The General Assembly returns to work late next month, but some lawmakers have been busy since summer working with a series of study commissions. Becki Gray will discuss the work of those study groups in the next edition of Carolina Journal Radio.

One study that could start soon involves the prospects of drilling for energy sources off the North Carolina coast. You?ll hear Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight?s ideas about that study, along with Roy Cordato?s response.

We?ll also discuss changes in the world of the news media. The Wall Street Journal?s deputy editorial page editor, Dan Henninger, will discuss what he calls a Gresham?s Law of Information ? bad information driving good information out of the political debate ? while John Hood will offer his assessment of likely changes in the way the media operate in the future.

As college football?s bowl season approaches, George Leef will explain why he thinks UNC-Charlotte is making a mistake as it pursues a new football team.