SEQUESTER FESTER DAY 34
Troxler relieved over meat inspection funds (AP) — N.C. Republican Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler says a potential slowdown of meat inspections at the state's slaughterhouses due to across-the-board federal spending cuts has been averted for now.
http://www.reflector.com/ap/staten/troxler-relieved-over-meat-inspection-funds-1918135

Sequestration may mean hard times for Meals on Wheels (Raleigh News & Observer) -- Freddie Neese does not want to live in a nursing home. The 66-year-old who has congestive heart failure and an enlarged heart said he's able to stay in his own home - for now - with help from programs such as Meals on Wheels. But this program both locally and nationwide will face tough financial times.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/04/02/2796596/sequestration-may-mean-hard-times.html

Burr optimistic about tax, entitlement reform (Winston-Salem Journal) -- U.S. Sen. Richard Burr offered a glass-half-full perspective Tuesday on the political logjam in Congress to a group of local Rotarians anxious over how federal tax and entitlement reform will play out. “I’ve never been more optimistic about the nation and North Carolina than now,” Burr, R-N.C., said to begin his speech at the monthly meeting of the Downtown Rotary club. “But there are challenges at all levels for getting our nation and state performing at the level we know is possible.”
http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/article_6fa355d2-9bf9-11e2-82ad-001a4bcf6878.html

Life without air shows for Blue Angels, Golden Knights, Thunderbirds (Washington Post) -- What do the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds and Golden Knights do when the sequester halts their aerial demonstrations?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2013/04/03/what-will-the-militarys-aerial-demonst...

LEGISLATURE
Gov. to make Medicaid announcement, energy issues on front burner (WRAL-TV) -- Gov. Pat McCrory says he will announce a major reform plan for Medicaid, the state health insurance program for the poor and disabled. Meanwhile, lawmakers will pursue a crowded agenda that includes death penalty legislation, voter ID hearings and an 11 a.m. hearing on killing requirements that power companies buy renewable energy.
http://www.wral.com/today-nccapitol-april-3-gov-to-make-medicaid-announcement/12297666/

NC could lose solar lead as neighbors promote development (Charlotte Business Journal) -- As North Carolina legislators consider ending some of the state’s incentives for solar energy development, legislators and utilities in neighboring state’s are increasing efforts to attract it. Mike Whitson of PCGSolar Inc. in Davidson says the two factors could leave the state losing its edge as the solar leader in the Southeast. The Solar Energy Industries Association says North Carolina ranks fifth in the nation for the amount of solar capacity installed in 2012. It projects that the state will rank fourth this year.
“I’d hate to see the state give up that hard-won lead,” Whitson says.
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/power_city/2013/04/nc-could-lose-solar-lead-as-neighbors.html

Bill ending renewable energy development law heads to showdown (Raleigh News & Observer) -- Forces are lining up for Wednesday’s 11 a.m. two-hour hearing on Rep. Mike Hager’s bill that would end the state’s requirement that power companies use renewable energy and promote energy conservation. The Rutherfordton Republican’s bill, HB298, sets up a major showdown -- with national interest -- between environmentalists and those who oppose public support to bolster alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar.
http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/bill_ending_renewable_energy_development_law_heads_t...

Proposal would allow state religion in North Carolina (WRAL-TV) -- A bill filed by Republican House lawmakers would allow the state to establish religion, defying the First Amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights.
http://www.wral.com/proposal-would-allow-state-religion-in-north-carolina/12296876/

NC senators try to halt gender-neutral housing (AP) — A group of state senators wants to invalidate a policy allowing students of the opposite gender to share suites and apartments at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill starting this fall.
http://www.reflector.com/ap/staten/nc-senators-try-halt-gender-neutral-housing-1918717

Bill would override policy for co-ed suites at UNC-CH (WRAL-TV) -- Three freshmen senators said Tuesday that they want to head off a policy that would allow students of the opposite sex to start sharing bathrooms and common living areas in UNC-Chapel Hill campus housing suites and apartments next fall.
http://www.wral.com/bill-would-override-policy-for-co-ed-suites-at-unc-ch/12296639/

