At the time, Chief Harry Dolan all but admitted investigators had no suspects.

"We can not rule out that it's a random act," Dolan said.

"You should know that if I had further information about a suspect that I was looking for -- if I had a sketch, if I had any information -- I would have already provided it to you," Dolan added during that March 11 news conference.

News about the distribution of a flyer during a four-hour checkpoint Friday night has some neighbors hopeful.

"Anything that they can do to help figure out what's going on is a good thing," area resident Emily Debusk said. "They've been diligent so far in being here to protect the neighborhood, so I think their intentions are in the right place."

In the meantime, the home where Taft suffered her fatal injuries still remains a sealed crime scene; complete with police tape and cruisers limiting access to the building at 2710 Cartier Drive.

Investigators say distribution of the flyer between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. is intended to gather information from those who regularly travel the area at those times.

"I don't know what kind of foot traffic there is at that time," neighbor Paula Passmore said. "I don't know the pattern and I don't know what they'll get from that."

She added, "I would think they'd do it at a more high-traffic time of day."

Among information on the flier are two phone numbers the public can use to contact investigators with information.

They are: CrimeStoppers at (919)834-HELP and the Raleigh Police Department Homicide Unit at (919)996-3555.

COST: $940 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

HOW MANY COVERED: 32 million uninsured. Major coverage expansion begins in 2014. When fully phased in, 95 percent of eligible Americans would have coverage, compared with 83 percent today.

INSURANCE MANDATE: Almost everyone is required to be insured or else pay a fine. There is an exemption for low-income people. Mandate takes effect in 2014.

INSURANCE MARKET REFORMS: Starting this year, insurers would be forbidden from placing lifetime dollar limits on policies, from denying coverage to children because of pre-existing conditions, and from canceling policies because someone gets sick. Parents would be able to keep older kids on their coverage up to age 26. A new high-risk pool would offer coverage to uninsured people with medical problems until 2014, when the coverage expansion goes into high gear. Major consumer safeguards would also take effect in 2014. Insurers would be prohibited from denying coverage to people with medical problems or charging them more. Insurers could not charge women more.

MEDICAID: Expands the federal-state Medicaid insurance program for the poor to cover people with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, $29,327 a year for a family of four.
Childless adults would be covered for the first time, starting in 2014. The federal government would pay 100 percent of costs for covering newly eligible individuals through 2016. A special deal that would have given Nebraska 100 percent federal financing for newly eligible Medicaid recipients in perpetuity is eliminated. A different, one-time deal negotiated by Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu for her state, Louisiana, worth as much as $300 million, remains.

TAXES: Dramatically scales back a Senate-passed tax on high-cost insurance plans that was opposed by House Democrats and labor unions. The tax would be delayed until 2018, and the thresholds at which it is imposed would be $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families. To make up for the lost revenue, the bill applies an increased Medicare payroll tax to investment income as well as wages for individuals making more than $200,000, or married couples above $250,000. The tax on investment income would be 3.8 percent.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: Gradually closes the "doughnut hole" coverage gap in the Medicare prescription drug benefit that seniors fall into once they have spent $2,830. Seniors who hit the gap this year will receive a $250 rebate. Beginning in 2011, seniors in the gap receive a discount on brand name drugs, initially 50 percent off. When the gap is completely eliminated in 2020, seniors will still be responsible for 25 percent of the cost of their medications until Medicare's catastrophic coverage kicks in.

EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY: As in the Senate bill, businesses are not required to offer coverage. Instead, employers are hit with a fee if the government subsidizes their workers' coverage. The $2,000-per-employee fee would be assessed on the company's entire work force, minus an allowance. Companies with 50 or fewer workers are exempt from the requirement. Part-time workers are included in the calculations, counting two part-timers as one full-time worker.

SUBSIDIES: The proposal provides more generous tax credits for purchasing insurance than the original Senate bill did. The aid is available on a sliding scale for households making up to four times the federal poverty level, $88,200 for a family of four. Premiums for a family of four making $44,000 would be capped at around 6 percent of income.

