09/02/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Ballard Everett : Republican political consultant Ballard Everett joins Don Curtis to talk about the impact new media is having on campaigns.

08/31/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Francis DeLuca : Civitas Institute executive director Francis DeLuca talks with Don Curtis about recent polling on independent voters.

08/27/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : The State Board of Elections has fined the Beverly Perdue campaign $30,000 for failing to disclose more than 40 flights donated to, and taken by, the campaign. Rick Martinez, news director for the North Carolina News Network, StateGovernmentRadio.com, and NewsRadio 680 WPTF joins host Donna Martinez to discuss the details of the fine and reaction to it. For the political implications, Martinez turns to Dana Cope, executive director of SEANC and Claude Pope of the Wake County Republican Party. Cope and Pope also discuss Cope's scathing comments about a recent fundraiser for N.C. Senate Democrats, hosted by Ken Eudy, co-founder of the public relations firm Capstrat. Eudy has called Cope's remarks pathetic and defamatory. Then the subject turns to the congressional races, including Sarah Palin's endorsement of GOP 2nd District candidate Renee Ellmers, and the latest twist in the 7th District race in which the Republican who lost the nomination to Ilario Pantano has endorsed Democrat Mike McIntyre. Cope and Pope also weigh in on Democratic efforts to retain control of the N.C. Senate and SEANC's decision not to endorse legislative candidates this cycle. Then Martinez provides details on Bill Clinton's 64th birthday bash in the Hamptons, a new teaching role for N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, and a new iPhone App from Rep. Sue Myrick.

08/26/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Steve Troxler : Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler talks with Don Curtis about the recall of egg due to problems with salmonella. Troxler says no eggs with salmonella have been in North Carolina but state officials are monitoring the situation.

08/24/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - John Hood : John Locke Foundation president John Hood talks with Don Curtis about the fallout from the independent review of the SBI crime lab.

08/20/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : N.C. Supreme Court candidate Judge Robert Hunter joins host Donna Martinez to discuss his run for the state's highest court and his background, including his service on the N.C. Court of Appeals. Then Martinez revisits her recent conversations with Raleigh News & Observer political columnist Rob Christensen about the fundraising efforts of the North Carolina Senate candidates, with Civitas Institute Executive Director Francis DeLuca about poll results that indicate the mood and concerns of likely North Carolina voters in November, and with investigative journalist Diane Dimond about the political fall of John Edwards and his life in the wake of disclosures of an affair and child with his former mistress.

08/19/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Perry Woods :

08/17/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Michael Walden :

08/13/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Host Donna Martinez talks with North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge Barbara Jackson about her run for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Judge Jackson, who faces off against fellow Court of Appeals Judge Robert Hunter in November, discusses her judicial philosophy, background, and reason for running for the high court. Then the subject turns to the fundraising race by state legislators and the state's two major political parties. John Rustin of the North Carolina Free Enterprise Foundation analyzes second quarter campaign finance reports and talks about which legislators have the most on hand and the role the parties play in the process. Then North Carolina News Network News Director Rick Martinez discusses the flap over state Board of Elections chairman Larry Leake and executive director Gary Bartlett. And finally, bestselling author Ron Kessler talks with Donna Martinez about the Secret Service and what he learned from agents about the defense of the president and First Family when he interviewed them for his new book.

08/12/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Vicki Smith :

08/10/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Rob Christensen :

08/06/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Sen. Richard Burr joins host Donna Martinez to discuss his run for re-election to the U.S. Senate and his concerns over the use of North Carolina icon Andy Griffith in a new ad touting the benefits to seniors of the new health insurance law. Then Jane Pinsky of the North Carolina Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform reacts to Gov. Beverly Perdue's signing of a new ethics law. Pinsky explains the key provisions and looks ahead to possible future reforms that would increase transparency and accountability by public officials. Next, we turn to a dust-up at the state Democratic Party convention, where some delegates wanted to  formally rebuke Democratic congressmen Heath Shuler, Mike McIntyre and Larry Kissell for voting "no" on the health insurance law. Perry Woods, a Democratic political strategist, reacts to the internal controversy, as well as to the challenges Democrats face in November as the party in power. Republican Claude Pope, chairman of the Wake County Republican Party, joins Woods and Martinez to discuss calls from Democratic strategist Brad Crone for U.S. Attorney George Holding to end the Mike Easley investigation, as well as whether or not President Obama will campaign in North Carolina as we head toward the midterms.

08/05/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Dallas Woodhouse :

08/03/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Rufus Edmisten :

07/30/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Democratic incumbent Congressman Bob Etheridge joins host Donna Martinez to discuss his run for re-election to the 2nd District seat in the U.S. Congress. Etheridge also comments on a federal judge's ruling that prevents some provisions of Arizona's controversial illegal immigration law from taking effect as scheduled, and on the leak of thousands of government documents about the war in Afghanistan. Then Raleigh News & Observer political reporter Rob Christensen discusses the fundraising efforts of the three candidates for U.S. Senate, as well as the mood of voters and the prospect for turnover among North Carolina's congressional delegation. Next, the focus turns to fresh polling data from the Civitas Institute. CI President Francis DeLuca reveals the latest polling of likely voters in our state, including their views of the Senate candidates. Then North Carolina News Network News Director Rick Martinez joins Donna Martinez to explain why powerful Democratic Sen. Marc Basnight is in the spotlight over a fundraising letter.

