* N.C. Spin commentator Tom Campbell praises Gov. Beverly Perdue's recent changes to the top management of the State Board of Education.

* Republican consultant Carter Wrenn suggests GOP legislators push hard to open up certain personnel records related to probation officers to score points with voters.

* Conservative blogger Katy Benningfield says the race is heating up for the next state Republican Party chair, with gladhanding all around at the county conventions.

* Independent Weekly reporter spies jawbreakers, a miniature purple hat, Texas Pete and Diet Coke on legislators' desks, but not a lot of family photos.

Is Tom Campbell going to be arrested?

In what may one day be seen as the most bizarre Magic Eight Ball question that we will ever post on this blog, we turn first to the recent edition of N.C. Spin.

The "In The Soup" column, which we assume is written by executive producer Tom Campbell — if only because of the name, Campbell's soup ... get it? — ends on this rather odd note:

More than one source has reported that a warrant has been issued for the arrest of NC SPIN’s Executive Producer and moderator Tom Campbell. Further details are sketchy at this time but we promise to tell all next week.

We've often noted N.C. Spin's rumor-based "heard on the street" approach to the news, but we did not know it applied to their own lives.

So, Eight Ball, has a warrant been issued for Tom Campbell? Ask again later. Then: Signs point to yes.

Tom, call your attorney. 

Tax cuts were on the minds of the four leading Republican candidates for governor this afternoon.

The four candidates discussed taxes, road-building and other issues during a debate in Pinehurst, reports Lynn Bonner.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory vowed to cut the state income tax.

An income tax higher than that of surrounding states puts North Carolina at a competitive disadvantage for recruiting new industry and makes it harder to keep jobs, said McCrory, calling the income tax “the most harmful tax we have.”

Bill Graham, a businessman from Salisbury, said he would eliminate income tax on overtime and cut the corporate tax rate to 5 percent.

Bob Orr, a former state Supreme Court justice, said “cherry-picking” taxes was the wrong approach. The state needs to get into serious talks about modernizing the tax system.

State Sen. Fred Smith of Clayton emphasized controlling state spending and his support for limiting state budget increases.

“I’ve never voted for a tax increase,” he said. “Taxes are just the result of government spending.”

Tom Campbell, host of NC Spin, moderated the debate, which was taped at the Country Club of North Carolina and sponsored by the local convention and visitors center and the Moore County Republican Men’s Club.