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BOON v. BOONDOGGLE: Whether the stimulus bill has spurred the economy in North Carolina or represents a big waste of money is a key debate heading into this year's mid-term elections. (N&O)

GIFT-GIVING: A state Division of Motor Vehicles internal investigation found that at least 20 employees, including high-ranking administrators, accepted meals and gifts paid for by Verizon Business, which holds a multimillion-dollar no-bid contract with the agency. (N&O)

IF YOU GOT 'EM: A Greensboro judge promises a prompt ruling on whether the smoking ban is constitutional. (Greensboro News & Record)

The state Division of Motor Vehicles has settled a dispute with Verizon Business over hundreds of unused emissions inspection computers that were bought but never delivered.

Under an agreement signed Thursday, Verizon will credit $1.7 million to outstanding invoices with DMV. All told, Verizon's current contract with DMV is worth $51.5 million through 2012.

Meanwhile, there is no immediate word from DMV on whether an SBI probe is still underway into hundreds of meals and gifts Verizon said it provided to DMV employees who oversaw the lucrative no-bid contract.

The issue settled Thursday involves the state's e-Sticker inspection program, which was launched in November 2008. The program required new computers and other electronic equipment at all state inspection stations, which then numbered about 2,800. DMV's inspections service contract dates to a 1997 "sole-source" contract granted to MCI World Com, which Verizon bought in 2006.

UPDATE: Margaret Howell, a DMV spokeswoman, said Thursday the SBI probe is still underway.

In an e-mail sent Friday to all Division of Motor Vehicles employees, Commissioner Mike Robertson defended the agency's decision to follow the state's public records law and release the list of state workers Verizon Business says it provided meals and gifts.

The list, released to the media following a records request from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer, contained the names of nearly three dozen DMV employees. Most of those named are still working at the agency in high-ranking, managerial positions.

Robinson stressed that the document was not released "to harm or embarrass anyone" and that being on the list in itself did not prove any wrongdoing. The named employees would "have an opportunity to speak to the allegations," Robertson wrote.

Considering that some individual DMV employees were listed as dining on Verizon's tab on dozens of occasions at some very fine restaurants, Dome is betting there will be some very interesting explanations forthcoming.

An electronic copy of the Verizon list is available for download from Dome under "Hot Documents."

A copy of the e-mail is provided after the jump:

Nearly three dozen employees at the state Division of Motor Vehicles, many who directly oversaw the agency’s $51.5 million computing contract with Verizon Business, appear to have accepted steak dinners, hockey tickets and other gifts from the company.

On some occasions, Verizon says it provided such catered meals as barbecue and deli plates to DMV employees at the agency’s Raleigh headquarters. Most of the time, the company’s sales staff and the state employees dined out, often at such pricey Triangle eateries as The Chop House, The Angus Barn and 42nd Street Oyster Bar.

Verizon provided DMV with a list last month containing the names of 62 people it says it bought things for. Of those, at least 37 are current or former state employees, while nine were consultants and private contractors working for the state. Other names on the list appear to be the spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends of the state employees.

The list was released by DMV Tuesday, following a public records request from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer. Dozens of employees whose names appear on the list are still on the job.

The State Bureau of Investigation is currently probing whether Verizon employees or state officials broke the law, including whether those accepting the meals and gifts then made decisions that helped the company.

DMV Commissioner Mike Robertson said Tuesday that the SBI investigation is likely to take weeks, if not longer. After that, DMV will conduct an internal investigation to determine whether personnel action is warranted.

"The fact that an employee’s name is on the list does not indicate wrongdoing," said Robertson, adding that investigators would need to confirm the meals indicated in Verizon’s records actually took place.