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GOODWIN ADVERTISES ACCESS FOR CAMPAIGN CASH: Democratic Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin is soliciting campaign donors to join his "Commissioner's Club," promising private dinners to high-level contributors and emailed "personal updates" on his agency's work. "Be ahead of your friends and colleagues with exclusive updates -- join the Commissioner's Club TODAY," a campaign email states. (Click below for more.)

TODAY IN POLITICS:The Council of State meets this morning at 9 a.m. to handle a number of property matters. Gov. Pat McCrory's office said he won't take questions, as is customary, after the meeting. House and Senate committees are full of action now that the deadline for the majority of bills has passed and the machinations begin. (See more below). The Legislative Black Caucus will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. to criticize "tea party Republicans" who want to change election laws. McCrory will meet privately with Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer later this morning.

***Welcome to the Dome Morning Memo. Read more on Goodwin's latest fundraising effort, get all the N.C. political headlines and more below. Send tips and news to dome@newsobserver.com.***

Equality NC Monday asked Gov. Pat McCrory to reconsider his appointment of Buddy Collins to the state Board of Education, saying it has concerns about his opposition to anti-bullying measures aimed at protecting gay, lesbian and transgender students.

Collins, an attorney, serves on the Forsyth County Board of Education, was recently nominated by McCrory to serve on the state board.

“Gov. McCrory should reconsider his appointment of Buddy Collins to the State Board of Education,'' said Stuart Campbell, executive director of Equality NC. “Surely, there are others Gov. McCrory could appoint that would protect the rights of all North Carolina students. All students, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserve a high quality education, in a safe environment and free of harassment of any kind.''

According to the group, Collins voted against a policy revision in 2009 that added sexual orientation to the list of characteristics in its rules prohibiting bullying and harassing behavior.

They also had other complaints. They said Collins told schools Supt. Don Martin in 2003 that he was “disappointed that Martin allowed his staff to to interact with the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Network. In a column in the Winston-Salem Journal, Collins wrote in 2002, that same-sex unions had an effect of “disintegration of the American family.

And he said in 2002, that the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Network has an agenda to use public schools as a place to seek acceptance of its sexual practices.''

State Democratic chair Randy Voller Monday criticized Republican Gov. Pat McCrory for recommending in his budget that his office of Latino outreach be abolished.

Voller called it “a brazen effort to slam the door shut on some 800,000 North Carolina residents. The Latino outreach office provided not only a voice, but important resources for the fastest growing population in the state.''

He said McCrory's action is contrary to his party's national efforts to court Latino voters.

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.

***Good morning. Thanks for reading the Dome Morning Memo. Much more N.C. political news and analysis below. ***

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.

***Thanks for reading the Good Friday edition of the Dome Morning Memo. Send tips and news to dome@newsobserver.com. More on the Latino office and other big headlines below.***

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.