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Little noticed is that two of North Carolina's major cultural institutions – the N.C. Symphony and the N.C. Museum of Art – emerged from Gov. Pat McCrory with only light cuts.

McCrory's budget cuts state appropriations to the Museum of Art by $39,000 and to the Symphony by $16,000.

The state's challenge grant, however, is being proposed to be cut from $1.5 million to $1 million. Under the grant, the state would match private donations.

It should be noted that budget director Art Pope and his wife Kathy are major supporters of the arts, particularly the NC Symphony.

Republicans have long been some of the movers and shakers in the arts world. Raleigh's major cultural venue, now called Duke Center for the Performing Arts, was renovated and expanded under GOP Mayor Tom Fetzer. Several of the halls are named after cultural leaders who are also significant GOP donors, Dr. Assad Meymandi and K.D. Kennedy.

Gov. Pat McCrory was supportive of the arts during his 14 years as Charlotte mayor.

FLAG FLAP PROMPTS McCRORY ABOUT-FACE: A Confederate battle flag hung inside the old North Carolina State Capitol last week to mark the sesquicentennial of the Civil War is being taken down after civil rights leaders raised concerns. The decision was announced Friday evening, hours after the Associated Press published a story about the flag, which officials said was part of an historical display intended to replicate how the antebellum building appeared in 1863. The flag had been planned to hang in the House chamber until April 2015, the 150th anniversary of the arrival of federal troops in Raleigh.

"This is a temporary exhibit in an historic site, but I've learned the governor's administration is going to use the old House chamber as working space," Cultural Resources Secretary Susan Kluttz said Friday night. "Given that information, this display will end this weekend rather than April of 2015." The decision was a quick about-face for the McCrory administration, which initially defended the display. More from AP here.

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North Carolina’s Latino advocates are voicing alarm following the governor’s decision to eliminate the state’s office for Latino affairs. The closing of the Office of Hispanic/Latino affairs was sudden and caught many by surprise. The move appears to have exacerbated the already tense relationship between Republican Gov. Pat McCrory and the Latino community, including criticism over a driver’s license plan for young immigrants.

Advocates says it sends a message that McCrory and Raleigh conservatives are less concerned with the needs of the Latino community. Paradoxically, it comes at a time when issues of deep concerns, like immigration, are at the political forefront and Republicans nationally are trying to appear more welcoming to Latinos.

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The state trooper who was shot during a traffic stop in Durham will be joining Gov. Pat McCrory and his wife for a steak and lobster dinner at the mansion, the governor said Thursday.

McCrory invited Trooper Michael Potts and his family to dinner as a way of saying thanks for his service. McCrory made the remarks during a swearing-in ceremony for new State Highway Patrol leaders at the State Capitol.

Potts was shot in the face, shoulder and both hands when he pulled over a car last month. A Vermont man, Mikel Brady II, was captured and is in jail. Police said they found what appeared to be bomb-making materials and a map showing the locations of police, fire and emergency medical services in Durham when they searched the apartment where Brady had been staying with his girlfriend.

Potts is expected to fully recover and return to duty.

Gov. Pat McCrory Thursday announced appointments to the Board of Science and Technology and to the Emergency Response Commission.

Appointed to the science board were Bruce King, associate provost for research at Wake Forest University and Robert Wilhelm, executive director of the Charlotte Research Institute at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Appointed to the Emergency Response Commission were William Anderson, chief of police of Asheville; Brian Pearce, chief of Cape Fear Valley Health in Cumberland County; Larry Perkins, assistant general manager at the RBC Center in Raleigh; William Schatzman, the Forsyth County sheriff; Keith Shannon, the protective and analytical services manager: executive protection and special services for Duke Energy; and Jerry VeHaun, director of Buncombe County Emergency Management.

Gov. Pat McCrory is proposing to close three of the state's eight Highway Patrol Communications centers in a move that officials say is aimed at consolidation and government efficiencies.

The governor's budget proposes to close communications centers in Asheville, Greensboro, and Williamston that officials say will RIF 36 civilian positions and save $1.88 million.

As part of the consolidation, 12 other civil positions will be moved to other Highway Patrol communications centers. In addition, 10 vacant positions at the three centers will be eliminated.

Officials said that new communications equipment, they will be able to fill in the gap.

“With advancements in technology, we will be able to manage this reorganization and do not anticipate any impact on response times,” Kieran Shanahan, the public safety secretary, said in a statement.

“Should the consolidation be included in the final budget,” Shanahan said, “we will do all we can to assist the employees who are affected.''

