The N.C. Troopers Association has endorsed Kay Hagan.

The group, which represents members of the state Highway Patrol,  praised her record in the state Senate on school safety, sex predators and gangs. 

"Your record of supporting Troopers and police officers, of supporting improvements to public safety and for more effective law and order is extraordinary, "wrote president Ron Crawford in a letter to Hagan. "Our troopers need a strong voice in Washington to lead efforts for legislation to promote Trooper and officer safety. The evidence demonstrates that you are the most qualified candidate to serve in the U.S. Senate.”

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole presented her crime-fighting efforts to nearly 700 law enforcement officials at an anti-gang conference in Durham today.

Dole, a Salisbury Republican seeking her second term in the Senate, told the members of the N.C. Gang Investigators Association that she had won $1.2 million for a Charlotte anti-gang program, co-sponsored the Gang Abatement and Prevention Act that includes new penalties for gang activity and more money for prevention programs, and helped sheriffs set up programs to deport illegal immigrants charged with crime.

A Governor's Crime Commission report earlier this year found that gangs and gang membership have grown rapidly in the past several years, Dan Kane reports.

"The problem we face with gangs in North Carolina can't be solved of course overnight, but I'm confident that with committed law enforcement officers like you and local and federal assistance we can win this battle against gangs and make North Carolina communities stronger and safer," Dole said in her 15 minute speech.

More after the jump.

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The two gubernatorial candidates have their themes down.

In their opening statements at a debate at WTVD in Durham tonight, Republican Pat McCrory and Democrat Beverly Perdue sketched out the major areas they hope to focus in in the campaign and at the debate.

McCrory, the mayor of Charlotte, focused on gangs, mental health care reform and corruption in state politics.

He also joked that his sister, Linda, almost didn't let him into her home because she'd seen a TV ad portraying him as "a danger to the middle class."

Perdue, the lieutenant governor, talked about improving education, creating new jobs and increasing access to health care.

She said she wanted a "new North Carolina" where "families worry less and dream more."

The N.C. House and Senate overwhelmingly approved a sweeping package of anti-gang measures today that include new penalties for gang-related activity.

The legislation is punitive part of a carrot and stick approach to help reduce gang activity across the state. A Governor's Crime Commission report that said there are more than 550 gangs in the state and nearly 15,000 gang members, Dan Kane reports.

There was no debate in the House, which passed it by a 110-1 vote. In the Senate, the vote was 45-0 after a short debate.

The legislation creates new felonies for those who commit drive-by shootings, take part in gang activities, or solicit others to join gangs. There are also new felonies for gang members who threaten others who try to leave, or threaten those who try to help members leave a gang.

Property acquired for or derived from gang activity could be subject to forfeiture.

More after the jump.

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The N.C. House and Senate are expected to vote today on a package of anti-gang measures that include new penalties for gang-related activity.

People could be found guilty of new felonies if they commit drive-by shootings, take part in gang activities, or solicit others to join gangs. There are also new felonies for gang members who threaten others who try to leave, or threaten those who try to help members leave a gang, Dan Kane reports.

Property acquired for or derived from gang activity could be subject to forfeiture.

The new felonies only apply to those 16 and older, though someone as young as 15 who was convicted of a gang-related misdemeanor could face an enhanced penalty.

The legislation also provides a conditional discharge for first time offenders under the age of 18 who committed a lesser felony or misdemeanor related to gang activity. It also gives those under age 18 the opportunity to have a gang-related conviction on a lesser felony or misdemeanor expunged if they stay out of trouble for the next two years.

The mayor of the Queen City kicked off with a little Queen.

Before making a speech at a Raleigh rally this evening, Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory sat down at a drum set belonging to the Craig Woolard Band and rocked out.

The Charlotte mayor, a classic rock fan, briefly played the beat of the Queen anthem "We Will Rock You" while Americans for Prosperity head Dallas Woodhouse sang raggedly vocals in a manner worthy of McCrory's fabled "garage band" style.

In a 10-minute speech, McCrory then pledged to address the problem of "local, national and international gangs," direct transportation spending to congested roads and reduce the state's high school dropout rate. Most of all, he promised to "change the culture" of Raleigh, saying it's been ruled by "four or five power elites."

"You've got to have a governor that you see — not just at election time, but after the election is over," he said.

Afterward, McCrory was asked how much practice he had before the gig.

"I got kicked out of ninth-grade band class because I'm a bad drummer," he said.

Legislation intended to boost community-based gang-prevention programs is awaiting Gov. Mike Easley's signature.

The state Senate unanimously passed the "Street Gang/Prevention and Intervention" bill today, after it cleared the House last week, Dan Kane reports. The legislation tasks local Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils with developing programs to tackle delinquency, substance abuse and gang prevention.

The legislation is one of two bills intended to stop the growth of gangs. A second bill creates new crimes for gang activity. That bill has passed the Senate but has not cleared the House.

Key to both bills is $10 million in gang prevention funding that is contained in the House and Senate budget proposals. The prevention legislation needs the money to start programs, and House leaders say they won't pass the punitive legislation without the money for prevention.

As expected, House lawmakers did not concur with anti-gang legislation that cleared the state Senate last week, setting up a negotiation between both chambers.

Rep. Mickey Michaux, a Durham Democrat, asked his colleagues to oppose changes the Senate made to his bill that would create new penalties for gang activity, Dan Kane reports.

The Senate version dropped provisions that would prevent 16-year-olds from being charged with the new crimes, and would allow a rehabilitated former gang member from expunging gang activity from his or her criminal record.

The House and Senate will appoint members to serve on a conference committee to work out differences for compromise legislation.

Lawmakers tried to sort out their own conflicting signals on money for fighting crime Wednesday, the same day that the state Senate unanimously approved anti-gang legislation.

As the Senate swept two gang bills to passage, lawmakers were trying to resolve complaints by the state's court system that their funding was being slashed in separate talks over the state budget.

"We can't do that," said Sen. Malcolm Graham, a Charlotte Democrat who ushered the gang bills through the Senate. "We can't say we're going to spend $10 million for gangs on the right hand and cut $9 million on the left hand."

Legislators on the budget committee initially asked for $9 million in possible cuts out of a $430 million budget. On Wednesday, key lawmakers agreed on $4.3 million in cuts that court officials called reasonable.

"We're getting pieces of the puzzle and the (courts funding) target is one of those puzzle pieces, but in the end there may be money from somewhere else that may be used to fill in those gaps," said Sen. Linda Garrou, a Democrat from Winston-Salem and co-chair of the full appropriations committee.

The state Senate passed legislation this afternoon that creates new and tougher penalties on gang-related crime.

The vote was 47-0, reports Dan Kane.

The bill now goes back to the state House, which had already passed similar legislation.

House leaders have said differences will likely be worked out in a House-Senate conference.

The Senate also approved, by a 47-0 vote, a bill that calls for additional resources for intervention and prevention of gang activity.