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Research Brief
Energy
How Much Does Offshore Wind Power Threaten Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales?
Since 2017, the population of North Atlantic Right Whales has declined by 30 percent. By allowing offshore wind energy development off the North Carolina coast, the federal government has pushed…
Research Brief
Education
Poll Finds Strong, Broad Support for Parents’ Bill of Rights
Locke’s survey of parents asked questions on the topics of the Parents’ Bill of Rights and education spending. Parents polled supported Parents’ Bill of Rights legislation by better than a…
Education
Spring NC Poll: Strong Support for Parents’ Bill of Rights legislation
After a failed attempt last year, advocates of the Parents’ Bill of Rights (PBR) succeeded this session in passing legislation (SB 49) that enshrines parental rights and helps to correct the…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
“Scandal Plagued” Texas fund propped up as “success story” by NCInnovation
Texas program should serve as a cautionary tale for North Carolina legislators debating $1.4 billion in funding for NCInnovation
Research Brief
Agriculture
Freeing Lumber: How to Help North Carolina’s Sawmills and Housing Needs, Too
Sawmills have been decreasing in North Carolina for over a decade due to regulatory burdens and foreign competition. Housing continues to be an issue in the state with input costs…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Examining the NCInnovation Controversy: Debunking the Massachusetts Life Science Center Comparison
Another failed attempt by NCInnovation to justify the proposed $1.4 billion in taxpayer funds.
Elections & Public Integrity
WRAL Discovers Strange New Beasts Called “Election Observers”
There have been some complaints about several election reform bills being considered in the General Assembly, including a bill on election observers. A Bill Clarifying What Election Observers Can and…
Liberty
Barbie: The New Spokeswoman for Capitalism
Lately, my social media feeds have been full of Barbie-branded memes, AI-generated photos that you can put a picture of yourself and “become an instant Barbie,” and pink. Lots and…
Liberty
Helping the Hurting, Protecting the Vulnerable: Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Join the conversation as state Senator Jim Burgin (R – Harnett) and Locke senior legal fellow Jon Guze highlight the numerous personal and policy challenges those battling severe mental illness…
Elections & Public Integrity
2023 Mid-Year Campaign Finances: North Carolina Congressional Candidates
July 28 Update: The Excel spreadsheet containing North Carolina Congressional Candidate data now contains an in-state vs. out of state financial breakdown alongside links to Candidate specific financial breakdowns. Saturday,…
Freedom Focus
Freedom Focus
NCInnovation is not a “free market approach”
An influential staffer at the General Assembly recently described NCInnovation as a “free market approach.” The description relies on a gross mischaracterization of free markets. As a government program using…
Liberty
SCOTUS Verdict: ‘Time’s Up’ for Race-Based College Admissions
With the recent landmark SCOTUS ruling, a significant stride was made in dismantling racial discrimination in America, in this case regarding college admissions. Let’s examine this a little closer. Chief…