Chancellor lobbies against budget cuts (The Technician) -- Chancellor Randy Woodson, in the company of many higher-education leaders, outlined the ramifications of Republican Gov. Pat McCrory’s proposed budget during a Faculty Senate meeting Tuesday. The proposed cuts on education present many challenges, Woodson said. McCrory’s budget may cut up to $139 million from the UNC System. The Chancellor reaffirmed at the meeting that he is lobbying to fight the proposed cuts, which have yet to be approved by the General Assembly. The chancellor said he’s been lobbying for the UNC System a week before the budget was announced, and today Woodson will be at the General Assembly to advocate further.
http://www.technicianonline.com/news/article_ea7f60da-9c16-11e2-bc79-0019bb30f31a.html

NC Senate taking up capital punishment changes (AP) -- North Carolina Republican senators say rule changes to capital punishment procedures in the state will help mete out justice upon convicted killers and give closure to families of slain victims.
http://www.wral.com/nc-senate-taking-up-capital-punishment-changes/12297624/

Poll: Wake County voters want lawmakers to honor Perdue's Dix lease (Triangle Business Journal) -- Public Policy Polling says Wake County votes are strongly behind creating a destination park on the 325-acre Dix site in downtown Raleigh and honoring the lease former Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue inked with the city to accomplish that goal. Wake voters want the park, 52 percent to 27 percent, and say the Republican-dominated General Assembly should honor the lease, 57 percent to 27 percent, according to the polling organization. The firm surveyed 604 Wake County voters to come up with the results. The poll was paid for by Dix306, the non-profit citizens group set up to push for the park development.
http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/2013/04/poll-75-of-wake-county-voters-want.html

"Made in NC" gun bill would make it a crime for federal agents to enforce the law (Raleigh News & Observer) -- More news from the sovereign country of North Carolina. A gun bill filed Tuesday resurrects an attempt by former Republican state Rep. Glen Bradley that went nowhere last session. It would exempt from all federal regulations any firearm, accessory or ammunition made and kept in North Carolina. A gun like that would have to be stamped with “Made in North Carolina.” There’s a new twist in this year’s version, however: It says that any federal agent who tries to enforce federal firearm laws would be guilty of a misdemeanor.
http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/made_in_nc_gun_bill_would_make_it_a_crime_for_federa...
Future uncertain for family drug courts in Cumberland, Robeson counties without state funding (Fayetteville Observer) -- Family Drug Treatment Court works with parents who are in danger of losing custody of their children because of substance abuse and child neglect issues.
http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2013/04/03/1246292?sac=fo.local

Bill requires NC welfare, food stamp crime checks (AP) — Some North Carolina legislators want social service workers to perform criminal checks on welfare and food stamp requests to ensure law-abiding people get federal benefits first.
http://www.reflector.com/ap/staten/bill-requires-nc-welfare-food-stamp-crime-checks-1917899

Bill Would Require Background Checks For Benefits (WUNC-FM) -- A bill in the legislature would require county social services offices to conduct criminal background checks on people seeking and receiving federal benefits.
http://wunc.org/post/bill-would-require-background-checks-benefits

New alcohol permit rules pass NC Senate committee (AP) — Tougher rules for obtaining a permit to sell alcohol are advancing in the North Carolina Senate.
http://www.reflector.com/ap/staten/new-alcohol-permit-rules-pass-nc-senate-committee-1917901

New bill would require breath-test device for all DWI convictions (Wilmington Star-News) -- Currently, only individuals who register a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent or greater, repeat offenders, and those who refuse a chemical analysis at the time of arrest are required to install what's called an ignition interlock system to qualify for limited driving privileges. Senate Bill 434 would extend the interlock ignition requirement to anyone with a DWI conviction, regardless of his or her blood alcohol concentration. DWI convictions in fiscal year 2011 -- 38,145 statewide; DWI deaths in 2011: 365.
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20130402/ARTICLES/130409954/1177?Title=New-bill-would-require-...

