The entire story grows more and more bizarre. The address of the pharmacy services company Nancy McFarlane owns also serves as the HQ for the N.C. Water Rights Committee (or at least it did as of the time the N&O went to press late last night).  And yet McFarlane was “recommended” to become president of the committee by the firm handling its PR. How was she chosen? And by whom?

Nor have we learned what kind of organization the water rights committee is. CJ’s Don Carrington has not been able to find any articles of incorporation. Is it a nonprofit, as its Web site suggests? Who’s the governing body? Is there a board?

McFarlane’s unwillingness to talk about the committee is fishy, too.

The shadowy group that has been spearheading a hostile takeover of the Alcoa hydroelectric dams and adjacent property — a move that could cost N.C. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars — remains mighty secretive.

You have to wonder how deeply under the covers state lawmakers want to get with this outfit.