The parking sign outside the meeting Monday morning called it the "Burr-Bowles Summit" but it could just have easily called it a "love fest."

Republican Sen. Richard Burr and the man he defeated in 2004, Democrat Erskine Bowles, now president of the University of North Carolina, were the stars of the North Carolina Economic Development Summit, Rob Christensen reports.

"I've had a chance to work with this guy for four full years and nobody works harder or smarter for North Carolina than Richard Burr does," Bowles told about 200 people at N.C. Central University. "His focus on this state is truly unbelievable."

In introducing Bowles, Burr said: "Erskine Bowles is the best president of the university system we had the pleasure of having."

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Sen. Richard Burr, who is seeking to raise his visibility across North Carolina, is planning to hold a state-wide economic development summit later this month in Durham.

Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican, is holding an event that will focus on partnerships between the education and business sectors on Oct. 19th, Rob Christensen reports.

Among those scheduled to attend are Scott Ralls, president of the N.C. Community College System and Erskine Bowles, the president of the University of North Carolina system.

Burr and Bowles have developed a friendship since Burr defeated Bowles in the 2004 Senate race.

The event will be held at 9:30 a.m. at N.C. Central University's H.M. Michaux  Jr. School of Education.

Gov. Beverly Perdue this morning announced a new program designed to quickly retrain people for jobs where are shortages.

At a news conference at WakeMed, Perdue said she would use $13.4 million in federal stimulus money to start accelerated six-month training programs for 12 occupations. She called it "12 in 6," reports Rob Christensen.

"We know that people who have lost their jobs need to get back in the work force as quickly as possible," Perdue said. "This rapid training initiative provides them with a clear path to success in new, sustainable careers."

The 12 areas are nursing assistants, phlebotomy, medical coding, office/clerical support, masonry/tile cutting, plumbing, carpentry, welding, food service, auto body repair, manufacturing/materials and HVAC/industrial maintenance.

The new initiative comes at a time when North Carolina is experiencing double digit unemployment.

The program will be run by the state community college system. Scott Ralls, the community college president and Keith Crisco, the state commerce secretary attended the news conference.

The new training will begin in September. The state community college board is scheduled to vote on the program on Friday.

It is perhaps North Carolina's folksiest cliche: Don't eat your seed corn.

After its latest appearance in Gov. Beverly Perdue's State of the State speech tonight, Dome did a little research in state newspaper archives on the saying.

The cliche refers to the corn used for seeds for next year's crop — it might be tasty now, but you would starve tomorrow. It is generally used by state pols to refer to foolishly cutting a program that will be needed in the future.

A few recent examples:

* In February, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler called agricultural research the "seed corn" of the industry.

* In January, community college president Scott Ralls used it while telling the story of a nursing instructor who quit teaching to go back to work.

* In November, Wachovia CEO Bob Steel told Perdue at a public forum that education is the "seed corn for everything that's needed for the future."

Among other things, basic research funding has been called the seed corn for future technology; recruits in Iraq and Afghanistan, the future military; open space, future tourism; principal in the escheats fund, future scholarship money; freshmen footballers, future ACC eligible players; fish harvested before reproducing, future food supply; copyright law, future artistic endeavors; and Central Piedmont Community College, the future labor force.

Still, education and agriculture seem to be the most popular references.

In fact, Gov. Mike Easley used the same line in his 2007 State of the State speech.

"Progress is not always about planting new crops, it is often about tending the current harvest and increasing the yield," he said. "Now, having said that, I did bring a little seed corn with me tonight, just in case."

The two major gubernatorial candidates will appear at a summit next month.

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory are both slated to speak at a Manufacturing Summit sponsored by the North Carolina Chamber on June 10 at the Grandover Resort to Greensboro, Jonathan Cox reports.

The summit will also feature panel discussions with Scott Ralls, president of the N.C. Community College System; Brad Wilson, Rep. Becky Carney and Sen. David Hoyle of the 21st Century Transportation Committee; and experts on economics, health and legal issues.

One breakout session has an interesting title: "Keeping North Carolina Union Free." 

N.C. Community College System leaders checked and rechecked with the Attorney General's office before barring illegal immigrants from admission, System President Scott Ralls told the community college board Thursday.

Ralls walked through the events of the past few days with the board Thursday, reports Mark Johnson of The Charlotte Observer. 

Ralls received an advisory letter from Attorney General Roy Cooper's office last week indicating that their reading of federal law was that the state could not admit undocumented students. The letter was the result of a request for guidance from the community college system.

"Their opinion was not black and white," Shante Martin, the system's top lawyer, told the board.

So community college officials went back to lawyers in the attorney general's office to clarify: "Is this your advice?" Ralls said during his first board meeting as the system's new president.

The next day, news stories quoted U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials saying the opposite, that federal law did not require a ban.

Again, the community college leaders turned to Cooper's office."They indicated they would stand by their advisory letter," Ralls said.

Now the system awaits more guidance from the federal government. "We have become the poster children of why there needs to be federal clarification on these issues," Ralls said.

North Carolina's community college system will no longer admit illegal immigrants to degree programs based on an advisory letter from the Office of the Attorney General, the system announced today.

Community college officials made the decision based on a May 6 letter from Attorney General Roy Cooper's office and a subsequent meeting with officials in the office, reports Jane Stancill.

"We asked the Attorney General’s Office for clarification of our present policy and will abide by their advice,” said System President R. Scott Ralls. “We will continue to be a primary source of economic advancement for the state by providing world-class education and workforce training to every student eligible to enroll.”

Cooper's office had advised the 58 community colleges to return to a 2001 policy that prohibited illegal immigrants from degree classes. Late last year, the system's attorney had directed colleges that they could not bar such students.

The system's decision is counter to federal officials, who said last week that North Carolina schools are free to decide whether or not to enroll illegal immigrants. That came in a statement by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Gov. Mike Easley had also challenged the advisory letter from the Attorney General's office.

Scott Ralls, who was elected last month as the next president of the N.C. Community College System, told the system board today that he's ready to get to work.

Ralls will succeed the retiring President Martin Lancaster on May 1, but he will report to work at the Raleigh headquarters April 1 as president-elect, Jane Stancill reports. Ralls is now president of Craven Community College in New Bern.

He told community college system board members this morning that the "Four C's" will guide his 100 days in office—community, collaboration, connection and change.

He also talked about the need for more state resources for the colleges as Baby Boomers retire and workforce needs evolve. And he emphasized how important it is to work with other education agencies, particularly the UNC system.

Martin Lancaster, president of the state's community college system, had a smile on his face yesterday as the state board elected as his successor Craven Community College President Scott Ralls.

For the past week, Lancaster has been pummeled for his support of admitting illegal immigrants to community colleges. On Thursday, he looked relaxed and relieved at the thought of passing the baton to Ralls next year, reports Jane Stancill.

When asked his reaction after the vote, Lancaster said, "The king is dead. Long live the king." The board erupted in laughter.

Scott Ralls, who has led Craven Community College for the past five years, will be the next president of the North Carolina Community College System.

Ralls was selected today to succeed Martin Lancaster, who will retire in May after nearly 11 years as president, Jane Stancill reports. Ralls will be paid $275,000 a year.

The State Board of Community Colleges interviewed three finalists for several hours today behind closed doors before voting for Ralls in an open session.

More to come.

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