* Services for state Sen. Vern Malone, who died this weekend, will be held at noon Thursday at Martin Street Baptist in Raleigh. 

* After a trip to Cuba, U.S. Rep. Mel Watt says he was surprised to find that Raul Castro was "just as outgoing and loquacious" as his brother, Fidel.

* More than any other state, North Carolina is seeing a spike in the number of people without health insurance, up to 25 percent.

* Former state treasurer Richard Moore closed out his gubernatorial campaign account, forgiving himself $1 million in loans. 

U.S. Rep. Mel Watt, a Charlotte Democrat, is traveling to Cuba over the congressional recess to discuss bilateral relations.

He and other members of Congress will review trade policies with Cuba and discuss cultural, health and academic exchanges, reports Barbara Barrett.

The group leaves today for Cuba. The official trip is led by U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee of California. Also traveling are Reps. Marcia Fudge of Ohio, Emanual Cleaver of Missouri, Bobby Rush of Illinois and Laura Richardson and Mike Honda of California.

John McCain attacked Barack Obama in Charlotte.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee argued that Obama as no national security experience Monday as he arrived for three fundraisers and a speech at the Chamber of Commerce, the Associated Press reports.

He argued that Obama's comments last year that he would be willing to meet with leaders of rogue nations such as Iran, North Korea and Cuba was irresponsible.

"Senator Obama wants to sit down with an Iranian leader who is dedicated to wiping Israel off the map - his words," he told reporters on his campaign bus. "I don't think we should give him that kind of prestige. Senator Obama obviously has no national security experience, and therefore that's reflected in his judgment on a number of those issues."

An Obama spokesman rebutted that McCain has supported the war in Iraq, which he called "disastrous." 

McCain is scheduled to speak at Wake Forest University today. 

U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge thinks a trade embargo with Cuba should be reevaluated.

After returning from a recent five-day trip to the island country, the Lillington Democrat said he thinks the United States should explore increasing trade opportunities.

Since 1962, the United States has banned trade with the communist regime led by Fidel Castro. The embargo was strengthened in 1996 by former North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms, though cash-only trade of food has been allowed in recent years.

Another representative on the six-member delegation said the embargo should be ended entirely, but spokeswoman Joanne Peters said Etheridge would not go that far.

"Rep. Etheridge would support easing the embargo," she said.