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For three consecutive nights this week, the major Democratic candidates for governor will debate each other on television in what could be a pivotal moment in the race to become North Carolina’s next chief executive.

The debates are seen as particularly critical this year, because with just three weeks until the May 8 primary, the governor’s race has so far attracted little attention, created little buzz and produced few political commercials. Read more here.

In other headlines:

--The N.C. Democratic Party remains shrouded in questions after the resignation of Executive Director Jay Parmley amid a fast-moving scandal.

--A former speech writer for John Edwards is trying to quash a subpoena from her former boss calling on her to testify.

--The Nature Conservancy's North Carolina chapter fights to preserve land even after state lawmakers made deep cuts to the conservation trust funds.

Inside a weary, florescent-lit conference room on the first floor of the Legislative Building, House Democratic lawmakers gathered time and again in 2011 to confront a harsh reality: They didn't run the show anymore.

The historic power shift that unfolded in last year's legislative session left Democrats initially uncertain, wandering through unfamiliar territory and searching for an effective strategy to counter the zeal of Republicans, who spent more than a century without complete control of the legislature.

The new order meant there were fewer House Democrats and they huddled more often behind closed doors. But the discussions often lasted longer as Minority Leader Joe Hackney of Chapel Hill sought consensus from a fractured caucus that found itself on the defensive. "We do have a very diverse caucus," Hackney said. "And they're not a bunch of sheep."

Within the discussion in the House and Senate was a divide among Democrats about whether to take an obstructionist route with procedural wrangling or a cooperative path for bipartisan support.

In a series of recent interviews, N.C. Democratic lawmakers acknowledged miscalculations early in the legislative session but suggested they are finding their voice. And going forward, they expect to amplify their efforts in 2012. Read more here.