Gurnal Scott

Governor Bev Perdue gave an early-evening welcome to delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

Perdue appeared yesterday -- not so much as a political force -- but as a gracious, and at times excited host.

Gov. Bev Perdue: "Do we know how to have a party? Go Democrats!"

She struggled with a strained voice through most of her five minutes on stage. Still she quickly settled into the party's talking points. Perdue has always been an advocate for education.

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx welcomed Democrats to his city for their convention last night. Many Democrats see the two-term mayor as a rising star in the party. He talked about his beginnings and his rise to become mayor of North Carolina's largest city. Foxx said Charlotte's development mirrors the message his fellow Democrats want to take from this convention.

N-C State researchers are looking at whether livestock production can keep up with the global demand.

The N-C State panel looked at what it will take to meet demand for meat, dairy and eggs as the world population grows.

"Double animal agriculture production over the next few decades, " said Kelly Zering, the professor who led the study. He says research shows it can be done.

Some Nash County residents are fighting to stop a chicken processing plant from coming to their area.

Gurnal Scott: Sanderson Farms already has a presence in Kinston.  Now it wants to bring a large poultry plant to Nash County. The Carolinas Gateway Partnership -- an economic development group -- is helping Sanderson. Partnership C-E-O John Gessaman says the company wants to go beyond its employment promise

A citizens group has gotten some names cleared off Wake County voting rolls because they belong to people who have died.

Gurnal Scott: The Voter Integrity Project of North Carolina brought a list of 386 names before the Wake County Board of Elections. It said state health records showed those people have died. Elections staff confirmed it. Jay Delancy of the Voter Integrity Project says they succeeded because they were persistent.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina is not making an endorsement for governor.

Gurnal Scott: The organization representing more than 50,000 state employees and retirees is holding back its support..and perhaps more importantly..its money from Democrat Walter Dalton, Republican Pat McCrory and Libertarian Barbara Howe.

Dana Cope: I think they're focused on other issues perhaps that are polling higher in this election cycle.

An organization that helps wounded veterans is building a center to treat brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder at Camp Lejeune.

Gurnal Scott: The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund has raised 11 million dollars for the center. The fund's president David Winters says he worked with defense officials to identify Camp Lejeune and other potential sites.

David Winters: The larger bases where most of the troops are deploying out to and deploying back from overseas duty.

A recreational fishing group wants the Marine Fisheries Commission to ban a device some commercial fishermen use to catch shrimp.

Gurnal Scott: The device is called an 'otter trawl' but it's not what you think. It's a net used to sweep the ocean floor to catch shrimp. Joe Albea with the Coastal Fisheries Reform Group says those traps kill small fish

Republican vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan spoke at a campaign rally in Raleigh today. The Wisconsin congressman's appearance marks his second visit to North Carolina since being named Mitt Romney's running mate. He met supporters at a sheet metal design company that he toured shortly before taking the stage. Ryan continued delivering the message of what the G-O-P says is the president's failed plans to create jobs. He used North Carolina as the example.

The Wake County Board of Elections has dismissed a citizen's group's challenge of registered voters it says are non-citizens.

Gurnal Scott: Wake County elections officials took about an hour to turn aside the 18 challenges put up by the Voter Integrity Project of North Carolina. Chairwoman Cherie Poucher says the reason for the dismissals was simple.

Cherie Poucher: The burden of proof was on the challenger. He did not bring anything forward to prove otherwise.