The fire, which cost Basnight more than $2 million, was reported early on the morning of May 1.

Basnight, a Dare County Democrat who presides over the Senate, and his family are not suspects, officials said. The Basnights have been cooperating with investigators.

"While this has been extremely difficult for him and his family and his employees, he does hope that anyone with any information can come forward," said Schorr Johnson, a spokesman for Basnight. "The ruling of arson came as a shock."

Basnight has since rebuilt the Lone Cedar Cafe, on the causeway between Manteo and Nags Head, and reopened it on Labor Day. Rebuilding the restaurant cost $3.6 million; insurance covered just over $1 million, Johnson said.

Biotech grows at NCSU

Gov. Mike Easley on Wednesday dedicated a new biotech facility at N.C. State's Centennial Campus. The 82,500-square-foot facility will provide hands-on training for college students with commercial-grade biopharmaceutical equipment.

Easley said the goal was to provide "every child in every community" with the opportunity to earn more money in the growing biotech industry. Students will be able to earn degrees in biomanufacturing sciences.

The training center is a partnership between N.C. State, the state community college system, the Department of Commerce and the Golden LEAF Foundation, which provides grants from the state's tobacco settlement.

Easley noted North Carolina is behind only California and Massachusetts in biotech funding.

"I just want the governator out there to know that we are hot on his trail," Easley joked.

TV's not a top priority

Norris Tolson won't be winning Trivial Pursuit anytime soon.

In a brief speech Wednesday at Centennial Campus, the president of the N.C. Biotechnology Center made two mistakes discernible to the average pop culture junkie.

First, he compared the creation of the biotech center to a catchphrase from the old "Mission: Impossible" TV show: "I love it when a plan comes together." Except, that line was from "The A-Team."

Then, he ended the speech by saying he wanted to follow Nike's motto and "Just get it done."

Um, Nike's motto is: "Just do it."

Wide-open primaries

Candidates for most of the big 2008 primary races are running neck-and-neck, according to the September poll of North Carolina voters by the Civitas Institute.

In the Democratic presidential primary, former Sen. John Edwards polled 22 percent, followed by Sen. Hillary Clinton at 20 percent and Sen. Barack Obama at 19 percent. Twenty percent said none of those candidates, and 20 percent said they weren't sure.

In the Republican presidential primary, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson polled 25 percent, followed by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani at 21 percent, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 13 percent and Sen. John McCain at 12 percent. Twelve percent said none of those candidates, and 16 percent weren't sure.

In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue led with 29 percent, followed by state treasurer Richard Moore at 21 percent. Fifty percent weren't sure.

In the Republican gubernatorial primary, Bob Orr got 12 percent, followed by Salisbury attorney Bill Graham and state Sen. Fred Smith tied at 11 percent. Sixty-six percent weren't sure.

The poll of 800 registered voters who voted in 2002 and 2004 was conducted between Sept. 11 and Sept. 15 by TelOpinion Research of Alexandria, Va. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.

RV has some mileage

Smith's recreational vehicle was bought used.

An item in Wednesday's Under the Dome column noted that a new 34-foot RV sells for $100,000, but Smith's vehicle from 1992 would be worth closer to the $15,000 to $20,000 range.

Smith's gubernatorial campaign would still not confirm the price of the vehicle, which he bought on July 26.

In addition, the campaign said Smith personally paid for his campaign logo to be added to the side of the RV.