07/29/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Francis DeLuca :

07/27/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Ellis Hankins :

07/23/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Democratic Congressman David Price joins host Donna Martinez to discuss his campaign for re-election to North Carolina's 4th District seat in the U.S. Congress. Price, who has held the seat since the late 1980s except for one term in the 1990s, faces Republican B.J. Lawson in November. Then Republican candidate Renee Ellmers, who is challenging Democratic incumbent Bob Etheridge, talks with Martinez about her run for the 2nd District seat and her views on key issues. That's followed by a look at questions brought up by State Board of Elections investigator Kim Strach about the board's look into unreported flights made by the Beverly Perdue campaign. NewsRadio 680 WPTF and North Carolina News Network News Director Rick Martinez provides details and perspective on this story, as well as the Raleigh march by the NAACP against the new majority of the Wake County school board's decision to end busing of kids for economic diversity in schools. Then the focus turns to the glaring disconnect on issues between Washington D.C. politicians and power brokers and the general public, as revealed in a new poll conducted for Politico. Bill LuMaye, afternoon talk show host at NewsRadio 680 WPTF, joins Donna Martinez to discuss what it means. And finally, Martinez provides news on key political stories of the week, including Charlotte's push to win the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the latest fundraising numbers for Richard Burr and Elaine Marshall, and Vice President Joe Biden's fundraising trip to Chapel Hill.

07/22/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Beth Wood :

07/20/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Becki Gray :

07/16/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Democratic incumbent Congressman Brad Miller joins host Donna Martinez to discuss his campaign for re-election to the 13th District seat in Congress against GOP challenger Bill Randall, as well as key issues of concern to voters. Then Democratic political strategist Perry Woods and conservative analyst Becki Gray of the John Locke Foundation spar over the political implications of the just-completed legislative session. The two discuss how both major political parties will spin the new state budget and ethics bill as they head home to campaign for re-election, which legislators showed legislative muscle during the session, and the chit-chat among legislators about a possible change in power. Gray and Woods also weigh in on the tough times for state Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety Reuben Young, who oversees the Highway Patrol and who has been ordered to provide a deposition in a media lawsuit related to his former boss, Mike Easley. That's followed by Martinez' look at other top political stories, including more medical troubles for former Vice President Dick Cheney, the judge's ruling on former John Edwards mistress Rielle Hunter's claim on profits from a book by former Edwards aide Andrew Young, and an appeal of a state fine by former North Carolina lobbyist Don Beason.

07/15/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Rob Schofield :

07/13/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Michael Walden :

07/09/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Gov. Beverly Perdue flexed her political muscle this week by calling out the Highway Patrol over a spate of tawdry behavior and vowing to fire any trooper who doesn't comply with the expected code of conduct. Host Donna Martinez is joined by Rick Martinez, news director of the North Carolina News Network, stategovernmentradio.com and NewsRadio 680 WPTF, who explains what happened at Perdue's press conference and the reaction of Patrol management to her dictate for a reorganization plan. Rick also discusses the political theater that occurred when state Sen. Fletcher Hartsell (R-Cabarrus) issued a subpoena to UNC-TV and the latest legal woes for former Sen. John Edwards. Then Republican congressional candidate B.J. Lawson talks about his effort to unseat Democratic incumbent David Price for the 4th District seat in Congress. Lawson lost to Price in 2008. That's followed by a conversation with Terry Hardison of the Constitution Party of North Carolina about the group's push to gather the 82,000 signatures needed to qualify for the North Carolina ballot. And finally, Martinez delves into the dramatically changing voter registration landscape in our state. Bob Hall of Democracy North Carolina joins Martinez to discuss his group's findings about the shift to "Unaffiliated" as well as legislative prospects for ethics reform and an expansion of public financing of campaigns.

07/08/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - John Rustin :

07/06/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Carter Wrenn :

07/02/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Investigative journalist Diane Dimond joins host Donna Martinez to discuss what her sources are telling her about John Edwards' life and career in the wake of his separation from wife Elizabeth over his affair with Rielle Hunger. Dimond says Edwards is trying to dodge a courier seeking to serve him with documents for a deposition in the Rielle Hunter/Andrew Young case and is also hoping to avoid indictment on campaign finance violations. Then former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory discusses his role in last week's grassroots uprising against a legislative attempt to expand North Carolina's public financing program for statewide election campaigns. He also talks about his political future. That's followed by a look at the legacy of Sen. Jesse Helms, who died on the 4th of July two years ago. Helms' longtime political strategist Carter Wrenn shares his remembrances and discusses the differences in politics from his early days with Helms, to today. And finally, former federal prosecutor Kieran Shanahan explains a recent Supreme Court ruling on "honest services" that freed Kevin Geddings from prison. Geddings served roughly three years for secretly profiting from his role as a North Carolina lottery commissioner.

07/01/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Janet Cowell :

06/29/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - John Hood : John Locke Foundation president John Hood joins Don Curtis to discuss the "year of the woman" in politics. HE says we have reached a point where women and African-American candidates are accepted by most voters.

