Weekly Wrap: They're a comin'

More than two dozen school districts across North Carolina have canceled classes on Wednesday because so many of their teachers asked to have the day off to lobby lawmakers for more support of public education. In addition to the personal appeals, the crowd of teachers plans to march through downtown Raleigh to the Legislative Building and later cram into a plaza across the street for a rally.

Raises for teachers is among the highlights of Gov. Roy Cooper's proposed $24.54 billion state budget for 2018-19, and he plans to pay for it by freezing some income tax cuts set to take effect next year. Republican legislative leaders have already deemed Cooper's spending plan dead on arrival.

Some of the lawmakers who will be meeting with teachers and voting on the budget won't be around after the session adjourns, having lost in Tuesday's primaries. Among the short-timers: Rep. Duane Hall, D-Wake, Rep. Justin Burr, R-Stanly, Sen. Shirley Randleman, R-Wilkes, and Sen. Joel Ford, D-Mecklenburg. Also, former Sen. Bob Rucho failed in his attempt to return to the Senate representing Iredell County.