Morning Roundup: Five Pat McCrory donors referred for prosecution

The State Board of Elections on Friday wrapped up an investigation into Pat McCrory’s 2008 gubernatorial campaign by referring five campaign donors for possible prosecution, including four members of a Charlotte family.

Elections official Kim Strach told the board that Kenneth Gill, president of CPI Security, may have reimbursed three members of his family and an employee for donations to McCrory’s campaign. Giving in the name of another, or so-called “straw donors,” is illegal under North Carolina law. The case was referred to Mecklenburg District Attorney Andrew Murray. Read more here.

With the primary days away, many other political stories are in the headlines:

--The first week of early voting set a record -- surpassing even the heated 2008 Democratic primary election. Read more about the numbers here.

--Five GOP candidates are vying for the state superintendent nomination. Here's a primer on the race.

--The Republican race for lieutenant governor is all about big ideas outside the bounds of the office's muted power -- and a desire for a partisan takeover of the state's top two posts.

--Taking the witness stand Friday after 20 hours of testimony from her husband, Andrew, Cheri Young showed the frustration she has carried for years about her husband’s former employer, John Edwards. Day 5 coverage here.

--The Revs. Mark Harris and Robin Tanner would co-write a letter to their city, pledging that in the widening divide of the marriage-amendment debate, they would treat each other with understanding and respect. A group of spiritual leaders taking a stand against hate speech, how hard could that be? Three months later, the letter remains an unfinished draft.

--Two Wake County commissioners --Tony Gurley and Paul Coble -- want to name a new government building after the late U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms. Both are running for higher office. Are politics at play?

--Nineteen elected leaders from Orange County declared their opposition to the constitutional marriage amendment outside Carrboro Town Hall Saturday morning. “People ask me if we’re gonna win this fight,” Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt said beneath a giant elm tree. “Damn right we’re gonna win this fight.”

--Three environmental groups whose lawsuit led to restrictions on beach driving at  Cape Hatteras National Seashore criticized legislation Friday that would roll back beach access restrictions aimed at protecting the nests of rare turtles and shore birds.