06/25/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Bill Randall joins host Donna Martinez to discuss his runoff win over Bernie Reeves, which gave him the Republican nomination for District 13 in the U.S. Congress. Randall describes what's ahead in the next four months as he seeks to unseat Democractic incumbent Brad Miller in November. Then Chris Fitzsimon of N.C. Policy Watch and Becki Gray of the John Locke Foundation offer perspective on Democrat Elaine Marshall's decisive runoff win over Cal Cunningham and Marshall's desire to knock off Republican Richard Burr in a race that national Democrats have their eyes on. The two also discuss results of the Republican congressional runoffs and spar over this week's key political developments, including new N.C. Sen. Majority Leader Martin Nesbitt's failed attempt to expand publicly funded election campaigns, the role of 2008 Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory in helping scuttle Nesbitt's effort, NC GOP Chairman Tom Fetzer's continued pressure on the State Board of Elections to investigate Gov. Perdue's campaign finances, the role of Democratic powerhouse Organizing for America in this fall's North Carolina elections, and criticism of President Obama for his frequent golf outings during the Gulf of Mexico oil spill crisis.

06/24/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - John Quinterno :

06/22/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Chris Hayes :

06/18/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : What was 2nd District Congressman Bob Etheridge thinking when he took hold of a young man with a camera who tried to engage him on a Washington DC sidewalk? Democratic strategist Perry Woods and Republican strategist Ballard Everett join host Donna Martinez to discuss the political fallout of the Etheridge confrontation, which was caught on tape and spread rapidly on the Internet. Is Etheridge's apology enough to mitigate the impact on his race against Republican Renee Ellmers -- a race that is now garnering national attention and fundraising? Woods and Everett also assess Tuesday's primary runoff races for the U.S. Senate (Marshall vs. Cunningham), the 8th Congressional District (Tim D'Annunzio vs. Harold Johnson) and the 13th Congressional District (Randall vs. Reeves). Then Martinez revisits excerpts of her interviews with Marshall, Johnson, Randall, and Reeves as the June 22nd election approaches and all the candidates make a final push for votes.

06/15/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Andy Taylor & Brad Crone :

06/11/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Politics and the justice system intersected multiple times this week. Stategovernmentradio.com News Director Rick Martinez joins host Donna Martinez to discuss Monday's evacuation of Gov. Beverly Perdue and her staff from the Raleigh capital following the receipt of a letter that contained an unidentifiable powder. The substance was later determined not to be toxic material. Martinez also talks about the unusual twist related to the murder investigation of state Board of Education member Kathy Taft, the lawsuit filed by 8th congressional district Republican candidate Tim D'Annunzio against opponent Harold Johnson, and the cash-seeking court filing of John Edwards' former mistress Rielle Hunter. Then Carolina Journal Managing Editor Rick Henderson discusses developments in the Mike and Mary Easley cases. It was learned this week that the former governor has taken a leave of absence from his law firm, while former First Lady Mary Easley's attorneys say NC State has denied her due process by dismissing her challenge of her dismissal from the university. Then the topic turns to the fight for control of the General Assembly. John Rustin of the N.C. Free Enterprise Foundation analyzes voter registrations of key competitive legislative districts and discusses the challenge that faces 10 appointment incumbents who will face voters for the first time in the fall. That's followed by a discussion with Chuck Stone of North Carolina Families First about the group's continuing effort to challenge Democratic incumbent Congressman Larry Kissell from the Left by qualifying former Kissell aide Wendell Fant for the fall ballot. Stone explains why the SEIU-funded group is so upset with their fellow Democrat.

06/10/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Elaine Mejia :

06/08/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Congressman Brad Miller :

06/04/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS :

06/03/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Jonathan Blaes :

06/01/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Ran Coble :

05/28/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : The Republican runoffs for Congress in District 13 and 8 heat up as the June 22nd runoff approaches. District 13 candidate Bernie Reeves joins host Donna Martinez to discuss plagiarized material Reeves found on Randall's website. Randall then responds, telling Martinez a staffer who is no longer with his campaign lifted material without his knowledge and that he takes responsibility it. Then Carolina Journal reporter David Bass joins Martinez to discuss the charges and counter-charges in the GOP runoff in District 8. NC GOP Chairman Tom Fetzer has called candidate Tim D'Annunzio unfit for office and D'Annunzio has fired back, calling on Fetzer to resign. Bass also assesses the District 12 runoff between Greg Dority and Scott Cumbie, which has been rather quiet, and the dust-up in the 7th District general election race in which the GOP primary losers are criticizing winner Ilario Pantano. Martinez then talks with Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate Mike Beitler about his campaign and views. Josh Ellis, capital reporter for stategovernmentradio.com discusses with Martinez the ill-fated appointment of John Tote as the state's mental health director, two bills introduced by state Sen. R.C. Soles that would benefit his longtime Democratic political ally Rex Gore, and this weekend's NASCAR race, which will feature House Speaker Joe Hackney in a special role.

05/27/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Ballard Everett : Republican political consultant Ballard Everett joins Don Curtis to review the primary election results and discuss what issues will dominate the general election.

05/25/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Wayne Goodwin : Insurance commissioner Wayne Goodwin talks with Don Curtis about the steps he's taking to make sure North Carolina complies with the new health care legislation signed into law earlier this year.

05/21/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS :

05/20/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Chris Fitzsimon : NC Policy Watch executive director Chris Fitzsimon joins Don Curtis to talk about the challenges facing state lawmakers during the short session.

05/18/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Robert Orr : Former State Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr talks with Don Curtis about the debate over how much power cities should have to expand their boundaries. Orr says he does not expect the legislature or the courts to change the current rules.