NC lawmakers push resolution on prayer at meetings (AP) -- Two Rowan County Republican lawmakers want their legislative colleagues to support a resolution backing their county commissioners and their use of sectarian prayers at official meetings.
http://www.wral.com/nc-lawmakers-push-resolution-on-prayer-at-meetings/12297076/

Panama Canal cited for shifting airport control from Charlotte -- A Charlotte lawmaker said Tuesday that shifting control of the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport to a yet-to-be-created regional authority is critical for North Carolina's economic future.
http://www.wral.com/panama-canal-cited-for-shifting-airport-control-from-charlotte/12295194/

House begins talking Charlotte airport governance (AP) -- A House member says he'll slow down a bill that would shift control of North Carolina's largest airport until a study looking at airport governance and paid for by Charlotte is complete.
http://www.wral.com/house-begins-talking-charlotte-airport-governance/12296729/

Reps: Federal courts have no power over Rowan County (Greensboro News & Record) -- According to 11 N.C. state legislators, everything the U.S. Supreme Court has ever said carries no force of law. States, or the people in them, can decide for themselves what is and isn’t constitutional. And the U.S. Constitution does not prohibit the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, among other entities, from making laws respecting the establishment of religion. That’s the gist of House Resolution 494,
http://www.news-record.com/blogs/northstatepolitics/999597-155/reps-federal-courts-have-no

Proposal would allow state religion in North Carolina (WRAL-TV) -- A bill filed by Republican House lawmakers would allow the state to establish religion, defying the First Amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights.
http://www.wral.com/proposal-would-allow-state-religion-in-north-carolina/12296876/

Boat fees could rise to pay for dredging (WRAL-TV) -- Senate lawmakers are debating a bill that would raise fees on boats across the state to pay for dredging for coastal inlets.
http://www.wral.com/boat-fees-could-rise-to-pay-for-dredging/12295653/

Black lawmakers vow to fight voting changes (WRAL-TV) -- The N.C. Legislative Black Caucus says black voters are the target of Republican proposals to cut early voting days, ban Sunday voting and prohibit same-day registration and straight-ticket voting.
http://www.wral.com/black-lawmakers-vow-to-fight-voting-changes-/12294475/

GOP lawmakers' efforts to curtail early voting draws opposition (Raleigh News & Observer) -- Early voting may soon be sharply restricted if North Carolina's Republican legislature has its way. The legislature is considering bills that would reduce the early voting period from two-and-a-half weeks to one week, and would end Sunday voting.
http://newsobserver.com/2013/04/02/2797243/gop-lawmakers-efforts-to-curtail.html

Tax reform proposal good news for Wilmington film industry (Wilmington Star-News) -- There’s good news – relatively speaking – for the Wilmington area film industry in the first draft of a massive tax reform proposal that an influential group of state senators introduced Tuesday in the General Assembly. The proposal centers on corporate and personal income tax reform, and a broadened sales tax, but also proposes to eliminate tax incentives for a slew of special interests come Jan. 1, said Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick, co-chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee. Catching a quick break at his desk, Rabon thumbed through pages of the proposal marred with strike-outs and handwritten notes.
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20130402/ARTICLES/130409952/1177?Title=Tax-reform-proposal-goo...

Could NC Soon Have A Pepsi-Cola Ferry Line? (WUNC-FM) -- A bi-partisan group of state lawmakers has introduced a bill that would allow for sponsorship of ferry lines along the North Carolina coast.
http://wunc.org/post/could-nc-soon-have-pepsi-cola-ferry-line

Big toll on N.C. wallets: Ferry fees set, being fought (Norfolk Virginian Pilot) -- Megan Shaw's trips to the mainland will double in cost soon unless North Carolina lawmakers change new ferry tolls set to take effect by July 1.
http://hamptonroads.com/2013/04/big-toll-nc-wallets-ferry-fees-set-being-fought

Liquor bill would curb single-use permits (WRAL-TV) -- Organizations applying for one-time ABC permits would need to apply at least 10 days in advance. Bill sponsors say the loophole has been used to evade local alcohol laws.
http://www.wral.com/liquor-bill-would-curb-single-use-permits/12294454/

House panel modifies school grading system (WRAL-TV) -- Public schools in North Carolina would get A through F letter grades to reflect their performance, starting next year, under legislation approved Tuesday by a House committee.
http://www.wral.com/house-panel-modifies-school-grading-system/12294242/

Farmer-Butterfield elected chair of Democratic Women Joint Legislative Caucus (Wilson Times) -- The Democratic Women’s Joint Legislative Caucus has just elected state House of Representative member, Jean Farmer-Butterfield of Wilson to chair their organization.
http://www.wilsontimes.com/News/Local/Story/19622306---Farmer-Butterfield-elected-chair-of-Democrati...

