The state will receive a $2 million grant to help expand broadband Internet access in the state.

Gov. Beverly Perdue got news of the grant Monday in Washington from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, said Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson. The money will come from federal stimulus dollars and is meant to help get broadband Internet access to rural and under-served areas.

"We all know how important broadband is to achieving many of the governor's goals, education in particular," Pearson said. "Where there's a home connected to the greater world and easier access to that kind of technology, the educational opportunities for the children and that family are greater."

The e-NC authority, a state initiative that seeks to connect all state residents to the Internet applied for the grant. The agency will get $1.6 million for mapping broadband availablility and another $434,000 for planning, according to U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan's office.

"This investment in North Carolina will help boost economic development in our rural communities and keep them vibrant," said Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat.

With President Barack Obama’s Cabinet fanning out across the country to sell the his health care proposal, Energy Secretary Steven Chu will be coming to Charlotte on Wednesday, the White House announced.

The visit by Chu is part of a nation-wide bilitz and grass roots lobbying effort by the administration that included a visit to Raleigh last week by Obama, Rob Christensen reports.

Details of the Chu visit have not yet been anounced.

Transporation Secretary Ray LaHood is heading to Lyon Station Pennsylvania, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is heading to Kansas City, and EPA administrator Lisa Jackson is heading to Tampa Bay area.

Could there have been another Bowles in a Democratic administration?

Gov. Beverly Perdue said that she heard the Obama administration had made a run at Crandall Bowles to be U.S. Commerce secretary, but that Bowles said she was not interested, Rob Christensen reports.

Bowles is the former CEO of Springs Industries. She is also the spouse of Erskine Bowles, the president of the University of North Carolina. Erskine Bowles was head of the Small Business Administration and White House chief of staff under President Bill Clinton.

Obama has had difficulty filling the commerce post with both New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg withdrawing their names.

Former Washington Gov. Gary Locke was nominated instead.