60 A $21.4 billion state budget bill awaits Gov. Mike Easley's signature. The House passed the bill by a 97-20 vote this afternoon. www.newsobserver.com/1134926 Legislation that would require state and local governments to pay reasonable legal fees when they lose a public records lawsuit cleared a Senate judiciary committee today after an attempt to gut the bill. www.newsobserver.com/1134667 A drought bill cleared a legislative committee Tuesday, offering a chance that the legislature will pass a drought law this session. www.newsobserver.com/1134745 Legislation that would create a referendum on a meals tax for Durham County voters squeaked through the House today. www.newsobserver.com/1135027 The late U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms was remembered today as a humble but persistent leader during a funeral that brought out national and state politicians among the mourners. In a eulogy, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Helms "always stood his ground." www.newsobserver.com/1134444 The next time the president goes to war, Congress should be consulted and vote on whether it agrees, according to a bipartisan study group chaired by former secretaries of state James Baker III and Warren Christopher. www.newsobserver.com/1134177 The $21.4 billion state budget proposal cleared the Senate today by a 31-14 vote. The House is expected to take up the spending plan when its session begins later today. www.newsobserver.com/1134668 Sen. Barack Obama's visit to Charlotte Monday was postponed because of a maintenance issue with his plane, but the candidate promised to visit North Carolina soon. www.newsobserver.com/1134145 The spending plan includes no tax increases, but teachers' raises will be modest, and $857 million will be borrowed. www.newsobserver.com/1134217 The Wake County commissioners unanimously voted down a proposal to restrict development along the Little River after dozens of people turned out Monday against the plan. www.newsobserver.com/1134164 The Durham school board met briefly Monday night to induct its newest member and choose a new chairman and vice chairman for the coming school year. www.newsobserver.com/1134159 Wake commissioners voted unanimously Monday to hire an outside accounting firm for a sweeping audit of credit card use by county employees. www.newsobserver.com/1134153 Obama and McCain press their very different plans for helping Americans. www.newsobserver.com/1134151 ' Being remembered isn't important. What is important is standing up for what you believe to be right, hoping that you have done everything you can to preserve the moral and spiritual principles that made America great in the first place.' www.newsobserver.com/1134126 Jim Hunt says North Carolina could be in play. The former governor recently told Dome that he believes the state could go for the Democratic presidential nominee for the first time since 1976. www.newsobserver.com/1132983 A $21.4 billion state budget bill awaits Gov. Mike Easley's signature. The House passed the bill by a 97-20 vote this afternoon. www.newsobserver.com/1134926 Legislation that would require state and local governments to pay reasonable legal fees when they lose a public records lawsuit cleared a Senate judiciary committee today after an attempt to gut the bill. www.newsobserver.com/1134667 A drought bill cleared a legislative committee Tuesday, offering a chance that the legislature will pass a drought law this session. www.newsobserver.com/1134745 Legislation that would create a referendum on a meals tax for Durham County voters squeaked through the House today. www.newsobserver.com/1135027 The late U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms was remembered today as a humble but persistent leader during a funeral that brought out national and state politicians among the mourners. In a eulogy, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Helms "always stood his ground." www.newsobserver.com/1134444 The next time the president goes to war, Congress should be consulted and vote on whether it agrees, according to a bipartisan study group chaired by former secretaries of state James Baker III and Warren Christopher. www.newsobserver.com/1134177 The $21.4 billion state budget proposal cleared the Senate today by a 31-14 vote. The House is expected to take up the spending plan when its session begins later today. www.newsobserver.com/1134668 Sen. Barack Obama's visit to Charlotte Monday was postponed because of a maintenance issue with his plane, but the candidate promised to visit North Carolina soon. www.newsobserver.com/1134145 The spending plan includes no tax increases, but teachers' raises will be modest, and $857 million will be borrowed. www.newsobserver.com/1134217 The Wake County commissioners unanimously voted down a proposal to restrict development along the Little River after dozens of people turned out Monday against the plan. www.newsobserver.com/1134164 The Durham school board met briefly Monday night to induct its newest member and choose a new chairman and vice chairman for the coming school year. www.newsobserver.com/1134159 Wake commissioners voted unanimously Monday to hire an outside accounting firm for a sweeping audit of credit card use by county employees. www.newsobserver.com/1134153 Obama and McCain press their very different plans for helping Americans. www.newsobserver.com/1134151 ' Being remembered isn't important. What is important is standing up for what you believe to be right, hoping that you have done everything you can to preserve the moral and spiritual principles that made America great in the first place.' www.newsobserver.com/1134126 Jim Hunt says North Carolina could be in play. The former governor recently told Dome that he believes the state could go for the Democratic presidential nominee for the first time since 1976. www.newsobserver.com/1132983