Easley’s ex in-law may lose her job

BY J. ANDREW CURLISS, Staff Writer

RALEIGH – The former sister-in-law of former Gov. Mike Easley could soon be out of her state job.

Judy Easley, who was married to the former governor’s brother and has remained close to the Easley family, said in an interview that she has been notified by letter that her position could be cut by the end of the month.

“According to the letter, it’s in response to the budget crisis,” she said.

Asked whether her position was targeted because of her ties to the former governor, who is the subject of state and federal investigations, Judy Easley said she hoped not.

Battle lines forming after state budget signed

By Benjamin Niolet
ben.niolet@newsobserver.com
Posted: Sunday, Aug. 09, 2009

RALEIGH After seven months, 27,000 bills, 460 new laws and a $19billion state budget, lawmakers are ready to go home.

But they have to wonder if they will find the welcome mat waiting for them.

The 2009 legislative session is expected to come to an official close early this week. But for Democrats, who have long controlled state politics, the session’s end represents the start of a long and important season.

All 170 seats in the House and Senate will be up for grabs next year, and the party in control after the polls close will be in a powerful position. That’s because, in 2011, the legislature will redraw legislative and congressional district lines that will help the party in power solidify its grip on power for the next decade.

House rejects bill creating Yadkin trust

By James Romoser
JOURNAL RALEIGH BUREAU
Published: August 8, 2009

RALEIGH – A debate over the environment, the economy and the control of the water in the Yadkin River culminated in a late-night vote in the N.C. House of Representatives that dealt a blow to Gov. Bev Perdue’s administration in its fight over hydroelectric dams controlled by Alcoa Inc.

The House voted Thursday night against a bill that would have set up a “Yadkin River Trust,” a state corporation that the state hoped to use to take control of the four hydroelectric dams and reservoirs along a 38-mile section of the Yadkin. One of the sites is High Rock Lake in Davidson County.

State official sent to Oregon meeting for $1,000

State official sent to Oregon meeting for $1,000

Despite budget cuts that restrict travel, the state Department of Commerce spent about $1,000 to send its assistant secretary for tourism to Oregon for a national conference.

Assistant Secretary Lynn Minges attended a meeting of the U.S. Travel Association’s board of directors. The conference, which ran from July 22 through July 26, brought together government and private industry representatives to talk about policies such as cooperative marketing.

Rahm Emanuel’s chickens ‘coming home to roost’

Rahm’s chickens come ‘home to roost’
By: Glenn Thrush
July 29, 2009 04:34 AM EST

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) is angry that the conservative Blue Dogs are dominating health care negotiations, and she’s blaming their breeder — Rahm Emanuel.

Waters, former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, told MSNBC that the Dogs have proved so powerful because Emanuel, the former DCCC head, and others promised to allow them to vote however they want on any issue.

NCSU to probe Mary Easley’s job

NCSU to probe Mary Easley’s job
BY JAY PRICE, Staff Writer

In their first meeting since publicly announcing that Chancellor James Oblinger had quit and former state first lady Mary Easley would be fired, N.C. State University’s board of trustees named a committee to investigate the scandal over Easley’s hiring.

The Easley controversy also cost former Provost Larry Nielsen and former trustees Chairman McQueen Campbell their posts.

Subpoena seeks more on Mary Easley, e-mail

Subpoena seeks more on Mary Easley, e-mail
A new subpoena issued to N.C. State University seeks more documents about Mary Easley’s jobs at N.C. State University and shows that investigators want to know more about deleted e-mail messages from former Chancellor James Oblinger’s high-priority account.

The subpoena was received this week, according to NCSU Chancellor James Woodward.

Fetzer says Democrats’ fundraiser stretches ethics

Tom Fetzer, the newly elected state Republican Party chairman, is already taking shots at the Democrats.

In his first news conference, Fetzer called on the Democrats to cancel a June 26 legislative fundraiser that he said violates the spirit of ethics laws.

The fundraiser is a reception for state legislators, and tickets range from $50 for individuals to $1,000 for sponsor groups. State Democrats said the party hosts this reception annually to recognize senators and representatives.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1573549.html

Mary Easley is fired; Oblinger resigns

Documents show the NCSU chancellor was aware of the effort to employ the first lady in 2005.
BY JAY PRICE – Staff Writer
Published: Tue, Jun. 09, 2009 04:42AMModified Tue, Jun. 09, 2009 04:57AM

N.C. State Chancellor James L. Oblinger resigned and former first lady Mary Easley was fired Monday in a stunning new round of fallout over her job at the university.

They join two earlier casualties: the provost who hired her, Larry Nielsen; and McQueen Campbell, the trustees’ chairman and Easley family friend who suggested the idea to Oblinger. Both stepped down last month.

University trustees said that it’s not clear whether anything illegal occurred and that most of the problems could have been prevented if those involved had been forthright from the beginning.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2972/story/1561550.html

State Rep. Allred says he’s leaving Republican Party

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE EXCHANGE

Published: May 22, 2009

RALEIGH
State Rep. Cary Allred, facing calls from fellow Republicans to resign his seat, declared Thursday that he plans to reregister as unaffiliated after a report critical of his behavior on April 27.

In that report, other GOP lawmakers harshly assessed the Alamance County Republican’s actions. 
Some said he smelled of alcohol, and most said they thought he behaved inappropriately during debate and toward a young volunteer that evening, the News & Record of Greensboro reported.

“I think I’ve been stabbed in the back by my Republican colleagues,” Allred said Thursday.
When asked if he was sure he would switch his party affiliation to unaffiliated, Allred said, “I’m pretty damned sure.

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2009/may/22/state-rep-allred-says-hes-leaving-republican-party/news-ncpolitics/ 

**NOTE** – Kudos to Daves!