Wednesday News and Sports

A High Surf Advisory remains in effect for the Outer Banks north of Cape Hatteras through this evening. Large swells of 9 to 12 feet will continue to cause minor beach erosion and overwash near high tide, which is around 4:30 this afternoon. A high threat of deadly rip currents also remains in effect for the beaches north of Cape Hatteras. Swimmers are urged to stay out of the water until further notice.

State health officials have issued swimming advisories for a pair of soundside areas in Dare County due to high levels of bacteria. Signs have been posted warning against swimming at the Southern Shores sound access and the sound access at Jockey’s Ridge.

Governor Mike Easley toured areas of Bertie County ravaged by Sunday’s tornados. At total of 47 homes in the Lewiston-Woodville area received some level of damage. 16 homes have been listed as destroyed, including 13 that were not insured. Nine people suffered injuries, including a teenager who remains hospitalized in Greenville. The state Small Business Administration will determine if affected residents will be eligible for low interest loans.

A teacher accused of an alleged improper relationship with a student at Pasquotank High School is no longer at the school. The Daily Advance reports that school superintendent Tony Stewart declined to name the teacher or detail whether or not they had been suspended. Both a sheriffs department and school investigation continues.

A day after Elizabeth City councilman Kirk Rivers was allowed to retake his seat on the council after a Superior Court judge issued a stay on an elections board decision that he was not a city resident, a challenge of both Rivers and his wife’s eligibility to vote in last week’s primary has been filed. Local Republican Party official Holly Koerber filed the challenge Tuesday, saying the couple had changed their residency to a new home that was not legally habitable according to public records the required 30 days before the primary. A hearing on the challenge will be held next Wednesday.


A runoff will be held next month to determine the Democratic Party’s nominee for state Labor Commissioner. Former commissioner John Brooks will face Mary Donnan in the June 24 runoff. The winner will take on incumbent Republican Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry.

The North Carolina Legislature returned to business Tuesday to adjust the state's two-year budget and was greeted by a second request for funding in as many days, this time to consider a bond of at least $1 billion for roads and public transit projects. A major debt referendum on transportation may have a better chance in an election year than Monday's proposal from Democratic Gov. Mike Easley to raise cigarette and alcohol taxes for teacher raises and mental health care.


COLLEGE SPORTS
The ACC will keep its current base schedule of eight football and sixteen men’s basketball conference games. While football coaches all opposed expanding to a nine-game schedule, some men’s basketball coaches were in favor of adding two additional league match-ups. The basketball proposal was killed because the league voted last year to remain with a 16-game schedule through 2012.

Tickets sales for the 2008 ACC football championship game in Tampa are on pace to hit an early ticket sales goal. League officials say they want Tampa officials to have sold at least half of the more than 65-thousand seats at Raymond James Stadium when tickets go on sale to the public in July.

GOLF
Annika Sorenstam says this is her final season of professional golf, saying she will officially retire following the Dubai Ladies Masters after the LPGA Tour season ends. The 37-year-old Sorenstam earned her 72nd career title last weekend, a seven-stroke victory at the Michelob Ultra Open in Williamsburg.

NHL Playoffs
CONFERENCE FINALS
Tuesday's Score
Pittsburgh Penguins 4 Philadelphia Flyers 1
Penguins lead series 3-0, looking for their first final since 1992

Today
Detroit Red Wings at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
Red Wings lead series 3-0

NBA Playoffs
Conference Semifinals
Best-of-7
Tuesday's Score
Detroit Pistons 91 Orlando Magic 86
Pistons win series 4-1
New Orleans Hornets 101 San Antonio Spurs 79
Hornets lead series 3-2

Today
Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics, 8 p.m.
Series tied 2-2
Utah Jazz at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Series tied 2-2


BASEBALL
Federal prosecutors have reworked their previous indictment against Barry Bonds, charging him with 14 counts of lying to a grand jury and one count of obstruction when he denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ordered prosecutors to rework their November indictment so that each charge alleged only one lie rather than lumping several alleged falsehoods into single counts.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Baltimore Orioles 5 Boston Red Sox 4
Cleveland Indians 4 Oakland Athletics 0
Tampa Bay Rays 2 N.Y. Yankees 1, 11 innings
Texas Rangers 5 Seattle Mariners 2
Toronto Blue Jays 5 Minnesota Twins 3
Kansas City Royals 3 Detroit Tigers 2
Los Angeles Angels 2 Chicago White Sox 0

NATIONAL LEAGUE
N.Y. Mets 6 Washington Nationals 3
Philadelphia Phillies 5 Atlanta Braves 4
Cincinnati Reds 5 Florida Marlins 3
San Diego Padres 4 Chicago Cubs 3
Milwaukee Brewers 5 Los Angeles Dodgers 3
Pittsburgh Pirates 8 St. Louis Cardinals 4
Arizona Diamondbacks 8 Colorado Rockies 4
San Francisco Giants 4 Houston Astros 2

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE
Lehigh Valley 7 Norfolk 0