A bill would make the state more careful with its language about disabilities.

Legislation filed this week by Sen. Katie Dorsett, a Greensboro Democrat, would make the state refer to "people with disabilities" rather than "the disabled."

The bill, titled "People First," aims to make legal references to disabilities a secondary trait rather than the sole description.

In place of "handicapped," "mentally retarded" or "mentally disabled," the state would say "people with disabilities," "intellectual disability" or "mental illness." The state would also avoid saying people were "afflicted with" or "suffering from" a disease.

"Certain terms are demeaning and create an invisible barrier to inclusion as equal community members," the bill says.

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

The state Senate will have six women next session.

Three of the women are from major urban areas: Sens. Julia Boseman of Wilmington, Katie Dorsett of Greensboro and Linda Garrou of Winston-Salem.

A fourth, Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, is from Carrboro, a liberal enclave near UNC-Chapel Hill.

Only two come from small towns: Sen. Jean Preston of Emerald Isle (population 3,855) and incoming Sen. Debbie Clary of Cherryville (population 5,680), about an hour drive from Charlotte. They are the only Republicans.

Coincidentally or not, both Preston and Clary served seven terms in the state House before being elected senator. None of the other female senators served in the House.

Two former female senators from urban areas have since won statewide races. Former Sen. Janet Cowell of Raleigh was elected state treasurer in November, while former Sen. Kay Hagan of Greensboro was elected U.S. senator.

As noted previously, rural areas have been slow to elect women.

The women make up 12 percent of the 50-member Senate.

Where will women serve in Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue's Cabinet?

Since the modern Cabinet came into being in the 1970s, it's not been unusual for women to be appointed, but there remains a glass ceiling in five of the 10 jobs.

There have been no female secretaries of Environment and Natural Resources, Transportation, Crime Control, Correction or Juvenile Justice (in fairness, that last post was created in 2000).

Is that evidence of sexism? Environment, Correction and Transportation tend to have the biggest staffs and largest budgets among Cabinet posts, while Crime Control, Correction and Juvenile Justice all deal with public safety.

Women have held two other important posts, however.

There have been two female Health and Human Services secretaries: Dr. Sarah Morrow in the 1970s and Carmen Hooker Buell (later Odom) in the 2000s.

And there's been one female Commerce secretary: Estell Lee, who served from 1989 to 1991.

Still, women have fared better in posts that don't have as much power or visibility, although they are important in keeping the state running.

Jane S. Patterson was appointed the first female secretary of Administration in 1979. In 1993, Katie Dorsett became the first black woman to hold any Cabinet post, and in 2000, Gwynn Swinson became the second.

And Betsy Justus, Janice Faulkner and Muriel Offerman served as Revenue secretaries in the 1990s.

But the most female-friendly Cabinet post also has the least power. Since the job was created in 1971, five of the six secretaries of Cultural Resources have been women, but the department has the smallest budget and staff.

A dozen members of a state inauguration committee have been named.

The N.C. Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies will oversee the swearing-in ceremonies of Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue and other members of the Council of State, the inaugural parade and an open house at the Executive Mansion that same afternoon.

Perdue appointed New Bern law firm employee Sissy Chesnutt, former U.S. Rep. Eva Clayton of Lake Gaston and higher education administrator Jill Dinwiddie of Charlotte.

Gov. Mike Easley appointed Raleigh attorney Dee Becton Rozier, tourism development officer Kaye Myers of Fairview, and Wilmington attorney Linda Wilson.

Senate leader Marc Basnight appointed Sens. Katie Dorsett of Greensboro, Vern Malone of Raleigh and Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand of Fayetteville.

And House Speaker Joe Hackney appointed Reps. Linda Coleman of Knightdale, Margaret Highsmith Dickson of Fayetteville and Alice Underhill of New Bern.

Basnight, Hackney and the 10 newly elected members of the Council of State will also serve as non-voting members.

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated Chesnutt's job.

Senate Democrats will meet Dec. 17.

The full Democratic caucus will choose party leaders at its first full meeting including newly elected senators, though few surprises are expected.

Senate president pro tem Marc Basnight will run again for the post he's held since 1993, while Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand will run again for the job he's had since 2001. Unlike Republican leadership, no opposition is expected for either Democratic leader.

Several other leadership positions will also be decided on that day.

These lesser-known officers currently include deputy president pro tem Sen. Charlie Dannelly, permanent Democratic caucus chairman Sen. R.C. Soles Jr., Majority Whip Katie Dorsett and Democratic caucus secretary Sen. Charlie Albertson.

Committee appointments will be made after session begins on Jan. 28.

Walter Dalton received the endorsements of several black leaders.

The candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor was endorsed by the George C. Simkins Political Action Committee, a major African-American PAC in Greensboro.

He also been endorsed by former U.S. Rep. Eva Clayton, former state Auditor Ralph Campbell and the entire state Senate Black Caucus: Sens. Charlie Dannelly, Katie Dorsett, Tony Foriest, Malcolm Graham, Ed Jones, Vern Malone, Floyd McKissick and Larry Shaw.

Dalton has been a state senator since 1996.

"I am extremely honored to have the endorsement of the Simkins Committee and African-American leaders across the state," Dalton said in a statement. "Their support reflects my commitment to making the lives of all North Carolinians better and creating opportunities for everyone to succeed."

The State Employees Assocation of N.C. announced its endorsements in legislative primary races.

The group, which represents 55,000 state workers, endorsed 13 candidates for the state House and 12 candidates for state Senate through its political action committee.

Seven of the candidates are Republicans: Rep. Jeff Barnhart; House candidates George Shaeffer, Sidney Sandy, Nalin Mehta and Shirley Randleman; and Sens. Fletcher Hartsell and Jim Jacumin.

In two cases, it endorsed candidates running against each other: state Sen. Vern Malone and rival Ann Akland; and Senate candidates Jack Nichols and Josh Stein.

In the House, the PAC also endorsed Reps. Angela Bryant, Edith Warren and Drew Saunders and candidates Robert Richardson, Greg Taylor, Charles Graham, Betty Mangum and Ric Marshall.

In the Senate, it endorsed Sens. Floyd McKissick, Ellie Kinnaird, Katie Dorsett and Steve Goss and candidates Shelly Willingham and Chuck Stone.

"We're happy to be able to support candidates who care about quality public services and the employees who work so hard to make this state one of the best places to live," said PAC chairwoman Paula Schubert in a statement.

The political action committee of Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina has made its endorsements.

In statewide races, the group has endorsed Janet Cowell for state treasurer, June Atkinson for superintendent of public instruction, both Democrats.

For state Senate races, the group endorsed Sens. Katie Dorsett of Guilford County and Ellie Kinnaird of Carrboro, both Democrats.

In state House races, it endorsed Reps. Angela Bryant of Rocky Mount and Tricia Cotham of Charlotte, both Democrats.

"The Action Fund proudly supports leaders who stand up for young people by supporting real sex education and who fight for greater access to reproductive health services for all," said president Janet Colm in a statement.