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A conservative group blog is hitting its stride.

Started in mid January, ConservativeNC aims to be for conservatives in the state what BlueNC has been for liberals.

It grew out of a Facebook group started to revive conservativism in the wake of the Democratic sweep in the fall elections. 

Jeff Sykes, 38, one of four co-founders, said he originally planned to start a group blog for conservatives in the Piedmont. A former reporter and editor of several small Rockingham County newspapers, he was inspired by Ed Cone and other Triad bloggers.

"The goal is to give conservatives in the state a place they can go and find information about their colleagues from across the state," he said. "It's also a place where we can debate the current and future health of the conservative movement in North Carolina."

The site has a dozen regular writers and several hundred registered users. Lately it has been one of several good online sources for information about the race for chair of the N.C. Republican Party. 

North Carolina's online elections information is good.

That's the word from Social Government, a new blog created by two college students to track the government's use of the Internet.

After reviewing 49 of 50 Web sites for state boards of elections, American University student Ethan Klapper said "without much hestitation" that North Carolina's was the best.

The Tar Heel State’s Web site uses a clean and crisp design that is organized without any clutter. All of the information is easy to find. As a bonus, voters are even able to look up provisional ballot information. The top bar of the Web site contains current voter registration counts — a nice touch.

He said that North Carolina was one of 22 "above average" sites. 

Sen. Steve Goss says libel on blogs needs more study.

The Boone Democrat said that he has pulled a bill that would have put civil and criminal penalties on libel published on blogs and other online publications.

Instead, he's asked a Senate committee to substitute a bill that would study the issue to see if future legislation is needed.

The bill drew heated controversy online, especially for its criminal provisions, which Goss said after he filed the bill were unintentional. He added today that bloggers and others pointed out other problems with the wording of the bill.

"I'll be the first to admit when I'm wrong," he said.

He said he's still concerned about the speed of online news and gossip and hopes that a future bill will help resolve some of the problem, though he noted that he views the First Amendment as "sacred."

Fittingly, news of the change surfaced first on Watauga Watch, a blog run by Jerry Williamson in Goss' area.

* CNN helps Sen. Tony Rand reconnect with long-lost black relatives after he recognizes common connection while watching documentary.

* Raleigh attorney Charles Coble takes a closer look at blog libel bill, says it violates First Amendment and the Communications Deceny Act.

* State bill would make skiers assume responsibility for collissions with trees or snowmaking equipment or because of terrain.

* U.S. Sen. Richard Burr gives response to president's radio address, says Washington is overspending on the national "credit card."

Gov. Beverly Perdue went last night to see the former Army barracks in Butner where mentally ill children live and receive treatment.

Her visit came the day after a News & Observer published an article about maintenance and insect problems in the children's quarters at the old John Umstead Hospital, Lynn Bonner reports.

Adults have moved to a new hospital about a mile away, while children are still in the World War II-era buildings. A patient advocacy group wants the kids moved to the new hospital, too.

A short description of Perdue's visit appears on her blog, but she did not say what she thought of the place.

When reporters toured the old Umstead buildings yesterday morning, the units they visited had heat.

Hospital administrators said the buildings in the old hospital the state is refurbishing for the children were good spaces for them.

VACATION LOCATION: Less than a month into her term as governor, Gov. Beverly Perdue went on a weeklong vacation with her husband at an "undisclosed location" out of state. It's not all fun though. Instead of, say, a John Grisham page-turner, she's apparently reading state budget books on the beach. A Time to .. Cut Spending?

FILING FILL: The bills keep coming. Legislation introduced at the General Assembly this week would outlaw a hallucinogenic herb, make high schoolers take art, let the governor appoint the schools superintendent, deny bail to illegal immigrants, and end a subsidy for out-of-state athletes. More than 335 bills have been filed so far.

THROWING LONG: U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, a Democrat from Waynesville, did some pretty public trash talking about the stimulus bill, criticizing Democratic leaders for not getting more GOP buy-in. They hit back with criticism of his record on the Washington Redskins. But Shuler, who is mulling a run for Senate in 2010, may be thinking of other opponents.

IN OTHER NEWS: A Fayetteville Observer reporter joins the growing ranks of blogger-reporters. No bathrobes spotted in the press room at the legislature, yet. ... President Obama chatted about the Duke-Carolina game at a White House roundtable, but he studiously avoided taking sides. There's your bipartisanship. ... The legislature is considering a resolution to honor former lobbyist Roger Bone. It's one bill he wouldn't have had to lobby on.

The conservative Civitas Institute calls a blog libel bill the "bad bill of the week."

Executive Director Francis De Luca calls an attempt to expand civil and criminal libel laws to cover Internet communication "The Gossip Girl Bill" after the popular TV show in which students anonymously post rumors. 

The negative public reaction to Sen. Goss’ bill was so universal that left-wing and right-wing groups denounced it equally. Basically, SB 46 would treat blogs and electronic communications under different libel and slander criteria from print or news media. It would criminalize and allow lawsuits to be brought against any Web site, blog, forum or newsgroup that posted allegedly false information.

The "bad bill of the week" is a new weekly column by the think tank.

* Clare Giesen, head of the National Women's Political Caucus, will speak to members of the N.C. chapter in Charlotte on Feb. 26.

* Sen. Steve Goss now says he was inspired to write a blog libel bill after reading about the cyberbullying conviction of a Missouri woman.

* Sen. Harry Reid's spokesman says Rep. Heath Shuler's criticism about his "failed" bipartisanship comes from a guy who threw too many interceptions. 

* Recount finds transfer tax failed by just 35 votes in Avery County, the latest in a string of defeats for counties looking for an alternative.