Asheville Citizen-Times from Asheville, North Carolina • Page 6

STATE NEWS A6 THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2007 ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Black's bid to delay prison thwarted; term begins Monday ON THE WEB Go to lottery for more information and statistics on regional lotteries. LOTTERIES WEDNESDAY POWERBALL: 0 AROUND THE SOUTHEAST: Lawmakers reach tentative deal on budget Counties could raise land, sales taxes ETT 1 Tue. evening 2-8-1-2 Tue. Fantasy Five 7-10-19-22-34 MEGA MILLIONS (Georgia Virginia): Tue. 8-17-202350 (17) Sat Win For Life 10-11-16-22-237(38) NORTH CAROLINA wwWLnc-educatMxitotlefywg Wed.

Pick 3 4- 5-3 Wed. Cash 5 25 22-26-3 31 SOUTH CAROLINA www.sceducauonlottefy.com Pick 3 Midday 1-7-2 Evening 7-6-0 Pick 4 Midday 5-6-2-8 Evening 0-8-6-9 Palmetto Cash 5 5- 16 20-22-38 (3) TENNESSEE www.tnlottery.com Pick 3 Midday 6-1-8 Evening 9-2-9 By Gary Robertson THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RALEIGH A federal judge ordered former House Speaker Jim Black to begin serving his five-year prison sentence Monday as scheduled, rejecting the defamed politician's request that it be delayed. Black, 72, had asked U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle to let him begin serving his sentence no sooner than Sept. 10.

The Mecklenburg County Democrat pleaded guilty earlier this month to a felony charge for illegally accepting $25,000 in cash from chiropractors. Boyle's order was signed Tuesday and released Wednesday. Federal prosecutors did not oppose Black's request for the delay, saying in court documents that the U.S. Bureau of Prisons may need more time to get a bed ready. But the judge ordered Black to surrender to federal marshals by 2 p.m.

Monday. Boyle did agree that Black should serve the 63-month sentence at the federal prison in Butner, about 35 miles north of Raleigh, though prison officials will make the final decision. Black was scheduled to be sentenced the next day in state court on bribery and obstruction of justice charges. It was unclear how Boyle's ruling would affect the sentencing. Precipitous fall complete Black was once one of the most powerful politicians in North Carolina government, having served in the high-ranking role of House speaker since 1999, for four terms.

Black announced in December that he would not seek re-election to the post, and he resigned from his legislative seat in February. The next day, Black pleaded guilty to one federal count for taking cash from chiropractors while pushing their agenda at the state legislature. A week later, Black entered an Alford plea to state charges of offering a bribe and obstructing justice. By Gary D. Robertson THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RALEIGH House and Senate negotiators said late Wednesday they have reached tentative agreements on a two-year budget, as well as several tax changes that would make a "temporary" sales tax increase permanent and let counties raise additional taxes for school construction and infrastructure.

The deals, which will still need final approval by the full House and Senate chambers, also would transfer the counties' share of Medicaid expense to the state in a three-year phase out, according to House and Senate Democratic leaders. The two sides also agreed to give counties, with local voter approval, the right to raise either sales taxes by a half-cent or the land trans fer tax from 0.2 percent of the sales price to 0.6 percent. The transfer tax was the sticking point of the budget talks that began last month, with the North Carolina Association of Realtors spending more than $600,000 this year on a public campaign opposed to what it called the "NC Home Tax." Several Senate Democrats have balked at the transfer tax, but Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand expressed confidence Wednesday night that the proposal would pass. "I believe that we'Ll be fine," said Rand, D-Cumberland. The first of two required votes on the final budget in each chamber could come Friday.

The bill ultimately will go to Gov. Mike Easley's desk for his signature. GERRY BROOMETHE ASSOCIATED PRESS Former North Carolina House Speaker Jim Black looks over documents In Wake County Superior Court In Raleigh on Feb. 20. Black has been ordered to begin serving his five-year prison sentence Monday.

The plea allowed Black to not admit guilt while acknowledging that evidence against him could result in a conviction. The two state charges carry a maximum combined sentence of about six years in prison, but Black could receive only up to 2 13 years because of his otherwise clean criminal record, according to state sentencing requirements. Black could serve the state time concurrently with the federal prison time. FLORIDA www.flalottery.com Cash 3 7-9-1 Cash 4 1- 7-2-6 Tue. Fantasy Five 10-28-31-32-33 Tue.

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