Former House Speaker Jim Black is being moved to a prison closer to home.

The Charlotte Observer reports that Black, a Mecklenburg County Demcrat, was en route late Friday to a federal prison in Jesup, Ga., 300 miles south of Charlotte, according to former Mecklenburg commissioners chairman Parks Helms, a friend of Black's who also served in the state House.

That's more than 200 miles closer to home than his former prison in Lewisburg, Pa.

Last month, more than 150 friends of Black - including Helms, Matthews Mayor Lee Myers and former Republican Gov. Jim Martin - wrote letters to federal prison officials asking for leniency because of the failing heath of Black, 74, and his wife.

They also wrote letters to President Barack Obama, asking that Black's sentence be commuted.

Helms said he fears nothing short of commuting Black's sentence will allow his ailing wife to see him.

Black's wife, Betty, has degenerative Lou Gehrig's disease and Helms said he feels the move doesn't get Black close enough to her.

“It doesn't matter whether it's a hundred miles or 200,” Helms said. “She's just actually got limited time. … I think a commutation now is really the only thing that can give her and probably (Black) some relief.”

UPDATE: An official at the prison in Jesup confirmed Saturday that they do have an inmate named James Black.

Read more after the jump.

   Comments (6)

Hillary Clinton released a list of state politicians who have endorsed her.

The list of 60 names includes former U.S. Sen. Robert Morgan, state Sens. Dan Clodfelter and Julia Boseman, state Reps. Susan Fisher and Ronnie Sutton and Mecklenburg County Commissioners Parks Helms and Jennifer Roberts.

"Hillary is the most qualified person for the job — she is a doer and a fighter,” said Julia Boseman in a statement. "I am impressed by her plans to bring health care to all Americans, lower gas prices, and create renewable energy solutions."

It also includes former state Reps. Steve Dolley, Jim Morgan, Max Melton, and Tom Rabon; and former state Sens. Allen Wellons, Frank Block, Tom Taft, Aaron Plyler and Russell Walker.

County commissioners on the list: Gary Barber of Ashe County; Wade Nelms of Carteret County; Gene Gregory of Currituck County; Kay Cashion of Guilford County; Mike Nelson of Orange County; Charles Ward of Perquimans County; Eugene James and Beth Ward of Pitt County; Tommy Melton of Polk County; Roger Oxendine of Robeson County; John Bell, Atlas Price and Roland "Bud" Gray of Wayne County; Tommy Garner of Yadkin County; and Lindy Brown and Betty Lou Ward of Wake County.

Also on the list: Elon Mayor Jerry Tolley, Roanoke Rapids Mayor D.N. Beale, Princeton Mayor Donald Rains, Ayden Mayor Stephen Tripp, Grimesland Mayor Gerald Whitley, Mount Olive Mayor Ray McDonald Sr. and Yadkinville Mayor Hubert Gregory.