South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has until Wednesday to sign off on - or veto - a $6 billion budget for the state. One item she's threatened to veto could end South Carolina's prominence in Republican presidential primaries.

Republicans in South Carolina often boast of their "First in the South" status. The state's presidential primary is one of the earliest in the season - typically in January or February - and has consistently predicted the eventual Republican nominee since 1980.

Charlotte's main tourism and convention office will have to wait another month to learn if it will get full funding from the city. The decision had been scheduled for tonight's city council meeting, but seven members of the council and Mayor Anthony Foxx say they still need more information.

Unwritten bonus agreements and vague expense reporting policies at the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority are key concerns of the city council. Also weighing on the council's mind is the lackluster performance of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which the CRVA runs.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced Thursday it has enough money to keep some middle school sports alive next school year, but others, such as soccer and baseball, will end unless private donors offer long-term support.
The news brought cheers from those who believe sports help adolescents succeed in school and life, but skepticism about the timing.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue has vetoed a Republican bill mandating North Carolina voters show photo identification before they cast a ballot in person.

Perdue's veto Thursday was expected. Her office said last week the photo ID requirement wasn't something the governor could support.

Fellow Democrats have panned the bill as a way for Republicans to discourage turnout among older adults and black voters who may not have IDs.

Republicans say that's not the intent and that requiring IDs protects against voter fraud.

Davidson police are trying to find out if any residents have been pulled over by someone who is not a police officer. The investigation started last week, after they arrested a man for driving a vehicle that looks like a police car. But the driver says there's no harm intended - he was just repossessing vehicles.

Businesses, cities and counties in North Carolina will soon have to start checking the immigration status of their new hires. Gov. Bev Perdue on Thurday signed into law a bill directing employers to use the federal government's E-Verify system to prevent illegal immigrants from getting jobs.

The legislation makes exceptions for companies that employ fewer than 25 people or which use seasonal workers. Local governments will have to start checking in October. Larger companies will do so a year later. Smaller companies have until July 2013 before they start checking.

Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com writes about the process and challenges of starting a football program at UNC-Charlotte.

One of the challenges is money, but not just because of the economy, Schlabach reports:

Because Charlotte is relatively young -- the school didn't open its doors until 1946, more than 150 years after UNC Chapel Hill was chartered -- there isn't a huge alumni base to tap into for financial donations. The school has sold about 3,400 seat licenses, which have price tags ranging from $250 to $1,500 each.