In brief: Governor first to veto budget

RALEIGH, N.C. – Democrat Beverly Perdue on Sunday became the first North Carolina governor to veto a budget bill since the chief executive was given the power in 1997.

Perdue said in her announcement Sunday that the Republican-led Legislature’s $20 billion proposal would do “generational damage” to public education. She said the Legislature has turned its “back on our schools, our children, our longstanding investments in education and our future economic prospects.”

“I will not put my name on a plan that so blatantly ignores the values that have built this great North Carolina or the value of our people,” Perdue said.

Republican Senate leader Phil Berger said the veto was irresponsible and political. He said the budget plan she rejected does more to create jobs and help public schools than her own.

The GOP could still win the battle with an expected override vote this week. Five Democrats defected to approve the measure and they have said they would vote to overturn the veto as well.

U.S. intercepted N. Korean ship

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Navy forced a North Korean ship on its way to Myanmar to return home after a standoff two weeks ago, the New York Times reported Sunday.

The Times said the U.S. suspected the North Korean cargo vessel, the M/V Light, was carrying missile technology to Myanmar. The Navy destroyer McCampbell was sent to track its movement.

On May 26, the Times reported, the McCampbell caught up with the ship and asked to board it.

The North Koreans refused, and since the U.S. did not want to force its way aboard, it could not confirm whether its suspicions were true.

Nonetheless, a few days after the Navy approached it, the North Korean vessel stopped well short of Myanmar and returned to its home port.