Noonlike report

Good afternoon.
The focus is on Orange County’s Joe Hackney this morning—in a good way. It’s looking more and more like the Chatham native is in line for the Speakership.
AP: Tolson pulls out of Speaker race, backs Hackney.
Also Raleigh related: Been listening (albeit through a glitchy audio connection) to hearings at the legislature this morning on [...]