Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton has a cause.

In North Carolina, lieutenant governors have little real authority or duties and are left to carve their own niche in state government.

On Monday, Dalton is lauching a commission to help make high school more relevant.

The commission, Joining Our Businesses and Schools (JOBS) seeks to link high school with local economies. The panel will include 20 business and education leaders who will work on making high school graduates more prepared for a career.
 
"I’m excited about this opportunity to strengthen our high school curricula and make education more relevant for students," Dalton said. "They’ll be getting a leg up on 21st Century jobs, and our employers will benefit from a better-prepared workforce."

The JOBS Commission is a grant-funded legislative commission that will tour the state and try to build on the success of the state’s award-winning early college themed high schools, which give high school students a head start on a college degree, an associate’s degree or a job.

Dalton wrote the 2003 law that led to the establishment of more than 70 early college high schools across North Carolina.

A few more interesting Senate bills:

S.B. 64: Motorcycle Learner's Permit, Sen. Harry Brown

S.B. 65: Amend Computer Solicitation of Child, Sen. Jerry Tillman

S.B. 66: Require Arts Educ. Credit for Graduation, Sen. Katie Dorsett

S.B. 68: No ABC Establishments W/I 1,000 Ft. of Sch., Sen. Dorsett

S.B. 74: Increase Penalty/2nd Degree Murder, Sen. Ed Jones

Campaign season opens today.

Although many candidates have been running TV ads, holding barbecues and appearing at debates, the official filing for 2008 elections start at noon today.

The issues that will likely dominate this year's elections: The Iraq war, illegal immigration, jobs and the economy, the high school dropout rate, health care and corruption in state government.

Democrats hope to use Iraq against U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and U.S. Rep. Howard Coble. Republicans hope to use corruption to aim for a clean sweep in Raleigh. 

Candidate filing closes on Feb. 29. (N&O) 

A total of 173 bills competed in the second qualifying round of Speed Week.

Among the 23 that passed a third reading in either the House or the Senate yesterday:

Mega Millions High: A House bill would ban the lottery from advertising at high school sporting events. Not that they were, but a college ban died.

HPV FYI: A Senate bill would require schools tell parents that a vaccine can help prevent human papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer.

Smoked out: A Senate bill would add blunts, a type of cigar often used to smoke marijuana, to the list of prohibited drug paraphernalia.

In other news, a Senate bill would allow terriers to compete in digging contests known as "earthdog trials," two House bills would let teachers receive their pension even if they're elected to the school board or go back to work and a House bill would let Morrisville regulate golf carts driven on town roads.