Mike Easley News

RALEIGH North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, sheriffs, police chiefs and prosecutors from across the state say an N.C. Senate proposal to move most of the State Bureau of Investigation under the governor will hamper political corruption probes.

A New Hampshire investment firm is challenging Alcoa Inc.'s bid for a new federal license to operate dams along one of North Carolina's largest rivers, demanding that federal regulators recognize circumstances have changed since the relicensing process started more than a decade ago.

Democratic Party leaders are likely unhappy that Kim Strach is becoming the new director of the State Board of Elections, which has changed to Republican control .

Five new members took their seats Wednesday on the state Board of Elections as the agency is launching an investigation into possible campaign finance violations involving dozens of political donations by sweepstakes cafe operators.

Newly appointed members of the State Board of Elections say they will start their tenure Wednesday with no marching orders as to who should serve as their most senior staff member or how to pursue a high-profile campaign finance investigation.

North Carolina had one of the best pre-kindergarten programs in the country in 2011-12, but it also experienced one of the nation's biggest drops in enrollment, according to a report released Monday.