Five new officials who will lead state law enforcement agencies were announced and sworn in at a ceremony in the State Capitol on Thursday.

Col. William J. Grey, 52, of Cary is the new commander of the State Highway Patrol. He has been with the patrol since 1991.

Gregory K. Baker, 49, of Raleigh will be the new director of the state Alcohol Law Enforcement. He is currently an FBI agent and has been assigned to the Triangle since 2008.

Glen B. Allen, 54, of Clayton will be the new chief of the State Capitol Police. Allen is currently the police chief in Clayton.

GOV. MCCRORY PROMISES BIG CHANGES COMING: Days after releasing a modest state budget and weeks after a tepid State of the State address, Republican Gov. Pat McCrory is promsing big things. "Now we're moving into policy," he told a Chamber crowd Wednesday. The News-Record hits the highlights of what we should expect: "McCrory said the state Department of Transportation will be “revamping” how it finances and distributes money. ... McCrory said he’ll have “major announcements on Medicaid reform” next week, and that his administration is “completely revamping” the state’s commerce department. ... He said his tax plan should be ready within weeks and reaffirmed a desire to cut income and corporate tax rates to the lower levels of neighboring states. ... He said major announcements are coming on the state’s job recruitment efforts at the N.C. Department of Commerce, which new director Sharon Decker said last week may privatize many of its functions."

TODAY AT THE STATEHOUSE: The Senate convenes at 11 a.m. to hear a Mecklenburg property tax measure. The House meets at noon to hear a bill to repeal taxpayer funded judicial elections and another bill that favors Blue Cross Blue Shield. At the Capitol, McCrory and Public Safety Secretary Kieran Shanahan will announce at 10 a.m. the new Highway Patrol commander, Alcohol Law Enforcement director and State Capitol Police chief at a swearing-in ceremony.

Also on the political calendar: Mayors Against Illegal Guns is promoting a day of action to push its background-check legislation; a group of area university and college professors host a 5 p.m. forum at Duke University titled, "Save Our State: Scholars Speak Out on North Carolina's New Direction"; and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush appears at Guilford College for a 7:30 p.m. event with former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley, hosted by PBS's Gwen Ifill. This is likely Bush's his first visit to the state since the release of his book and open talk about running for president in 2016.

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TODAY AT THE STATEHOUSE: Another big day at the legislature as the legislative session nears the half-way mark and the bill filing deadline. 10 a.m.: The Senate Education Committee considers a bill to take charter school oversight authority away from the state's Department of Public Instruction and loosen requirements on the schools. Noon: House Public Utilities considers bill to stifle the state's consumer advocacy group. 1 p.m.: House Elections Committee will discuss repeal of campaign finance matching money for candidates, a measure included in the governor's budget. The committee sent a notice that the voter ID measure is on hold temporarily so it can consider other legislation, a reversal from what lawmakers planned. At the same time, the Senate Finance Committee will begin talk about taxes with discussion of a bill to reduce the burden on businesses but no votes are expected. 2 p.m.: The Carolina Panthers bill is on the House calendar. The Senate convenes simultaneously with no major bills on the desk.

Today, Gov. Pat McCrory sticks to his comfort zone for another address to another business group, this one is the N.C. Chamber's annual conference in Greensboro. Later in the day, he'll meet privately with the N.C. Sheriff's Association.

GAMBING MONEY PURGE CONTINUES: As the Morning Memo reported Tuesday, McCrory forfeited campaign contributions from a second sweepstakes company executive charged in an gambling ring. And as AP found, the purge is likely to continue: McCrory received another $8,000 in October from John Patrick Fannin and his wife, who live in Little River, South Carolina, according to records reviewed by The Associated Press. Fannin is also among the sweepstakes operators indicted by Florida prosecutors in the Allied Veteran's case. (A McCrory spokeswoman) said McCrory's campaign will review those donations, too.

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Gov. Pat McCrory's campaign said Tuesday it would forfeit the money received from the wife of a North Carolina man indicted in an Ohio gambling operation.

VS2 Worldwide Communications owner Richard Upchurch's wife, Sherry, gave the Republican a $2,000 check in October -- six months after he was indicted by an Ohio prosecutor for illegal gambling and money laundering. A superseding indictment came down March 13.

Kim Genardo, a McCrory spokeswoman, said the governor's campaign donated the $2,000 contribution to a charity. State law does not require candidates to purge the money but it is often done by politicians to avoid the appearance of any connection to questionable donors.