60 North Carolina has good reason to let deserving illegal immigrants attend public colleges and universities. www.newsobserver.com/1068411 The state's annual budget bears the words North Carolina and costs billions of dollars. So does the Navy's newest submarine. www.newsobserver.com/1068410 To see unexcelled poetry in motion on these warming evenings, look into the skies for the darting blue-black forms of swallows flashing in the fading sunlight. www.newsobserver.com/1068409 Arts and Sciences Dean Holden Thorp, a native son, looks to be an excellent choice as the next chancellor at UNC-Chapel Hill. www.newsobserver.com/1067497 Statistics from the past week that deserve a doubletake: 2,069,701 - Preliminary total of ballots cast in Tuesday's presidential primaries in North Carolina, amounting to 36 percent of registered voters and setting a turnout record. www.newsobserver.com/1067496 When we're worried about filling up our vehicles without filing for bankruptcy, it seems odd to be thinking about a new freeway. But upgrading U.S. 64 west from Cary is worth a lot of thought. www.newsobserver.com/1067495 In Pat McCrory and Beverly Perdue, voters have the choice of two strong candidates to succeed Mike Easley as governor. www.newsobserver.com/1066324 It's unfortunate that the Raleigh Planning Commission has opposed the idea of doubling impact fees on new development in the city. www.newsobserver.com/1066323 North Carolina became a player in shaping the presidential race, as candidates tapped into people's hopes and fears. www.newsobserver.com/1064939 A year ago this week, an editorial here observed that it took a grand total of one judge to stop a speeding train -- that train being the Wake County school board's plan to require some students to attend year-round schools whether or not their parents approved. www.newsobserver.com/1064938 A proposal to give Wake County commissioners authority over school construction is promising but needs careful review. www.newsobserver.com/1063646 Ah, yes. Here's an unsurprising development from the insurance industry -- you know, the people who fight tooth and nail to limit their costs or government involvement in health care. www.newsobserver.com/1063645 North Carolina's system of public financing for top judicial posts gets a welcome thumbs-up, but another important law falls. www.newsobserver.com/1062283 You'd think that police officers in Durham would be paid competitively. www.newsobserver.com/1062282 Community college students tend to be motivated and mature --excellent candidates for transfer to the state's universities. www.newsobserver.com/1061113 Two respected Wake County judges say that they see no evidence in a study on bails set by county magistrates indicating racial bias. www.newsobserver.com/1061112 Bryan Beatty, secretary of the state Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, may have had little choice but to suspend a canine program of the state Highway Patrol in the wake of some scandalous training techniques, but at least he did it. www.newsobserver.com/1061111 North Carolina has good reason to let deserving illegal immigrants attend public colleges and universities. www.newsobserver.com/1068411 The state's annual budget bears the words North Carolina and costs billions of dollars. So does the Navy's newest submarine. www.newsobserver.com/1068410 To see unexcelled poetry in motion on these warming evenings, look into the skies for the darting blue-black forms of swallows flashing in the fading sunlight. www.newsobserver.com/1068409 Arts and Sciences Dean Holden Thorp, a native son, looks to be an excellent choice as the next chancellor at UNC-Chapel Hill. www.newsobserver.com/1067497 Statistics from the past week that deserve a doubletake: 2,069,701 - Preliminary total of ballots cast in Tuesday's presidential primaries in North Carolina, amounting to 36 percent of registered voters and setting a turnout record. www.newsobserver.com/1067496 When we're worried about filling up our vehicles without filing for bankruptcy, it seems odd to be thinking about a new freeway. But upgrading U.S. 64 west from Cary is worth a lot of thought. www.newsobserver.com/1067495 In Pat McCrory and Beverly Perdue, voters have the choice of two strong candidates to succeed Mike Easley as governor. www.newsobserver.com/1066324 It's unfortunate that the Raleigh Planning Commission has opposed the idea of doubling impact fees on new development in the city. www.newsobserver.com/1066323 North Carolina became a player in shaping the presidential race, as candidates tapped into people's hopes and fears. www.newsobserver.com/1064939 A year ago this week, an editorial here observed that it took a grand total of one judge to stop a speeding train -- that train being the Wake County school board's plan to require some students to attend year-round schools whether or not their parents approved. www.newsobserver.com/1064938 A proposal to give Wake County commissioners authority over school construction is promising but needs careful review. www.newsobserver.com/1063646 Ah, yes. Here's an unsurprising development from the insurance industry -- you know, the people who fight tooth and nail to limit their costs or government involvement in health care. www.newsobserver.com/1063645 North Carolina's system of public financing for top judicial posts gets a welcome thumbs-up, but another important law falls. www.newsobserver.com/1062283 You'd think that police officers in Durham would be paid competitively. www.newsobserver.com/1062282 Community college students tend to be motivated and mature --excellent candidates for transfer to the state's universities. www.newsobserver.com/1061113 Two respected Wake County judges say that they see no evidence in a study on bails set by county magistrates indicating racial bias. www.newsobserver.com/1061112 Bryan Beatty, secretary of the state Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, may have had little choice but to suspend a canine program of the state Highway Patrol in the wake of some scandalous training techniques, but at least he did it. www.newsobserver.com/1061111