HOW YOU CHOOSE YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE: Small businesses, the self-employed and the uninsured could pick a plan offered through new state-based purchasing pools called exchanges, opening for business in 2014. The exchanges would offer the same kind of purchasing power that employees of big companies benefit from. People working for medium-to-large firms would not see major changes. But if they lose their jobs or strike out on their own, they may be eligible for subsidized coverage through the exchange.

GOVERNMENT-RUN PLAN: No government-run insurance plan. People purchasing coverage through the new insurance exchanges would have the option of signing up for national plans overseen by the federal office that manages the health plans available to members of Congress. Those plans would be private, but one would have to be nonprofit.

ABORTION: The proposal keeps the abortion provision in the Senate bill. Abortion opponents disagree on whether restrictions on taxpayer funding go far enough. The bill tries to maintain a strict separation between taxpayer dollars and private premiums that would pay for abortion coverage. No health plan would be required to offer coverage for abortion. In plans that do cover abortion, policyholders would have to pay for it separately, and that money would have to be kept in a separate account from taxpayer money. States could ban abortion coverage in plans offered through the exchange. Exceptions would be made for cases of rape, incest and danger to the life of the mother.

GOP HEALTH CARE SUMMIT IDEAS: Following a bipartisan health care summit last month, Obama announced he was open to incorporating several Republican ideas into his legislation. But two of the principle ones - hiring investigators to pose as patients and search for fraud at hospitals and increasing spending for medical malpractice reform initiatives - did not make it into the legislation released Thursday. The legislation incorporates only one, an increase in payments to primary care physicians under Medicaid, an idea mentioned by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa.

"It changed my life," said Lucas.

On Friday, Lucas graduated from the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle's Culinary Job Training Program in Raleigh. Lucas' case worker had recommended he enroll in the 11-week program when he got out of prison. It was a perfect fit as he'd always had a knack for cooking.

"They told me it would be challenging," said Lucas. "That the class I took before wasn't really challenging and I took it on."

Since the program started in 1998, many others like Lucas have taken the course and graduated.

"It could have been a substance abuse problem, domestic violence, coming out of incarceration, and it could have been just the economy tanked and part time jobs didn't add up to enough any longer," said Jill Bullard, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Executive Director.

Bullard said although the course is culinary-intensive, the students also learn about life and work skills. They learn how to be a good employee and work out child care and transportation. She said it's a challenging program that's not for everyone.

"We cannot predict who will make it to the graduation because all the barriers you faced all your life are still here and you have to do this in spite of those things," said Bullard.

As part of completing the course, the nine graduating students also received their "Safe Serve" certification. That means the restaurant that hires them will automatically get two additional points on their food safety rating when the health department comes in for its inspection.

"When they bring added credentials to increase that rating, they've got an 'in' other people don't have," said Bullard.

Lucas said he now feels confident and poised to find a job.

"I'm ready to go into the field and cook in a restaurant," said Lucas. "Maybe one day even own my own."

The State Board of Community Colleges voted 13-1 Friday to approve a policy that, if it gets final approval, would allow undocumented students attend community colleges under certain restrictions.

Among them-- Students would be required to have a United States high school diploma. They would not be eligible for state or federal financial aid. They would pay out-of-state tuition. And if classes were full, priority would be given to legal residents.

"It is important for this state and this nation that we take talent wherever we can find it, and do our part to mold it, educate it, and promote it," said Stuart Fountain, a member of the board.

The lone ‘no' came from Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton. Dalton did not attend the meeting, but voted by proxy.

In a written statement, he said:

"I stand by my initial vote on this policy. It is simply not the right time to place greater demands on our community colleges."

The policy cannot go into effect until it receives approval from the Rules Review Commission.

If the commission receives at least ten objections, the State Legislature would have to examine the issue. Lawmakers could potentially pass a law to block the policy from going into effect.

