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Research Brief
Education
No, Opportunity Scholarships are not a “drain” on public schools
North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) has completed its first decade of operation. The program continues to attract growing numbers of students seeking greater educational options. It also continues to attract critics…
NC 250
Overmountain Men and the Kings Mountain victory
The monumental Patriot victory in the American Revolution at the Battle of Kings Mountain occurred on Oct. 7, 1780. It was a momentum-changing triumph that helped shift the course of…
Elections & Public Integrity
10-5 election data dump: Turnout is down almost a fifth from 2022
It is 29 days until election day on November 3. Here are some relevant upcoming dates from the North Carolina State Board of Elections: Turnout is down almost 20% from…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Is a tax revolt brewing?
Property taxes have been a hot topic at the North Carolina General Assembly. Responding to growing concerns from voters, in June 2026, the General Assembly approved legislation to enact a…
Research Brief
Energy
Two ideas to keep ratepayers from funding unreliable energy
State utilities law in North Carolina requires “adequate, reliable and economical utility service to all of the citizens and residents of the State.” That means guaranteeing plenty of power is…
Elections & Public Integrity
9-28 election data dump: Will Democrats reemerge as North Carolina’s largest party?
It is 36 days until election day on November 3. Here are some relevant upcoming dates from the North Carolina State Board of Elections: Absentee voting remains off 2026 pace…
Liberty
North Carolina Revolutionary opportunities for you to enjoy
Here are a couple of opportunities to view historic, Revolutionary-era documents in North Carolina in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. We encourage you to take…
Research Brief
Regulation
A housing supply reform agenda for North Carolina, Part 1
North Carolina needs more housing. As communities across the state continue to grow, the question for policymakers is not simply how to make housing more affordable, but how state and…
Elections & Public Integrity
State elections board proposes political party sales rules
The North Carolina State Board of Elections (SBE) has opened a public comment period on rules governing political party committees’ plans to sell goods or services. The rules will provide…
Elections & Public Integrity
9-21 data dump: Republican voter registration gains tank
After two full weeks of voting in the 2026 election, absentee voting continues to be off the 2022 pace. Perhaps a bigger story at this point is that Republican registrations…
Education
WCPSS says they have no money for HVAC repairs. Ask leaders how they spent nearly half-a-billion in federal Covid funds.
“A major heat wave in central North Carolina closed in on the Triangle this week. Combine that with widespread HVAC issues across Wake County schools, and that leaves students, parents…
Research Brief
Agriculture
Protect farmers from uncertainty by getting the H-2A wage methodology right
Agriculture depends heavily on immigrant labor, particularly for seasonal crops that cannot be easily mechanized. As I documented in my 2025 John Locke Foundation report, “Harvest on Hold,” North Carolina…