* The SBI says that 11 witnesses watched guards at a Greene County prison beat a shackled and helpless inmate. Three guards have been charged with felony assault.

* A bill meant to reform annexation now includes a provision that would allow a referendum under certain conditions. The current proposal leaves all sides of the contentious debate unhappy.

* Officials are keeping quiet, but the signs are pointing to the Catawba County town of Maiden as the site of Apple's new $1 billion data center.

Correction: Post now includes a better description of what the annexation changes would do.