Boseman is a three-term senator representing the swing district. The seat previously was held by former Sen. Patrick Ballantine, who left to seek the governor’s office in 2004. Ballantine won the GOP nomination but lost to Democrat Mike Easley in the general election.

Boseman, in a statement, said that she’s making the decision not to run again as a parent.

“With a baby on the way in January, I feel that it is more important than ever to be close to home.”

Post from: Barry Smith - In the Loop

The institute, in western North Carolina, notes that particles and dust associated with the comet Tempel-Tuttle cause the atmosphere to glow as they enter the Earth’s upper atmosphere. As the comet revolves around the sun, it gives off gasses and dust particles due to the heat of the sun.

The institute notes:

In 2009 the Leonids are predicted to reach a peak of about fifteen meteors per hour at 11 a.m. EST on Tuesday, November 17.  Thus, the best time for observing this year’s Leonids will be in the pre-dawn hours of the 17th but they should also be readily visible on the morning of the 18th.  As with all meteor showers, the Leonids are best observed between midnight and dawn from a clear, dark location with a good horizon.  The Leonids have been known to flare up into spectacular showers but no such “meteor storm” has been predicted for 2009.  This year we have a thin crescent moon in the evening skies.  Thus, the light of the moon will not interfere with observations of the fainter meteors in the predawn hours. 

Binoculars and telescopes aren’t needed to view the meteors. The institute suggests looking to the northeast to find the meteors appearing to radiate out of the constellation of Leo the lion.

The institute is located in the Pisgah National Forest near the Blue Ridge Parkway west of Asheville.

Post from: Barry Smith - In the Loop

Some have video highlights. Some just say “thanks.” What I’ve also noticed is a lessening of the bickering that’s often included in a large number of comments.

It appears that our veterans have done more than just put their lives on the line to preserve our freedom. It appears that they have also brought us together. They deserve a big thank you.

I think it serves as a reminder that though there are significant political differences among us, there are many more things that unite us.

Post from: Barry Smith - In the Loop

“Sen. Rand has had a long and distinguished career in the N.C. Senate and maintained a deep respect for Senate traditions,” Berger said in a statement. “While he and I have often disagreed on matters of policy, he was always someone who kept his word. Given the dramatic leftward drift of the state Senate Democratic caucus, Sen. Rand increasingly found his views at odds with his more liberal Democratic colleagues, and that may have led to this decision.”

N.C. Public Radio’s Laura Leslie reports that Rand told her that at age 70, he’s ready for a new challenge.

“When it’s time to go, it’s time to go,” Rand told Leslie.

Post from: Barry Smith - In the Loop

Rand is leaving the Senate to head the Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission. Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue, who just appointed Rand, said, “North Carolina is fortunate that Sen. Rand decided to take this position. He, like me, cares first and foremost about protecting the public but also understands the importance of giving people a fair shot and a second chance.”

Rand, a Cumberland County Democrat, is a fixture in the Senate. He is the chamber’s majority leader and Rules Committee chairman. He has been a lawmaker for 11-plus terms.

The commission is responsible for releasing offenders who meet eligibility requirements and establishing conditions for post-release supervision. Commission members advise the governor on clemency matters, the Perdue news release says.

Reaction to the move came swiftly.

Senate President Pro-tem Marc Basnight, D-Dare, issued a statement saying, “Tony has been as good a friend as I’ve ever had. And all of North Carolina couldn’t have had a better friend than Tony Rand.I am confident that I speak for the entire Senate when I say that his service and expertise in this institution are unmatched and unlikely to ever be.”

Basnight went on to say that he expects Rand to do a good job for public safety in his new role.

Said House Speaker Joe Hackney, D-Orange: “Sen. Rand served the people of Cumberland County and the state with great distinction in the Senate and he will continue to do so as a member of the parole board. He has dedicated many years of his life to making North Carolina better, most especially by working to provide quality and affordable higher education to all.”

Rand is expected to take his new post early next year.

Post from: Barry Smith - In the Loop

Wright was expelled from the House on March 20, 2008. Eleven days later, his trial on the false pretense charges began in Wake County Superior Court.

The charges related to his attempt to secure a bank loan for an African-American history museum by getting a letter from a state official that grant money for the museum would be forthcoming. Also, testimony at his trial revealed that Wright deposited donations from businesses for a related foundation into his own personal account.

Post from: Barry Smith - In the Loop

“Our military families are often called on to make frequent relocations, and it is only fair that we give the same residency benefits to spouses as we do to service members,” said Burr, a North Carolina Republican, in a statement released by his office.

The office news release says that military men and women can already claim a state of residency or maintain their residency no matter where the military sends them. The bill, which is headed to President Obama’s desk, now gives spouses who move out of state because of military orders the option to claim one state of domicile, regardless of where they move.

It should remove the need to update driver’s licenses, filing tax returns for multiple states and changing vehicle and voter registrations with each move, Burr’s office says.

Post from: Barry Smith - In the Loop

Fargo, a Mount Airy native, won a Grammy Award for “The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.” in 1973. Fargo’s music played quite frequently in our household when I was growing up. My Mom, also a Mount Airy native, was quite proud of her.

Transportation Secretary Gene Conti plans to be on-hand for the 11 a.m. Oct. 29 ceremony in the downtown municipal parking lot.

Post from: Barry Smith - In the Loop

New figures released by the N.C. Employment Security Commission show the state’s unemployment rate remaining at 10.8 percent for September, the same as it was in August. The highest the rate has been in the past 12 months occurred in May, when it was 11.1 percent. The lowest was in October 2008, when it was 7 percent.

Nationally, 9.8 percent were unemployed last month, putting us a full percentage point above the national rate.

Post from: Barry Smith - In the Loop

Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton of Rutherford County will chair the commission. State Board of Education Chairman Bill Harrison and former Chairman Howard Lee will also serve on the committee.

Sen. A.B. Swindell, D-Nash, and Reps. Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland, and Doug Yongue, D-Scotland, have also been selected to serve on the commission.

Public members include Robert J. Beichner, Swadesh B. Chatterjee, Mike Murphy, Sheri Strickland, Felicia Gray Watson, Laura Carpenter Bingham, Joseph D. Crocker, Grant Godwin, Caroline Watts McCullen and Susan R. Purser.

Post from: Barry Smith - In the Loop