* The Greensboro News-Record's Mark Binker cautions casual political fans not to expect too much too soon from the legislature.

* The House selects new Democratic whips: Reps. Larry Bell, Larry Hall, Jean Farmer-Butterfield, Deborah Ross and Bruce Goforth.

* More cutbacks in the field of journalism: UNC-TV will no longer pay political analysts who appear on its "Legislative Week in Review" show.

* Liberal blogger Andrea Verykoukis says the state's anti-sodomy law "has been used to persecute ... certain parties with certain proclivities" for centuries.

* Charlotte Observer editor Jack Betts says that legislative Republicans hoping for more bipartisanship should drop the old "Democrat Party" shtick.

* Former Buncombe County commissioner David Young wins race for chairmanship of N.C. Democratic Party on the executive committee's first ballot Saturday.

* Freshman Rep. Larry Kissell gets "Buy American" provision for rail and security workers' uniforms added to $819 billion federal stimulus package.

* Sen. Richard Burr, Rep. Patrick McHenry whip for GOP; Rep. Heath Shuler whips for Blue Dogs; Rep. Mike McIntyre whips for House Democrats.