Two former cabinet members in the administration of former Gov. Mike Easley arrived this morning at the Federal Building in Raleigh, where a federal grand jury is meeting.

Former Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett had little to say this morning as arrived. Tippett was the administrator of a contract with former  Southport Mayor Norman Holden, a friend of Easley. Holden appeared at the federal building last month when the grand jury met. Federal investigators have subpoenaed documents relating to Holden's contract.

Tippett was in the building for about three hours and left at 5 p.m. He declined to answer any questions about the grand jury proceedings.

Asked if he was going to talk with the grand jury, former Commerce Secretary Jim Fain replied, "I've got a little business here today."

Fain spent about two hours inside the federal building and left without commenting.

Easley tapped Fain to be Commerce Secretary, a post Fain held throughout Easley's two terms, from 2001 to 2009. Fain was a major fundraiser for Easley.

The grand jury has been meeting for more than a year and has issued a number of subpoenas seeking information on the Easley administration.

Easley, a Democrat, has said he is comfortable with the ongoing probes by state and federal authorities.

by staff writer J. Andrew Curliss

Former Gov.  Mike Easley used a private email account to conduct public business. That's from one of his former aides speaking under oath in a deposition. Sherri Johnson was Easley's communication director, and was questioned in a lawsuit over the destruction of public records. The News & Observer, the John Locke Foundation and other media outlets filed the lawsuit.

 Easley's email address was "Nick Danger" spelled backwards, a reference to a satirical private eye invented by the comedy group Firesign Theatre.

Series of events leading to Governor Easley's purchase in Cannonsgate development.

... and the Board of Transportation and school vouchers, among other things. The N&O's multimedia team put together some video of gubernatorial candidate Bev Perdue's visit with the editorial department Wednesday. View it here.

Governor Mike Easley urges people to evacuate if ordered as Tropical Storm Hanna approaches. Video by staff photojournalist Ethan Hyman

After a month-long summer break, about 3,400 elementary and middle-schoolers will be heading back to class on Monday, as Durham’s five year-round schools begin the new school year.

Take note that today and tomorrow are the open houses for parents at Easley, Holt and Pearsontown elementaries and Chewning and Rogers-Herr middle schools. (Here's the schedule.)

School supply lists are out, and parents should know that tax-free weekend is scheduled for Aug. 1 through Aug. 3, during which school supplies, and most clothes, electronics and sports equipment are exempt from sales taxes.

In Grey Blackwell's latest cartoon, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley asks, "What would Hank Hill do?"