"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.

At least one North Carolina lawmaker says reports about travel and spending on ballots by State Elections Board officials needs to be studied.

Two lawmakers made their cases Wednesday for or against a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in North Carolina.

"We need to do everything we can to create jobs," said Rep. Bill Owens, D-Pasquotank. "We can't do enough this year to create jobs."

Even before the opening of polls at 6:30AM Tuesday, the most significant primary in at least two decades has already brought signs of record turnout.