* U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre tells Wilmington TV station "you never say never" when asked about running for Senate.

* Transportation blogger Bruce Siceloff notes that the House gave preliminary approval to a local-option sales tax for bus and trail transit.

* Mark Binker notes that a McGuire Woods staffer who worked for (then Lt.) Gov. Beverly Perdue's campaign is lobbying for video poker.

* Plastic bag manufacturers have announced they'll use 40 percent recycled material by 2015. They called Dome about it because of this.

Gov. Beverly Perdue would cut funding for the N.C. Department of Transportation.

The proposed budget put forward today would reduce spending to $3.6 billion, down $300 million from last year.

Spending would drop for road construction and even more for road maintenance.

N&O transportation reporter Bruce Siceloff has more details on his "Crosstown Traffic" blog here.