Wednesday Wrap: Snow days are slow days

The Senate did meet Wednesday afternoon and passed a bill that tweaks the state's unemployment insurance system. Gov. Pat McCrory has already criticized part of the bill that he feels takes away some of his appointment powers.

The House Appropriations Committee also passed a single bill in an afternoon meeting that makes some budget adjustments regarding funding of the Coal Ash Management Commission and the panel tasked with rewriting academic standards for North Carolina public school students.

Outside of the General Assembly, former Wake County Rep. Linda Coleman said she plans another run at lieutenant governor. She narrowly lost to Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest in 2012, and his spokesman said he plans to seek re-election.

A UNC Board of Governors panel recommended that three academic centers in the 16-campus University of North Carolina system be closed. The vast majority of the 240 centers systemwide were validated, while 16 need more review, the group said.

Also on the higher education front, an economic analysis paid for by the UNC system, the North Carolina Community College System and independent colleges in the state found that higher education has a $63 billion impact on North Carolina's economy.