Cover

• Spending prompts fears of shortfall in ’07
• Attempts to address lobbying reform called ‘bizarre’

North Carolina

• ‘Gay Teenager’ seminar was held despite school promises, page 5
• Governor’s School makes last-minute R-rated movie switch, page 5

Education

• Employee communication skills worsening, page 8
• Linda Kakadelis commentary: After all, it’s your money, page 9
• Education requires energy — and lots of it, page 10
• Training for Easley’s literacy coach program costly, page 11

Higher Education

• Draft previews higher ed report’s findings, page 12
• Blue Ridge CC under scrutiny, page 13
• NCAA targets 2 prep schools, page 13
• Nan Miller commentary: Fear Factor 101 — freshman English, page 13
• Course of the Month: Green Orthodoxy, page 14
• Higher-education institutions recipients of bountiful budget, page 14
• Edwards wants greater college access — good policy or bad?, page 15

Local Government

• N.C.’s county jails filling with illegal immigrants, page 16
• Selling a rail line to various constituent groups difficult, page 17
• Chad Adams commentary: High cost of accommodation, page 17
• Local Innovation Bulletin Board: The evil cul-de-sac, page 18
• From Cherokee to Currituck, page 18
• Greensboro voters face 10 bond referenda on Nov. 7, page 19

Learning Curve

• Book review: Richard Brookhiser’s ‘What Would Founders Do?’ page 20
• Troy Kickler commentary: ‘Wilmington riot’ report focuses too much on black failures, page 21
• Short Takes on Culture, page 22
• Book Review: Larry Schweikart’s ‘America’s Victories,’ page 22
• Book Review: Harry R. Lewis’ ‘Excellence Without a Soul,’ page 23

Opinion

• Michael Lowrey commentary: Our fractured culture, page 24
• Editorial: Media, investigate terrorists!, page 24
• Editorial: Teachers and the budget, page 25
• Editorial: Philanthropy can’t be extorted, page 25
• John Hood commentary: Between bruising and snoozing, page 26
• Michael Walden commentary: Surpluses — here today, gone tomorrow, page 26
• Letters to the editor, page 27
• Marc Rotterman commentary: Illegal immigration the defining issue in campaigns of 2006, page 27

Parting Shot

• CJ parody: DOT retrofits Corolla ferry boat as party barge, page 28