NC sees record visitor spending
So how bad did HB-2 hurt North Carolina? As many of you will remember during the contentious debate over HB2, opponents predicted the legislation would prove an economic disaster for the state. One... Read More
NC Spin Articles
Legislature's support needs to move from hyperbole to reality
To say that the new two-year budget approved by state lawmakers represents “the best budget in a decade” for North Carolina’s public four-year universities (as UNC president Margaret Spellings... Read More
Time for bed, GOP
The wrangling between federal judges and GOP legislators brings to mind an episode from early childhood. I was probably six, and I’d misbehaved, so my punishment was an early dinner, early bath and... Read More
Support for NC Charters remains strong despite disappointing national poll
Some of the best polling on national education issues is done by the journal Education Next. Results from the annual Education Next Poll on School Reform were released earlier this week. Some... Read More
Some ideas have hideous consequences
In 1948, a 38-year-old North Carolinian and English professor at the University of Chicago coined a memorable phrase: “ideas have consequences.” Richard Weaver, a traditionalist conservative from... Read More
Scandalous special sessions subvert our democracy
The General Assembly will convene a special session next week but most people in North Carolina, including the vast majority of the members of House and Senate, have no idea what legislation they will... Read More
Beer money and changing markets
News that beer distributors through political action committees poured nearly $100,000 toward defeating a bill to lift a production cap on North Carolina brewers should surprise no one. Tuesday, The... Read More
Know these five budget facts
During the recently completed legislative session, the Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly overrode a veto by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to enact a new budget for state government. Here are... Read More
Race won't be a factor in legislative maps, Republicans say
Lawmakers won’t consider race when they redraw legislative maps to meet a Sept. 1 federal court deadline. Republicans on the House and Senate redistricting committee made that clear as they swatted... Read More
Publicly financed stadiums: Don't believe the hype
Bidding groups from Charlotte and Raleigh are hoping to snag a new Major League Soccer franchise when the MLS expands. JLF’s Julie Tisdale compares the two bids here. But importantly, she also... Read More
