By Jim Nesbitt, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Sep. 14--State and federal water managers say the 2002 drought taught them a crucial lesson -- launch countermeasures earlier rather than later. "If it looks like you're going to be in a pinch, act now," said John Morris, director of the N.C.

By Jim Nesbitt, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Sep. 13--RALEIGH -- About half of North Carolinians aren't being asked or ordered to save water, a reflection of the drought's unequal impact on local sources of the vital liquid and the uneven embrace of conservation measures.

By Jim Nesbitt, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Sep. 8--RALEIGH -- With a deepening drought gripping the state, Gov. Mike Easley on Friday called on all cities and counties that haven't asked or required people to conserve water to immediately do so.

By Jim Nesbitt, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Sep. 7--RALEIGH -- In the face of North Carolina's deepening drought, Corps of Engineers managers have sharply cut back water releases from Falls and Jordan lakes to husband reservoir levels for a parched period they expect to last until February.

By Jim Nesbitt, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Aug. 17--RALEIGH -- Countries exporting food to the United States need to meet the same safety and sanitation standards as this country or risk having their product rejected at the border, two North Carolina congressmen said Thursday. U.S. Reps.