Gov. Pat McCrory delivered his second State of the State address this week, and John Locke Foundation Vice President for Outreach Becki Gray helped Time Warner Cable News’ statewide “Capital Tonight” program cover the speech. Gray offered predictions before the address and analyzed McCrory’s remarks afterward. Carolina Journal Associate Editor Barry Smith assessed McCrory’s remarks for UNC Public Television’s “Legislative Week in Review.”
The Charlotte Business Journal interviewed Gray about priorities for the new legislative session. (Becki Gray, vice president of outreach at the right-leaning John Locke Foundation, says, “Teacher pay will be addressed again, but I think (the legislature’s emphasis on education) goes a lot deeper.” A focus on work-force training is likely.) The Raleigh News & Observer quoted Gray in an article about the prospects for redistricting reform this year. The N.C. Spin website and N.C. Senate Republicans promoted her column on 21 ways to save money in the next state budget. Gray discussed the 2015 legislative session in a presentation to the Clemmons Rotary Club. Gray continues twice-weekly politics and public policy updates for WTSB Radio.
Speaking of redistricting reform, JLF Chairman John Hood‘s participation in a news conference on the topic attracted attention this week from UNC Public Television and the Charlotte Observer. N.C. Senate Republicans promoted Hood’s redistricting reform column in their daily press email, along with his observations on North Carolina’s significance for the 2016 presidential race. WCHL Radio interviewed Director of Communications Mitch Kokai about redistricting reform. Kokai recapped some of the week’s top state government news with Curtis Wright on WMYT Radio.
The John Locke Foundation celebrates its 25th anniversary Saturday with a sold-out dinner in Research Triangle Park for more than 650 people. Hood and President and CEO Kory Swanson will take part in the dinner program, which also features remarks from Fox News analyst and syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer. Carolina Journal Executive Editor Don Carrington discussed the latest print issue of CJ, which highlights JLF’s 25-year anniversary, during a conversation with the WRHT Radio morning team.