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Wednesday: Hey, sorry...
posted at 2007-08-22 22:25 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
...no post last night. Blame it on technical difficulties filing my story this morning on the statewide drought. If you missed it, it's here...or you can catch me talking about it Thursday on the State of Things, early in the hour.
The Speaker speaks
Speaking of the State of Things - if you didn't hear Joe Hackney's hourlong talk with Frank Stasio , you probably should. It's interesting, it's smart, and moreover, it's the most I've ever heard Hackney say about a lot of things, including (very occasionally) himself.
Okay, seriously, it was a good show. Stasio asked some tough questions - about ethics, Wright, incentives, the death penalty, and Hackney's personal politics. The best moment of the show came at the very end, when Stasio asked Hackney whether he's too honest to succeed in politics. Listen for it.
Privette goes public
Former state lawmaker and Christian activist Coy Privette pled guilty today to six charges of aiding and abetting prostitution. Not only did Privette write checks to the working girl, she took pictures of him with her cell phone camera - pictures she shared with prosecutors. Hotel security cameras caught the pair, too - twice.
Privette won't do any time for his crimes. The judge ruled today he can clear his record by serving a year's supervised probation, doing 48 hours' community service, and continuing psychiatric counseling. News14 has more.
Coming Wright up
Embattled State Rep Thomas Wright may get his day in court soon, too. Wilmington's Mark Schreiner reported today that the SBI is hoping to wrap up their investigation into the New Hanover Democrat by October 1st. Schreiner also reported yesterday that SBI investigators had subpoenaed Wright's bank records, mortgage papers, deeds, and foreclosure docs.
One note: the state subpoena was released to at least one local TV station with Wright's social security number still legible. I'm pretty sure that's illegal...which explains why I'm not posting it here. If I get a cleaned-up copy, though, it's all yours.
Beason's Bulldog
Dome seems to be turning into the Beason Chronicles. Today, Ryan Teague Beckwith blogged about the backstory behind Beason's condo purchase from former lawmaker Theresa Esposito. Yesterday, it was Beason's payment arrangements with various clients, not to mention his LLC's corporate structure. I'll grant you there isn't THAT much going on in Raleigh. But I'd bet Beason's probably not a big Dome fan these days, either.
Who's in this race, anyway?
State Treasurer and '08 gubernatorial hopeful Richard Moore today asked the NC Association of Educators to delay its pre-endorsement interviews because his opponent, Lieutenant Governor Bev Perdue, hasn't yet officially declared her candidacy. Perdue doesn't seem too worried about it, and as a former public school teacher, perhaps she needn't be. Maybe Moore doesn't want to risk losing the NCAE's endorsement to "To Be Announced."
NCAE President Eddie Davis told Dome tonight he has no intention of delaying the interviews.
Davis is at the center of some significant political tension behind the scenes at NCAE. He recently said he's thinking about challenging current Education Secretary June Atkinson, who has yet to come out of the woodwork in any meaningful way. Now that the legislature has allowed public funding for this seat, we could be in for quite a horse race -- and there's still 15 months to go.
Moore power to him?
Dome reports today that Progress Energy has purchased more than 1500 copies - 2/3 of the total hardback sales - of Richard Moore's book, Faces from the Flood. Progress then donated the tome to libraries around the state.
Okay, the book is the top search result on Amazon for "Hurricane Floyd." It's earned at least one favorable review. And I applaud Progress's civic-mindedness. But still, somehow, something about this deal just doesn't pass the sniff test. I'm curious to know what other books Progress has purchased in similar quantities. If you know, tell me.
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