New Bern, NC – Nine new charter schools hope to open this August in North Carolina. This week on the Down East Journal, we talk to the Director of the office of charter schools about the fast-track process and what that means for three communities in eastern North Carolina hoping to open charter schools this Fall. And, rising gas prices in NC have forced a local public transportation services in Lenoir County to increase their rates and reduce their routes. Plus, the latest Garden Journal.