Politics & Government

Governor Bev Perdue has vetoed a bill that would have repealed the Racial Justice Act.

Residents have a chance to weigh in on the state's emergency response to Hurricane Irene. Emergency management officials and forecasters are hosting public meetings this week in eastern North Carolina to review their communication tactics during the storm. Rich Bandy is the lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Newport.

A state panel charged with recommending compensation for victims of the state's eugenics program will try to come up with a specific lump sum at its next meeting. The Governor's Eugenics Compensation Task Force was scheduled to discuss a lump sum today, but did not come to a conclusion. One task force member suggested compensation of twenty thousand dollars, but victims who attended the meeting said that is not enough. Dr. Laura Gerald heads the group.

Hurricane damaged Highway 12 on Hatteras Island is the subject of two public workshops this week. The only road along parts of the Outer Banks was breached in several places by Hurricane Irene in August. Traffic is rolling again on temporary fixes, but state officials want to move forward with permanent repairs. Greer Beatty works for North Carolina's Department of Transportation.

Outgoing Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker is on somewhat of a farewell tour today. First off is the Human Relation Commission's "Unity Day" at the Convention Center this morning. One big issue they'll be discussing is the proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage and domestic unions in the state. Meeker doesn't mince words about that.