05/14/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : The lawmakers are back in Raleigh for the so-called "short session," focusing mainly on reconciling the state budget problems. Josh Ellis, capitol reporter for stategovernmentradio.com, joins host Donna Martinez to discuss the first day's activities, the impact the fall election may have on the decisions made by lawmakers, the state GOP's "welcome back" ad, and the political chatter about legislators who lost their primary races. Then state Sen. Stan Bingham (R-Davidson) talks about his push for a bill that would prohibit convicted felons from holding the office of N.C. sheriff. The bill stems primarily from the failed candidacy of former Davidson County Sheriff and convicted felon Gerald Hege, who was on the ballot May 4. Sen. Bingham addresses concerns from civil libertarians that the bill would punish felons who have paid their debt to society. Then Martinez is joined by Bob Hall of Democracy North Carolina for his view of the guilty plea from longtime Democratic fundraiser Rusty Carter to campaign finance violations. Hall expresses doubt in Carter's defense that he didn't realize it was illegal to funnel donations through his employees to the campaigns of Gov. Beverly Perdue, Sen. Marc Basnight, and others. Hall also makes a push for public financing of campaigns and explains what he looks for in campaign finance reports that may be tipoffs to lawbreaking. Martinez also reports on Elizabeth Edwards' recent mocking of Sarah Palin before an audience in Carrboro, former President George W. Bush's upcoming book, the death of former N.C. congressman and legislator Ike Andrews, and a prestigious award given to State Auditor Beth Wood.

05/13/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Tom Fetzer : Tom Fetzer, chair of the North Carolina Republican Party, joined Don Curtis to discuss Fetzer's call for National Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele to resign, the Democratic runoff that Cal Cunningham and Elaine Marshall are headed toward for Sen. Richard Burr's seat and the relatively low voter turnout in the primaries.

05/11/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Gene Conti : North Carolina Transportation Secretary Gene Conti joined Don Curtis to discuss transportation innovation in North Carolina, from new roads to plans underway to increase rail transit. They also discussed the increase in teen driving deaths in Johnston County, a possible new transit center in Raleigh and the reopening of the part of I-40 that had been closed since an October rock slide.

05/06/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Secretary of State Elaine Marshall joins host Donna Martinez to discuss her June 22 Senate runoff against former state Sen. Cal Cunningham and Marshall's areas of policy disagreement with Cunningham. That's followed by an assessment of the Marshall/Cunningham runoff by Barlow Herget of StateGovernmentRadio.com and Francis DeLuca of the Civitas Institute, including the role of the national Democratic Party's money  and influence in the race. The duo also discuss Sen. Richard Burr's easy GOP primary win and how the fall general election race is shaping up, no matter who the Democratic nominee turns out to be, in light of the reported $5 to $6million Burr has on hand. Herget and DeLuca also weigh in on the two U.S. House runoffs -- District 8, where Tim D'Annunzio and Harold Johnson are vying for the chance to take on Democratic incumbent Larry Kissell, and District 13,where Bill Randall and Bernie Reeves are fighting it out for the right toc hallenge Democratic incumbent Brad Miller. Then Herget and DeLuca react to news that half-dozen or so state legislators lost their primaries this week,what the losses say about the frustration of base voters in both major parties,the nonpartisan Court of Appeals races that were on the primary ballot, and thehalf dozen convicted felons who ran unsuccessfully for sheriff.

05/06/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Tony Rand : Tony Rand, former senate majority leader and head of the N.C. Parole Commission, joined Don Curtis to discuss how a third party, dubbed N.C. First, has attempted to form in response to widespread mistrust of current politicians and their parties. They also discussed the "effectiveness drain" happening in the NC Senate this year.

05/04/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Congressman David Price : Congressman David Price joined Rick Martinez to discuss the fallout seen since the health care reform law passed, controversy surrounding Arizona Governor Brewer's implementation of a harsher immigration law in her state, as well as what's expected for Democrats in teh 2010 elections.

04/29/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Tom Fetzer joins host Donna Martinez to discuss the political environment leading into the May4th primary election. Fetzer analyzes the Republican Party's chances of taking control of the General Assembly, key House and Senate races he believes will be GOP pick-ups, the large number of GOP primary candidates, the competitive races for U.S. House and Senate, and the issues that will likely dominate election season. Fetzer also discusses public pressure the state GOP has been placing on Gov. Beverly Perdue over campaign finances, the state's large budget gap,ex-Mike Easley aide Ruffin Poole's recent guilty plea to income tax evasion,and Fetzer's call for RNC Chairman Michael Steele to resign. Then Martinez provides an update on several key political stories: a possible deposition by John Edwards in the Rielle Hunter/Andrew Young court case, UNC President Erskine Bowles' visit to the White House, and former First Lady Laura Bush's new book, in which she discusses her role in the 1963 car crash that killed her high school friend.

04/29/10FOR YOUR INFORMATION - June Atkinson : June Atkinson, North Carolina state superintendent, joined Don Curtis to discuss issues facing North Carolina schools, including schedule and assignment changes, strategies for helping more students graduate, North Carolina's miss at Race to the Top funds and a recent decrease in crime in schools.

04/27/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - John Hood : John Hood, president and chairman of the John Locke Foundation, joined Don Curtis to discuss the Tea Party events that took place across the state on Tax Day, April 16, and whether the Tea Party itself may have any effect on the upcoming midterm elections. The discussion then turned to recent scandals in state government, and Mr. Hood gave his insight on how these may affect the elections. Finally, Mr. Hood discussed his view that North Carolina should not use taxpayer money to increase rail transit in the state.

