* U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx says murder of Matthew Shephard was not a hate crime, but just a robbery, in floor speech today.

* Gov. Beverly Perdue's office has referred to the "swine flu" in press releases, but they've not had any internal discussion on the best name.

* National Rifle Association also opposes state Sen. Don Davis' "puppy mill" bill; earlier opposed similar House bill.

* Charlotte Observer columnist Jack Betts thinks it's "a bit of quirky irony" that former lobbyist Don Beason is being investigated.

Do you want to "friend" a bill in the General Assembly?

You can't exactly do that, but you can join a group for or against a piece of state legislation, another step in the evolution of online politics.

Here's a running list of Facebook groups on state bills:

* Support NC House bill 223, ditch the graduation project: Supports this bill to end the high school graduation project. 8,257 members.

* I Oppose NC Senate Bill 272: Opposes this bill for a referendum to ban gay marriage in the state constitution. 6,635 members.

* North Carolina State Sovereignty Movement: Supports this resolution to declare North Carolina a sovereign state under the 10th Amendment. 849 members. 

* Ban Smoking in N.C.'s Public Places: 717 members. I'M FOR A SMOKE-FREE NORTH CAROLINA: 107 members. NC FOR Smoking Ban in Resturants (sic) and Bars: 92 members. All support this smoking ban bill.

* I support NC Senate Bill 272: 703 members. I support NC Senate Bill 272 - Defense of Marriage: 64 members. Say yes to NC Senate Bill 272: Defense of Marriage: 5 members. All support gay marriage ban referendum.

* Davie's Law / Humane Euthanasia in NC Shelters: Supports this bill to end gas chambers at state animal shelters. 577 members.

* Support Sunday ABC Sales in NC! Supports this bill to end prohibition on Sunday sales of liquor. 491 members.

* Prevent School Violence North Carolina: Supports this bill to reduce bullying in school. 461 members.

* Oppose the NC Smoking Ban: Opposes the smoking ban. 121 members.

* Pass the NC Racial Justice Act: Supports this bill to allow courts to review death sentences for racial bias. 100 members.

* NC Citizens Against Anti-Competition Bills HB1252 and S1004: Opposes bills that would prevent municipal Internet providers. 49 members.

* I oppose NC Senate Bill 138 (Salvia Ban): Opposes this bill to make a hallucinogenic mint a Schedule I drug. 49 members.

Are we missing one? E-mail dome@newsobserver.com.

The National Rifle Association opposes a bill on puppy mills.

The gun rights group e-mailed supporters in North Carolina today urging them to call state legislators considering a bill to regulate commercial dog breeding sponsored by two Democrats and two Republicans.

The e-mail argues the bill is "part of the same old lie" by the Humane Society of the United States, which it says wants to eventually ban all hunting in America.

"Kennel owners who own and train hunting dogs will be hauled into court under the provisions of the legislation and will be forced, at great cost, to put forward an affirmative defense pursuant to the exception," the e-mail says.

It argues that if the House bill is passed, the Humane Society will be back "with even more radical proposals like this."

Not sure what to name your bill?

Here's a well-worn technique: Name it for someone.

So far this session, three bills have been introduced in the legislature that are named for people or animals:

Davie's Law/Humane Euthanasia in Shelters: Prohibits animal shelters from using gas chambers for euthanasia. Named for a puppy who survived a gas chamber and was found in the Davie County landfill.

Jeanne Hopkins Lucas Act: Allows Durham police and sheriff's deputies to increase their retirement pension if they have received certain training. Named for a Durham state senator who died in 2007.

The Terri Schiavo Act: Studies whether the Department of Motor Vehicles should ask drivers whether they have a living will. Named for a Florida woman with brain damage who became the center of a national fight.

For this technique to work, it generally requires a certain level of awareness of the namesake to work. Both Davie and Terri Schiavo have been in the news, while Lucas was a former colleague of many legislators.

U.S. Rep. Walter Jones will be honored by the Humane Society next week for helping the family of a fallen Marine adopt the Marine's canine partner, Lex.