Tony Asion, executive director of the Raleigh-based advocacy group El Pueblo, said he expects the policy to be challenged, but that it's a battle worth fighting.

"Where in anybody's mind do we say, ‘No-we won't educate a child," he said. "It just makes absolutely no sense to me."

He says immigration policy needs to change on a national level.

"This issue is a bandaid," said Asion. "This is one of those issues that the reality, the problem that we're having, is immigration reform."

Scott Taylor marched for his two sons who suffer from Autism.

"My youngest son has pretty severe speech delay, and my insurance carrier says speech classes are not a medical necessity," Taylor said.

So Taylor spends more than $18,000 a year to help his son.

"That's something we can't sustain," Taylor said.

Because of his experience, Taylor decided to join the march, which was headed by Organizing for America, an offshoot of President Barack Obama's campaign organization.

The marchers delivered thousands of letters in support of the bill to Democratic Congressman Bob Etheridge's office. Although the congressman has shown support, he has not yet declared how he'll vote on the final version of the bill.

"There were 10,000 stories collected from North Carolina, just North Carolina. There are thousands more stories to tell of people in need," supporter Cathryn Lamb said.

Chris Farr with Americans for Prosperity, a group against the bill, said Etheridge should represent the people.

"We have polling information ... that shows his constituency is very much against him voting for this bill," Farr said.

But Lamb said she needs Etheridge ‘yes' vote for her son Craig Oliver, who had triple bi-pass surgery at 37 years old. He then got laid off, but still suffers from serious health problems.

"The COBRA runs out this month, and I just don't know what to do," Oliver said.

Farr said there's another way for change besides this bill.

"We know that there are problems, but we believe those problems can be fixed without such a drastic take over and intrusion by the federal government," Farr said.

Both sides will keep up the pressure until the final vote.

According to officials with The Community Chest Inc., the non-profit organization that has produced the festival for the past five years, the economy has affected funding and sponsorships.

"We tried to the nitty gritty end," said Kimberly Ruskan, founder of TCC. "Current economic conditions create more concerns to predict attendance and spending behavior for an outdoor festival. Lack of financial support forces us to rely more on our attendance, which creates gambling risks that we cannot afford."

The festival will take a hiatus for 2010 and members will regroup to plan for 2011.

Taste of Durham is a food and music festival that celebrates the diversity of the Durham community while providing an "affordable high-end lifestyle experience".

Beginning at 11 p.m. Friday night, officers will be handing out fliers to motorists travelling through the checkpoint at Oberlin Road and Cartier Drive. Click here to view informational flier.

Jim Sughrue, spokesman for the Raleigh PD, says the checkpoint is being conducted as part of the department's on-going investigation of the death of Kathy Taft.

Taft was found severely injured inside the home at 2710 Cartier Drive on March 6. She passed away days later from her injuries. Police say the case is being investigated as a homicide, but have provided few details about the investigation.

A $25,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for her death.

Anyone with information pertaining to the Taft case is asked to call the Raleigh PD Homicide Unit at (919)996-3555 or CrimeStoppers at (919)834-HELP.


Full Coverage: Kathy Taft Murder

The affected mixes are:

1. 5 oz. packages of Williams Spicy Wings Seasoning Mix
2. 0.75 oz packages of Sunbird Stir Fry Seasoning Mix
3. 0.75 oz. packages of Sunbird Fried Rice Seasoning Mix
4. 0.75 oz. packages of Williams Caribbean Jerk Wings Seasoning Mix

The affected brands were sold at Kroger stores in several states, including North Carolina.  Customers can return the products for a refund.

According to Michael Evans, spokesman for the WCPSS, the district will be opening four new schools and adding about 2,000 more students to the bus route. In order to absorb that added growth, the district proposes to change school start times for 2nd and 3rd tier bus systems.

"By spreading out the schedule, the district can absorb the growth and NOT need an additional 24 buses and 24 bus drivers," said Evans in a statement. "With budget cuts that we've got going on, we couldn't afford that cost."

