Gov. Mike Easley's plan to give teachers dramatic raises and spend $68 million to reform the mental-health system depends on his ability to sell 'sin tax' increases to the legislature in an election year.

The state auditor said today that the State Board of Elections created the appearance of a conflict of interest when it hired the spouse of a top official.

The races for open seats for lieutenant governor and state treasurer could be close contests, according to the latest results from Public Policy Polling.

Residents tell the Town Council they are concerned about traffic, building height and other issues in proposals for the first phase of the multiple-use development.

As County Manager David Cooke prepares the budget he'll propose to Wake commissioners next week, he'll have to negotiate a projected $51.5 million budget gap.

The Council of State won't budge on its approval of the state's revised execution protocol.

With Clinton heavily favored in today's primary, Obama focuses on the national race.

Declaring that the major party candidates have failed to offer voters real change, former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr jumped into the presidential race Monday under the Libertarian Party banner.

John McCain broke with the Bush administration and Republican Party orthodoxy Monday as he not only declared global warming real, but reached out to Democrats and independents with a free-market solution that includes capping carbon-fuel emissions.

Congressional Democrats are pushing what could become the most dramatic expansion of college aid for military veterans since World War II.