04/22/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : People in Politics looks at two major legal developments with ties to North Carolina's political world. First,after initially pleading not guilty to 57 counts of corruption, Ruffin Poole, a former key aide to ex-Gov. Mike Easley, pleads guilty to one count of income tax invasion and agrees to cooperate with prosecutors. Carolina Journal Managing Editor Rick Henderson joins host Donna Martinez to discuss the provisions of the plea agreement and where the investigation may go next. In the second major story, Raleigh police charge a 30-year-old man with the rape and murder of 2008 state Senate candidate and State Board of Education member Kathy Taft. Donna Martinez is joined by Rick Martinez -- news director for StateGovernmentRadio.com, the North Carolina News Network, and NewsRadio 680 WPTF -- for an update on the suspect, what led police to the man,the theory of the crime, and where the case heads next. Then the subject turns to the race for the U.S. Senate and the candidates competing in the May 4primary election. Donna Martinez continues a review of the candidates who've appeared on People in Politics. This week: Republicans Brad Jones and Richard Burr, and Democrats Cal Cunningham and Elaine Marshall. Next up is a conversation with veteran Democratic political strategist Gary Pearce, who offers perspective on the Ruffin Poole guilty plea, a Pew poll that shows 80%of Americans don't trust government, and Gov. Beverly Perdue's sinking job approval numbers. Finally, Martinez talks about the First Family's visit to Asheville, Sarah Palin's upcoming events in Charlotte, Gov. Beverly Perdue's get-together with the NCAA champion Duke Blue Devils, and major events being hosted by the state Democratic and Republican parties.

04/22/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Dee Freeman : Dee Freeman, director of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, joined Don Curtis to discuss the state of NC's environment and DENR's upcoming initiatives. They discussed the state's history of drought and the current lack thereof, as well as the new Mayo State Park and recent record pollen levels.

04/20/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Brad Crone : Brad Crone, Democratic political consultant and founder of Campaign Connections, joined Don Curtis to discuss the emergence of a possible third party to challenge Democrats and Republicans in North Carolina, the "N.C. First" party. They also discussed the climate of the upcoming state elections and what Democrats' prospects are in May and November in both the House and Senate.

04/15/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : As the May 4th primary looms, People in Politics focuses on the U.S. Senate race by revisiting interviews with North Carolina candidates for the seat currently held by Richard Burr. Featured thisweek are Democrats Ann Worthy, Ken Lewis and Marcus Williams, and Republicans Larry Linney and Eddie Burks. Then host Donna Martinez is joined by Greg Rideout of North Carolina First, who explains his group's effort to gain enough signatures to put a third party on the fall ballot. The union-backed group hasthe support of the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC), an affiliate of the SEIU. The group's goal is to challenge three of North Carolina's Democratic congressmen who voted "no" on the recent healthcare bill. They are Reps. Heath Shuler, Mike McIntyre and Larry Kissell. Then Martinez is joined by Democratic strategist Perry Woods and conservative Francis DeLuca of the Civitas Institute. The panel discusses the high number of undecided Democrats in the Senate primary, the role of the health care vote on the re-election efforts of incumbent members of Congress in the wake of anger from both the Left and the Right, the Tea Party movement, the upcoming trial of former Easley aide Ruffin Poole on 57 corruption charges, and N.C. GOP Chairman Tom Fetzer's call for RNC Chairman Michael Steele to resign.

04/15/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Randy Voller : Randy Voller, Mayor of Pittsboro, N.C., joined Don Curtis to discuss the ups and downs of being a North Carolina mayor, focusing on current initiatives in Pittsboro, what Mayor Voller has accomplished in his tenure there, as well as some significant recent events that have taken place in Pittsboro, namely the destructive fire at the historic court house and the hearings of ex-Easley aide Andrew Young.

04/13/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Tom Jensen : Tom Jensen, director of Public Policy Polling, joined Don Curtis to discuss Wake County voters' reluctance in March toallow the school board's move forward with ending the diversity policy without further research into how much it would cost. They also discussed President Obama's negative approval rating in North Carolina: 49% say they're unhappy with the job he is doing. They touched on prospective presidential candidates for the 2012 race and the increasingly heated competition for Senator Richard Burr's seat.

04/08/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Who are the most effective state legislators, as ranked by their North Carolina peers, reporters and lobbyists? Ran Coble of the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research joins host Donna Martinez to discuss the results of the group's legislative effectiveness survey. Then the discussion turns to the race for the U.S. Senate as incumbent Richard Burr releases the first TV ad of his re-election campaign and the Democratic candidates prepare for a televised debate. Orange County Democratic Party Chairman Jim White and Wake County Republican Party Chairman Claude Pope share their views on how the Senate race is shaping up, the role the economy and health care will play in driving each party's base to the polls and the push to attract independent voters. White and Pope also discuss the verbal dust-up between N.C. Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry and Gov. Beverly Perdue over a possible legal challenge to the new health insurance law, the grassroots activist push to repeal the law, President Obama's recent visit to Charlotte, the role Mr. Obama may play in North Carolina's fall election, Rielle Hunter's upcoming interview with Oprah Winfrey about the John Edwards affair and growing pressure on RNC Chairman Michael Steele to resign his post.

04/08/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Andy Taylor : Dr. Andy Taylor, chair & professor of political science at NCSU, joined Rick Martinez on For Your Information to discuss the passage of the health care reform legislation, President Obama’s lift of the ban on offshore drilling, the North Carolina Republican Party’s investigation into Governor Beverly Perdue’s campaign spending and the Wake County School Board’s new direction.

