One possible future can be seen in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, which scrapped its integration programme in favour of neighbourhood schools in 2002.

ECONOMIST: Has Wake County thrown out the baby with the bathwater?

Nearly 1 million people will reside in Charlotte's Mecklenburg County -- the state's largest -- by the end of this year, according to estimates from the Office of State Budget and Management.

CNN: Obama's North Carolina math problem

Turnout was so heavy in Charlotte, North Carolina, that Mecklenburg County officials are extending voting hours and opening 20 voting sites this weekend instead of the originally planned five, WSOC-TV in Charlotte reported.

CNN: Early voting suggests 2008 may see record turnout, expert says

It was unclear whether he was operating the equipment when the wall collapsed in rural Lincoln County, about 20 miles northwest of Charlotte.

CNN: Searchers find bodies of children buried by wall of dirt

It was unclear why the children were in the deep open pit at the home in a rural area of Lincoln County, about 20 miles northwest of Charlotte.

CNN: SHARE THIS

Campaign volunteers also went to work under the radar in several local campaigns last year -- including the Charlotte mayor's race and school board races in populous Wake County -- to elect friendly Democrats and identify new voters.

CNN: Obama's North Carolina math problem