Free Republic

Bowles, Burr Agree To Sept. 27 Debate RALEIGH, N.C. -- U.S. Senate candidates Erskine Bowles and Richard Burr will hold a televised debate at 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at the University of North Carolina television studios in Research Triangle Park, state broadcasters said Wednesday.

Chapel Hill(NC)Moves Forward With Plans To Recognize Gay MarriagesCHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The Chapel Hill Town Council voted unanimously Wednesday to ask state lawmakers to repeal the Defense of Marriage act. That means the town council is moving forward with its plan to recognize gay marriages, even though North Carolina does not under the act.

Like death, feelings about capital punishment are unambiguous As N.C. executes its seventh person in 15 weeks, families on both sides speak out B Y P A T R I C K O ' N E I L L When a close basketball game between Duke and UNC comes down to the final seconds, the opinions of almost everyone in the arena are unambiguous. At those moments, the lines are clearly drawn; fans are at their self-centered worst, wanting just one thing--a final winning basket scored to put a dagger into the hearts of their foes. December 10, 2003 N...

Judge denies motion to dismiss charges against PhippsRALEIGH, N.C. -- A judge denied a motion Monday to dismiss state charges against former Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps, who's accused of lying and encouraging others to lie to cover up illegal campaign contributions. Superior Court Judge Donald Stephens made the ruling as Phipps' trial on felony perjury and obstruction of justice charges began. After six hours of questioning by prosecutors and defense lawyers, the judge seated a jury of nine women and three men. Two alternates were also selected. Phipps was accompanied in court by her husband, Robert; her father, former...

Marine barracks bombing 20 years ago left global legacyCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A truck bomb ripped through the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut 20 years ago this week, marking the first major assault in a two-decade terrorist war that culminated on Sept. 11, 2001. The shocking attack killed 241 U.S. servicemen in a single strike. Most of the Marines were stationed at Camp Lejeune. The names of those who died are inscribed on a memorial at the Onslow County base. About 2,000 Beirut veterans and family members will gather Thursday at Camp Lejeune to mourn fallen comrades and remember a doomed...

North Carolina student indicted in death of newborn in FloridaKEY WEST, Fla. -- A 23-year-old college student from North Carolina was been indicted by a grand jury for manslaughter Wednesday in the death of a newborn in a Key West hotel room. Sarah Lynn Bleckley and Joshua Allen Mayhew checked out of the Radisson Key West on May 18th. That same day the body of an infant, called "Baby Jane" by detectives, was found near a stairwell at the hotel with her umbilical cord and placenta still attached. Police traced Bleckley and Mayhew to North Carolina through rental car records,...

<p>CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- A civil rights lawyer contends that Orange County's method of assessing fair market value without considering a family's history of slavery is an example of racial discrimination.</p> <p>Alan McSurely took the tack in an effort to overturn the tax assessment of property owned by the Fred Battle family. The Battles are descendants of slaves owned by the family of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill President Kemp P. Battle. McSurely said anti-discrimination language added to the state constitution in 1971 obligates the state to eliminate inequalities that are the vestiges of slavery.</p>

Racial tensions flare at N.C. high school ROXBORO, N.C. -- Students at a Person County high school were suspended for violating a new ban on clothing with Confederate flags or symbols, a school official said. The school announced the ban Monday after several incidents that included at least one fight between a white student and a black student, said Person High Principal Greg Hicks. Assistant Principal Margaret Bradsher said four or five students were suspended Wednesday for violating the ban. Hicks, who replaced longtime Principal Larry Oakley, who retired last year, said students were allowed to wear Confederate symbols in...

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Sen. John Edwards has stepped aside to seek the presidency, and two Democrats who slugged it out in last year's Senate primary -- Erskine Bowles and Dan Blue -- may again battle for his seat. Once again, Republicans have all but anointed a nominee, with Rep. Richard Burr of Winston-Salem already jumping out to a huge fund-raising advantage and gaining White House backing. But despite the early similarities, campaign consultants and political analysts watching the race don't expect a repeat of the 2002 Senate race in North Carolina. In last year's contest to replace retiring Sen. Jesse...

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Mexican government will investigate the treatment of farmworkers who are part of a federal "guest worker" program in North Carolina. The review is the result of petitions filed with the Mexican government by two advocacy groups early this year -- Farmworker Justice Fund in Washington and the Central Independiente de Obreros Agrcolas y Campesinos in Mexico. They contend these farmworkers in North Carolina are denied benefits, including wages and the ability to form unions. A growers representative called the move "a publicity stunt." The Mexican government offered few details when it announced the review last week....