The change would move start times for those tiers back 25 minutes. For example, students who currently start school at 9:05 a.m. would begin at 9:30 a.m. next year.

Not all elementary schools would be impacted by the change, but a vast majority will be, said Evans.

The Wake Co. School district will present the proposal to the school board on March 23.

Perdue campaign treasurer Oscar Harris wrote the State Board of Elections on Friday and gave the money to the board. Harris said the campaign wanted to err on the side of caution after it became concerned about the origin of the donations.

State law prevents corporate campaign contributions and anyone from giving on behalf of someone else.

The Perdue campaign said in a news release that never was it aware that a contributor was trying to circumvent the law.

The results of the Elon Poll were released on Friday as the U.S. House prepared to vote Sunday on the issue.

The poll taken this week shows that 78 percent of respondents believe the health care system needs reform, mirroring results of the October poll, when 76.6 percent said reform is necessary.

Fifteen percent say the system is fine as is, and 6 percent say something needs to be done but the government shouldn't make the change.

The poll was conducted March 14-17. It surveyed 579 North Carolina residents, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

The State Board of Community Colleges voted on Friday to admit illegal immigrants to classrooms if they graduated from a U.S. high school, pay out-of-state tuition of about $7,700 a year, and don't displace a citizen.

The policy now must be reviewed by a state commission that reviews administrative rules. But ten written objections to the policy would send it to the General Assembly, which could block it by passing a law. Democratic leaders in the state House and Senate would decide whether to take the issue to a vote.

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Little River and Lake Michie will be open Friday through Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and during the summer months (June-August) from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Durham Parks and Recreation officials say they will also open the lakes on Easter Monday (April 5), Memorial Day and Labor Day from 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.

For more information, click here.

The Raleigh-Cary area saw an increase from 8.7 percent to 9.5 percent. In Durham-Chapel Hill area the rate also increased from 7.7 percent to 8.4 percent.

In all, all but one county saw increased unemployment rates, according to statistics released Friday from the state Employment Security Commission. Lee County remained unchanged at 14.6 percent.

Johnston County's rate increased from 9.8 percent to 10.9 percent. Cumberland County rose slightly from 9.4 percent to 9.9 percent.

"The current economy continues to influence nearly every major job sector, mainly in Manufacturing and Construction," said ESC Chairman Lynn Holmes. "In our local employment offices, we see, as well, the impact on our citizens. The action by Congress to extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program and the latest implementation of benefits will assist thousands more as they continue to look for work."

With a showdown set for Sunday on the House floor, Democratic leaders still didn't command the 216 votes they needed, so every undecided lawmaker was the focus of personal attention from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the White House, and every "no"-to-"yes" conversion was trumpeted by party leaders.

Obama, who delayed an overseas trip to help ensure passage of the legislation, spoke to an enthusiastic crowd at George Mason University in Virginia, lobbing attacks at the insurance industry with his coat jacket off and sleeves rolled up.

"The only question left is this: Are we going to let the special interests win once again, or are we going to make this vote a victory for the American people?" he said.

Obama described the stakes in stark terms, using words uttered so rarely out of the White House that they seem all but banned: "If this vote fails." What then? "The insurance industry will continue to run amok," the president said, pointing to rising rates, denials of coverage and limits on care.

Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, the vote-counting spotlight swung to Rep. John Boccieri, D-Ohio, who announced that he would support the bill despite voting against an earlier version. "I'm not worried about the election," he said. "I'm worried about doing what's right."

Boccieri became the fourth House Democrat to switch from "no" to "yes." Shortly after he announced his decision, Pelosi predicted: "When we bring the bill to the floor, we will have a significant victory for the American people."

The conversation was all about how Democrats would vote since Republicans have formed a virtually impenetrable phalanx of opposition for the past several months.

Retiring Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., and first-term Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Colo., announced their support Thursday; liberal Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, did so earlier this week.

