* 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.

Rev. Dr. William Barber II knows how to take inconvenience in stride.

Standing on the sidewalk in front of the legislative building, the head of the state chapter of the NAACP was speaking about its 14-point legislative agenda and recent hate crimes.

Just as he was winding up, a Raleigh fire truck and an ambulance came screaming up.

The blaring sirens all but ruined most of the audio and videotape that was being recorded and might have thrown some hardened public speakers for a loop. Instead, Barber made it his closer:

"Just like that fire truck is sounding an alarm, we too today are sounding an alarm that North Carolina cannot be quiet," he said.

A paramedic said someone at the General Assembly had fainted.