HEALTHY CHOICE? The State Health Plan will stay afloat. After much deliberation, the state House and Senate agreed to fixes that will keep the health insurance plan for state workers and teachers in the black. No one was really happy about the final plan, but both chambers agreed it was only a short-term solution.

BLEAKER NEWS: Former Gov. Mike Easley revealed a new defense in the case of his son's SUV. In filings with the State Board of Elections, Easley's lawyer argued that the SUV was a campaign vehicle in 2003. Meantime, it was revealed that the Robert Bleecker's car dealership paid taxes on the car during that time.

VERN MALONE: Four-term Democratic state Sen. Vern Malone died last weekend. A school board member and county commissioner, he had played a key role in merging the Wake County and Raleigh school systems. A funeral was held Thursday, by which time jockeying had already begun to fill his seat in the state Senate.

IN OTHER NEWS: Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski gave President Obama leadership advice, but admitted he was right about the NCAA championship. ... Former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole will join her husband Bob for a speech in Kansas. ... U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan's husband, meantime, is suing the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority. ... Forget about offshore drilling. The new talk in energy circles is offshore wind farms, and North Carolina could see some under new federal rules.

A business partly owned by U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan's husband is suing the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority.

Charles T. "Chip" Hagan is a managing member of Hydrodyne Industries LLC, according to a Dec. 31 filing with the N.C. Secretary of State's office.

The Greensboro firm is one of four companies that own hydroelectric dams on the Deep River which are suing the regional authority, arguing they will lose money if it draws water from the river.

John Kime, the authority's executive director, told the Greensboro News-Record that plaintiffs are seeking millions of dollars in damages.

A trial is set for this summer.

Hat Tip: Rhino Times

Sen. Kay Hagan will attend the inauguration with her husband.

The Greensboro Democrat said that she will walk for about a mile and half to get to the swearing-in ceremony for President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday.

"You better believe I'm going to be bundled up," she said, noting the recent cold snap in Washington. "I do have a seat (but) I don't think there's going to be heaters next to it."

Hagan said that she will also attend the North Carolina Society's ball on Monday and the Southern Ball on Tuesday with her husband, who is driving up this weekend.

She added that her son and two daughters, who all campaigned vigorously for her, are back in college and will not be with her for the inauguration.

"They were all up here for my swearing-in," she said. "They'll watch it on TV."

Sen. Kay Hagan will oversee the military and education.

The Greensboro Democrat was named to the Senate Armed Services and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees Tuesday.

The Armed Services Committee has oversight of military research and development and veterans benefits, a natural fit for a senator from a state with several military bases. The HELP committee has jurisdiction over a hodgepodge of domestic policy issues.

Hagan said the military post would be important, noting that her father and brother served in the Navy and her husband, Chip, is a Vietnam veteran.

"I'm looking forward to working with our military leaders and our soldiers to ensure we have a 21st century military," she said. "We need to find ways to support the next generation of professional soldiers, with programs such as the 21st Century G.I. Bill, and ensure that they have the equipment and training they need and deserve to help keep our country safe."

She also cited her experience in the North Carolina legislature funding programs such as Learn and Earn to help high-school students get college credit.

Hagan got half of what she wanted. She had requested the same committee assignments as predecessor Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who served on Armed Services and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

During the campaign, she had strongly criticized Dole's tenure on the banking committee.

Comedy rules. Of all the Dome posts this election season, a humorous video of director Ron Howard's endorsement of Barack Obama got the most views.

Back in the primary, readers were looking for any signs of whether Hillary Clinton or Obama would prevail and posts about a superdelegate and then two Congressmen endorsing Obama made the top 10.

Other hot items included what then-Sen. John Edwards said about President Clinton during the impeachment hearings and coverage of the Godless Americans ad in the race for U.S. Senate. 

1. Opie and Andy on Obama

2. Council backs Obama

3. John Edwards in 1999

4. Dole lawyers: godless ad is truthful

5. Greensboro reporter assaulted at rally

6. Hagan's country club troubles

7. Dole has second TV ad on Godless Americans

8. NAACP condemns Obama casket

9. Price, Watt endorse Obama

10. Edwards won't return to UNC center   

Democratic Senate candidate Kay Hagan's husband belonged to a country club that was de facto segregated.

Charles "Chip" Hagan III opposed the policy at the Greensboro Country Club, but remained a member for years before it admitted its first black member in 1995, a Hagan spokeswoman admitted Tuesday.

But she added that Hagan was never a member of the club herself.

"Chip supported broadening the membership to include African Americans and others," spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan said. "Though it took longer than it should have, Greensboro County Club fully desegregated in 1995 and remains so today."

Greensboro was one of the last clubs in the area to integrate, although African-Americans make up about 35 percent of the local population. Chip Hagan inherited the club membership from his father.

The head of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign criticized Hagan for not demanding that her husband leave the club earlier. (Politico)

Kay Hagan seems to be getting some family support.

The Democratic Senate nominee has received more than $48,000 from donors with the last name of Hagan or Ruthven, her maiden name, according to her most recent campaign finance report.

Her immediate family are among the major donors.

Her husband, Chip, a Greensboro attorney, gave $4,600, as did her daughter, Carrie, and her son, Tilden. Her other daughter, Jeanette, a graduate student at U.C. Santa Barbara, gave $2,300.

Her father, Joe. P. Ruthven of Lakeland, Fla., has given, as have J.G., Jerry, Judy B., Karen L., Kim and Lisa Ruthven of Lakeland, and Zachary Ruthven of San Diego.

She also received $1,500 from Rhea Chiles, her aunt and the wife of former Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles.

Her in-laws haven't been stingy either, with her husband's father, Charles Hagan Jr. of Greensboro, giving $4,600. She's also received donations from likely in-laws John C. Hagan and David B. Hagan of Greensboro, Henry G. Hagan of Lutherville, Md., and Anne B. Hagan of Winchester, Mass.