The momentum wasn't all in the right direction for Democratic leaders. Some rank-and-file Democrats who backed sweeping health care legislation when it passed the House in November showed signs of defecting. Weaker restrictions on federal funding of abortion was a concern, but not the only one.

Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., a former union activist, said even a one-on-one meeting with Obama on Thursday hadn't convinced him that the legislation did enough to reform the health system and rein in insurers and drug companies.

"I'm still currently opposed," Lynch said in an interview Friday. "But the president asked me to think about it, and if there were some type of measure that might move me to a better place on the bill, then he wanted to hear about it."

As rumors flew around the House chamber of more possible opponents-turned-supporters - and also of previous "yes" voters who might withdraw their support - Pelosi worked her members, seeking out lawmakers individually or in small groups on the House floor to try to win them over.

Obama postponed until June a planned Asia trip that was set to begin Sunday, allowing him to stay in town for the House vote and action next week in the Senate. He's playing host to individual lawmakers seeking favors or reassurance. House Democrats were also hoping to get a letter of support signed by enough Senate Democrats to guarantee passage of the package of changes in that chamber, something leaders hope will reassure rank-and-file House members that they won't be left hanging out to dry.

Rep. Bart Stupak, a Michigan Democrat who has led a dozen House Democrats in opposing the bill because of the abortion issue, reiterated Friday that his group may vote no when the final vote comes.

Party leaders doubt Stupak controls even half the dozen votes he claims.

With the addition of the 153 pages of revisions, the bill would expand health care to 32 million uninsured, bar the insurance industry from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions and trim federal deficits by an estimated $138 billion over the next decade.

Beginning in 2014, most Americans would be required for the first time to purchase insurance or face penalties if they refused. Large businesses would face fines if they did not offer good-quality coverage to their workers. Millions of families with incomes up to $88,000 a year would receive government help to defray their costs.

To address concerns of House Democrats, those subsidies were raised by an estimated $25 billion over a decade in the package of changes offered Thursday. Seniors who experience a gap in coverage in the Medicare prescription drug program would receive a $250 rebate this year - an election-year bragging point for Democrats as they look toward the fall campaign with control of Congress at stake. A special deal giving extra Medicaid money to Nebraska was struck in exchange for more Medicaid money for all states, though other special deals decried by Obama stayed in the bill.

The changes also included another of Obama's top priorities: Federally guaranteed student loans would now be made only by the government, ending a role for banks and other for-profit lenders who charge fees. The savings, an estimated $60 billion over a decade, would increase Pell grants for needy college students as well as support for programs such as aid to historically black colleges, a priority of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Around 11 p.m. on March 17, Raheem Altrick Williams, 29, was found on Boxwood Lane with several gunshot wounds. Williams was transported to Cape Fear Valley Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

During the early morning hours of March 18, 34-year-old Laparis Lamon Whitfield and another unidentified male were shot by an unknown suspect at 5242 Murchison Road. Whitfield died from his wounds and the other victim sustained non-life threatening injuries.

At this time, police say there is no reason to believe the two incidents are related.

Police are asking that anyone with information about the two homicides are asked to call the Fayetteville PD Homicide Investigation Unit at 433-1856 or CrimeStoppers at 483-TIPS.

College sophomores Jack Zapple and Addison Hardy, along with 20-year-old Charles Gras-Najjar and 21-year-old Kenan Simpson make up Harmonist Incorporated -- a newly formed small business that creates apps for iPhones.

Harmonist has four apps under its belt and Zapple says the ideas are born out of need.

"We see a lot of drinking, we see a lot of people getting in cars at the end of the night," said Zapple.

And bad choices like that inspired Harmonist Inc. to create "Over the Limit."

"Most pocket mini-breathalyzers are about $100 and so most people just aren't going to get one. And our app is $3," said co-owner Addison Hardy.

