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Two history programs aimed at kids could be cut.

In recent years, the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources has run an annual "History Bowl" tournament for fourth- and eighth-graders.

Starting with local competitions, the teams of students answer questions on North Carolina history, such as how many state-supported Indian tribes there are or who Isaac Hunter was.

The number of students has dropped from 230 in 2003 to 189 in 2008, said spokesman Joe Newberry. By comparison, the Tar Heel Junior Historians, a scholastic competition, and the national History Day celebration were drawing more interest.

The annual competition cost $17,194.

In addition, the department has had a full-time staffer developing N.C. ECHO, a Web site that features links to state historical collections of interest to K-12 students and curious Web surfers. That position paid $67,232.

Gov. Beverly Perdue has proposed ending state support for the History Bowl and eliminating the Web developer, though the site would remain online.

* Historians unveil lengthy account of the original Isaac Hunter's Tavern, a dive bar that accidentally contributed to Raleigh being named state capital. (HT: Laura)

* The N.C. Department of Transportation will spend $38.6 million in the Charlotte area, comapred to $64 million in Eastern North Carolina. Mayor Pat McCrory is upset.

* The N.C. Budget and Tax Center, a liberal group, projects that the budget shortfall in 2009-2010 could be as high as $4.6 billion, or $3 billion after federal help.

* The N.C. Young Democrats will push for a smoking ban in restaurants, anti-school violence legislation and renewable energy tax credits today at the legislature.