According to this story on the JournalNow site, some eco-friendly types at the NC State Legislative building were trying to use 50,000 red wiggler worms "to eat
one-quarter of the cafeteria leftovers and excrete waste would be
collected as compost for fertilizing plants, grass and other items
around the Legislative Building, where the General Assembly meets."  Unfortunately the bin containing the worm operation had an inside temperature that exceeded 100 degrees fahrenheit, effectively cooking the worms.

Further the article states the following:

Rosa believes the
high temperatures occurred because the material in which the worms
lived inside the bin still contained organic materials that could be
broken down by microorganisms in the food waste. That activity produces
heat.

The temperature rose further when workers shifted the pile around to try to get air in the bin.

"That’s how we have
to look at it, as a learning experience," said Tony Goldman, the
building’s administrative services director. Hopefully, he added,
"we’ve learned enough not to have it happen again."

Goldman intends
Thursday to bring in another batch of worms – about half the previous
amount – and start the process again. The first batch of worms cost
$400, while the bin was about $5,000.

Senate leader Marc
Basnight, D-Dare, asked administrators to test using worms instead of
shipping 250 pounds of waste weekly to an outside compost operation as
a way to save money and promote conservation at the Legislative
Building.

Unfortunately none of the reporters asked what seems to me to be two obvious follow up questions:

• Is the state charging itself with eco-terrorism?
• Has anyone ordered a copy of How to Eat Fried Worms?
• What’s for lunch tomorrow in the cafeteria?