Bill requires background checks for benefits applicants (WRAL-TV) -- Local Department of Social Service workers would have to inform law enforcement if those wanted on arrest warrants applied for benefits under a measure that cleared the House Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday.
http://www.wral.com/bill-requires-background-checks-for-benefits-applicants/12294120/

NRA-commissioned study supports having armed guards in schools (Washington Post) -- Examination of school safety issues includes several recommendations, including arming teachers, principals.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nra-commissioned-study-supports-having-armed-g...

What are the states doing about guns? (Washington Post) -- A state-by-state review of some of the leading proposals under consideration to limit the sale and use of firearms.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/04/02/what-are-the-states-doing-about-gun-control/

Report Links High Rates of Gun Violence to Weak State Regulations (New York Times) -- Eight of the states with the highest levels of gun violence were among the 25 states with the weakest gun laws, a report to be issued Wednesday by the Center for American Progress found. North Carolina ranked 15th, South Carolina 6th and Virginia, 19th.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/03/us/report-links-high-rates-of-gun-violence-to-weak-laws.html?ref=u...

NC considers adding fourth psychiatric hospital near Charlotte (Charlotte Observer) -- A decade after deciding to close one of North Carolina's psychiatric hospitals and eliminate hospital beds, some legislators and doctors are urging the state to reverse course and add a new hospital to serve the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region.
http://newsobserver.com/2013/04/02/2797315/nc-considers-adding-fourth-psychiatric.html

I-95 toll plan on life support (Wilson Times) -- While it might be a tad premature to say the proposal to toll Interstate 95 is dead, state Sen. Buck Newton said this week that the plan appears to be on life support.
http://www.wilsontimes.com/News/Local/Story/19626826---I-95-toll-plan-on-life-support

Bill would take taxing, condemnation powers away from unelected boards (Raleigh News & Observer) -- Unelected local governmental entities such as special districts and authorities wouldn’t be able to impose taxes or condemn property without approval from the board of commissioners of the county they’re in, under a proposed constitutional amendment outlined in a bill filed Tuesday. The bill is aimed at curtailing the power of local boards like the sewer district in Buncombe County and the proposed airport authority in Charlotte, which have generated controversy.
http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/bill_would_take_taxing_condemnation_powers_away_from...

POLICY & POLITICS
Poll: Americans' Top Conspiracy Theories, Revealed (Wall Street Journal) -- Fresh off its poll in January that found Americans have a higher opinion of colonoscopies than they do of Congress, North Carolina’s Public Policy Polling is now looking into where Americans stand on the fluoride in drinking water, the moon landing (fake?) and whether Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/04/02/poll-top-conspiracy-theories-revealed/

US court backs blocking NC disabled services cuts (AP) — A federal appeals court says North Carolina's Medicaid office can't move ahead on cutting in-home services for more than 2,400 disabled adults.
http://www.reflector.com/ap/staten/us-court-backs-blocking-nc-disabled-services-cuts-1918735

McCrory to offer plan on cutting NC Medicaid costs (AP) – Republican Gov. Pat McCrory is proposing a plan to hold down the spiraling costs of health care for the elderly and disabled.
http://www.wral.com/mccrory-to-offer-plan-on-cutting-nc-medicaid-costs/12297622/

McCrory to lift curtain on Medicaid reform plan (Triangle Business Journal) – Republican Gov. Pat McCrory says he will announce a Medicaid reform plan at 10 a.m. Wednesday. He provided few details in a video posted Tuesday, except to point out that the program spends $13 billion per year. But that’s actually only the budgeted number, as an audit determined that Medicaid incurred nearly $14 billion in costs in North Carolina last year, though the federal government covers roughly three-quarters of those costs. “Numbers. Big numbers. That’s what our Medicaid system has been all about,” McCrory says in the video. “Until right now. Now, it will be about people.”
http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2013/04/02/mccrory-to-lift-curtain-on-medicaid.html

McCrory will offer plan on reducing NC Medicaid costs (Raleigh News & Observer) -- North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory is proposing a plan to hold down the spiraling costs of health care for the elderly and disabled.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/04/03/2798242/mccrory-to-offer-plan-on-cutting.html

