Meredith Norris claimed this month that she didn't know lobbying laws.

But that wasn't what she said back in 2005.

In a meeting with the Real Estate Commission, the one-time aide to disgraced former House Speaker Jim Black blamed Scientific Games lobbyist Alan Middleton for not telling her she needed to register.

And in a letter to commissioners, she said state statutes were "vague and unclear" about the difference between lobbying and consulting.

But after a story in the N&O noted that she was being paid by the lottery vendor, Norris visited the newsroom on Sept. 23, 2005, and met with editor Melanie Sill and two reporters to complain. She was adamant that all she did was monitor legislation.

"I know the lobbying law," Norris said then. "So certainly would I just be dumb enough not to register when I needed to?"

Hat Tip: Dan Kane

The Fayetteville Observer's "Live Wire" column is usually pretty pedestrian.

In recent weeks, columnist Catherine Pritchard has answered readers' questions such as: Are there any home schooling groups in town? How quickly do you have to roll in your trash can? and Where can I buy ethanol for my new car?

But a question from Saturday's column stands out:

Q: Who would you need to contact or how would you go about receiving a pardon from the governor? — A.K., Fayetteville

Good question, A.K. What a crazy week! M.N. in Raleigh and A.M. in Chapin, S.C., were wondering about the exact same thing. The answer is here. Don't get your hopes up, though, the guv's only given out four pardons so far!

Note to readers J.B. in Matthews; M.D. in Walkertown; and K.G. in St. Augustine, Fla.; we'll answer your questions about federal pardons next week. Keep reading!

One-time state lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings liked to bet on the lottery.

Not by buying lottery tickets, mind you. By betting on whether the bill to create a lottery in North Carolina would pass in the legislature, Andy Curliss reports.

This week, prosecutors entered several 2005 e-mail exchanges as evidence against Geddings, who will be sentenced next week on a fraud conviction. Geddings had hid his employment history with Scientific Games and Middleton, its chief lobbyist, when he took a seat on the lottery oversight board.

In one, Geddings bets Middleton dinner at Morton's in Charlotte that the bill will pass. In another, he says he'll buy him a "Big Boy burger" if it passes.

Geddings then adds: "Get ready to move to Raleigh to do start-up!"

Prosecutors argue that last line is evidence that Geddings intended to help Scientific Games win the lottery contract.

For the full story, click "Read more" below.

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