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Liberty
Environmentalists Seek to Save the Whales from Offshore Wind Energy
From December through mid-August, 60 large whales have washed ashore East Coast beaches, coinciding with the issuance of several federal permits for whale “harassment” as a consequence of offshore wind…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Low-Income Families Would Benefit the Most from Voucher Expansion
At long last, the North Carolina House and Senate are set to vote on a conference budget this week after months of delays. According to the proposed budget, lawmakers will…
Education
A Few Education Highlights from the House Budget
Finally. The Republican conference budget proposal was finally released earlier today. I’m sure readers are aware of the infighting among Republican lawmakers regarding casino legislation and Medicaid expansion. There will…
Research Brief
Budget, Taxation & Economy
The Good, Bad, and Ugly in The Budget Bill
Nearly three months into the fiscal year, a budget bill has finally arrived. While containing several flaws, the good seems to outweigh the bad. Some parts of the budget and…
Elections & Public Integrity
State Budget Includes Several Good Election Reforms
I wrote last April about how the proposed state budget includes several good election policies, even if not all of them belong in a budget bill. I evaluated those reforms…
Liberty
From Litigator to Justice: Riggs’ Rapid Ascent in Cooper’s Mission for a Left-Leaning Court
Last week, Gov. Roy Cooper appointed North Carolina Appeals Court Judge Allison Riggs to the state Supreme Court to serve the remaining term of Justice Michael Morgan, who retired from…
Research Brief
Education
State Test Scores Offer A Mixed Bag of Results
State test scores show slight improvement over last year’s scores but still trail prepandemic levels. The hard work of teachers and students should be recognized; however, problems remain, achievement gaps…
Video
We’re Just Getting Started
“To be rather than to seem.” This motto has long been the heartbeat of our state. It means that in a land teeming with natural beauty, our greatest beauty lies…
Research Brief
Elections & Public Integrity
Anita Earls’ Lawsuit Against the Judicial Standards Commission Should Spark Changes
North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls is suing the state’s Judicial Standards Commission to make them end investigations into some of her public statements. The lawsuit is based purely…
Liberty
Happy Constitution Day
To mark the day, I’m reposting the following, which orginally appeared in The Carolina Journal on September 17, 2020: The Left’s Long War on the Constitution The United States was…
Liberty
Earls Is Right on Political Speech, but Wrong in Making It a Campaign Tool
North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls has recently filed a lawsuit against the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission, alleging the commission has aimed to stifle her First Amendment right…
Energy
Virginia’s Power Provider Also Seeks More Natural Gas Plants
In August, Duke Energy filed an updated resource plan with the North Carolina Utilities Commission. The plan featured three possible portfolios, but Duke made it plain that the third portfolio (P3) was…