North Carolina General Assembly

Cross-posted at Bloviations.

The Jacksonville Daily News reports.

"I plan on bringing my conservative Onslow County roots to Raleigh and challenging the liberal establishment," Aragona said in an e-mailed statement announcing his intention to file for state office.

Rep. Melanie Wade Goodwin will become the first sitting NC lawmaker to give birth while in office. ... Rep. Goodwin says that her continued service in the legislature during her pregnancy and after the baby is born reflects what the Democratic Party and its House Democratic Caucus are about: children, families, and the future.

Here is an incomplete list of the progress we made this year:

EDUCATION

• We strengthened our efforts to attract and retain the very best educators throughout our education system by providing a 5 percent salary increase for teachers as well as community college and university faculty.
• We ensured smaller class sizes to help give younger students the individualized attention they need.
• We funded scholarships for low to moderate income students to graduate from college debt-free.
  

Let me go ahead and admit that I am understandably biased on this post: I'm a former Democratic House member who is married to an outstanding current Democratic House member, works in State government on the legislature's front lines, and serves in several roles in county, district and State party committees.