In addition to its work critiquing local sales-tax proposals and its promotion of free-market, limited-government ideas that helped propel conservative candidates to electoral success this week, the John Locke Foundation research staff has tackled other nonelection topics. Joseph Coletti joined Tara Servatius on WBT Radio to discuss the Tax Foundation’s recent ranking of North Carolina’s 10th-worst business tax climate in the nation. The Lincoln Tribune, Tar Heel Tribune, and IFC News website also picked up Coletti’s comments on that ranking. Coletti shared his concerns with the Charlotte Observer about plans to use a federal stimulus tax break to push redevelopment of a shuttered Philip Morris plant in Concord. The Mackinac Center’s blog highlighted Coletti’s ideas about Medicaid reform. Jon Sanders, Associate Director of Research, appeared on WPTF Radio Thursday morning to discuss the latest controversy surrounding North Carolina State University’s free expression tunnel. The State Fans Nation website also promoted Sanders’ comments on the topic. A state “blue ribbon” task force studying proposals to raise the public school compulsory attendance age consulted research from Terry Stoops, Director of Education Studies. The task force report mentions Stoops’ 2007 Spotlight on the issue. The N.C. School Boards Association’s annual school law conference included within its materials a copy of a recent Stoops column on North Carolina’s charter school law. The Western Tradition Institute promoted a recent report from Roy Cordato, Vice President for Research and Resident Scholar, focusing on the problems linked to demand-side management. The Lincoln Tribune also promoted a JLF press release highlighting Daren Bakst’s assessment of Gov. Beverly Perdue’s recent executive order on regulatory reform.