— Isn't August supposed to be vacation season?

It hasn't been for lawyers and judges, who are dealing with two lawsuits challenging some of the proposed amendments on the November ballot and two others challenging a new state law over who can and cannot have a party label next to his or her name on the ballot.

The State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement is named as a defendant in the two amendments lawsuits, but the agency has distanced itself from statements made in a court hearing by the Attorney General's Office, which essentially agrees with the position of Gov. Roy Cooper and other plaintiffs that the proposed amendments are misleading and shouldn't appear on the ballot as is.

Outside of the court, a state audit found the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission didn't pay enough attention to the contract for warehousing and distributing liquor to state ABC stores, costing taxpayers about $14 million.

Finally, state Rep. Ed Hanes, D-Forsyth, resigned his seat.