04/06/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Tom Campbell : Tom Campbell,former assistant state treasurer and creator and executive director of NC Spin,joined Don Curtis for Carolina Newsmakers to discuss possible oil and gas exploration off the coast of North Carolina, the passage of the health care reconciliation ‘fix-it’ bill and the student loan industry modifications that went with it.

04/01/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Ann Worthy, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate,talks with host Donna Martinez about her campaign for the seat currently heldby Republican Sen. Richard Burr. That's followed by a discussion with Julie McKinney,state coordinator for Smart Girl Politics, about efforts to leverage thepolitical power of grassroots activism by Republican women. Then Democraticstrategist Perry Woods and Chad Adams, former Lee County Commissioner, joinMartinez for a spirited debate about the key political stories of the week:growing questions over campaign contributions from employees of AtlanticCorporation to Gov. Beverly Perdue's campaign, State Auditor Beth Wood'sdissatisfaction with media coverage of her office and late tax payment, Sen.David Hoyle's (D-Gaston) appointment as powerful Rules chairman, the impact ofthe health care vote on N.C.'s races for U.S. House and Senate, trouble for theRepublican National Committee over spending at a Hollywood night club, Democraticfundraising related to the expletive uttered by Vice President Biden about thenew health care law, the heckling of Republican strategist Karl Rove at a booksigning, and an arrest over death threats made against Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)and his family.

04/01/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Greg Taylor : Greg Taylor, the first man to be exonerated on murder charges by the NC Innocence Inquiry Commission and the NC Commission on Actual Innocence after serving 17 years in prison, joined Rick Martinez to discuss his ordeal. Greg Taylor's mother, Martine Strickland, also joined the conversation to discuss the emotional and financial impact this situation has had on the Taylor family.

03/30/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Bill Harrison : Dr. Bill Harrison, chairman of the NC Board of Education, joined Don Curtis to discuss how the Wake County School Board changes may affect the rest of the state and how President Obama's proposal to change No Child Left Behind may affect NC as a whole. They also discussed the use of video games as a teaching tool and how the money from the Education Lottery makes it into the education system.

03/25/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Republican U.S. Senate candidate Larry Linney joins host Donna Martinez to discuss his campaign for the GOP nomination for the Senate seat currently held by Richard Burr. Then the political implications of the new health insurance law take center stage. Cash Michaels of The Carolinian and Becki Gray of the John Locke Foundation join Martinez to discuss the potential ramifications for Democrats and Republicans, with a special focus on Democrat Larry Kissell, who voted "no" on the bill and who is facing a tough re-election campaign in a swing district. Michaels and Gray also discuss the state GOP's push for a campaign finance investigation of Gov. Beverly Perdue, former Easley aide Ruffin Poole's additional indictment on tax evasion charges, the Easley campaign's payment of just over $5,000 of its $100,000 Board of Elections fine, and dropping job approval numbers for President Barack Obama.

03/25/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Carter Wrenn : Carter Wrenn, co-publisher of the Talking About Politics blog, joined Rick Martinez to discuss unemployment and health care problems on the local and national level. They touched on the jobs bill just signed by President Obama, the bleak economic climate and whether it may look up any time soon and the allegations of corruption that have shown up in several different areas of state government in recent months.

03/23/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Ran Coble : Ran Coble, executive director of the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research, joined Don Curtis to discuss the issues the state legislature will be facing when they convene for the short session in may. At the top of the list is the state budget, which will likely be an even more heated issue than it was last year because of the current financial climate.

03/18/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling discusses with host Donna Martinez the latest polling data on North Carolina's U.S. Senate race, as well as Gov. Perdue's approval rating in relation to fellow governors, and prospects for N.C. Democrats to retain control of the General Assembly. Then candidate Brad Jones explains why he's challenging Richard Burr for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. That's followed by a spirited discussion between Democratic strategist Perry Woods and Dallas Woodhouse of Americans for Prosperity. The duo debate the possibility of an indictment of John Edwards for campaign finance violations, Rielle Hunter's tell-all GQ interview, Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Durham, Gov. Beverly Perdue's efforts to entice the movie industry to the state, questions from state legislators over the prolonged wait for income tax refunds and the role of cronyism in securing government jobs.

03/18/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - John Tote : John Tote, executive director of the Mental Health Association of North Carolina, joined Rick Martinez to discuss how health care reform in the way it is currently being presented by the Obama administration may affect the mental health industry nationally and locally, as well as touching upon recent issues with North Carolina mental health workers feeling threatened by their patients and how far Tote believes N.C. mental health needs to go before truly be considered 'reformed.'

03/16/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Dr. Mike Walden : Dr. Mike Walden, economist at North Carolina State University, joined Don Curtis to discuss the state's unemployment numbers reaching a record high of 11.1 percent, efficient ways for the average consumer to track the ups and downs of the economy and figure out if alleged positive gains are truly positive, how the country and state can go about creating jobs and how consumers should invest in the current economic climate.

03/11/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Host Donna Martinez discusses the investigation of the brutal killing of state Board of Education member Kathy Taft with Rick Martinez, news director of the N.C. News Network, stategovernmentradio.com and NewsRadio 680 WPTF. Then Democrat Marcus Williams tells Donna Martinez about his run for the Democratic nomination to challenge Sen. Richard Burr for the U.S. Senate. That's followed by a spirited debate about the Senate race with Jack Nichols, chairman of the Wake County Democratic Party and Republican Chad Adams, former Lee County commissioner. Nichols and Adams also weigh in on several N.C. congressional races that look to be dogfights, as well as former Easley aide Ruffin Poole's effort to delay his April trial on corruption charges and speculation over a possible John Edwards indictment.

