A local company in the biofuels industry has scored a bit role in the national debate over domestic ethanol subsidies versus importing foreign oil.

Novozymes, the Franklinton science company that makes the enzymes used in biofuel production, is featured in a new documentary entitled Freedom, which advocates for green fuel development as a way to break the nation's dependency on fossil fuels.

The 90-minute documentary will be showing tonight at no cost at the N.C. Museum of History in downtown Raleigh at 7 p.m. The film's producers and Novozymes executives will be on hand to answer questions and discuss policy.

Ethanol and other biofuels have been a flash point for controversy in recent years as members of Congress have waged rhetorical campaigns to end subsidies and other support for ethanol and biodiesel.

AT&T can begin disconnecting phone service for low-income customers who buy pre-paid service through a third-party reseller that hasn't paid its bills to AT&T, state regulators said today.

The N.C. Utilities Commission gave AT&T the go-ahead to disconnect customers served by Freedom Communications, also known as Tennessee Telephone Service. Freedom filed for bankruptcy in August and has just nine customers left in this state.

Freedom is one of seven companies AT&T has been trying to collect millions of dollars in unpaid bills. Freedom owes AT&T $2.9 million in nine Southeastern states, including North Carolina