Labor stats shenanigans lead to congressional probe

The Carolina Journal investigation into Gov. Beverly Perdue’s potential misuse of embargoed federal employment data took an interesting turn this week, as Executive Editor Don Carrington discovered that his initial reporting on the topic prompted a letter to Perdue from the head of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Work Force. Managing Editor Rick Henderson‘s report on that letter generated media attention from the News & Observer and its “Under the Dome” blog, from the Associated Press (including this Washington Examiner article), and from websites such as NCRenegade.com. Henderson discussed the issue with Bill LuMaye on WPTF Radio and with Donna Martinez on Curtis Media Group’s “People In Politics.” Meanwhile, N.C. Senate Republicans and the Lincoln Tribune promoted Carrington’s latest article on Perdue’s unusual access to embargoed jobs numbers. News 14 Carolina referenced CJ coverage of the issue while covering a legislative hearing on the Division of Employment Security.