* Oliver Stone thinks America is like the Soviet Union; John Edwards, not so much. The two also disagree on the merits of "The Shawshank Redemption." (FadeIn)

* Bono praised in book on "wooing" for successfully convincing U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms to support $435 million in debt relief for Africa in 2000. (Time)

* U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole meets with sheriffs in Carolina Beach, proposes giving local deputies more power to work on illegal immigration. (WS-N)

* Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue stresses reducing dropout rate and raising teacher pay; gives position on illegal immigration: "We want legal immigration." (Burlington Times-News)