60 Former Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards said today that he thinks Barack Obama will be the party's presidential nominee and that Hillary Rodham Clinton must be careful not to damage the party's prospects in November as she continues her campaign. www.newsobserver.com/1068944 State lawmakers face pressure to act on widely publicized issues that have emerged since they adjourned nine months ago. Those issues include widespread problems in the state's probation and mental health systems and calls for the state to better protect poultry workers from injuries. www.newsobserver.com/1068539 Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama are already drawing up strategies for taking each other on in the general election. They're focusing on the same groups -- including independent voters and Latinos -- and about a dozen states where they think the contest is likely to be decided this fall, campaign aides said. www.newsobserver.com/1068525 There has been a lot of history in that old basketball barn, Reynolds Coliseum -- the Dixie Classic, Everett Case and David Thompson. We can now add Sen. Barack Obama's victory speech Tuesday night -- which had the look and feel of a convention nomination acceptance speech. www.newsobserver.com/1068511 Barack Obama erased Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-imposing lead among superdelegates Saturday when he added more endorsements from the group of Democrats who will decide the party's nomination for president. www.newsobserver.com/1068392 Here's a sample of the issues state lawmakers might take up in the General Assembly session that begins Tuesday: www.newsobserver.com/1068376 Some political observers speculated that the the former senator and Democratic presidential primary candidate from North Carolina made a verbal slip-up signaling that he favored Illinois Sen. Barack Obama over New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. www.newsobserver.com/1067700 Two state agencies charged with cleaning up state government are fighting over who gets to hold the broom. www.newsobserver.com/1067683 Durham and Raleigh will get their splits of a $2.5 million grant in hand next week. www.newsobserver.com/1067645 By now, regular observers of the Raleigh City Council have surely gotten used to the ideological gulf that separates Councilmen Philip Isley and Russ Stephenson. www.newsobserver.com/1067644 The Durham City Council still hasn't reached consensus on who will be the new city manager, leaving open the prospect of beginning the search anew. www.newsobserver.com/1067643 Cary's town manager is proposing a property tax rate of 33 cents per $100 valuation for the coming fiscal year, meaning the owner of a $300,000 home would pay $990 in taxes. www.newsobserver.com/1067641 Matthews resident Jeff Jones has offered first daughter Jenna Bush an unusual wedding gift to celebrate her nuptials, planned for today. www.newsobserver.com/1067620 Democrat Barack Obama may think Republican John McCain has lost his bearings. A McCain friend begs to differ. www.newsobserver.com/1067594 Republican John McCain on Friday disputed blogger Arianna Huffington's contention that she heard him say he voted against President Bush in 2000. www.newsobserver.com/1067593 Former Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards said today that he thinks Barack Obama will be the party's presidential nominee and that Hillary Rodham Clinton must be careful not to damage the party's prospects in November as she continues her campaign. www.newsobserver.com/1068944 State lawmakers face pressure to act on widely publicized issues that have emerged since they adjourned nine months ago. Those issues include widespread problems in the state's probation and mental health systems and calls for the state to better protect poultry workers from injuries. www.newsobserver.com/1068539 Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama are already drawing up strategies for taking each other on in the general election. They're focusing on the same groups -- including independent voters and Latinos -- and about a dozen states where they think the contest is likely to be decided this fall, campaign aides said. www.newsobserver.com/1068525 There has been a lot of history in that old basketball barn, Reynolds Coliseum -- the Dixie Classic, Everett Case and David Thompson. We can now add Sen. Barack Obama's victory speech Tuesday night -- which had the look and feel of a convention nomination acceptance speech. www.newsobserver.com/1068511 Barack Obama erased Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-imposing lead among superdelegates Saturday when he added more endorsements from the group of Democrats who will decide the party's nomination for president. www.newsobserver.com/1068392 Here's a sample of the issues state lawmakers might take up in the General Assembly session that begins Tuesday: www.newsobserver.com/1068376 Some political observers speculated that the the former senator and Democratic presidential primary candidate from North Carolina made a verbal slip-up signaling that he favored Illinois Sen. Barack Obama over New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. www.newsobserver.com/1067700 Two state agencies charged with cleaning up state government are fighting over who gets to hold the broom. www.newsobserver.com/1067683 Durham and Raleigh will get their splits of a $2.5 million grant in hand next week. www.newsobserver.com/1067645 By now, regular observers of the Raleigh City Council have surely gotten used to the ideological gulf that separates Councilmen Philip Isley and Russ Stephenson. www.newsobserver.com/1067644 The Durham City Council still hasn't reached consensus on who will be the new city manager, leaving open the prospect of beginning the search anew. www.newsobserver.com/1067643 Cary's town manager is proposing a property tax rate of 33 cents per $100 valuation for the coming fiscal year, meaning the owner of a $300,000 home would pay $990 in taxes. www.newsobserver.com/1067641 Matthews resident Jeff Jones has offered first daughter Jenna Bush an unusual wedding gift to celebrate her nuptials, planned for today. www.newsobserver.com/1067620 Democrat Barack Obama may think Republican John McCain has lost his bearings. A McCain friend begs to differ. www.newsobserver.com/1067594 Republican John McCain on Friday disputed blogger Arianna Huffington's contention that she heard him say he voted against President Bush in 2000. www.newsobserver.com/1067593