Radio audiences in the Triangle, Sandhills, and Wilmington heard from John Locke Foundation research experts on a range of topics during the past week. Joseph Coletti, Director of Health and Fiscal Policy Studies, discussed North Carolina’s state budget situation during a conversation with Curtis Wright on WAAV/WFNC. Terry Stoops, Director of Education Studies, discussed school finance issues with Wright. Speaking of education-related topics, Michael Sanera, Director of Research and Local Government Studies, shared with WPTF’s Bill LuMaye concerns about a proposed public school student assignment policy dubbed “controlled choice.” The News & Observer‘s “Under the Dome” print column and WakeEd blog mentioned Sanera’s critique. The WakeEd blog also publicized a news release from Stoops that highlights new data indicating that Wake County schools’ test score growth lags behind North Carolina’s other urban districts. The WhyCTE.org website highlighted a CarolinaJournal.tv video of Stoops discussing the benefits of career and technical education. In other news, Sanera, Coletti, and intern Cameron Lambe released a new Spotlight report this week critiquing Robeson County’s pursuit of an Aug. 3 sales tax referendum. Coletti discussed that report with State Government Radio. The News & Observer sought Coletti’s input for an article about the impact of federal stimulus spending. The South Charlotte Weekly quoted Coletti in an article about the likely impact for local governments of potential changes in union laws. (Raising taxes is one option. Historically that’s a road many counties and towns have taken when faced with collective bargaining options, said Joseph Coletti, a John Locke Foundation economic analyst, noting municipalities also could be forced to cut services to pay for the guaranteed deals certified by unions.) The Heritage Foundation’s “Insider Online” promoted Coletti’s recent analysis of the state budget, along with Vice President for Research and Resident Scholar Roy Cordato‘s most recent report on sales tax reform. The Asheville Citizen-Times interviewed Cordato this week about the Appalachian Regional Commission.