Claim: "This is the facts. You all know the facts. There are fewer dollars in the public school system today than there's ever been."

Speaker: Gov. Bev Perdue at a press conference Monday at the state Capitol

Gov. Bev Perdue argued forcefully for her right to block new state ferry tolls, but the law is against her, a top legislative staff lawyer said today.

"While the facts may be compelling one way or the other for the citizens involved, the legal issues here are black-and-white," Gerry Cohen, who heads the legislature's bill-drafting staff, told the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. "It is my opinion that the governor's order has no force or effect." (See online story with reader comments, and a longer story with reader comments in Friday print edition, and an AP story over constitutional issues raised by Perdue's action.)

See below for the full texts of Perdue's executive order, which put a one-year moratorium on the tolls, and Cohen's memo to legislators.

Documents:

Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton has launched his bid to replace Gov. Bev Perdue, who earlier today said she will not run for re-election.

He announced his intentions in this prepared statement to the media:

“I believe that our future economy and better jobs depend on our historic commitment to education. After all, education is in North Carolina’s DNA – it's what sets us apart and it's what will determine our future. However, you can’t make progress if you are pointed in the wrong direction. Pat McCrory and the Republican leadership are facing the wrong way by cutting teachers, reducing scholarships and abandoning economic development. They are doing lasting damage to our state. I’ve dedicated my career to improving education at all levels and making North Carolina a great place to do business.

“Today, I'm announcing that I am running for Governor. Lucille and I love this state and we understand tough political races. I am the only candidate who has run and won statewide and I look forward to waging an aggressive campaign. Elections are about choices. As a state we must decide the direction in which we will turn. With this campaign, I choose to look ahead to a brighter future.  I choose progress.  I choose a future where public education is the foundation of our economy.”

Cooper Standard, a Goldsboro company that supplies components to the automotive industry, will add 137 jobs by 2012.

Gov. Bev Perdue announced the expansion this morning while in Goldsboro for a miilitary summit.

The company will receive a $157,400 grant from the One North Carolina Fund if it meets job creation and investment goals. The One Funds must be matched by local funds.

Celgard, a Charlotte company that's become a darling of politicians for its green technology work and job creation, will get a little more love on Monday morning.

Gov. Bev Perdue is expected to announce that Celgard will receive another financial-assistance package in exchange for the promise of adding more jobs. Perdue is scheduled to make a jobs announcement at 10 a.m. in Concord, where Celgard is opening a facility to make membranes used in lithium-ion batteries.

U.S Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco and other officials are expected to join Perdue at the facility's dedication ceremony.

N.C. Commerce Department officials will meet in Raleigh shortly before that on Monday morning to approve an incentives package. It's unclear how much money is involved or how many jobs are planned.

North Carolina ranked No. 3 on CNBC's annual list of the Top States for Business, up one spot from last year.

The business TV network ranked all 50 states in 10 broad categories, including cost of doing business, workforce, quality of life and transportation & infrastructure.

North Carolina gained ground in workforce and infrastructure, but took a hit in the economy category. CNBC noted that the state's unemployment rate of 9.7 percent remains above the national average.

Economic recruiters and politicians often use such "best of" lists as they work to lure new businesses to North Carolina. Officials with the N.C. Commerce Department and Research Triangle Park immediately sent out alerts on Twitter about today's CNBC list. And Gov. Bev Perdue's office only took a couple of hours to put out a full press release.

Of course, "We're No. 3" bragging rights only go so far when North Carolina lags No. 2 Texas. What's even harder for N.C. officials to stomach: Virginia came in at No. 1 on CNBC's latest list.

Saying "enough is enough," Gov. Bev Perdue today issued an executive order extending benefits for 47,000 unemployed North Carolinians, Charlotte Observer staff writer Jim Morrill reports.

Perdue and Republican legislative leaders have been at odds for weeks over the extension, which expired in April.

An extension is included in a $19.7 billion GOP-backed state budget passed this week by the Senate and expected to be approved tomorrow by the House.

"Republicans in the legislature stubbornly cling to their political games," Perdue said in a statement.

GOP legislative leaders plan a 1:30 p.m. news conference to answer Perdue.

Gov. Perdue will visit both Robeson and Surry counties today to make economic development announcements.

Perdue is scheduled to be in Pembroke, about 100 miles southwest of Raleigh, at 9:30 a.m.

The event is being held at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke's Regional Center for Economic, Community and Professional Development.


At 11:30 a.m., Perdue will be in Elkin, about 150 miles west of Raleigh, in Surry County.

The event is being held at the site of a 416,000-square-foot distribution facility that was once occupied by Candle Corp. of America.

News reports have dubbed the Elkin economic development announcement "Project Clear."

The Winston-Salem Journal reported that the company is an auto-parts manufacturer that will create 260 jobs.

The N.C. Commerce Department has also scheduled an Economic Investment Committee meeting for today at 11 a.m. in Raleigh. The committee is responsible for approving jobs and investment incentives grants for companies.

As the administration of Democrat Gov. Bev Perdue prepares to start spending $461 million in federal fast-train grants (see today’s story with reader comments),  Republicans in the General Assembly want North Carolina to give the money back. All of it. [1:20pm update: See announcement from USDOT secretary and (3:20 p.m.) NCDOT.]

Reps. Ric Killian of Charlotte and Phillip Frye of Spruce Pine, Republican co-chairs of a House subcommittee that oversees transportation spending, filed legislation Monday that would order Perdue’s Department of Transportation not to ..

apply for, accept, or expend any grant funding from the federal government for any high-speed rail project unless the project has been approved through an act of the General Assembly.

DOT would face penalties, losing Highway Fund money, if it disobeys the ban.

The Federal Railroad Administration is expected in the next day or so to formally commit $461 million in federal stimulus grants -- so NCDOT can start accepting bids -- for 24 projects to build more tracks and bridges and make other rail improvements between Raleigh and Charlotte. ... [MORE]

Less than a month after announcing his retirement, the state's top consumer advocate has changed his mind.

Robert Gruber, 67, said this afternoon that he will not step down June 1 as previously planned.

The reason: Gov. Bev Perdue called him on the phone this morning and asked him to reconsider, and Gruber agreed to stay on the job at least until the complex merger is completed between Duke Energy and Progress Energy. That means that Gruber is not likely to retire until early next year, and possibly not until the end of his appointed term in 2013.

For the past 28 years, Gruber has headed the Public Staff, an independent agency that advocates for consumers in utility rates cases involving electric utilities, natural gas companies as well as moving companies and transportation ferries. He is one of the longest-serving public consumer advocates in the nation.