03/11/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Jeff Orrock : Jeff Orrock, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Center in Raleigh joined Rick Martinez to discuss Weather Service operations and how Orrock got into the business of meteorology. They talked about the seemingly record-breaking cold Winter North Carolina recently experienced and how the numbers actually show Winter 2009-2010 as being the 14th coldest winter in the last several decades. They also discussed hurricane season, tornado warnings and what it's like making important decisions when severe weather is approaching.

03/09/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Bob Orr : Bob Orr, former chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court, Republican candidate for governor and executive director and senior counsel at the N.C. Institute for Constitutional Law joined Don Curtis to discuss the unprecedented process of exonerating Greg Taylor, the man who was imprisoned for 17 years for a murder he didn't commit. They also discussed incentives, specifically a recently dismissed lawsuit that challenged aid given to Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte.

03/04/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Sen. Richard Burr joins host Donna Martinez to discuss why he's running for re-election to the U.S. Senate and the push by national Democrats to take over the seat. Then the focus turns to news that former House Speaker Jim Black will leave prison early, that state Sen. R.C. Soles has received a fine for shooting a man on his property last summer, and that a secret recording may vindicate former state Sen. Tony Rand, who has been accused of insider trading in relation to a company whose board he chaired. Martinez gets reaction to the developments from Rufus Edmisten, former N.C. Secretary of State and Attorney General, and Francis DeLuca, Executive Director of the Civitas Institute. Edmisten and DeLuca also weigh in on Gov. Perdue's call for an appraisal of the state-controlled liquor system, and they assess the most interesting legislative and congressional races leading up to the May 4 primary election.

03/04/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Doug Hoell : Doug Hoell, director of the North Carolina Department of Emergency Preparedness, joined Don Curtis to discuss what Emergency Preparedness does for the state and the procedures they follow to go about dealing with weather and safety emergencies.

03/02/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Ballard Everett : Ballard Everett, public affairs and Republican political consultant, joined Don Curtis to discuss President Obama's televised bipartisan healthcare summit and what it may or may not achieve, Republicans in the Senate coming across the aisle for the jobs bill and some apparent inner conflicts in both parties.

02/25/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Host Donna Martinez talks with Asheboro City Councilman Eddie Burks, who is seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by fellow Republican Richard Burr. Then the subject turns to the public squabble over campaign finance and airplane travel between the state Democratic Party and the state Republican party. Cash Michaels of the Carolinian and Becki Gray of the John Locke Foundation weigh in on whether the charges from the parties are substantive or simply political gamesmanship. They also discuss Gov. Beverly Perdue's stubbornly low job approval number, the impact of her hiring of Britt Cobb as the new chief of staff, the large number of primary opponents facing North Carolina's members of congress this year, and the abortion funding issue that may play a bigger-than-expected role in the fall's local elections. Martinez also provides an update on the legal troubles of state Sen. R.C. Soles and an unexpected political announcement from state Sen. Julia Boseman.

02/25/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Cherie Berry : Cherie Berry, North Carolina Labor Commissioner, joined Don Curtis to discuss the mission of the Labor Commission and the duties of the Labor Commissioner, as well as the 2009 drop in state workplace fatalities, the encouragement by the Commission of businesses to apply for safety awards, which are given for sites free of fatalities and with injury and illness rates 50% below that of the industry average.

02/23/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - John Hood : John Hood, President and Chair of the John Locke Foundation, joined Don Curtis to discuss the spending of North Carolina tax dollars on subsidizing Amtrak service in the past and President Obama's new dedication to high-speed rail, citizen discontent with fiscal management in state government, NC Republican Party Chairman Tom Fetzer's advice to Governor Beverly Perdue to fire Crime Control and Public Safety Secretary Reuben Young and Correction Secretary Alvin Keller, as well as State Auditor Beth Wood's state tax delinquency.

02/18/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Democratic political strategist Perry Woods and Wake County Republican Party Chairman Claude Pope join host Donna Martinez to discuss the state Board of Elections investigation into Gov. Beverly Perdue's campaign finances, news that State Auditor Beth Wood is behind on her Wake County property taxes, and a fake campaign Web site that brings into question the ethics of political campaigning. They also review some of the candidate filings to date for several hotly contested N.C. General Assembly seats and U.S. House seats, and discuss the unexpectedly tough GOP primary facing Arizona Sen. John McCain, who has lost the support of the man known during the 2008 presidential campaign as "Joe the Plumber." Then state Rep. Thom Tillis (R-Mecklenburg) explains to Martinez his concerns about whether or not some state legislators accurately represented a supposed technical correction to a budget bill last summer that turned out to be much more consequential than many legislators thought at the time. And finall, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham joins Martinez to talk about his effort to win his party's nomination to challenge Republican Richard Burr in the fall.

02/18/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Kevin Leonard: Kevin Leonard, Director of Governmental Relations at the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners joined Don Curtis to discuss what the association does and how county governments operate in N.C., as well as how different counties are faring in the economic downturn. They also discussed the Association's new youth initiative.

02/16/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Elaine Mejia :Elaine Mejia, Project Director of the North Carolina Budget and Tax Center at the North Carolina Justice Center joined Don Curtis to discuss the pace of economic recovery in the state and when we may start to see a real change, high N.C. unemployment numbers and how the poorest N.C. residents are faring in this recession and what needs to be done with tax reform.

