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McCRORY TO SIGN MEDICAID BILL, THREE OTHERS: Much like the bill to cut unemployment benefits, Gov. Pat McCrory will hold a private signing at the Capitol for a bill to block the expansion of Medicaid health care coverage to roughly 500,000, the majority of which are uninsured. The measure also blocks a state-based health insurance exchange and generated a heated debate in the N.C. General Assembly, where it passed largely along party lines. McCrory said the state is not ready for either part of the federal health care law at this point. The Republican governor will also sign the possum drop bill (HB66), a funding fix for group homes (SB4) and a measure to impose great penalties for protests that disturb military funerals (HB19) at 4:30 p.m.

TODAY AT THE STATEHOUSE: A House Judiciary subcommittee looks at a bill (HB156) to limit the N.C. Education Lottery's ability to advertise and offer new types of games, as well as take the word "education" from its official name. The issue is likely to split Republicans and Democrats, much as the original lottery vote did. Another House subcommittee will consider a measure to open campus police records held by private colleges to public inspection. The Senate Education Committee will take up two bills related to digital learning. Both chambers convene at 2 p.m. McCrory and state officials are participating in a hurricane drill Wednesday morning.

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Republican Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is airing a pair of TV ads that tout his work on food safety and his agency's efforts to put N.C.-grown foods in schools. The farmer's market shots are sure to make you hungry. (See them below.)

Citing scheduling conflicts, U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell, D-N.C., has declined to commit to a locally televised debate with Republican challenger Richard Hudson.

Hudson, in a statement released by his campaign, called on the Democratic congressman “to come out of hiding.” Full story here.

More political headlines:

--Get a rundown on the feisty second presidential debate and see a fact check on the candidates' statements. Students at Queens College gave the win to the president.

--Emulating President Barack Obama, Walter Dalton also took an aggressive stance while Pat McCrory bobbed and weaved in the governor's race debate. And see an excerpt from a key exchange.

In August, Mitt Romney announced creation of a group aimed at helping him win in agriculture-heavy states. On Wednesday, his campaign announced the North Carolina leadership of his Farmers and Ranchers for Romney.

State GOP Chairman Robin Hayes, former Sen. Lauch Faircloth, and state Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler are the North Carolinians who have been named by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to his advisory board of Farmers and Ranchers for Romney.

“I'm honored to have so many farmers and ranchers standing with my campaign,” Romney said in a statement. “They are the backbone of America and play a critical role in ensuring Americans across the country have access to safe and affordable food.”

If Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory wins big in November, he could help other GOP candidates down the ballot.

There is already polling data suggesting that McCrory could be having some effect.

A new survey shows Democratic State Auditor Beth Wood is tied with her Republican challenger, Republican Debra Goldman, a Wake County school board member, at 36 percent. The survey by Public Policy Polling, a Democratic-leaning firm based in Raleigh, found that 29 percent of the voters questioned were undecided.

The poll also found that Democratic state Treasurer Janet Cowell with a statistically insignificant lead of 34-33 percent over Republican Steve Royal, a Wilkes County CPA, with 33 percent undecided.

Republican Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler leads his Democratic challenger, Walter Smith by a 45-31 percent margin, with 25 percent undecided.

The survey of 810 North Carolina voters was conducted June 7-10 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percent.

The Wake County Republican Party has taken legal action seeking to recover $1,000 from Bill McManus, a Republican candidate for agriculture commissioner.

Chairwoman Susan Bryant told her members that McManus bought a full page advertisement on the back cover on the program for the recent convention. But his check $1,000 check didn't go through. So she filed a legal claim in Mecklenburg County.

Business owners snaked down a dim hallway in the state Industrial Commission’s headquarters Thursday, awaiting stern orders for failing to pay workers hurt on the job. It was an unprecedented day at the Industrial Commission, a little-known state agency that handles disputed workers’ compensation claims when people get hurt on the job. 

Following a News & Observer investigation, commission officials are dusting off opinions rendered years ago and demanding payment. In the coming months, hundreds of employers will be called to hearings to defend themselves and to explain how they will pay. More here.

More headlines:

--Former staffers have testified this week that John Edwards’ extramarital relationship was not such a well-kept secret. More Day 9 trial coverage: Bryan Huffman, 47, funneled checks for hundreds of thousands of dollars from wealthy Rachel “Bunny” Mellon to political aide Andrew Young.

 Presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are tied in North Carolina, while Pat McCrory solidifies his position as the gubernatorial frontrunner, according to a pair of polls released today.

A survey by Public Policy Polling found the two presidential candidates tied at 30 percent; Newt Gingrich was in third at 19 percent and Ron Paul tailing at 13 percent. Santorum has cut into Romney’s lead in this state, which PPP attributes to a decline in support for Gingrich. 

Scott Bryant, Democratic candidate for the job of state agricultural commissioner, today called for the director of animal health programs entangled in the Butterball animal-cruelty case to be allowed to resign or fired.

“The commissioner of agriculture should take action to protect the integrity of the department and the people who work there,” Bryant said in a statement.

Democrats have been trying to capitalize on the Butterball case since it broke, as incumbent Commissioner Steve Troxler is up for re-election.