House Passes State Lottery Bill

RALEIGH — The North Carolina House of Representatives yesterday approved a state-run lottery that would fund various facets of public education. Some observers consider passage in the Senate and approval by Gov. Mike Easley to be easier to accomplish. The bill soared through a smoothly run special committee meeting in the morning, then the full House narrowly passed the measure by a 61-59 margin. House Speaker Jim Black of Charlotte had stacked the committee with lottery supporters. "A lot of people will get an education that wouldn't get it otherwise," said bill co-sponsor Rep. Bill Owens, D-Pasquotank.