Jones, a Farmville Republican, encouraged the Marine Corps to allow the family of Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee, of Quitman, Miss., to adopt the German shepherd. Lee was killed in action March 21, 2007, in Fallujah.

He and Lex worked together as an explosives detection team.

The Humane Society is holding a reception next Tuesday evening in a House office building on Capitol Hill.

Dosie and Zipper have their own Web site.

Gov. Beverly Perdue has a section on her official Web site highlighting her two Tibetan terriers.

Written in the voice of younger dog Zipper, it welcomes North Carolinians to send pictures of their own dogs to a state e-mail address.

We are Tibetan terriers that love to run and love to sleep — we're happy either way. We also are great guard dogs, at least until people realize we're a lot of bark but not much bite.

The page also has a link to a Metro magazine article about the dogs.

At least one dog made it to inaugural ball tonight.

Retired Army Sgt. Jeffrey Cooper brought his three-year-old Chihuahua/Jack Russell terrier mix Gabby, who sat on a leopard print blanket on his lap as he rode in a wheelchair around Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue's ball.

Cooper, who has suffered from multiple sclerosis and various other ailments since serving in the Gulf War, had Gabby certified as a working dog after she became agitated shorty before he had a seizure.

"I get a metallic taste in my mouth before I get a seizure, and she can sense it before I can," he said.

Cooper is a die-hard at inaugural balls. He said he's attended every one since 1981. 

Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue said it was a day for change.

Speaking briefly before a high-dollar reception preceding the inaugural ball, Perdue noted that she and her husband, Bob Eaves, had gone for a walk around the capital this morning.

(She noted that they left the dogs, Dosie and Zipper, at home. "We thought it would be too much for Raleigh to get used to: Bev and Bob and the dogs.")

At the Executive Mansion, Perdue noted they read a plaque from 1971 that noted renovations had been done for the governors and first ladies.

She then introduced her husband as "the first first gentleman."

Perdue thanked the Junior League and the corporate sponsors for making the night happen, noting that proceeds would go to the Center for Community Leadership, which encourages women in public office.

She also gave the night's festivities an unofficial theme.

"Tonight's the night we get down and party, because tomorrow night we get to work," she said.

Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue is also attending to housekeeping.

An article in Raleigh-based Metro magazine says Perdue plans to bring her Tibetan terriers, Dosie and Zipper, to the governor's mansion in Raleigh.

"By nature, they are a bit boisterous — 'watch dogs and barkers,' as the governor described them — and already the governor is thinking about how to contain their enthusiasm in their new digs," writes columnist Carol Leggett.

Perdue told Metro she intends to make the mansion "a hub of activity," unlike the Easleys, who entertained infrequently, and the Hunts, who were more closely tied to Wilson.

She'll start by opening the 1891 Queen Anne-style mansion to the public on inauguration day, offering hot cider and cookies to the guests.

Perdue also said that she'll spend time at the Western Governor's Residence and use her family's house on Trent River in New Bern as a getaway. She also hopes to hold a Council of State meeting out west.

The Humane Society of the United States is applauding the N.C. State Highway Patrol's decision to disband its canine unit and build a new one that does not use aggressive training tactics and solely uses dogs for sniffing out narcotics.

N.C. Crime Control Secretary Bryan Beatty and patrol Commander Walter J. Wilson Jr. announced the plan on Monday, Dan Kane reports.

"We commend Secretary Beatty and Colonel Wilson for working to ensure  that all dogs employed by the North Carolina Highway Patrol are treated in a humane manner, and that all officers who handle these animals are fully and properly trained," said Amanda Arrington, the society's North Carolina state director.

The patrol suspended the unit after testimony in a personnel hearing seven months ago showed that troopers were using harsh training tactics such as swinging and suspending dogs by their leads, shocking them with stun guns and throwing plastic bottles filled with pebbles at them.

The hearing was held to determine if Sgt. Charles L. Jones should get his job back.

More after the jump.

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