Reflecting on 50 years of Medicare
With Medicare and Medicaid turning 50 today, it is worth asking: how have the programs changed, and how have they changed the country and North Carolina? The first major change? Easy — size. More... Read More
NC Spin Articles
State budget talks making little progress
Nearly a month after the state budget expired, and with their extension deadline looming, House and Senate budget negotiators are talking to the public more than to each other. On Wednesday afternoon... Read More
Beer industry says it has a $3.8B impact on state economy
The beer industry says it is big business for North Carolina, boasting in a study released Thursday of a $3.8 billion impact on the state's economy. The industry has also contributed to more than... Read More
Don't add secrecy to the lethal injection formula
Editorial by Fayetteville Observer, July 29, 2015. The legislative urgency to get North Carolina back into executing murderers has reached a fever pitch that looks a lot like bloodlust. It's an ugly... Read More
Tump's show
Some pundits predicted Donald Trump’s hot-air balloon would crash after he criticized John McCain for crashing and being captured in Vietnam. But no. He rose even higher in some polls. As Slim... Read More
One question voucher supporters never answer
Several months ago on a public affairs television show, the host asked one of the two guests why he was opposed to the school voucher scheme that was upheld last week by the N.C Supreme Court. The... Read More
States to colleges: Prove you're worth it
New College of Florida doesn’t offer pre-professional degrees, like nursing or engineering. Students choose the public liberal arts college because they want an intellectual experience. Many take a... Read More
The court can't seem to stay out of partisan politics
When a judge enters the courtroom, everyone is told to rise until her honor sits herself behind the bench. It’s a mandatory gesture of respect. The feeling, if it’s sincere at all, doesn’t last... Read More
State has $25.5 billion unfunded retiree health liability
The state of North Carolina has unfunded liabilities for its retiree health benefit fund totaling $25.5 billion, a legislative oversight committee learned Monday. “We found the unfunded actuarial... Read More
The urban-rural gap
Editorial by Greensboro News-Record, July 29, 2015. Gov. Pat McCrory and some Republican state senators traded disparaging remarks recently, but the issue isn’t only personal. The governor repeated... Read More
