Gov. Beverly Perdue wants to repay North Carolina state workers for taking away part of their salaries last year to close a budget shortfall.

Republicans legislative leaders scheduled rare sessions Saturday in a move to force Perdue to choose that same day whether to veto or sign a bill that would preserve jobless benefits for thousands.

As the death toll from last weekend's storms continued to rise Wednesday, the extent of the physical and economic damage to North Carolina became clearer.

A judge ruled the state cannot deny admission to any 4-year-old eligible for the kindergarten prep program due to income or other education risk factors.

Governor Beverly Perdue said Friday that agricultural losses represent the bulk of the figure, at more than $320 million.

On Monday, there were worrying signs that Irene may have hobbled hopes for a lucrative Labor Day.

"This is one of the best tobacco-control programs in the Southeast and hands down the strongest among the six major tobacco-producing states," Ribisl said.

Easley wrote North Carolina's unemployment rate is expected to rise this month after a half-million jobs were lost nationwide in November.

The budget focuses on most state agencies seeing a spending cut of an additional 5 to 7 percent starting in July, except for education.

Governor Perdue's office said she would visit the towns of Windsor and Vanceboro on Sunday.

Gov. Perdue has asked for a major disaster declaration for Beaufort, Bertie, Craven, Hertford, Onslow and Tyrrell counties.

With damage spread across 19 counties, the full scope won't be known until the end of the week at the earliest.

One bill was to help with North Carolina's budget shortfall and another to temporarily stop new rules by state agencies considered costly to those regulated.

In all, 50 new laws will start being enforced this weekend in North Carolina.