WASHINGTON -- Emboldened by Miguel Estrada's withdrawal from consideration for the U.S. Court of Appeals, Senate Democrats threatened to block more of President Bush's judicial nominees to discourage him from offering what they called conservative ideologues. "As long as the administration continues to do this, we will continue to block judges who are outside the mainstream," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. said. Estrada's withdrawal Thursday from consideration for the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia makes him the first high-profile Bush judicial nominee to ask that his name be removed from Senate deliberation. Republicans failed on seven...

DURHAM, N.C. -- Durham County has become the first county in North Carolina to provide health insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners of its employees. Opponents have vowed to sue the county over the decision, however. The unanimous vote Tuesday by county commissioners, which received a long round of applause from supporters, caps about 10 months of debate on whether to offer the benefits. The issue surfaced after the city of Durham offered the coverage last year. The city's benefits are provided to employees' unmarried heterosexual, as well as homosexual, partners. Beginning next month, gay and lesbian county employees can...

LILLINGTON, N.C. -- A woman charged with murder after she put her newborn son in the trunk of her car was convicted of involuntary manslaughter Thursday and given a suspended sentence. Sophia Leann Whitley, 20, of Erwin, received a suspended sentence of 20 to 24 months, was placed under electronic house arrest for six months and ordered to serve three years of supervised probation.

DURHAM -- The Durham Hilton recently issued written rules barring students at N.C. Central University, a historically black school, from using the hotel's front door, an act NCCU's chancellor called "unconscionable." Lee Jefferson, an NCCU senior living at the Hilton while several university dorms are being renovated, said he was offended by the seven-page contract he was asked to sign.

Thousands of freshmen and transfer students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill discussed a summer reading book on the tough lives of Americans working low-wage jobs. The campus' 3,500 new students talked Monday about "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America," a best seller by Barbara Ehrenreich. A leftist social critic, Ehrenreich wrote about her experiences working at jobs including a Wal-Mart store and for a maid service.

NEWINGTON, N.H. -- Presidential hopeful John Edwards said Thursday that upgrading the nation's power system and ending market manipulation will strengthen homeland security. Edwards outlined his plan for better homeland security and emergency preparedness at a parking lot near Newington's fossil-fuel power plant. The press conference was part of a 29 stop, six-day bus tour to woo more New Hampshire voters before the tentatively set primary on Jan. 27. Calling last week's blackout a "call to action", the senator from North Carolina said lawmakers need to pass mandatory reliability standards for the nation's power grids.

I got this email today from a friend and it seemed harmless until I clicked on some of the stuff on the page. Some of the stuff is linked to amazon.com in the UK and is advertising some Michael Moore books. Then at the bottom they are pushing a shirt at cafe press about not finding any WMD.

Debate On Execution Moratorium Could Hit Close To Home For Several House Members Four Members Of House Have Family Members Who Were Murdered POSTED: 8:59 p.m. EDT May 4, 2003 RALEIGH, N.C. -- The collision between personal tragedies and public policy issues is expected to play out when state House members consider a two-year moratorium on executions. Four House members -- all of whom have family members who were killed -- say they will oppose a temporary ban on executions. Rep. Rick Eddins, R-Wake, keeps a manila envelope in his office at the Legislative Building. It holds photos he says...

N.C. House tentatively approves $15 billion spending plan By SCOTT MOONEYHAM : Associated Press Writer Apr 17, 2003 : 1:18 am ET RALEIGH, N.C. -- With almost breakneck speed, the North Carolina House has put together a state spending plan with more than two months remaining before the start of the fiscal year. The House tentatively approved a $15 billion state budget plan Wednesday, relying $384 million in taxes that had been scheduled to expire July 1 to help balance the plan. Seventeen Republicans joined Democrats in a 75-43 vote. Just one Democrat, Rep. Mickey Michaux of Durham, voted against...

Education leaders: No tax cuts By C.D. Kirkpatrick, The Herald-Sun April 15, 2003 8:15 pm RALEIGH -- The state’s education leaders have asked the General Assembly and Gov. Mike Easley to rethink proposed education budget cuts, saying the systems cannot absorb them without damage to their ability to carry out their missions. In a Monday letter, UNC system President Molly Broad, Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Mike Ward and Community College System President Martin Lancaster suggest lawmakers delay scheduled reductions in sales and income taxes.