02/11/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Mike Munger, the 2008 Libertarian candidate for governor, joins host Donna Martinez to discuss the request he received from the State Board of Elections for his campaign travel records. Airplane travel made by Munger and other gubernatorial candidates is under the microscope in the wake of the board's investigation into the campaign travel of former Gov. Mike Easley. Martinez also is joined by Chris Fitzsimon of N.C. Policy Watch and Dallas Woodhouseof Americans for Prosperity for a discussion of the role money will play in the N.C. GOP's efforts to win back the General Assembly, the anticipated spring trial of former Easley aide Ruffin Poole on 51 federal counts, Andrew Young's assertion that Elizabeth Edwards has threatened to sue him for helping break up her marriage, and taxpayer-funded lobbying by local governments, state universities and community colleges.

02/11/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Tom Fetzer : Tom Fetzer, North Carolina Republican Party Chairman, joined Don Curtis to discuss the upcoming state Senate races, state Republicans' stake in the health care debate, the implications of Scott Brown's win in Massachusetts, the national budget and deficit and President Obama's new push for an energy bill.

02/09/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Chris Hayes : Chris Hayes, Civitas Institute Legislative Analyst, joined Don Curtis to discuss several recent Civitas polls: President Obama's favorability numbers are up in North Carolina, but voters aren't as fond of his Congressional counterparts; Voters are increasingly skeptical of lawmakers' ethics; North Carolina voters are not ready to legalize video poker and they don't want a second stimulus. They also discussed the emergence and continued growth of the populist Tea Party movement as an outlet for disgruntled independent voters.

02/04/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : What do former Gov. Mike Easley and "Nick Danger" have to do with each other? Jack Nichols, chairman of the Wake County Democratic Party and Chad Adams, a Republican and former Lee County commissioner, join host Donna Martinez to discuss deposition testimony from a former Easley staff member about a private e-mail account - screen name Nick Danger, spelled backward - from which Easley conducted state business. Public records requests from news organizations have not turned up e-mail from the "Nick Danger" account. Nichols and Adams also spar over Karl Rove's fundraising efforts on behalf of Sen. Richard Burr, Sen. Kay Hagan's attendance at a Miami Beach event that included more than 100 lobbyists, members of North Carolina's congressional delegation who face unusually tough re-election fights this fall and the involvement of state Sen. Julia Boseman in a case that will be heard by the N.C. Supreme Court. Then award-winning North Carolina journalist Cash Michaels joins Martinez to talk about his new documentary film, Obama in NC: The Path to History, which chronicles the key role North Carolina played in then Sen. Barack Obama's quest for the White House. Michaels talks about former Gov. Jim Hunt's advice to candidate Obama, the dynamics at play in North Carolina's brutal primary race between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton, and the connection between a young Barack Obama and former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt.

02/04/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Ellis Hankins : Dr. Ellis Hankins, executive director of the North Carolina League of Municipalities joined Rick Martinez to discuss the effect that the 'Great Recession' has had on local municipal governments and how long a local recovery is expected to take. They also discussed the importance of job growth on the municipal scale.

02/02/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - Andy Taylor : Dr. Andy Taylor, chair and professor of political science at North Carolina State University joined Rick Martinez to discuss local and national politics. Dr. Taylor shared his insights and observations on President Obama's first State of the Union address, the local and national implications of Scott Brown's Massachusetts Senate win and the effect that local political scandals may have on North Carolina public policy.

01/28/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : Public Policy Polling's Tom Jensen discusses with host Donna Martinez North Carolina's political landscape in the wake of Scott Brown's Massachusetts Senate win. Jensen believes some of the state's Democratic congressional incumbents are now vulnerable due to changing political winds. Then Democratic political strategist Perry Woods debates conservative Republican Internet blogger Bob Lee about President Obama's State of the Union address, the Democrats' quest to defeat Sen. Richard Burr, the growth of voter registrations as unaffiliated rather than Democrat or Republican, John McCain's primary challenge from N.C. State alumnus and former congressman J.D. Hayworth and the legal implications for John Edwards from material published in two tell-all books.

01/28/10 FOR YOUR INFORMATION - David Young : North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman David Young joined Rick Martinez to discuss the challenges facing the Democratic Party this year at both the state and national levels regarding party sustainability, health care and financial reform.

01/26/10 CAROLINA NEWSMAKERS - John Davis : Political analyst John Davis joined Don Curtis to discuss Davis's first 2010 Political Report, released last week. They discussed the turnaround for state and national Republicans predicted for 2010 and how Democrats may respond. They also discussed the implications of the fall of the 'Basnight/Rand Empire.'

01/21/10 PEOPLE IN POLITICS : TheMike Easley investigation took a consequential turn this week as RuffinPoole, former general counsel to Easley, was indicted by a federalgrand jury. Rick Henderson, managing editor of Carolina Journal, joinshost Donna Martinez to discuss the 51-count indictment, which allegesthat Poole used his influence to intervene for others in exchange for avariety of gifts and benefits. Then Democratic political consultant Perry Woods goes head to head with conservative Becki Gray of the John Locke Foundation over the political implications of the so-called "Massachusetts Miracle" in which Republican Scott Brown won the U.S. Senate seat held for decades by the late liberal icon Ted Kennedy. Woods and Gray also look back at year one for President Barack Obama and Gov. Beverly Perdue. That's followed by a conversation with longtime Democratic political consultant Gary Pearce - once and advisor to John Edwards - about the newbook "Game Change," which skewers John and wife Elizabeth over the behind-the-scenes behavior during his presidential campaign.