The U.S. Navy said today it will study two sites in northeastern North Carolina and three in Virginia for a landing field where aircraft carriers pilots can practice takeoffs and landings.

The Navy said it was abandoning further consideration of its preferred site, which straddles Washington and Beaufort counties near a national wildlife refuge, reports Wade Rawlins. That site drew vigorous opposition from many local residents, environmentalists and the state's top political leaders.

The sites in North Carolina to be considered are Hale's Lake in Camden and Currituck counties and Sandbanks in Gates County.

They are within about 50 miles of Naval Air Station Oceana, where the fighter jet squadrons would be based.

But local officials in both counties as well as state leaders have expressed opposition to locating the airfield in the counties.

State Senate leader Marc Basnight of Manteo issued an immediate statement vowing to continue to oppose the sites.

"For nearly a decade, Senator Basnight has opposed the Navy's efforts to build an OLF in northeastern North Carolina," said Schorr Johnson, a spokesman for Basnight. "He has said that locating an OLF in a rural, economically distressed is absolutely unacceptable. With today's disappointing news, Senator Basnight vows to continue to fight on behalf of families who have worked this land for generations."

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole said she was discouraged by the Navy's failure to consult with local leaders in Camden, Currituck and Gates counties. She said she would oppose the Navy's efforts to acquire any site that lacks broad local support.

The Navy plans to gather public comments in the spring on the sites.

Gov. Mike Easley is widely expected to veto a bill to provide incentives to the Goodyear tire company.

If so, it would be the eighth veto he's made — as well as the eighth in North Carolina history, since he is the first governor to use the veto.

As this list shows, Easley has vetoed bills on a wide variety of issues: Making legislative appointments, changing mortgage lending laws, changing teacher certification, compensating billboard owners, changing teacher certifications, selling an airport site to Currituck County for a dollar and granting access to state buildings to employees associations.

Hat Tip: Denise Jones

Correction: An earlier version of the post incorrectly said that Easley was the first governor to have veto power. He is the first governor to use the veto.

Opponents of a proposed transfer tax on real estate transactions say it would slow growth in many counties.

But county managers in the areas that have the tax say that hasn't happened.

A bill in the state legislature would give all North Carolina counties permission to levy the tax with voter approval. The N.C. Association of Realtors, among others, has opposed it, saying it would stymie growth and make housing less affordable.

But The Daily Advance in Elizabeth City reports that managers of the six coastal counties that already levy a transfer tax say they have seen "no proof that the tax has slowed growth or led to higher home prices."

The paper quotes Pasquotank County Manager Randy Keaton and Currituck County Manager Dan Scanlon:

"All of the counties in the northeast that have the land transfer tax are having problems with too much growth, instead of the reverse," Keaton said.

Scanlon agreed. He said the county's recent property re-valuation showed a tripling of land values over eight years.

"So I am hard-pressed to see where the transfer tax has had any negative impacts on the building practices here," he said.