RALEIGH, N.C.  – A North Carolina congresswoman says she made a poor choice of words when she called the infamous murder of a gay Wyoming student a “hoax” to justify passing hate crimes bills.
Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx said during debate in the House that the 1998 death of Matthew Shepard shouldn’t be used to justify [...]

WASHINGTON  – A House panel approved legislation Wednesday that would outlaw the kind of “liar loans” and other questionable bank practices that helped drag down the economy.
The proposal, by North Carolina Democratic Reps. Melvin Watt and Brad Miller, is one of several that Democrats are pushing to tighten financial regulations on an industry that underwrote [...]

RALEIGH, N.C.  – Gov. Beverly Perdue has appointed a District Court judge to serve out the term of retiring District Attorney Howard Boney for three eastern North Carolina counties.
Perdue said Wednesday that Judge Robert Evans will become the top prosecutor for Nash, Wilson and Edgecombe counties starting Friday. Boney has held the job for more [...]

A Pew Research report says Americans think the media spends too much time on Pres. Barack Obama’s family and personal life during his first months.

The PPP reports that the governor has already seen a pretty big drop in her approval.

RALEIGH, N.C.  – Senators have broadened a proposed smoking ban at North Carolina work sites, restaurants and other public places by removing restrictions added in the House.
The Senate Health Care Committee on Wednesday approved legislation by a voice vote aimed at protecting employees and patrons from the dangers of secondhand smoke. The bill now goes [...]

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (D-NC) said Wednesday she will begin “Carolina Coffees” – a series of informal meetings and tours of her office.
The coffee meetings begin May 6. North Carolinians visiting or living in Washington, DC, are invited to attend Carolina Coffees, which will be held every Wednesday morning while the Senate [...]

Add Wake County school board chairwoman Rosa Gill as one of the candidates who want to fill the District 14 seat of state Senator Vernon Malone, the N&O reports.

State officials who oversee college-savings plans for parents are dumping several funds with higher expenses and poor performance, the N&O reports.