U.S. Sens. Richard Burr, a Republican, and Kay Hagan, a Democrat, have introduced the Lumbee Recognition Act to provide full federal recognition to the Lumbee tribe based in Robeson County along Interstate 95.

The Lumbee have for years tried to earn federal recognition through congressional action, but have repeatedly fallen short, reports Barb Barrett. The Lumbee earned state recognition in 1885.

Federal recognition would allow the Lumbee access to federal housing and education benefits. Federally recognized tribes also earn the right to build casinos on their tribal land. But the Lumbee have in the past agreed to forgo that right in return for recognition.

Among the bill’s opponents in the past have been U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, a Waynesville Democrat who represents the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians in western North Carolina.

* Mobile phones can make their way into state prisons in hollowed-out books and hidden inside tennis balls tossed over fences.

Often, they're smuggled in to inmates by prison employees looking to make quick cash.

Now guards caught smuggling mobile phones or cigarettes to inmates could find themselves locked up. A new law signed Friday by Gov. Beverly Perdue makes it a crime to sell or give state inmates wireless communications devices or tobacco products, punishable by up to 120 days in jail.

Correction Secretary Alvin W. Keller Jr. was among several leaders across the country who recently signed a petition to the Federal Communications Commission, seeking permission to scramble mobile phone signals in prisons. (N&O)

* A two-day hearing for a Cary man who claims he's innocent of killing a Raleigh prostitute nearly 18 years ago will be open to the public.

Nash County Superior Court Judge Quentin Sumner, the chairman of the N.C. Innocence Inquiry Commission, decided to grant a request to open a hearing concerning the 1993 murder conviction of Greg F. Taylor.

Taylor, convicted of charges in the death of a prostitute, maintains his innocence. The hearing is the third case to come before the state's innocence commmission. (N&O)

* Perdue says the state has not ruled out Las Vegas-style card games at Harrah's Cherokee Casino.

The state and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have no ongoing negotiations, said Perdue, who was in Jackson County on Monday for the grand opening of Sequoyah National Golf Club.

The Eastern Band has long sought state approval for live gambling. The casino is limited to video gambling machines and digital blackjack with a live dealer. A bitter exchange between then-Gov. Mike Easley and Hicks in 2006 followed an abrupt end to negotiations between the tribe and state.

The tribe estimates an expansion would bring $35 million in state taxes and an annual payroll of $100 million a year. (AC-T)

Gov. Beverly Perdue raised $17.8 million for her campaign.

According to the final campaign finance report filed with the State Board of Elections, Perdue raised $2.4 million from Oct. 19 to the end of the year. 

Her biggest donors that quarter included Pfizer Vice President Marcus Abrams, Brody's owner Hyman Brody, SAS Institute CEO Jim Goodnight, Fortress Investment Group managing director Michael Malone, SMI Motorsports vice president Marcus Smith.

She also received major donations from the Communications Workers of America, Planned Parenthood of Central N.C., the Conservation Council of N.C., the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and PACs for Pfizer, GE, chiropractors and certified public accountants.

Other donations from the campaigns of state Reps. Jim Harrell and Bruce Goforth and Congressman Heath Shuler, among others.

Perdue also spent $17.7 million on her campaign.

Richard Moore raised $5.7 million by the end of 2007.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate raised $5.4 million from individual donors, including Raleigh developer Craig Davis, banker Frank Holding Sr. and Waste Industries executive Scott Poole.

He raised $22,016 from donors who gave $50 or less.

He received $105,965 from political action committees, including Bank of America, BB&T, Wachovia and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He also received $18,400 from other campaigns, including state Rep. Pryor Gibson and former Rep. Gordon Allen and former Gov. Jim Hunt.

In addition, he loaned his campaign $350,000.

At the same time, he spent $1.7 million on travel, office supplies, research, and campaign events. He also gave $10,810 to other campaigns.

That left him with cash on hand of $4.6 million.

Beverly Perdue has received $171,737 from political action committees since 2005.

According to campaign finance reports filed since her 2004 re-election as lieutenant governor, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate has received money from 75 PACs. 

