* A black or Native American child visiting the state Capitol on a school field trip can wander among the statues, monuments and plaques without seeing an image of someone of the same skin color.

Eddie Davis, a former teacher and former head of the state's largest teachers union, calls it "segregated history in the 21st century." He is proposing that the state Capitol in downtown Raleigh, built with the help of slave labor, reflect and represent all of its people, including those who aren't white, about a quarter to one-third of the population.

He asked members of the state Historical Commission last week to add a "Hall of Inclusion" on the second floor of the Capitol, with plaques recognizing historical contributions by racial and ethnic minorities. (N&O)

* Jam-packed Wake County classrooms with up to 40 or more students have sparked a blame game between leaders of North Carolina's largest school district and state officials and educators.

* As a result of tough-on-crime sentencing laws approved by legislators 15 years ago, North Carolina's inmate population is booming and will soon outpace the number of prison beds.

Despite this, the state budget signed by Perdue this month orders seven small prisons closed, eliminates 972 corrections jobs and cuts programs aimed at keeping juvenile offenders from becoming hardened criminals.

Administrators say the state Department of Correction can safely absorb the cuts in the short-term by increasing the number of inmates at other facilities. But judges, legislators and others with a stake in the criminal justice system worry that the growth, if unchecked, will soon result in prisons so crowded as to be unsafe for inmates and staff. (N&O)

The N.C. Association of Educators gave $267,230 to state candidates this year.

The state teachers association contributed $129,230 to 84 candidates for state House, $94,850 to 39 candidates for state Senate and $20,000 to six statewide candidates.

It also gave to heavily to Democratic committees: $23,000 to the Democratic House committee, $22,150 to the N.C. Democratic Party and $22,000 to the Democratic Senate committee.

A smaller amount went to GOP groups: $1,500 to the Republican House committee, $1,000 to the Republican Women's Caucus and $500 to the Republican Senate committee.

Half the money went to incumbents. Sixteen of the 18 candidates who were challengers to an incumbent were Democrats. One-hundred and eleven Democrats and 18 Republicans received money.

The largest recipients were House Speaker Joe Hackney ($7,500), Senate leader Marc Basnight ($6,500), Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue ($6,500) and Sens. Vern Malone and Martin Nesbitt ($4,500 each).

Attorney General Roy Cooper, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Labor Commissioner candidate Mary Fant Donnan received money, as did David Young, who ran in the Democratic primary for state treasurer, and Eddie Davis, the NCAE head who ran in the primary for superintendent of public instruction.

David Young will celebrate in Asheville.

The Democratic candidate for state treasurer will watch election night returns with family and friends at his house.

Beth Wood will celebrate at her parents' farm.

The Democratic candidate for state auditor will watch election returns with her family in Cove City.

June Atkinson will celebrate at the North Raleigh Hilton.

The Democratic candidate for superintendent of public instruction will watch election returns in suite 543 with family and supporters.

Eddie Davis will celebrate at his home.

The Democratic candidate for superintendent of public instruction will watch election returns with his family in Durham.

Eric H. Smith will celebrate in Reidsville.

The Republican candidate for superintendent of public instruction will watch election returns at his home with family and friends.

Three candidates for superintendent of public instruction don't want 527 ads.

Incumbent Superintendent June Atkinson, Democratic challenger Eddie Davis and Republican candidate Eric H. Smith said at a rally today that they do not want outside groups running independent ads in their race.

Here are their exact responses:

Atkinson: "I believe that 527 money would undermine the spirit of this candidacy, of this race, and I am working to get individuals to participate through a grassroots effort in our state."

Davis: "I'm not aware of any independent expenditures, but I would encourage anyone who is looking at that to recognize the importance of this program and to decide not do to that."

Smith: "I am concerned that there are going to be some special interest money coming in and I'm hoping that you the media will go to these groups and ask them if this is what they're going to do. A lot of these groups have supported this program, but the media needs to challenge these folks to be sure that they're still not going to try to get in and influence the elections."

N.C. Voters for Clean Elections coordinator Chase Foster pointed out that there is a "rescue money" provision in the law for candidates who face independent expenditures from 527 groups.

"Regardless of whether public financing is in play, independent expenditures are a problem," he said.

