Education
Articles
Latest Articles
Elections & Public Integrity
Bill allows removal of election officials for incompetence or malfeasance
I recently wrote about House Bill 967, a bill advancing in the General Assembly that would regulate voter behavior at polling places and protect political signs outside those locations from…
Liberty
Battles at Lexington and Concord fuel patriotic fervor in NC
On April 19, 1775, a “shot heard round the world” rang out — including in North Carolina. That “shot” refers to the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which marked the…
Elections & Public Integrity
NC Superior Court anoints the state’s first king
When historians and political scientists discuss the powers and authority of each state’s various branches, the consensus has been that North Carolina’s governor is among the weakest. However, this long-held…
Education
Charting the rise of classical ed in US, North Carolina
A new Classical Schools Database shows the proliferation of classical schools throughout the U.S., including in North Carolina. The database includes profiles for nearly 900 classical private and charter schools,…
Research Brief
Regulation
A REINS Act without legislative rule ratification won’t work
On April 16, the North Carolina state House passed House Bill (HB) 402, the NC REINS Act (the acronym stands for “Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny”). As…
Elections & Public Integrity
Making a “rude or riotous noise” in any polling place may soon be a crime
A bill in the General Assembly would regulate behavior at polling places and protect political signs outside those locations from theft or vandalism. House Bill 967, “Disorderly Conduct at Voting…
Research Brief
Health Care
The General Assembly should repeal North Carolina’s pernicious and unconstitutional Certificate of Need law
The Certificate of Need Law harms patients, insurers, and taxpayers North Carolina’s Certificate of Need law artificially restricts the supply of medical services in two ways. First, it requires service…
Research Brief
Energy
A new way to promote affordable, reliable electricity in NC
The previous brief discussed a revelation before the state Senate Committee on Agriculture, Energy, and the Environment that the Carbon Plan modeling has been unduly weighted to support the plan’s…
Elections & Public Integrity
Interpretation of North Carolina Appeals Court order leaves Riggs the Likely winner of NC Supreme Court race.
With all avenues of appeal exhausted in state courts, Judge Griffin’s challenge of North Carolina election law has found its way back before federal district court Judge Richard Myers. The…
Agriculture
NC farmers are facing the costs of tariffs (again)
As trade policy once again takes center stage in international politics, North Carolina’s farmers are bracing for impact. Pres. Donald Trump has revived talk of aggressive tariffs, this time proposing…
Research Brief
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Senate budget proposal: Lower income taxes, replenished savings, and reduced regulation
Earlier this week, the state Senate introduced its biennial budget proposal for 2025–27, recommending $32.6 billion in net General Fund appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2026. This allotment would represent…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Consensus revenue forecast: Politically useful but fiscally unreliable
In his recent budget proposal, Gov. Josh Stein recommended halting the scheduled reductions to personal and corporate income tax rates. Stein’s proposal stated that the recommendation was predicated on the…