North Carolina's February 9.9% unemployment rate continued to eclipse the national rate.

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(News & Observer, Raleigh)
The N.C. Chamber wants the legislature to reduce the maximum amount unemployed workers can receive from $506 to $350 and cut the number of weeks they are eligible for state benefits. The chamber also wants the state to issue bonds to pay off its current unemployment debt to the federal government.
(News & Record, Greensboro)
A Connecticut consultant told the Greensboro City Council a downtown performing arts center would be profitable and generate $7 million a year in economic benefits. The city is considering a new center to replace War Memorial Auditorium at the Greensboro Coliseum complex.
(StarNews, Wilmington)
A development team trying to bring minor-league baseball to Wilmington proposed a public-private financing partnership Tuesday in which the developers would take out a 30-year loan, but the city would pay about two-thirds of the debt payments. The developers would pay the city property taxes.
(The Sampson Independent)
Samson County commissioners said they are still waiting for economic benefits from the Base Realignment and Closure at Fort Bragg a year after the move was completed. Commissioners are deciding whether to continue to contribute $10,000 yearly to a regional alliance.
(News & Observer, Raleigh)
The first official poll of the general election season has Republican Pat McCrory leading Democrat Walter Dalton by a 6% edge — closer than expected as he's narrowed a double-digit deficit recorded by a poll during the Democratic primary.
(News & Observer, Raleigh)
North Carolina legislators return today and are expected to tackle the state's budget, natural gas drilling, live poker dealers at Harrah's Cherokee Casino and a Medicaid shortfall in the early going.
(News & Observer, Raleigh)
Defense attorneys in former presidential candidate John Edwards' campaign-finance trial said there are only three new witnesses they may call: Edwards, his daughter, Cate, and his former mistress Rielle Hunter. They said recalling ex aide Andrew Young also is a possibility.
(News & Observer, Raleigh)
The first witness for the defense in John Edwards' campaign-finance trial, his 2008 presidential campaign treasurer, testified she did not believe money from two wealthy donors should be classified as an illegal campaign donation because it went for personal uses.
Register by May 25 to attend the reception. Cost is $50.
When: May 29
Where: N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W. Jones St., Raleigh
From our partners at Carolina Business Review