WILMINGTON, N.C.  A North Carolina contractor says plans for a new sea turtle hospital in Surf City are in the works.

The Star-News of Wilmington reports that Wilmington-based Baldwin Construction Services, Inc., is planning to design and build the 14,200-square-foot Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.

RALEIGH, N.C.  Gov. Beverly Perdue says she hopes she doesn't have to recall North Carolina lawmakers to settle a dispute over whether 27 inmates can be released from prison.

But WRAL-TV reports today that Perdue's staff is working on legislation, just in case.

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  The director of the Fayetteville VA Medical Center is retiring amid reports of dissatisfaction among employees and patients at a hospital that has struggled with adversity for more than a decade.

Fayetteville VA Director Bruce Triplett will leave his post on Nov. 20, The Fayetteville Observer reported today. 

 A Hertford, N.C., plumber will compete today as one of eight semi-finalists in Oprah Winfrey’s Karaoke Challenge.

Donnie Denny’s video was chosen from about 6,000 entries, according to WVEC-TV.

Denny, who told the station he grew up in Chesapeake, will compete against hopefuls from California, New York, Wisconsin and Florida.

One North Carolina school division is reporting a late start today because of dense, patchy fog. Gates County Public Schools will open one hour late, according to a recorded message from the superintendent.  

RALEIGH, N.C.  The NAACP is in North Carolina to encourage Congress to include a public option as part of health care reform.

NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous will be joined by the Rev. William J. Barber, president of the NAACP North Carolina State Conference, at a news conference this morning in Raleigh.

RALEIGH, N.C.  A higher sales tax means North Carolina consumers will get a larger break when they purchase energy-efficient appliances compared to a year ago.

The sales-tax holiday on so-called Energy Star appliances like clothes washers, freezers and air conditioners will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday statewide.

SOUTHERN SHORES, N.C. Three weeks ago, George Kowalski says, he went to the polls as a voter and left as a candidate. The 62-year-old gathered enough write-in votes in Tuesday's election to defeat the uncontested incumbent, Brian McDonald, for a seat on the Southern Shores Council.

RALEIGH, N.C. The White House nominated two North Carolina judges Wednesday to fill seats on the nation's most conservative federal appeals court.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.  A North Carolina congressman dashing to catch a plane dumped his SUV at the end of a row of properly parked cars at Charlotte's airport.

The Gaston Gazette reports Wednesday that Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry parked his Ford Explorer straddling a curb in a parking lot at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport on Sunday.