* N.C. Transportation Secretary Gene Conti pushes federal government for more high-speed rail north and south of the Triangle.

* Liberal commentator Chris Fitzsimon says the big story of the week was spending targets set by House budget writers behind the scenes.

* Greensboro News-Record columnist Doug Clark thinks the Racial Justice Act is just an attempt to do away with the death penalty. 

* The Terri Schiavo Act had its name changed in committee to the Advanced Directives on Drivers License bill. 

North Carolina may soon get faster trains.

After President Obama outlined plans to build a national network of high-speed rail, the state's rail chief said he is optimistic the state will get a share.

"We've got a list of projects that we will be aggressive in making applications for," Pat Simmons, who heads the state Department of Transportation's rail division, said after a briefing in Washington with Obama. "I am more reassured than ever that we're in the game."

Obama included $8 billion for high-speed rail in the $787 billion economic stimulus package approved by Congress in February and said he would seek an additional $1 billion a year over the next five years.

A roughly 450 mile route from Charlotte through Raleigh and Richmond to Washington is one of six corridors pegged by federal officials as likely candidates for the first stimulus funds. (N&O)

North Carolina's transportation earmarks heavily favor cars.

Members of the state's Congressional delegation requested 74 federal appropriations worth $313.8 million for airports, trains, transit and roads.

Here's a breakdown:

ROADS: 40 requests worth $174.4 million. Projects range from $300,000 to fix a bridge in Montreat to $84.7 million to extend a road through Fort Bragg.

TRANSIT: 13 requests worth $67.2 million. Projects range from $500,000 to buy new hybrid buses for Asheville to $30 million to extend Charlotte's light-rail system.

AIRPORT: 15 requests worth $46.6 million. Projects range from $665,000 to address safety concerns at the Richmond County airport to $7.5 million to extend a runway in Oxford.

TRAINS: Six requests worth $25.6 million. Projects range from $166,000 for a new roof on the Gibson train depot to $9.5 million for a new stop in Lexington.

Opponents of a proposed transfer tax on home sales have found a new medium: Trash cans.

The trash can pictured above was spotted in the 1100 Court of the General Assembly on Wednesday afternoon. The bumper sticker refers to this anti-tax Web site from the N.C. Association of Realtors.

In all fairness, the trash can has taken positions on other issues:

* "I Brake for Trains" supports Operation Lifesaver.

* "Women's healthcare for a lifetime" backs midwives.

* "N.C. Children Cavity-Free" supports dental health.

* "Re-Elect Justus" is for Rep. Carolyn Justus.

* "Kids' Safe Zone" is anti-spanking.

* "Behind every successful woman is herself!" speaks for itself.