A legislative office created to examine the benefit of public programs was ready to give its report last week on the state's mental health services.

Anyone could tell from the title, "Compromised controls and lack of focus hampered implementation of enhanced mental health services," that it wasn't full of compliments.

But the report was cut from the agenda about a week before the Joint Oversight Program Evaluation Committee met.

A News & Observer series this year found that the state has wasted at least $400 million on a service of one of the enhanced programs, called community support. The federal government is holding on to $175 million in payments to the state because of suspected abuses in the program.

A chairman of the committee, Sen. Fletcher Hartsell of Concord, said the report was taken off the agenda because the committee didn't have time to talk about it. The mental health report was the only item removed from the revised agenda distributed in advance of the meeting.

Hartsell said the committee would get the mental health report back on its agenda.

"End of session, probably," he said.

Superdelegates mum

To endorse or not to endorse?

That's the question for the five remaining uncommitted superdelegates from North Carolina in the presidential primary contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Here's who they are, where they stand and Dome's best guess on why they haven't decided yet:

U.S. REP. MIKE MCINTYRE: Met with Clinton on Thursday, and his district went for her narrowly. Told AP that superdelegates should "let the process work."

Translation: Hoping the nominee will be chosen without him.

U.S. REP. BOB ETHERIDGE: Met with Obama on Thursday, and his district went for him substantially. Has repeatedly said he has no plans for endorsement.

Translation: Hoping the nominee will be chosen without him.

CAROL PETERSON, BUNCOMBE COUNTY COMMISSIONER: County voted for Obama by double digits. Willing to wait until the Democratic convention. Obama and Clinton have both called her personally.

Translation: Enjoying the attention.

DAVID PARKER, STATESVILLE LAWYER: Impressed with Obama; interested in economy. Concerned about racial inequality. Does not think superdelegates have to follow the wishes of voters. Willing to wait until convention.

Translation: Enjoying the attention.

MURIEL OFFERMAN, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE: Concerned about racially lopsided victory of Obama in North Carolina. Met Clinton, Obama several times. Says she won't decide until all states have voted.

Translation: Will announce after June 3.

Power of pronouns

Democrats have to be careful with their pronouns these days.

Gov. Mike Easley made news a few months ago when he referred to the next president as "she." Aides denied that it was an endorsement of Clinton, but lo and behold, he later endorsed her.

Now John Edwards' pronouns are being parsed.

In an interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Friday, the former North Carolina senator played his cards close to the vest, refusing to name his pick in the Democratic presidential primary.

He said that he would endorse the candidate he voted for. The hosts pressed again, when would he endorse?

"I just voted for [him/them] on Tuesday," he said.

Some viewers heard Edwards clearly say the male pronoun. Others insisted that was just his Southern accent dropping a consonant on "them."

OVERHEARD

'Today, what North Carolina decided is that the only game that needs changing is the one in Washington, D.C.'

- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, referencing Hillary rodham Clinton's recent remark that the primary could be a "game changer," in his victory speech at Reynolds Coliseum