Here's how it works: set your weight, gender and punch in what you've had to drink. Then just click a tab and it calculates your blood alcohol content, or BAC.

If you are over the legal limit of .08, the application will bring up a list of different taxis that you can call, so you can take a cab home instead.

Barbara Blackburn with MADD is all for technology, but warns "Over the Limit" shouldn't be your only line of defense.

"Even though you put all that stuff in, you know, you could be impaired with less than .08. You could be weaving...The awareness is great, we just want you to also have a plan before you party," said Blackburn.

"I don't think the app is gonna eliminate drunk driving, no. But I think it will definitely help and can be used as a tool," said Hardy.

The four students say even though the app market is more saturated, Harmonist Inc. is still generating a profit.

However, any money being made is going right back into the business for now.

Harmonist has three other apps including Lenscheck, which reminds you when to change your contacts, Drum Beat, and Studysound, which plays soothing sounds for students to listen to while studying.

It is the third accident this morning in the Durham area of Interstate 40.

The roadway have since been cleared and traffic was moving at a normal pace.

According to Durham police officials, the accidents happened at about 3:48 a.m. The first crash involved a Mazda car. The condition and name of that driver has not yet been released. Then, a driver of a dump truck who saw the accident stopped and got out of his truck to help the driver.

The driver of the dump truck was then struck by another vehicle. The man, whose name has also not been released, was conscious and alert when he was transported to the hospital. The dump truck was a Waste Corporation truck.

The condition of the two taken to Duke University Medical Center has not yet been released.

So far no charges have been filed in the two accidents. Durham police also want to remind motorists to stay in their vehicles and call 911 for help when they see an accident.

Sharon Tazewell spends time with the synchronized swimming team at Meredith College as they rehearse for a big performance on Mar. 25.

Thursday afternoon, a newly formed student assignment committee met for the first time to address assignment issues.

"This will include keeping most of our existing year-round schools as they are for the most part, and this will include keeping most of our magnet schools for the most part," assignment committee Chairman John Tedesco said.

In its first steps Thursday, the committee acted on a very limited, narrow set of requests, leaving a lot of the big changes still to come.

"We'll use the next nine to 15 months to build our new assignment process," Tedesco said.

As its first order of business, the committee looked at school-specific node changes based on parental comments from last month's community engagement meetings.

"We're making small changes at this time," school board member Carolyn Morrison said. "A lot of the things we did today are not final."

The assignment committee includes a number of parents, who will help the board members draft recommendations that will create neighborhood schools.

Elected board members say those recommendations are a long way from being created.

"We need to take our time and be very, very diligent and careful in our approach to building a community-based school plan," board member Debra Goldman said.

The school-specific changes recommended by the committee must now go to the full board, which will take a look at them and decide what to do next.

"I woke up with her screaming. He's out the window," Bacher said.

A man broke into his Fayetteville home and sexually assaulted his girlfriend, Bacher said. He found her upstairs with a bloody face.

This is one of the attacks that 22-year-old Fort Bragg soldier Aaron Pernell is charged with. Pernell faces a total of 26 charges in Cumberland and Hoke Counties including rape, kidnapping, assault, and burglary.

"How is my life after that night? It's hell. That's what it is," Bacher said.

His girlfriend was so traumatized that she later left him. Now he and his children live in fear of another intruder. And he says police didn't take the case seriously.

"Some guy walked into my house and tried to rape my son's mother in my bed and it seemed that nobody cared," Bacher said.

He worried that officers didn't talk to neighbors.

"What bothers me the most is that nobody listened to what I said at the time. And this was back in 08. And now here we are here in 2010. And I don't know how many women have been assaulted... Maybe some of this could have stopped," he said.

Fayetteville police had no comment today. They have said that they investigated a string of reported sexual assaults. But they didn't tell the public about a possible serial rapist until January of this year.

Since then the city put in place a policy that in most cases police have to notify the media about sexual assaults within 72 hours. And they have to name the general area where the assaults happen.

