By Lorenzo Perez, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Jul. 4--The rash of wildfires that kept firefighters busy across the state during the first half of the year has yet to fizzle.

By Jerry Allegood, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Aug. 18--The state Division of Forest Resources is planning to retire its 38-year-old water-scooping airplane, a budget albatross that costs $10,500 an hour to fly.