Joining a move toward nonsectarian prayer, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has asked its chaplains to stop including Jesus in their invocations at official department ceremonies.
The change, which applies to such events as police graduations, promotions and memorials, took place about a month ago, said Maj. John Diggs, who heads the department's volunteer chaplain program. The goal: greater sensitivity to all religions practiced by the more than 2,000 police employees.

North Carolina lawmakers are looking into an instance where the Governor's Office did some creative editing or forgery depending on your view. The governor's deputy chief changed the wording and meaning of a letter from a state Department of Transportation official. The matter involves funding for two major road projects, one of which is the Garden Parkway toll road through Gaston County. The Raleigh News and Observer broke the story Tuesday.

The day before American Idol's Charlotte auditions, these hopeful performers ready themselves outside the Time Warner Cable Arena. Video: Tanner Latham

St. John's interim head coach Mike Dunlap directs his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game won 81-59 by Kentucky in Lexington, KY., Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. Photo: Charlotte Observer.

The W.A. Hough High girls' soccer team poses for a picture with their trophy and banner. Photo: Christina Ritchie Rogers / CorneliusNews.net)

The North Carolina Supreme Court has ended a three-year battle over whether or not charter schools can receive public money for construction. The answer is no.

The Charlotte Observer has a story here.

Mecklenburg County, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Board of Education and Union County, among others, were named as defendants in a lawsuit filed in 2009 by the North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law on behalf of nine charter schools in the state.