RALEIGH, N.C.  – Amazon.com has pulled the plug on commissions for North Carolina Web sites that make referrals to the online retailer because a new tax could soon be enacted.
Seattle-based Amazon said it wrote to Web site operators, telling them the commission program will end after Friday.
Web sites that post links to the company about [...]

WASHINGTON  – House Democrats narrowly won a key test vote Friday on sweeping legislation to combat global warming and usher in a new era of cleaner energy. Republicans said the bill included “the largest tax increase in American history.”
The vote was 217-205 to advance the White House-backed legislation to the floor, and 30 Democrats defected, [...]

WASHINGTON  – President Barack Obama said Friday the United States and Germany share “one voice” in condemning the Iranian effort to crush dissent. He said Iran’s leaders cannot hide the “outrageous” behavior of clamping down violently on their people.
“We see it and we condemn it,” Obama said.
Obama spoke in a joint White House appearance with [...]

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — Candidate filing for the 2009 Municipal Elections and the Chapel Hill/Carrboro School Board will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 6 and end at noon on Friday, July 17 at the Orange County Board of Elections office located at 110 East King Street in Hillsborough.
Filing forms, along with the proper filing [...]

RALEIGH, N.C.  – Contractors with unsold homes would get more time to pay property taxes on them in a bill approved by North Carolina lawmakers.
The House agreed by a wide margin Thursday to allow construction firms to defer local property taxes on homes they’ve been unable to sell for up to three years.
Legislative staff says [...]

RALEIGH, N.C.  – Contractors with unsold homes would get more time to pay property taxes on them in a bill approved by North Carolina lawmakers.
The House agreed by a wide margin Thursday to allow construction firms to defer local property taxes on homes they’ve been unable to sell for up to three years.
Legislative staff says [...]

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford tells reporters staking out his beach home that he’s focusing on his family right now.
He emerged briefly Thursday from the Sullivans Island home and rolled down the window of his car to talk. Asked if he’s planning to resign, he shook his head no.
Sanford publicly admitted Wednesday [...]

RALEIGH, N.C.  – The Legislature isn’t going to make a deadline to get a final budget for North Carolina state government approved by early next week.
The House Appropriations Committee agreed Thursday to a temporary spending measure that directs how government agencies keep operating after the new fiscal year begins Wednesday.
Rep. Mickey Michaux of Durham County [...]

RALEIGH, N.C.  – The Legislature has given its final approval to changes in North Carolina’s sex education curriculum in public schools for young teenagers.
The House narrowly agreed Thursday to the Senate version of the bill, which explains how all school systems must teach sex education in grades seven through nine. Gov. Beverly Perdue is expected [...]