Gov. Mike Easley signed into law Thursday the creation of the country's first state panel to evaluate felons' innocence claims.

The N.C. Innocence Inquiry Commission will start reviewing such claims Nov. 1.

The commission's proponents say it will address inadequacy in the current criminal appeals process. The panel will focus on determining whether a defendant received a fair trial as opposed to evaluating guilt or innocence. Several North Carolina inmates who were later exonerated had to file as many as 11 appeals before they were freed.

"As a state that exacts the ultimate punishment, we should continue to ensure that we have the ultimate fairness in the review of our cases," Easley said in a statement.

The eight-member panel will consist of a judge, prosecutor, defense lawyer and others. Five of the eight members must agree that a defendant deserves judicial review. Then a three-judge panel must unanimously agree that a defendant has presented "clear and convincing evidence" of factual innocence to be exonerated.

Candidate pumps cheap gas

Hundreds of people lined up for cheap gas Thursday in the Montgomery County town of Biscoe -- part of a campaign event by Democratic congressional candidate Larry Kissell.

Kissell helped pump gas from noon until midafternoon at $1.22 per gallon, the price of gas when 8th District GOP Congressman Robin Hayes of Concord took office in 1999. The Kissell campaign made up the difference for the real cost at the pump, which was $2.89.

"I wanted to do this event today to highlight a few things," Kissell said. "First, gas prices are ridiculous. Second, Washington politicians like Robin Hayes are voting to give corporate welfare to big oil companies."

The event was such a hit that staffers from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee were on the phone Thursday to learn more, according to Ben Chao, a consultant to Kissell's campaign.

The event was supposed to last an hour and cost the Kissell campaign $2,000, but it was extended a couple of hours and might cost $6,000.

Moore takes on H&R Block

State Treasurer Richard Moore appeared on the CNBC show "Squawk Box" on Thursday morning.

Moore used his television appearance to send a message to H&R Block about its high-interest, short-term loans, his office said. Moore is working with the Community Reinvestment Association of North Carolina to end the loans H&R Block offers to borrowers for the maximum amount of their expected federal tax refund.

Consumer groups criticize the loans -- and the California attorney general is suing over them -- because the fees translate to interest rates of 150 percent to 400 percent. Many of the "refund anticipation loans" are taken by low-income tax filers. Moore wants shareholders to be able to vote on the issue, but the company won't allow it.

"This is just the latest example of corporate America's lack of responsiveness to their shareholders," Moore said.

The state retirement system holds more than $7 million worth of H&R Block stock, according to Moore's office.

Allen to plead today

President Bush hasn't commented on the plea agreement reached this week by his former domestic policy adviser, Claude Allen. Allen, 45, is a former Jesse Helms staffer who went to high school in Raleigh and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and the Duke University law school.

Allen is scheduled to plead guilty today in Montgomery County, Md., to a charge of misdemeanor theft of under $500. The case stems from a police investigation that charged Allen with fraudulently stealing more than $5,000 worth of goods from Target and Hecht's stores.

Allen resigned from his White House job in February and was arrested in March. At the time of the arrest, Bush said his feelings were ones of "disappointment."