‘Confusion’ Led to Possible Conflict

RALEIGH — Rep. Bill Owens says confusion on the part of House Speaker Jim Black about where to spend state discretionary funds created what appears to be a conflict of interest for the Pasquotank County Democrat. Last fall, Owens helped secure state grants that would benefit his downtown Elizabeth City real estate holdings, located on Main Street. The money came from discretionary funds Black and Senate leader Marc Basnight controlled in the Department of Transportation and the Department of Cultural Resources. Carolina Journal and The News & Observer first revealed the accounts last month.