By The Charlotte Observer, N.C. Feb. 19--If the N.C. General Assembly approves the University of North Carolina system's current budget request, there will be "zero tuition increase" for 2008-09, UNC system President Erskine Bowles says. Here's what we say: You better get cracking, Mr. President.

By The Charlotte Observer, N.C. Feb. 15--A University of North Carolina committee did a good day's work on behalf of citizens when it purged a devilish detail from a proposal to set student costs at the state's universities. Here's what happened.

By The Charlotte Observer, N.C. Jan. 9--Senate leader Marc Basnight has said the state should charge tuition based on ability to pay rather than charging a flat fee as it does now. He aired that idea Dec. 28 in an interview on State Government Radio.