* The N.C. Bear Hunters Association tells Gov. Beverly Perdue it'll help out next time she has a run in with a bear.

* Local governments in Transylvania County are interested in building homes to provide to local school teachers.

* Consultant Gary Pearce tells a fascinating story about oilman Walter Davis sending $20,000 in cash to Jim Hunt. (They sent it back.) 

* Liberal columnist Chris Fitzsimon hails a survey of CEOs by Chief Executive Magazine that finds North Carolina No. 2 for business climate.

Business executives around the country apparently like what they see when they look at North Carolina.

Chief Executive magazine recently polled CEOs about the top states for business. Texas and Nevada—states with no income tax—came out on top.

North Carolina moved up from fourth to third in the magazine's annual survey.

The magazine gave North Carolina a B+ for taxation, regulation and workforce quality. North Carolina got an A- for "living environment."