NC panel penalizes former gov, asks for probe

RALEIGH -- North Carolina elections officials have penalized former Gov. Mike Easley's campaign $100,000 for unreported airplane flights and asked prosecutors to investigate whether laws were broken. The State Board of Elections decision Friday came after hearings into the conduct of the two-term Democrat and the state Democratic Party. The party was ordered to forfeit $9,000 solicited by the Easley campaign. The Easley campaign was told to give up $60,000 for flights costs and to reimburse the elections board $40,000 for its investigation. A political ally of Easley testified this week he flew the governor dozens of times for campaign-related events. Easley denied allegations he told the ally to file flight invoices to get money for home repairs. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)