On a busy Thursday afternoon, the Senate passed a bill to allow hunting with noise suppressors, saying it would save hunters' hearing. The cursive writing bill mirrors another measure sent over from the House. Senators also passed a bill giving Asheville's water system to a regional authority.

A bill approved Wednesday by the Senate Education Committee would end a decade-old policy of restricting classes in kindergarten through third grade to no more than 24 students.

Three adults and two children were removed from the Senate Education Committee today after standing silently in protest against a bill that creates a new process for approving charter schools.

Two bills filed by Republican lawmakers seek to cut back early voting and eliminate same-day registration in North Carolina.