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Monday: Sad News
posted at 2007-04-16 23:50 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
Sadly, the only story that really mattered today was the horrific massacre at Virginia Tech. I know a lot of NC's brightest are students there. While I hope they're all okay, my heart goes out tonight to the families of all those who aren't.
Weekend round-up
Some good stuff in the papers this weekend:
Greensboro’s Mark Binker takes the rumors about the Legislative Black Caucus’s scholarship fund to the next level. The story from Sunday’s News-Record is here. And you can check out his blog for more analysis (and a nice shout-out – thanks, Mark).
David Ingram had a great piece in the Charlotte Observer on Treasurer Richard Moore’s pension fund managers taking high-falutin’ business trips on financial companies’ dime.
The N&O’s Barbara Barrett had a look at the OLF’s current friends and foes in DC and here.
And veteran N&O columnist Rob Christensen wrote about the Year of the Woman in NC politics.
AWOL is awol
The House voted tonight to outlaw “alcohol without liquid” devices, mirroring a Senate vote last week. The alcohol inhaler device is designed to maximize the “buzz” from alcohol without all the side effects of profligate consumption of the real stuff. Lawmakers are worried it’ll appeal to kids. For more info, see my Friday post on the Senate version.
Shipwrecked
NC lawmakers weren't the only ones who paid more than they expected for the Tall Ships festival last summer. Turns out the state did, too. Today, State Auditor Les Merritt released a scorching audit of the event from beginning to end. See Merritt's report here.
Playing it safe
The AP reports House and Senate Education budget writers have agreed on a spending plan Governor Easley won’t like. The two sides agreed to a plan worth $114 million less than the Governor’s proposal. What’s missing? Two of Easley’s key initiatives – money to expand Learn and Earn, and money for college scholarships for low-income students. Statehouse budget writers say they’re hoping to find some extra revenue in this year's "April Surprise."
Looking ahead
Hugh Holliman’s beleaguered smoking ban bill reemerges in House J1 Tuesday morning. The new version reportedly eases the state ban to include only restaurants, but with a key trade-off -- language that allows localities to set up more restrictive laws.
Also Tuesday, at the behest of NC Senior Senator Elizabeth Dole, Charlotte will host the first non-coastal public hearing on the Navy’s OLF proposal. The Observer’s Jack Betts wrote about readers' responses today.
And listen for my story on the state amphibian bill, due on the House floor later this week.
Comments? Drop me a line.
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