Big toll on N.C. wallets: Ferry fees set, being fought (Norfolk Virginian Pilot) -- OCRACOKE, N.C. Megan Shaw's trips to the mainland will double in cost soon unless North Carolina lawmakers and the McCrory administration change new ferry tolls set to take effect by July 1.
http://hamptonroads.com/2013/04/big-toll-nc-wallets-ferry-fees-set-being-fought

McCrory reverses course on market funding (High Point Enterprise) -- Gov. Pat McCrory reversed course Tuesday, deciding that he won’t pursue a significant cut in funding for the High Point Market. The new Republican governor — who grew up in Jamestown and whose parents rented their house to market-goers decades ago to earn extra money when McCrory was a youngster — proposed cutting state funds for the High Point Market Authority in half in his original $20.6 billion state budget proposal presented last month. But this week he reconsidered the move and made the decision to preserve the appropriations, said Kim Genardo, the governor’s communications director.
http://www.hpe.com/news/business/x145786771/McCrory-reverses-course-on-market-funding

McCrory will restore full funding to High Point Market (Triad Business Journal) -- `Republican Gov. Pat McCrory will restore full funding for the High Point Market in his budget, an about-face from previous plans to cut the monies by more than half by next year. The announcement to restore full funding of $1.66 million comes after McCrory's state budget released last month proposed cutting state funding by 52 percent in 2014, to $800,000. Forty furniture industry leaders applied pressure this week with a letter sent to House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger requesting that the funding for the twice-annual international furniture trade show be maintained.
http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2013/04/02/gov-mccrory-will-restore-full-funding.html

NC governor changes course, wants to keep High Point Market (Furniture Today) -- North Carolina Republican Gov. Pat McCrory has reversed course and restored funding for the High Point Market Authority in his proposed state budget for the next two years. The governor had proposed cutting the state funds in half for the fiscal year beginning July 14, 2014, but changed his mind after learning private funding would not be available to make up the difference, said Kim Genardo, McCrory's communications director.
http://www.casualliving.com/article/561576-Update_N_C_governor_changes_course_wants_to_keep_High_Poi...

McCrory shifts — no cuts for High Point Market funding (Greensboro News & Record) – Republican Gov. Pat McCrory has had a change of heart on High Point Market funding and won’t recommend cuts for the city’s signature event.
http://www.news-record.com/home/998110-63/mccrory-shifts-no-cuts

Poll: Wake County voters want lawmakers to honor Perdue's Dix lease (Triangle Business Journal) -- Public Policy Polling says Wake County votes are strongly behind creating a destination park on the 325-acre Dix site in downtown Raleigh and honoring the lease former Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue inked with the city to accomplish that goal. Wake voters want the park, 52 percent to 27 percent, and say the Republican-dominated General Assembly should honor the lease, 57 percent to 27 percent, according to the polling organization. The firm surveyed 604 Wake County voters to come up with the results. The poll was paid for by Dix306, the non-profit citizens group set up to push for the park development.
http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/2013/04/poll-75-of-wake-county-voters-want.html

Sanford historic site would fall under planned budget axe (Raleigh News & Observer) -- The House in the Horseshoe in Sanford, site of an 18th century battle between patriots and loyalists, would be mothballed along with three other State Historic Sites under a budget-cutting move by Gov. Pat McCrory.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/04/02/2797361/sanford-historic-site-would-fall.html

US labor secretary to discuss minimum wage in NC (AP) -- The acting secretary of labor is scheduled to visit Charlotte to discuss President Barack Obama's proposal to raise the minimum wage.
http://www.wral.com/us-labor-secretary-to-discuss-minimum-wage-in-nc/12297623/

NC appeals court orders new look at lobbying law (AP) — A Wake County judge should reconsider throwing out a $30,000 fine against a former high-profile lobbyist who worked to change the state's "Buy America" law so that imported iron could be used on highway projects, the state Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday. A unanimous three-judge appeals court panel ruled that Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway should consider Don Beason's lobbying activities for Sigma Corp., a New Jersey company that imports foreign-made iron and steel. Ridgeway ruled last year that North Carolina's law defines a lobbyist as someone who communicates directly with legislators or their employees, and there was no evidence Beason directly contacted anyone for his client. But the appeals court ruled that the judge didn't consider a second part of the state lobbying law: whether Beason's activities for the client constituted lobbying.
http://www.reflector.com/ap/staten/nc-appeals-court-orders-new-look-lobbying-law-1918115

