Data suggest that one of the most effective ways to boost North Carolina public schools’ graduation rates involves an increased focus on career and technical education. Terry Stoops discussed career education in an opinion piece this week for the Charlotte Observer. The Foundation for Educational Choice promoted Stoops’ article. Meanwhile, the Richmond County Daily Journal published a column from Daren Bakst, John Locke Foundation Director of Legal and Regulatory Studies. Bakst outlined simple annexation reforms North Carolina lawmakers could pursue this year. Speaking of Bakst, he and N.C. History Project Director Troy Kickler contributed again this week to the ConstitutingAmerica.org website. Their latest essay focused on Federalist No. 26. Michael Sanera, JLF Director of Research and Local Government Studies, delivered a pair of speeches this week. He addressed a Holden Beach Tea Party on Memorial Day and spoke about the Constitution to the North Raleigh KTM group. The High Point Enterprise published comments from Roy Cordato on Internet sweepstakes cafes in North Carolina. The Foundation for Economic Education also featured as one of this week’s “timely classics” a 2002 article from Cordato on the “impossibility of harming the environment.”