Carolina Journal Radio

This week's program

If you’ve done much driving lately, you’ve probably seen big signs posted near some construction projects: “This Project Funded by the American Recovery and Investment Act.” What do those signs cost? Who is paying for them? Carolina Journal Managing Editor Rick Henderson discusses up to $20 million in taxpayer money spent on signs so far nationwide. Henderson also discusses the Obama administration’s rhetoric about jobs “saved or created” by stimulus spending. Then we turn to the debate over the controversial new DNA law. Gov. Beverly Perdue recently signed into law the measure requiring North Carolina law enforcement agencies to collect DNA samples from every person arrested on certain felony charges. Perdue and Attorney General Roy Cooper explained their support for the new law during a public signing ceremony. You’ll hear their comments, along with a rebuttal from Daren Bakst, John Locke Foundation Director of Legal and Regulatory Studies. Bakst is not alone in sharing deep concerns about the new DNA collection law. Sarah Preston, policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, explained her group’s opposition to the legislation during a presentation to the Federalist Society. You’ll hear highlights. North Carolina lawmakers overwhelmingly endorsed the new DNA collection law. The Senate approved it, 44-1, and the House supported it, 83-21. But those numbers obscure the heated debate surrounding the topic. In the legislative session’s final hours, Reps. Bill Faison, D-Orange, Kelly Alexander, D-Mecklenburg, and Grier Martin, D-Wake, were among the people speaking for and against the measure. Next, we learn details about a Citizen’s Constitutional Workshop scheduled Aug. 7 at the John Locke Foundation office in Raleigh. The free workshop will highlight key phrases such as “general welfare” that progressives have abused to distort the Founders’ original intent. One presenter, JLF Director of Research Michael Sanera, explains who will benefit from the free, half-day workshop.

History

Since 1991, Carolina Journal – the monthly newspaper of the John Locke Foundation – has provided thousands of readers with in-depth reporting, informed analysis, and incisive commentary about the most pressing state and local issues in North Carolina. With a particular emphasis on state government, politics, the General Assembly, education, and local government, Carolina Journal has offered unique insights and ideas to the public policy debate.

Its related newsletter, Carolina Journal Weekly Report, delivers timely news and analysis by fax and email. And its popular web site, Carolina Journal.com, serves as a “one-stop shop” for elected officials, government leaders, journalists, lobbyists, and political insiders who visit every day to read exclusive stories, commentaries, and daily news links to the best reporting and commentary in the North Carolina print and broadcast media.

Now Carolina Journal’s trademark blend of news, analysis, and commentary is available on the airwaves as Carolina Journal Radio.

A weekly, one-hour newsmagazine, Carolina Journal Radio is hosted by Donna Martinez and Mitch Kokai and features a diverse mix of guests and topics. Education reform, tax policy, the state legislature, affirmative action, air pollution, freedom of the press and the courts – these are just a few of the subjects that Carolina Journal Radio has tackled since the program began production in 2003.

Broadcast each weekend on 20 commercial radio stations – from the mountains to the coast – Carolina Journal Radio is a one-of-a-kind program that seeks to inform and elevate the discussion of North Carolina's most critical issues, and to do so in a fair, entertaining, and thought-provoking way.

Carolina Journal Radio Podcast

Carolina Journal Radio is now available as a podcast, for listening directly on your computer, or synching to a portable MP3 player, such as an iPod. You will need a podcast application, such as iTunes (available for Windows and Mac OS X) to access the podcast. New episodes will be posted the week after they air on the radio.

Podcast FeedIf you are using iTunes, you can subscribe to the podcast via this direct link to CJ Radio at the iTunes Music Store. To subscribe to the podcast with another application: right-click on the orange feed icon, copy the link, and paste it into the subscription field of your podcasting software (in iTunes, go to the "Advanced" menu and select "Subscribe to Podcast").

For More Information

The program is a co-production of the John Locke Foundation and Carolina Broadcasting Systems Inc., both based in Raleigh. Inquiries about guests and topics should be directed to the Locke Foundation at 919-828-3876. Inquiries about the show’s production, distribution, and advertising opportunities should be directed to Carolina Broadcasting at 919-832-1416.

Listeners who would like to receive a weekly e-mail containing advance notice of upcoming Carolina Journal Radio guests and topics should email Mitch Kokai.

Where to Hear the Program

Stations currently in the Carolina Journal Radio Network include:

Coverage Area

Station

Time(s)

Albemarle/Concord

WSPC

AM 1010

Saturdays 11am

Asheville

WWNC

AM 570

Sundays 7pm

Burlington

WBAG

AM 1150

Saturdays 6am

Chapel Hill

WCHL

AM 1360

Sundays 6pm

Elizabeth City

WGAI

AM 560

Saturdays 6am

Fayetteville

WFNC

AM 640

Saturdays 1pm

Gastonia/Charlotte

WZRH

AM 960

Saturdays 2pm

Goldsboro

WGBR

AM 1150

Saturdays 6pm

Greensboro/Burlington

WSML

AM 1200

Saturdays 12pm

Hendersonville

WHKP

AM 1450

Sundays 6pm

Jacksonville

WJNC

AM 1240

Sundays 7am

Newport/New Bern

WTKF

FM 107.3

Sundays 7am

Salisbury

WSTP

AM 1490

Saturdays 11am

Siler City

WNCA

AM 1570

Sat. 11am, Sun. 6am

Smithfield

WTSB

AM 1090

Saturdays 6am

Southern Pines

WEEB

AM 990

Sundays 7pm

Wilmington

WAAV

AM 980

Saturdays 4pm

Winston-Salem/Triad

WSJS

AM 600

Sundays 8am





Stay tuned for upcoming announcements of additional stations joining the network.

Interested North Carolinians can also subscribe to a monthly tape or CD containing two full-length episodes of Carolina Journal Radio. It’s a great way to catch up on programs listeners may have missed or for those without a local affiliate to listen to the show. Contact Mitch Kokai for more information.