NC hospitals reap profits from discount drugs (Raleigh News & Observer) -- U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, says information he obtained from Duke University Hospital, UNC Hospital and Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte has added to his questions about whether the program is functioning as intended.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/04/02/2797292/nc-hospitals-reap-profits-from.html

Mona Moon named to lead NC state employee health plan (AP) — The health insurance plan for state employees, teachers, retirees and their families has a permanent chief executive, the first since it came under N.C. State Treasurer Janet Cowell's purview. Mona Moon is the new executive administrator of the N.C. State Health Plan. She's worked for the plan for nearly five years as former chief financial officer and current interim executive administrator. She's previously worked in the state Medicaid office and as a fiscal researcher for the General Assembly. Moon succeeds Lacey Barnes, who served as interim executive administrator from July 2011 until recently.
http://www.reflector.com/ap/staten/moon-named-lead-nc-state-employee-health-plan-1918745

Attorney wants Charlotte council cited in tax move (AP) -- A Charlotte attorney asked a judge Tuesday to find the city council in contempt of court for its decision behind closed doors to support a tax hike to pay for improvements at the home of the Carolina Panthers.
http://www.wral.com/attorney-wants-charlotte-council-cited-in-tax-move/12295840/

Family of Caswell man awarded his 12 WWII medals (Winston-Salem Journal) -- Henry James Williams didn’t talk much about his experiences during World War II. The most anyone could get him to say was, “It was bad.” Tuesday afternoon Williams’ family was presented his World War II medals by Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., along with a flag that flew over the Capitol at Burr’s request in honor of Williams, who died in 1995. “It’s not unusual that the World War II veterans don’t live to get their medals,” Burr said. “They didn’t stick around to pick them up.”
http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/article_f680952a-9c07-11e2-a145-001a4bcf6878.html

Ministers push for immigration reform (Winston-Salem Journal) -- Pastors with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship called for federal immigration reform at a news conference outside First Baptist Church on Highland Avenue. Members of the group said they will be meeting with state lawmakers later in the month to tell them about their concerns.
http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/article_de9faf86-9c02-11e2-8670-001a4bcf6878.html

Hagan talks pipeline spills, early voting (WRAL-TV) -- U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan said that North Carolina should keep widespread early voting in order to avoid long lines like Florida experienced in 2012.
http://www.wral.com/hagan-talks-pipeline-spills-and-early-voting/12295219/

Will charter schools survive the charter movement? (Washington Post) -- America's education policies are brimming with contradiction, perhaps nowhere more than the charter movement.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/04/03/will-charter-schools-survive-the-conf...

Hagan Hosts Jobs Fair in Raleigh to Connect Job Seekers with Employers with Open Positions (N.C. Tech News) -- U.S. Senator Kay Hagan joined with Wake Tech Community College to host a “Back to Work North Carolina Jobs Fair” today in Raleigh. The jobs fair aimed to connect job seekers with employers who are currently seeking to fill available positions. Over 750 job seekers and more than 90 employers with open positions attended the jobs fair.
http://nctechnews.com/2013/04/02/jobs/hagan-hosts-jobs-fair-in-raleigh-to-connect-job-seekers-with-e...

NCC lands grant to aid workforce training (Rocky Mount Telegram) -- U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., announced Friday that Nash Community College will receive a $1.5 million federal grant to help build a workforce training wing in the college’s future Continuing Education and Public Services Building.
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/ncc-lands-grant-aid-workforce-training-1918803

GENERAL NEWS
Rawlings to lead panel on athletics and academics (Daily Tar Heel) -- Almost four months after the Martin Report was released, Chancellor Holden Thorp has finally announced the panel that will lead a discussion on the balance of academics and athletics at the University. Thorp revealed on Monday a five-member panel of outside leaders in higher education and athletics — led by Hunter Rawlings, president of the Association of American Universities — who will speak April 19. Thorp originally said public discussions would start right after the Martin Report was released, and faculty have been vocal in questioning when they would begin.
http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2013/04/rawlings-to-lead-panel-on-athletics-and-academics

Car towed from NC crash scene with body inside – no one notice for 3 days (AP) — The body of a missing North Carolina woman was found inside her wrecked car, three days after it was ordered by a state trooper to be towed away from the crash scene.
http://www.reflector.com/ap/staten/car-towed-nc-crash-scene-body-inside-1918683

