Our report on Sunday detailing a program that forced quicker decisions on environmental permits for developers shed new light on the controversies surrounding former Gov. Mike Easley.

Easley said in a speech several years ago that he created the program. And a longtime friend to Easley, builder Nick Garrett, says he and a partner, Lanny Wilson, were among those who had an audience with Easley to push for the program. Their push came while they were also giving campaign contributions, according to Garrett.

A transcript of a key exchange about the issue is included with the report (see it on the right side of the screen.)

The News & Observer is featuring extensive coverage of this week's State Board of Elections hearings. Here's what was in Tuesday's paper.

McQueen Campbell testifies that Easley used his campaign to secrety pay for home repairs.

Developers Lanny Wilson and Nick Garrett said they gave big checks to the Democratic Party that they believed were headed straight for Easley's campaign accounts.

Ruffin Poole, a close Easley aide and lawyer successfully had his subpoena quashed. The board is appealing.

Columnist Rob Christensen says that Easley had once built a reputation as a fearless crusader against crime and corruption. That image is now forever tarnished, he says.

Also check out a photo gallery by Shawn Rocco and Chris Seward and a video clip of Campbell's testimony by Travis Long.