The U.S. Navy said today it will study two sites in northeastern North Carolina and three in Virginia for a landing field where aircraft carriers pilots can practice takeoffs and landings.

The Navy said it was abandoning further consideration of its preferred site, which straddles Washington and Beaufort counties near a national wildlife refuge, reports Wade Rawlins. That site drew vigorous opposition from many local residents, environmentalists and the state's top political leaders.

The sites in North Carolina to be considered are Hale's Lake in Camden and Currituck counties and Sandbanks in Gates County.

They are within about 50 miles of Naval Air Station Oceana, where the fighter jet squadrons would be based.

But local officials in both counties as well as state leaders have expressed opposition to locating the airfield in the counties.

State Senate leader Marc Basnight of Manteo issued an immediate statement vowing to continue to oppose the sites.

"For nearly a decade, Senator Basnight has opposed the Navy's efforts to build an OLF in northeastern North Carolina," said Schorr Johnson, a spokesman for Basnight. "He has said that locating an OLF in a rural, economically distressed is absolutely unacceptable. With today's disappointing news, Senator Basnight vows to continue to fight on behalf of families who have worked this land for generations."

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole said she was discouraged by the Navy's failure to consult with local leaders in Camden, Currituck and Gates counties. She said she would oppose the Navy's efforts to acquire any site that lacks broad local support.

The Navy plans to gather public comments in the spring on the sites.

Proposals to establish a transfer tax on real estate sales were shot down by voters in several North Carolina counties today.

Voters in Graham, Hoke, Gates, Washington, Davie and Union counties voted down the tax, according to unofficial totals.

Update: With 16 of 19 precincts reporting in Chatham County, 6,850 people voted against the transfer tax referendum and 3,133 voted for it, according to unofficial totals.

Against the odds, a transfer tax is in the budget deal.

The N.C. Association of Realtors spent nearly $600,000 campaigining against the tax on home sales, appealing to the public through ads as well as legislators from swing districts.

But the final budget deal reached last night includes an option for counties to levy a tax of .2 percent to .6 percent of the sales price. That would be from $400 to $1,200 on a $200,000 home.

The catch: Voters must approve the new tax in a referendum.

Although some counties have gotten approval that way, Washington County has had two failed referenda on the issue, and Realtors will likely fight any local votes as hard as they did this deal.

The budget also allows counties to raise the local sales tax by a quarter-cent. Surveys show that the public prefers sales tax hikes over other taxes, perhaps because it feels more voluntary.