The temporary increase in state sales tax instituted two years ago might be here to stay. The 1 percent sales tax increase initiated in September 2009, set to expire in July of this year, could be made permanent for the state to help make up for the expected $3.7 billion budget shortfall, said Gov. Bev Perdue in an address to the N.C. General Assembly.
Cursing in public might still be frowned upon, but at least it will no longer be a crime. Orange County Superior Court judge Allen Baddour struck down last Monday a 98-year old law, which prohibits any person from using indecent or profane language within the earshot of two or more people while on a public road.
Despite expected protests following Duke University’s decision to cancel its popular tailgate celebration, the campus remained calm for this past weekend’s football game as most students simply moved the party off campus. University administrators said the partying was kept to a minimum and was contained to Greek houses, residence halls and bars located near the campus.
North Carolina is reaping the benefits of a new program funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that aims to support low-income youth from college to their first job. The Gates foundation awarded Chapel Hill-based nonprofit MDC, Inc., planning grants equal to $1.8 million. MDC will work with Raleigh, Charlotte and two cities in Texas to develop a plan for post-secondary success.
The goal of a rally in Washington, D.C., was to encourage sanity among voters. But with a crowd of more than four times the expected number attending the event, sanity was primarily found in the rally’s title. Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert held the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear on Saturday afternoon, bringing a variety hour with a twist of seriousness to the capital’s National Mall.
Starting in 2011, UNC will be able to attract international lawyers who want to study U.S. law. UNC-system Board of Governors approved a proposal last week for the UNC School of Law to move forward with plans that would allow international lawyers to obtain a master’s degree in U.S. law in one year.
The White House announced education as its top priority for this week, presenting changes the Obama administration has made to the education system and future initiatives it hopes to implement. As a part of this initiative, both Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, and Jill Biden hosted events Monday.
Karl Rove — known as the “architect” of George W. Bush’s presidency and the mastermind of modern conservative politics — spoke Monday at Memorial Hall, harshly criticizing the Democratic leadership in Washington and calling for a new age in politics.
