Ballot box overload

A second wave of Triangle-wide local elections breaks Tuesday, with more than 20 municipal and school board contests on the ballot in Wake, Durham, Johnston and Orange counties. Races include the runoff for the District 2 seat on the Wake school board, with control of North Carolina's largest school district and its diversity policy hanging in the balance. There's also a crowded donnybrook for mayor and council seats in Chapel Hill. For a preview of the Apex Town Council contest, turn to Page 1B.

For stories on contests in your area, go to newsobserver.com and click the Voter Info quick link.

IN HARM'S WAY

This morning, at about 8, the future USS New York, a $1 billion amphibious transport ship with more than 7 tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center in her bow stem, will glide to a standstill across from Ground Zero, dip her flag and deliver a 21-gun salute, witnessed by members of the families of Sept. 11 victims. On Saturday in New York, there will be a Navy commissioning ceremony for the ship. Historical irony: The keel of a previous USS New York, a battleship that served in both world wars, was laid on Sept. 11, 1911, at Brooklyn Navy Yard.

MEGA-BET MAYBE

Attention, lottoheads: The state Lottery Commission plans to hold a meeting by telephone today to consider whether to add Mega Millions, a large, multi-state jackpot game similar to Powerball, to its lineup of games. If the commission agrees, players could bet a buck on huge long-shot odds four nights a week.

THE HEARTBEAT OF MONEY

On the economy front this week, the Federal Reserve meets on interest rates, and corporate quarterly earnings continue unabated, with reports from Cisco Systems, Starbucks, Time Warner and more. On Tuesday, Raleigh's Martin Marietta Materials releases its results. Also out: auto sales for October on Tuesday, and the national unemployment report Friday. For more business news, turn to Page 5B.

NATIVE AMERICAN SUMMIT

On Thursday in Washington, President Barack Obama hosts the White House Tribal Nations Conference with leaders from the 564 federally recognized American Indian tribes.

CROAKY BUT POETIC

Leonard Cohen, the broke but beloved cult figure, brings his introspective songs to the Durham Performing Arts Center on Tuesday.

The concert is another stop in the 75-year-old troubadour's first U.S. tour since the mid-1990s, a circuit made necessary by his near-bankruptcy. A word of warning: Only the priciest seats remain.

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