NC Senate quits for this year, House continues

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The North Carolina Senate wrapped up its time in Raleigh this year with a mix of last-minute dealmaking and belated congratulations to the national championship Tar Heels basketball team.

The Senate declared itself done Friday after an off-and-on session. But the General Assembly won’t adjourn for the year until next week as the House works until Tuesday.

The Senate spent Friday approving business tax breaks, adding training requirements for fireworks workers after a fatal July 4 explosion on the Outer Banks, and strengthening the hand of auto dealers the resuscitated General Motors and Chrysler want to close.

One of the Senate’s last tasks was to congratulate the University of North Carolina men’s team for their national title in April.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.