NC State blocks part of Mary Easley's job

RALEIGH (Winston-Salem Journal) - An academic center that was to be run by former first lady Mary Easley has been put on hold by North Carolina State University because of budget problems.

The move has the effect of blocking Easley from doing a large part of her controversial job, the News & Observer of Raleigh reported Friday.

Easley, who has worked at N.C. State more than three years, last summer was given the new position and an 88 percent pay raise to $170,000 a year. That job and how she got it has come under scrutiny of university officials and a federal grand jury.