John Locke Foundation researchers continued this week to outline reasons for voters in counties across North Carolina to question sales-tax increases on the November ballot. They issued reports for Alamance, Cherokee, Columbus, Harnett, and Person counties. News 14 Carolina interviewed Joseph Coletti, Director of Health and Fiscal Policy Studies, about the Harnett County report. The Burlington Times-News interviewed Coletti about the Alamance tax proposal. Meanwhile, the Triad Watch blog highlighted the recent report on Guilford County’s proposed tax hike, while the Heritage Foundation’s “Insider Online” promoted the recent report on Orange County’s sales-tax plans. Coletti, Director of Research and Local Government Studies Michael Sanera, and Director of Education Studies Terry Stoops have co-authored these reports. In other election-related news, Director of Communications Mitch Kokai offered analysis Monday night during News 14 Carolina’s coverage of the first U.S. Senate debate between Republican Richard Burr and Democrat Elaine Marshall. The Fayetteville Observer interviewed JLF President John Hood about candidates’ use of social media during this election cycle. Carolina Journal also continues to attract attention for its election coverage. The Lincoln Tribune and Mint Hill Times picked up Associate Editor David Bass‘ report on the 13-candidate scramble for a single seat on the N.C. Court of Appeals, while Watchdog.org promoted Bass’ article on the impact of pirating and sexual harassment claims in the N.C. House District 51 race. The Lincoln Tribune, Tar Heel Tribune, and NC Rumors published Editorial Intern Amanda Vuke‘s survey of congressional candidates’ views on repeal of the federal health care reform legislation. The Lincoln Tribune picked up a CJ staff report on the JLF research team’s Alamance County sales-tax Regional Brief. NC Rumors also highlighted the Alamance County research.