Software for the state's probation system is rooted in the 1980s.

Despite North Carolina's abundance of high-tech companies such as SAS, Red Hat and Lenovo, probation officers spend hours each month looking up clients on a computer system that predates Windows and does not even have a mouse.

Until last month, there was no simple way for a probation officer to check whether new criminal charges have been filed against any of the 114,000 probationers under their watch.

An N&O investigation turned up hundreds of cases where probation offiers lost track of criminals who were violating probation — and then were charged with murder, rape and other serious crimes.

For 14 years, state officials have vowed to fix the patchwork of computer systems that were supposed to help law enforcement keep track of criminals. But a special committee set up in 1994 fixed only one of five problems it identified. (N&O) 

Three members of the State Board of Education are in line to travel to China in November, if a few companies open their checkbooks.

Board members Wayne McDevitt, Patricia N. Willoughby and  Melissa Bartlett are invited to a conference of “education ministers” as part of the board's exchange program with China’s Jiangsu Province.

Board chairman Howard Lee said he was looking to raise up to $20,000 for their trip from GlaxoSmithKline, Lenovo, and Jim and Ann Goodnight. Jim Goodnight is the SAS Institute CEO.

The state board and the provincial education department formally agreed this year to collaborate on classroom and student projects, hold joint conference and host exchanges for students and teachers.

Teachers from China visited North Carolina last spring. The N.C. Center for International Understanding sent 23 teachers and principals to China last year. No state money was used for their travel.

This November's conference registration fee includes sightseeing on the final two days, including a visit to the Great Wall, the Olympic stadium and Tiananmen Square.

McDevitt said board members may not be able to stay for the days that include trips to tourist attractions because they want to visit partnership schools.

The partnership aims to give North Carolina students the chance to work on projects with students from other countries, learn other languages and engage in other activities they’ll need for the workplace, said Stephanie Caplan, the center’s spokeswoman.