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Richard Hudson is making a small TV buy to make a big point in his Republican congressional runoff election against Scott Keadle.

The two are fighting for the chance to challenge endangered Democrat Larry Kissell in the 8th District.

President Obama's chief environmental advisor will be in Durham Tuesday to tour a successful start-up company that received federal stimulus money.

Nancy Sutley, chair of the White House Council of Environmental Quality, will join Rep. David Price in touring Semprius, Inc. of Durham.

Earlier this month, Semprius was named one of MIT Technology Review's 2012 top 10 most important emerging technologies. The firm says it has developed one of the world's most efficient solar panels that is expected to significantly lower the cost of solar energy.

The firm is expected to open a manufacturing plant in Henderson later this  year.

Semprius received a $3 million federal stimulus grant to help develop its solar technology.
Semprius has raised $44 million from venture capitalists and Siemens, the European energy conglomerate, recently bought a 16 percent share in the start up.

Semprius has qualified for $18 million in state and local incentives to build the Henderson plant which is expected to add 256 jobs over five years.

State Board of Education Chairman Bill Harrison writes in his blog that more school employees will lose their jobs if the state does not replace the $258 million in federal "edu-jobs" money that school districts are using to pay their employees.

Districts must spend all their federal stimulus money before the end of this year.

Harrison is responding Senate leader Phil Berger's comments Wednesday that replacing federal money with state money is the wrong approach.

Gov. Bev Perdue's budget replaces that federal money and does more, using revenue from a proposed 3/4-cent sales tax increase to add $562 million to the K-12 budget. The added money would bring K-12 spending to about $8 billion.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bob Etheridge is airing a new TV ad that aligns himself with President Barack Obama.

The ad shows a picture of Etheridge and Obama shaking hands and the words "worked with Obama" appear on the screen. "Bob Etheridge worked with Barack Obama to build better schools and hire more teachers," the voiceover says, referencing Etheridge's vote for the president's economic stimulus package.

The rest of the 30-second spot is a rehash of his first TV ad, dubbed "Real Progress," which has been airing for the past week.

A new television advertising campaign in North Carolina indicates that Republicans see an opportunity to use President Barack Obama's stimulus program against Democratic supporters.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is running a 30-second spot that criticizes Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre's voter in favor of the federal stimulus package -- and questions how he would vote on Obama's latest jobs plan. 

The ads -- featuring a burning match -- are running in Wilmington and the Raleigh area because the new 7th Congressional District stretches into Johnston County. The Wilmington Star-News reported that the two week buy cost about $20,000 and follows a series of robocalls attacking McIntryre on spending and Medicare.

The script: "You know the old saying….fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Will Mike McIntyre fool you again? Last time President Obama pushed a wasteful stimulus plan, Mike McIntyre went along with it – and we got burned. The economy got worse. Now President Obama is pushing more wasteful stimulus spending. What will Mike McIntyre do? Tell Mike McIntyre: don’t burn us again."

Former Democratic Congressman Bob Etheridge will take office today as director of the state Office of Economic Recovery and Investment, overseeing the spending of federal stimulus money.

Etheridge replaces Dempsey Benton, who had earlier stepped down after leading the office for more than a year and half.

Etheridge, 69, was defeated for re-election in November by Republican Renee Ellmers. He is a former superintendent of public of public instruction and a former legislator.

“As former congressman, Bob Etheridge knows how important it is to continue to create jobs and provide important services around the state,” Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue said in a statement.

“It is vitally important to continue to manage North Carolina Recovery funds responsibly and provide oversight as projects unfold, with an eye on the state's best use of recovery dollars in the coming months.”

The state has received more than $10.5 billion so far in federal stimulus money. Nearly 80 percent had been dispersed and the money will continue to flow through at least 2012.

UPDATE: Ethridge will earn $98,500 per year.

NASTY ADS: This election season has produced some of the roughest political advertising in legislative elections in recent memory. Now Republicans see the possibility of gaining control of the 170-seat legislature for the first time in 112 years, and Democrats are desperately trying to hang on. And the campaign smears have filtered down to legislative races in ways not seen before. (N&O)

SENATE DEBATES, ROUND 3: The major party candidates for U.S. Senate in North Carolina have another chance to speak directly to voters in a head-to-head matchup tonight. (AP)

STIMULUS STOP: At Duke University, some scientists call it "The Cliff." That's shorthand for next September, when federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act starts running out. (N&O)

Call it the federal stimulus tour.

The Triangle's three Democratic congressmen will visit several projects this afternoon that were  funded with federal stimulus money. 

Reps. Bob Etheridge, David Price and Brad Miller will visit the new Capital Area Transit (CAT) bus depot on Poole Road. They will also visit the Walnut Creek Wetlands facility and greenway.

They will be joined by Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker and members of the city council.
   

North Carolina will receive $298 million from the federal government to help hold on to teacher jobs this school year.

The money is part of a $10 billion education fund passed by Congress in August.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan made the announcement Monday, saying the state was one of the first to submit its application for a piece of the $10 billion pie. "These education dollars will help North Carolina keep thousands of teachers in the classroom working with our students this school year," Duncan said in a statement.
 
The fund will support education jobs in the 2010-11 school year. It will be distributed to states through a population-based formula.

The $10 billion fund is in addition to the federal stimulus money and the federal Race to the Top competitive grant program. So far, the U.S. government has supported 300,000 education jobs through the stimulus funds, but the money is running out.

In a statement, Gov. Bev Perdue said “this money will help us keep teachers in the classroom, which is crucial as we move forward with our Career and College – Ready, Set, Go! agenda." The governor was referring to her initiative aimed at boosting student performance and preparing students for higher education and careers.

VOTES TODAY: The House and Senate are expected to vote on the state budget today and Wednesday. (N&O)

PUSH FOR DNA: Attorney General Roy Cooper continues to push for a bill that would require people arrested for felonies to submit DNA samples. (N&O)

SPEND THAT CASH: The state has a new plan to ensure it spends $132 million in federal stimulus money meant to weatherize low-income homes. (N&O)