By Pat Stith, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Mar. 14--Gov. Mike Easley has said repeatedly that Carmen Hooker Odom, former secretary of Health and Human Services, "vigorously" opposed mental health reform legislation when it was adopted in October 2001.

By Michael Biesecker, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Mar. 10--CHAPEL HILL -- Gov. Mike Easley pledged Sunday to fix the state's broken mental health system by the time he leaves office early next year.

By Thomas Goldsmith, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Aug. 29--The state's new computerized information service, NCcareLINK, made its debut Tuesday, but it appeared to contain errors and inadequate information.

associated press RALEIGH - Dempsey Benton, a former chief deputy in the state environmental department for six years, will be Carmen Hooker Odom's successor as the state's top health official, Gov. Mike Easley announced Friday.

By Eric Frazier and David Ingram, The Charlotte Observer, N.C. May 5--North Carolina's top health and human services official, who has spent years struggling with the state's troubled mental health system, announced Friday she's leaving her post.