Nine statewide candidates will accept public financing in their campaigns.

At a press conference held by N.C. Voters for Clean Elections outside the state Capitol today, nearly all of the three Republicans and six Democrats said that the financing program will make them less reliant on special interests.

The group includes two incumbents, Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson and Republican state Auditor Les Merritt. It also includes insurance commissioner candidate Wayne Goodwin, who said his 2004 campaign for labor commissioner was eye-opening.

"While candidates used to visit all the county seats across this great state and visit every courthouse sheriff and stop in to enjoy an RC Cola at a country store or go to umpteen barbecue rallies around the state, in 2004 I learned how campaigning had succumbed to the money chase," he said.

He said he spent up to eight hours a day, six days a week, calling donors.

The other participants include superintendent candidates Eddie Davis and Eric H. Smith, auditor candidates Beth Wood and Fred Aikens and insurance commissioner candidates John Odom and David Smith.

David Smith did not attend the rally due to a family emergency.

Eddie Davis can't get anyone on the Council of State to pay attention to him.

Davis, president of the N.C. Association of Educators, is seeking a seat on the Council of State as a candidate for superintendent of public instruction. He is running in the Democratic primary against incumbent June Atkinson.

But his problem has come since he began trying to get the Council of State to pass a resolution marking the 50th anniversary of the integration of public schools in North Carolina.

Davis said in a letter released today that no one on the Council of State is responding to his call.

"To say the least, I am highly disappointed, particularly because I have worked with most of you on a multitude of issues over a wide span of years," Davis wrote to Gov. Mike Easley, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, state Treasurer Richard Moore and other members of the Council of State.

Davis said in his letter that he wondered if they were not responding because he is a candidate for public office and that his actions are considered "overly political."

"If that is the rationale," he wrote, "then to totally ignore a constructive concept that comes from a political candidate, thus, creates a political statement in and of itself."

The N.C. Association of Educators has endorsed three candidates.

The educator's group announced that it is endorsing state Sen. Kay Hagan for the U.S. Senate, NCAE president Eddie Davis for superintendent of public instruction and Buncombe County commissioner David Young for state treasurer.

In a press release, the group praised Hagan's opposition to school vouchers and efforts to close the minority achievement gap in the Senate; Davis' work to improve teaching conditions and increase salaries; and Young's work as head of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners.

"Our nearly 70,000 members will work hard this election season to help each of these pro-public education candidates get into office," said Vice President Sheri Strickland.

Eddie Davis is trying to bring more attention to the 50th anniversary of the integration of public schools in North Carolina.

Davis, a Democratic candidate for superintendent of public instruction, sent a letter today to Gov. Mike Easley and other members of the Council of State asking them to use their meeting next month to pass a resolution honoring the "students who taught us the lessons of inclusion a half century ago."

Davis also asked that the Council of State work with the legislature and the State Board of Education to invite Dorothy Counts, Josephine Boyd Bradley, Gwendolyn Bailey Coleman and "other living integration pioneers" to Raleigh in June to honor their actions.

Two more last-minute filings came in this morning.

Former House Speaker Richard Morgan filed as a Republican candidate for superintendent of public instruction, and former Raleigh City Councilman John Odom has filed as a Republican candidate for insurance commissioner.

Morgan faces Tryon resident Joe Johnson in the Republican primary and either Superintendent June Atkinson or N.C. Association of Educators president Eddie Davis; Odom faces assistant insurance commissioner Wayne Goodwin in the general election.

Morgan's wife, Cindy, is running for state senator.

Eddie Davis says the schools superintendent should remain an elected post for now.

But the Democratic candidate for superintendent said he would be open to a wholesale reform of the education system that might include making it appointed.

"There needs to be a long discussion after the next election," he told Dome. "We're not in a position to talk about it while an election is ongoing, but I would certainly be willing to sit down and talk about it once I get elected."

Davis, who previously served on the State Board of Education, said he hopes Bob Orr's reform plan would spark an "overdue" discussion about state education policy.

He said that changes giving and taking back power to the superintendent in recent years have hurt the "checks and balances" intended in the state constitution.

"I am in favor of having that kind of dialogue," he said.