Nearly a dozen North Carolina counties are pushing local sales-tax referendums on the November ballot. John Locke Foundation researchers Michael Sanera, Director of Research and Local Government Studies; Joseph Coletti; and Terry Stoops, Director of Education Studies, are issuing a series of reports challenging county commissioners’ arguments in favor of higher taxes. They issued reports for Orange, Guilford, and Bladen counties this week. Liquida.com picked up a video clip of Sanera discussing the Guilford County report, while a High Point Enterprise article noted Locke Foundation opposition to Guilford’s 2008 sales-tax campaign. In addition to his radio appearance, Roy Cordato attracted attention in a faculty spotlight interview posted at the Mises Institute’s Mises Economics blog and the Bastiat Institute website. Daren Bakst, Director of Legal and Regulatory Studies, continues to share his concerns about a proposal to give North Carolina sheriffs access to a state prescription drug database. The Lincoln Tribune and Silobreaker.com promoted a news release on Bakst’s research into the topic. The Lincoln Tribune, Beaufort Observer, and PHI Privacy website all picked up Bakst’s most recent column on the same topic. The Medical Assistant Device website also promoted a video clip of Bakst discussing the issue. Switching gears, GlobalWarming.org and the Planetary Ruin website featured Bakst’s comments on a new video from environmental extremists. Bakst also moderated a joint Locke Foundation/Federalist Society forum for candidates seeking a vacated seat on the N.C. Court of Appeals. The Associated Press covered that event.