* Gov. Beverly Perdue ordered proposals for deeper cuts to state government, including "The Lost Colony" drama and the High Point Furniture Market.
* Senate Finance co-chair David Hoyle is worried that the federal stimulus money is not enough to fix a potential $3 billion state budget hole.
* President Obama's speech at Camp Lejeune will be on "the way forward" in Iraq, expected to include more details on 19-month withdrawal plan.
* Democratic polling firm in Raleigh stirs up the blood of conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh for tracking how women felt about him.