Byron Bacher was in court when Aaron Pernell faced a judge this week.

"For me it's somewhat of a closure knowing that he will never, ever see the light of day," Bacher said. But, "I can't replace my children's mom."

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Former Gov. Jim Hunt was the featured host for the Basnight tribute Thursday night in Raleigh. Between 300 and 400 people paying $100 to $4,000 were expected to feast on barbecue ribs and Hyde County oysters. The invitation says blue jeans are required.

Basnight has said he will work with fellow Democrats to preserve Democratic control of the Senate in November as several colleagues retire this year. Republicans are fielding candidates for all 50 seats.

Basnight often gives campaign money to the state Democratic Party, which can give unlimited amounts to legislative candidates.

"We're going to make sure that we don't just build the same old economy on top of the one that just collapsed," Biden said during a visit with Energy Secretary Steven Chu to Cree Inc., a maker of light-emitting diodes.

"Instead, we are remaking what we do, what we make, what we build and design, what we produce and where we produce it," Biden said. "All with an eye on bringing the middle class back to the place where we used to be able to be. That you could have a good job, a decent job. We want to create whole new industries."

The visit came the same day President Barack Obama signed into law a $38 billion package of tax breaks and spending designed to give U.S. companies added incentive to expand hiring.

Cree has transitioned in recent years from making light-emitting diodes for mobile phones and automobile dashboards toward commercial lighting units. It is expanding rapidly with demand for its energy-efficient products, has hired about 375 workers since last summer, and still has dozens of remaining vacancies.

Cree is spending $150 million out of the $430 million of new stock it sold investors in September to expand production. It's doubling its manufacturing in China for Asian markets, where Chu said the majority of the world's LED fixtures are manufactured.

The company also is speeding up expansion at its U.S. manufacturing hub here with $39 million in clean-manufacturing tax credits from last year's $787 stimulus package. Dozens of companies in 43 states have received the credits. Biden said they included a General Electric plant in Kentucky that makes high-efficiency dishwashers and an Indiana company producing precision gearboxes for wind turbines.

Republicans said Thursday the stimulus package has failed to turn around the slumping economy. With the national unemployment rate near 10 percent "it is hard to consider this legislation successful," the Republican National Committee said.

Biden said the U.S. is competing against companies around the world that have taken leadership positions in manufacturing products with growth potential, from high-speed trains in Spain to fuel-efficient cars in Japan.

Testing department supervisor Regi Smith said he was unemployed for nearly a year during the last recession before landing a job at Cree eight years ago. He said knowing the company was manufacturing a product likely to grow in demand gave him confidence about his financial future.

"I have a job that will truly take care of me and take care of my family," said Smith, 49, of Durham.

See our NBC 17 News story on Biden's visit to Cree in the video monitor above.

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On the Net:
Cree Inc.: http://www.cree.com/
U.S. Energy Department report on solid-state lighting: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/ssl_energy-savings-report_10-30.pdf

The other three new counts are for use of facilities in interstate commerce in aid in racketeering; aiding and abetting. 
     
Poole was expected in court late Thursday afternoon for arraignment hearing. He was accused in January of 51 felony counts of taking trips and gifts and making money off of coastal developments while he helped hasten them through the state permitting process.
     
Judge Terrence Boyle also may rule on a motion by Poole's lawyer to delay the scheduled April 26 trial until August.

The government wants the case tried this spring.

Poole and his attorney declined comment after Thursday's court appearance.

Delta offered service to the popular leisure and business destination from June 8, 2006 through Jan. 2008. The airline discontinued service due to escalating fuel costs and schedule changes. Demand for the service to LA and the west coast from the Research Triangle Region, however, remained high.

The announcement comes on the heels of news of a new airline and air service at RDU. On April 1, Midwest Airlines returns to RDU with two daily nonstop flights to Milwaukee. On May 1, JetBlue will add two daily flights to Boston, for a total of three. Southwest will begin service to St. Louis on May 9.