Gloria Steinem, one of the stars of the women's movement, will be in Raleigh and Chapel Hill next week, at events sponsored by NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina.

Steinem will give a talk at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh on November 7th at 1 p.m. Ticket prices range from $20 to $50. She will also attend a private $250 per person reception in Chapel Hill.

Steinem is best known as the co-founder of Ms. Magazine, the creator of "Bring Your Daughter to Work Day," and the author of numerous books, including "Outrageous Acts."

Both pro-choice and pro-life groups are concerned about a bill to increase the penalty for injuring a pregnant woman.

The bill, sponsored by a pro-choice Democrat and a pro-life Republican, would make it a separate felony charge to injure a woman who is more than five months pregnant.

Sean Kosofsky, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, said his group would be watching the bill "very closely." He said existing criminal statutes on assault may be adequate.

"There are concerns among advocates for women that the language in some of these bills may be a creative way to limit definitions for abortion are in our state," he said.

Meantime, Barbara Holt, executive director of N.C. Right to Life, said her group thinks any legislation should reclassify the death of an unborn child as a second murder.

"Those families who have lost an unborn child want recognition that there have been two lives lost," she said.

Pro-choice groups are ready to defend the State Abortion Fund.

Sean Kosofsky, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, said that his group will work to prevent the state fund designed to help poor women pay for abortions from being stripped from the budget, as was suggested by a state budget official last week.

Restrictions on the use of the fund have kept it unused since 1995, but Kosofsky said NARAL's long-term goal is to lessen the restrictions and increase the funding — tasks that would be more difficult if the program is cut entirely.

He also said it would be a pointless to end the program.

"If the money is not used, it will be available anyway," he said. "We think it's important to leave that money in place to send a message that this is a state that cares about women's reproductive health."

"This is not just symbolic," he added. "We're hoping to peel back these restrictions someday."

Gov. Beverly Perdue's pro-choice promise will soon face its first test.

While speaking to a feminist group at a fundraiser breakfast in Raleigh this morning, Perdue pledged to be strongly pro-choice.

At the same time, she released a list of proposed cuts given to her by different agency officials that includes eliminating the state's fund to help poor women afford abortions.

The move would save about $50,000 a year.

The state abortion fund used to be much larger. But during the 1995 budget session, then state Sen. Perdue, one of the chief budget writers, helped slash it from $1.2 million to $50,000 — a 96 percent reduction.

During the Democratic gubernatorial primary, then-Treasurer Richard Moore criticized Perdue for the cut, even creating a YouTube clip of an uncomfortable interview on the subject, while Perdue defended her record on abortion.

Though NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina remained neutral in the primary, Perdue was endorsed by EMILY's List, which backs pro-choice Democratic women, and received the support of the Central North Carolina chapter of Planned Parenthood in the general election.

Update: Perdue was also endorsed by the N.C. Women's Political Caucus, the state chapter of a bipartisan group that endorses pro-choice women candidates.

Correction: An earlier version may have given the impression that Perdue had taken a stance on the specific cuts. She has not.

Dan Besse said a pro-choice group made the wrong decision.

The Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor said he has a strong record on reproductive choice and should have received the endorsement of NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, which announced it is backing Hampton Dellinger in the primary today.

The group said it was backing Dellinger because he is pro-choice and "positioned to win." 

"We're disappointed that NARAL's endorsement decision was made based on factors other than the candidate's specific records and demonstrated commitment to reproductive choice" said Christine Toole, Besse's campaign manager. 

Besse argued that he has a longer record on the issue, advocating for reproductive rights in student groups in the 1970s and working for Planned Parenthood in various capacities since 1996.

"It's great that (Dellinger's) pro-choice," he said. "So am I."

NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina has endorsed Hampton Dellinger.

In a statement today, the group said that the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor is "100 percent pro-choice" and electable.

"He not only has been a long-time consistent supporter of reproductive rights, but he is also positioned to win," said Executive Director Melissa Reed in a statement.

Dellinger said that he was excited to receive the endorsement.

"Since we cannot count on the U.S. Supreme Court to protect women's reproductive health and freedom, it is more important than ever that we elect state officials who are committed to protecting those rights," he said.

Dellinger faces state Sen. Walter Dalton, Canton Mayor Pat Smathers and Winston-Salem City Councilman Dan Besse in the Democratic primary. 

Previously: NARAL endorses in legislative primary races. 

Janet Cowell raised $210,260 by the end of 2007.

The Democratic candidate for state treasurer raised $187,222 from major donors, including state Sen. Martin Nesbitt, Public Policy Polling owner Dean Debnam, political consultant Brad Crone and Capitol Broadcasting owner James Goodmon.

She also raised $16,608 from donors who gave less than $50, and $6,430 from political action committees, including Wal-Mart's PAC, NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina and state Sen. William Purcell's campaign, according to a campaign finance report filed with the State Board of Elections last week.

At the same time, she spent $69,354 on consulting, database software and staff salaries.

That left her with cash on hand of $137,396.

NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina has announced its endorsements.

The pro-choice group's political action committee is backing Superintendent June Atkinson, Reps. Angela Bryant of Rocky Mount and Tricia Cotham of Charlotte and Sen. Ellie Kinnaird of Carrboro.

All four face primary opponents and have a history of supporting NARAL's legislative goals.

Executive Director Melissa Reed noted that the 2008 elections are the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.

"NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina plans to lead the way in building a pro-choice voting block to elect pro-choice leaders who will stand up for women’s freedom and privacy," she said in a statement.

Forty percent of Harris Teeter pharmacies in North Carolina were not stocking emergency contraception this spring, despite a company policy in favor of it.

According to a May 22 letter from NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina to the Matthews-based chain, 33 of the grocery store chain's 82 pharmacies did not have Plan B in stock.

For the survey, NARAL volunteers called each of the stores at least three times and asked about the pill, a concentrated dose of hormones that can prevent pregnancy when taken within 72 hours of intercourse. In some cases, they also visited the stores.

In a follow-up letter on June 29, NARAL noted that the number of Harris Teeter pharmacies not stocking the over-the-counter pill was down to 11.

But after a second follow-up, it found three stores were still not in compliance: The Oak Landing Shopping Center in Wilmington, the Providence Commons in Charlotte and Cloverdale in Winston-Salem.

NARAL plans to encourage women who live nearby to ask the pharmacist about Plan B.

"We want to let them know that the public wants it," said statewide organizer Amy Woodell.

A state pro-choice group is fighting for the morning-after pill.

NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina is targeting three pharmacies in Forsyth, Mecklenburg and New Hanover counties that do not stock emergency contraception.

The pill, a heavy dose of hormones, can prevent pregnancy when taken within 72 hours of intercourse.

Some pro-life groups oppose the drug, arguing it is a form of abortion. According to a survey by NARAL, 20 percent of hospitals and 40 percent of pharmacies in North Carolina do not provide the pill.

"We find that kind of outrageous," said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, at a fundraiser in Raleigh's Oakwood neighborhood today.

The group is targeting pharmacies at Harris Teeter grocery stores, which are supposed to stock the pill under corporate policy, according to NARAL organizers. Its campaign includes sending letters to pro-choice women who live near the pharmacies.

Among 60 guests at the fundraiser were Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Schools Superintendent June Atkinson, state Sen. Janet Cowell and Reps. Grier Martin and Deborah Ross.