THOSE PESKY SUBPOENAS: Federal investigators are looking into more possible payoffs of state officials and land developments tied to former Gov. Mike Easley. (N&O)

BANKS VS. BUREAUCRATS?: Charlotte's lawmakers fare better in a ranking of business-friendly legislators. (N&O)

T FOR TROUBLESOME: A Tennessee Valley Authority report contradicts U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler's version of events. (Asheville C-T)

State Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry expressed concern this morning about some of the invoices connected to the state's legal battle with the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Berry, a Republican, noted invoices for $5.50 for a beer, unused hotel rooms, hotel upgrades, valet parking and candy, reports Rob Christensen.

"There are expenses being paid that I don't think are appropriate to be paid with taxpayer money," Berry said after a meeting of the Council of State, a body of statewide elected officials which approves of various expenses and transactions.

Attorney General Roy Cooper, a Democrat, defended the expenditures.

"Those invoices were scrubbed a long time ago," Cooper said. "The state did not pay anything it was not supposed to pay. The bottom line here is that we have succeeded in forcing TVA to significantly reduce pollution coming in to North Carolina. The people of North Carolina are big winners as a result of this lawsuit."

Cooper's spokesman later said the state never reimbursed the firm for the beer, nor did the firm ever submit the beer as an expense.

The Council of State Tuesday approved $103,771 in new expenses to two law firms, the Ayres Law Group and Hunsucker, Goodstein & Nelson. Berry voted against it.

The state had previously paid the firms $3.2 million in legal fees in the case.