors. In the White House.

The rest, as they say, is presidential history -- and a potential Secret Service headache.

Boys and girls in Durham are learning a new sport - rugby - from Duke University students and volunteers.
 
About 30 youths, most ages 9 and 10, have been learning the game since August in an in-house fall league at the John Avery Boys and Girls Club at 808 E. Pettigrew St.

"It has been a pretty good response for such a new program," said James Gillenwater, a second-year law student who formed the league as his N.C. Albert Schweitzer Fellowship health-based project, which is to promote youth fitness through sports.  

Marian Anders tells the truth when she writes, "Unless you want to be an English teacher, you only need to know the grammar necessary to write correctly -- for school, work and you personal life." That is the guiding principle of Anders' book, "My Dog Bites the English Teacher: Practical Grammar Made Quick and Easy"

Some schools show Obama; others want parental consent

Teachers, students and parents prepare for upcoming classes.

See photos from a surprise gift of new musical instruments for young musicians. Photos by staff photojournalist Chris Seward.

Some students at the Raleigh high school offer their thoughts on the Wake County school board's vote Wednesday to remove the school's International Baccalaureate magnet program.

BEIJING — High jumper Jesse Williams and USA basketball player Carlos Boozer aren't the only people with local ties experiencing the Olympics in Beijing.

UNC senior Rachel Pointer, seen here interviewing Candace Parker after after the USA women beat Mali on Wednesday, is one of 30 UNC students working as volunteers at Olympic venues, shagging quotes for the Olympic quote sheets.

Pointer said she has been working the basketball events at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium with seven other UNC students since the games began on Aug. 8.