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Education
House Overrides Gov. Cooper’s Veto of Opportunity Scholarship Expansion
One down; one to go. That’s the expression school choice supporters in North Carolina should be using. Earlier today, the North Carolina House of Representatives overrode Governor Cooper’s veto of…
Elections & Public Integrity
Republicans Make Changes to the Structure of State and Local Boards of Elections in Helene Recovery Bill
As part of the latest hurricane-recovery relief package, the legislature has embedded several policy changes into the bill that change various agencies, appointments, and powers issued to Council of State…
Research Brief
Energy
“Jaw-Dropping”: How Much Wind Capacity Is Needed for Carbon Neutrality Without Nuclear
A new report from the John Locke Foundation’s Center for Food, Power, and Life examines two pathways to achieving carbon neutrality in North Carolina’s electricity generation by 2050: either through…
Education
New Study Ranks North Carolina Last on Public-School Choice
North Carolina finds itself in a four-way tie for last place when it comes to having strong open enrollment policies that improve access to traditional public schools. A new study…
Research Brief
Elections & Public Integrity
The Governor Should Not Be Able to Subvert Voters’ Will Through Appointments
North Carolina Commissioner of Labor Josh Dobson, a Republican, resigned on Nov. 6, one day after Republican Luke Farley was elected to succeed him. The voters of North Carolina have…
Elections & Public Integrity
Not a Good Night but not a bad Night for Either Party: What to take away from NC’s 2024 election
November 18 Update: The North Carolina Supreme Court election has since moved in favor of Justice Allison Riggs who currently leads with 36 votes. With later mail-in ballots and provisional…
Education
Reading and Kids: Some Promising News
For years, North Carolina has been awash in bad news about kids and reading. Too many kids are finding it difficult to read. What’s even worse is that teachers don’t have…
Research Brief
Agriculture
Housing for Farmworkers in North Carolina: Challenges and Complexities
Agriculture is a foundational part of North Carolina’s economy, with the state ranking among the top in the nation for crops like sweet potatoes, tobacco, and pork. Nevertheless, the industry…
Research Brief
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Solving North Carolina’s Crime Problem: Part Four
In Part One of this series, I confirmed that North Carolina does indeed have a crime problem. I noted that crime rates rose dramatically between 2018 and 2021 and that clearance rates…
Research Brief
Energy
Cooper’s Costly ZEV Vision: Big Costs for No “Climate Benefits”
On Jan. 7, 2022, Gov. Roy Cooper issued Executive Order (EO) 246 that called for, among other things, 1.25 million zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) to be registered in North Carolina and…
Liberty
Thoughts for Veterans Day
(Note: This piece was originally posted in 2018. I’m reposting it because much of what I said then remains relevant and important today.) Just over one hundred years ago—on November…
Elections & Public Integrity
In Some Counties, Election Data Shows More Early Votes than Ballots Cast
The 2024 election has come to pass (apart from a few notable exceptions here in North Carolina, like the NC Supreme Court Race), and with it comes the favorite time…