She received $4,000 each from Anesthesiologists of the Triad, Bank of America, BB&T, the CCHC medical PAC, Coca-Cola, Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, General Electric, GlaxoSmithKline, HNTB, McGuire Woods, the Nationwide Carolina Political Participation Fund, the N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers, the N.C. Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the N.C. Automobile Dealers, the N.C. Hospital Association, the N.C. Realtors PAC, the NP health PAC, Piedmont Natural Gas, Progress Energy, the Singh real estate PAC, Wachovia, Western Radiologists and Surgeons, and the Women's Campaign Forum.

She also received money from Time Warner Cable, Eli Lilly, PSNC energy, Pepsi, the N.C. Trucking Association, Embarq, the N.C. Association of Convenience Stores, the N.C. Association of Pharmacists, Caremark drug management and the N.C. Farm Bureau.

Richard Moore received $105,965 from political action committees since 2005.

According to campaign finance reports filed since his 2004 re-election as state treasurer, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate received donations from 45 PACs.

He received $4,000 apiece from ACS, Bank of America, BB&T, Wachovia, Central Carolina Radioloigsts, Coca-Cola, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Harnett Citizens PAC, Kennedy Covington, the N.C. Hospital Association, Replacements Ltd., Southeastern Radiology Organization, the Nationwide Carolina Political Participation Fund, the National Good Government Fund.

He received $3,965 from the Pike Electric PAC, $3,500 from the Capital Area Radiologic Association, $3,000 apiece from Corning employees' PAC and Genworth Financial, and $2,200 from Piedmont Stone Center.

He received $2,000 from the Ashland/APAC North Carolina PAC, CCHTA, GlaxoSmithKline, the N.C. Automobile Dealers Association, the N.C. Realtors Association, Pfizer, Sandhills Anesthesiologists, PBSJ Corp., the South Financial Group, United Health Services and Wal-Mart. 

He received $1,500 from Piedmont Natural Gas.

Other donors included Duke Energy, First Citizens Bank, Marqim, the N.C. Association of Convenience Stores, Smithfield Foods, the N.C. Bar Association and the N.C. Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association. 

Walter Dalton received $88,750 from political action committees in 2007.

According to his mid-year and end-of-year campaign finance reports, the candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor received money from 53 different PACs.

The top donors, who gave $4,000 each: Bank of America, Wachovia Bank, Progress Energy, R.J. Reynolds, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Duke Energy.

Blue Cross Blue Shield gave $3,500 and the Dominion energy company gave $3,000.

Dalton also received $2,000 donations from the N.C. Farm Bureau Federation, the N.C. Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the N.C. Automobile Dealers Association, Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Other notable PAC donations came from Kerr Drug, Coca-Cola and Pepsi, the Carolina Asphalt Pavement Association and Time-Warner Cable.

Note: This list does not include money from other political campaigns.

David Young raised $449,038 by the end of 2007.

The Democratic candidate for state treasurer raised $435,246 from large donors, including developer William Allen, Home Trust Bank CEO Edward Broadwell and retired oilman Walter Davis, according to a campaign finance report filed with the State Board of Elections today.

He also raised $384 from donors who gave less than $50, and $13,408 from political action committees, including the BB&T PAC, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Asheville Anesthesia Associates PAC.

At the same time, Young spent $20,483 on office expenses and consulting.

That left him with $420,058 in cash on hand.

Update: The contributions include $110,000 Young gave his campaign as a donation—not a loan—and $3,158 transferred from his county commissioner campaign.

Walter Dalton raised $855,382 by the end of 2007.

The Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor raised $764,637 from major donors, including retired oilman Walter Davis, lottery commissioner Charles Sanders, and state Sen. Martin Nesbitt.

He also raised $1,895 from donors who gave less than $50 and $88,750 from political action committees, including the Bank of America, R.J. Reynolds, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Progress Energy and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, according to a campaign finance report filed with the State Board of Elections last week.

At the same time, he spent $134,100 on secretarial services, campaign consulting and event sponsorship.

That left him with $904,191 in cash on hand.