ECU hits buzzer-beater to win CollegeInsider.com Tournament title (Raleigh News & Observer) -- What better way to end the best East Carolina men's basketball season ever than with a buzzer-beater to win the school's first-ever postseason championship?
http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/04/02/2797436/richmond-3-lifts-e-carolina-over.html

Bank of America to settle credit union accusations (AP) — Bank of America will pay $165 million to settle a dispute over mortgage-backed securities it sold to credit unions that later collapsed.
http://www.reflector.com/ap/statef/bank-america-settle-credit-union-accusations-1918389

2 admit roles in 12-state school sports fraud (AP) — Two former executives of a sports gear company admitted in federal court Tuesday that they routinely overbilled schools by forging fake price quotes from competitors in a decade-long fraud scheme that extended to North Carolina and 11 other states.
http://www.reflector.com/ap/staten/2-admit-roles-12-state-school-sports-fraud-1918013

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Bill ending renewable energy development law heads to showdown (Raleigh News & Observer) -- Forces are lining up for Wednesday’s 11 a.m. two-hour hearing on Rep. Mike Hager’s bill that would end the state’s requirement that power companies use renewable energy and promote energy conservation. The Rutherfordton Republican’s bill, HB298, sets up a major showdown -- with national interest -- between environmentalists and those who oppose public support to bolster alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar.
http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/bill_ending_renewable_energy_development_law_heads_t...

Emissions Rules Put Alternative-Fuel Vehicles in a Bind (New York Times) -- The E.P.A. has proposed new regulations that could prolong use of the gasoline-powered internal combustion engine in cars, delaying the acceptance of alternatives.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/03/business/energy-environment/emissions-rules-put-alternative-fuel-v...

State Awaits Judge's Ruling on Bonner Bridge (Coastal Review) -- The state DOT says it's ready to start construction on a new bridges across Oregon Inlet and on Pea Island on the Outer Banks but is awaiting the outcome of two legal challenges.
http://nccoast.org/Article.aspx?k=98122b80-62f8-48a8-962b-e1a27d42ff36

Pipeline Spills Stir New Criticism of Keystone Plan (New York Times) -- Spills in Arkansas and Utah have also raised more questions about whether the federal government is adequately monitoring the nation’s vast labyrinth of pipelines.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/03/us/pipeline-spills-stir-new-criticism-of-keystone-proposal.html?re...

EDITORIALS
Government announcements need distribution beyond online postings (Wilmington Star-News) -- State Rep. Rick Catlin knows his constituency, and that many of them either choose not to own a computer or cannot afford one.
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20130402/ARTICLES/130409923/1108/opinion?Title=Editorial-Gover...

Cutting back on early voting is blatant attempt to suppress voter turnout (Winston-Salem Journal) -- For the past three years as they have pushed voter identification legislation, Republicans have strongly denied any intent to suppress voter turnout.
http://www.journalnow.com/opinion/editorials/article_ae139c8e-9bde-11e2-b0bc-001a4bcf6878.html

State bill on drones would protect privacy (Wilson Times) -- As the law-enforcement technology steadily improves, society must be on guard to assure it doesn’t violate our constitutional rights to privacy and due process of law.
http://www.wilsontimes.com/Opinion/Editorials/Story/19623060---State-bill-on-drones-would-protect-pr...

Cracking down on drivers who pass stopped school buses (Winston-Salem Journal) -- A bipartisan bill designed to dramatically increase the penalties for drivers who pass stopped school buses unloading students is a welcome development in the fight against this public menace.
http://www.journalnow.com/opinion/editorials/article_a0f18036-9bdc-11e2-8ced-001a4bcf6878.html

Save public funding for judicial races (Raleigh News & Observer column) -- The North Carolina legislature and governor look poised to eliminate a successful program that helps judicial candidates say no to special interest money.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/04/02/2797069/save-public-funding-for-judicial.html

On Sale - It's why we need public campaign financing (Fayetteville Observer) -- It's a shame that some lawmakers in Raleigh want to dismantle this state's system of public campaign financing. Some sensitive elected positions especially need to have the public's trust and avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest.
http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2013/04/03/1247758