The N.C. Department of Transportation is seeking volunteers from across the state to help remove litter from local roads during this year’s spring Litter Sweep event, held from April 16 to April 30. Volunteers played an integral role in removing more than 4.2 million pounds of roadside litter during the 2010 spring and fall Litter Sweeps.

“The department’s spring Litter Sweep is a great opportunity for all of us to pitch in to revitalize the beauty of North Carolina’s roads,” said Transportation Secretary Gene Conti. “By improving safety and appearance, we can ensure we provide visitors with a positive impression of our scenic state.”

Gov. Bev Perdue proclaimed Tuesday, April 12, as Equal Pay Day in North Carolina to recognize the continued disparity in earnings between male and female workers in America.

“Over a 30-year career, pay inequity results in the loss of thousands of dollars, which impacts Social Security benefits and pensions,” said Jill Dinwiddie, Executive Director of the N.C. Council for Women.

“Addressing pay inequity and eliminating barriers faced by women in the workforce is vital to the success of our economy.”

What was the most offensive, false or frustrating political ad of the 2010 election campaign? Whichever candidates you supported, it is likely you can recall at least one TV commercial, mailer or print ad from the midterm election that rubbed you the wrong way.

Now, who paid for that ad? That is often a more difficult question to answer.

Since the 2010 Citizen’s United ruling by the Supreme Court which declared it unconstitutional to limit the amount of money that corporations and trade unions can spend to influence an election, the question of who paid for an ad has become more difficult to answer.