Interviews with members show that had Senate Finance Committee Co-chairman Bill Rabon counted the votes, a measure to end a key renewable energy requirement would have failed.

The Senate has given final approval to a measure that would allow the N.C. Highway 540 project to move forward but would leave three other turnpike projects in limbo. The final vote Thursday was 33-17.

A fix that would allow N.C. Highway 540 to move forward is on shaky ground - and it's looking like the next victim of the political tension between House and Senate Republican leaders.

The bill to repeal a ban on considering a controversial highway route through Garner will be moving to the Senate floor as a much bigger proposal than just a fix for the next leg of N.C. Highway 540.