Libba Evans, head of the state cultural agency, has been on unpaid leave since May 1 -- which means she wasn't on the clock when she participated in a trip to Russia and Estonia.

Evans was a member of a five-person cultural exchange trip in May to Russia and Estonia that cost taxpayers more than $56,000. The delegation also included first lady Mary Easley.

Evans, the secretary of the state Department of Cultural Resources, initiated the leave to take care of "personal business," said Staci Meyer, general counsel and chief deputy for the department.

"She initiated it, and we discussed it and decided that was the appropriate thing to do as she dealt with some personal business," Meyer said.

Evans had already committed to participating in the trip, and she was not paid as a state employee during the trip, Meyer said.

Meyer said she could not comment on the nature of Evans' personal business.

Evans' salary when she went on leave was $117,142. The figure would increase upon her return because the legislature approved a pay raise.

Meyer has been running the department. She now makes $119,000.

McCain's wife at Raleigh event

Cindy McCain was in Raleigh on Monday attending a fundraiser for her husband, Sen. John McCain.

The fundraising luncheon was at the home of Dean Painter, a Raleigh businessman who lives on Haymarket Lane.

The lunch cost $2,300 per person or $10,000 to be a host. The luncheon, which was closed to the media, was organized by Louis DeJoy, a Greensboro businessman, who was a key fundraiser for President Bush.

Basnight opposes Easley veto

State Senate leader Marc Basnight wants to bring the legislature back to Raleigh to override Gov. Mike Easley's veto of a bill allowing wider boat trailers on state roads at night.

Easley vetoed the bill Sunday, saying it would be dangerous to let 9.5-foot-wide boats and trailers travel after dark on roads and bridges as narrow as 18 feet.

"He doesn't impress me on this issue," Basnight said Monday. "I would certainly be for an override. I believe the bill is valuable to the economy, and it's a very safe, well-constructed piece of legislation."

The measure originated in the House, so Basnight is waiting for House Speaker Joe Hackney to make the first move. A spokesman said Hackney is checking to see whether House members want to come back to Raleigh for an override vote or let the veto stand.

The original measure passed the House 108-5 and the Senate 43-0. Supporters said the measure could keep North Carolina from losing popular fishing tournaments, and Basnight said it would help the state protect boat-manufacturing jobs.

Ignorance of Obama list is bliss

If Barack Obama is considering Gov. Mike Easley as his running mate, Easley says he doesn't know about it.

"Not that I'm aware of," Easley said Monday, in response to a reporter's question about whether the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate has been vetting him. "I guess you could say I may have gotten eliminated early and not know it."

So, governor, the Obama campaign hasn't asked you for any background information?

"No," Easley said. "I mean, you could get all that online now anyway. To be as specific as possible, I don't have any interest in going to Washington."

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