Carolina Journal Excusives
Exclusive Series
Sometimes the big story gets lost in the back pages over time. We keep the related stories all in one place so you can see how they progress. Check our Exclusive Series with each new twist and turn
and stay up to date on all the background information in the big story.
2007 Legislature
News of the 2007 General Assembly.
Air Quality in NC
Contrary to the alarmist press releases of self-styled environmental groups, the quality of North Carolina's air is good and getting better, even as industry expands and vehicular traffic increases across much of the state. Flawed reporting and biased standards contribute to the gap between perception and reality.
Amendment One
Follow the John Locke Foundation and the Center for Local Innovation's Coverage of Amendment One - North Carolina's tax increment financing scheme.
America's Founding Principles
The John Locke Foundation’s four statements of principle summarize some of the foundational concepts of the American experiment: that we are a land of liberty, a constitutional republic, a free market, and a free society.
Center for Climate Strategies
A nonprofit environmental advocacy group, the Center for Climate Stategies, staunchly believes global warming must be reduced through reductions in human-caused carbon dioxide emissions and controls another nonprofit organization that advises a climate action panel started by the N.C. Division of Air Quality.
Climate Change
North Carolina's General Assembly has created the Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change, which is to examine whether the state should enact policies that would reduce the production of greenhouse gases. Also advising the Legislative Commission is the Climate Action Plan Advisory Group (CAPAG), which is under the guidance of the Center for Climate Strategies, a subsidiary of a global warming advocacy group based in Pennsylvania.
Covering the 2004 Elections
Carolina Journal editors and columnists are closely following the issues, events, and personalities of the 2004 election cycle, including articles on John Edwards' presidential quest, congressional and legislative primaries, the North Carolina governor's race, and local races in many of the state's largest counties.
Covering the 2006 Elections
The 2006 election cycle will be the first in 12 years in which there is no gubernatorial, presidential, or senatorial race to drive the statewide political coverage. Democrats hope they can accomplish in 2006 what the GOP did in 1994.
Covering the 2008 Elections
Believe it or not, the 2008 election cycle is approaching rapidly. Check here for the latest coverage of North Carolina contests and commentary about state and national political candidates and issues.
Covering the State Courts
Few news sources pay close attention to the day-to-day workings and decisions of North Carolina’s appellate courts. But Carolina Journal does — and you’ll find a diverse array of important cases and issues presented without legalese.
DFI/Ethanol Affair
A private company's longstanding attempt to build ethanol plants in Eastern North Carolina has led to a growing scandal involving allegations of political pressure, corruption, campaign finance irregularities, government waste, and abuse of power reaching to the highest levels of state government.
Early Childhood Programs
State sponsored early childhood programs in North Carolina include Smart Start, More at Four and Bright Beginnings. Federally sponsored programs include Head Start and Even Start. Follow the progress of these programs in North Carolina.
Economic Incentives
One of the hottest debates in North Carolina surrounds how to promote economic development in the state. Some advocate targeted tax breaks, government subsidies, and other incentive policies while others say that low overall taxes, reasonable regulations, and good public services are the right approach.
Frank Ballance's Foundation
Longtime state senator and now Congressman Frank Ballance is in hot water because of revelations by Carolina Journal and others of questionable programs and record-keeping at a nonprofit foundation he helped to create and to fund with millions in state taxpayer money.
Golden LEAF
Follow the story as a national corporate lawsuit turns into proceeds for corporate welfare and racetracks for horseparks. Funded by proceeds of the national tobacco settlement, the Golden LEAF Foundation has operated often as a political slush fund.
Gov. Easley / Marina / Cannonsgate
Gov. Mike Easley was the subject of a complaint, now dismissed by the N.C. Board of Ethics, over his relationship with owners of Southport Marina, Inc., who received a long-term lease to operate the state-owned marina. Opponents of the lease called it a "sweetheart deal" for Easley's friends. Meanwhile, business partners of those involved with the marina also own a coastal development called "Cannonsgate," where Easley purchased a valuable lot at a seemingly bargain price.
Governor's School of NC
In June 2005 the taxpayer-funded Governor's School of North Carolina conducted a seminar called "The New Gay Teenager," named after a book with the same title, which outraged the parents of some students because they were unaware of the subject matter being taught in the seminar.
Legislative Slush Funds
In 1997, Carolina Journal led the way in uncovering a secret $21 million slush fund used by legislative leaders to reward political allies and distribute pork, often in violation of law. Now, the practice has returned to Raleigh big-time — and CJ is hard at work uncovering abuses of law and the public interest.
Natural Gas in Northeast NC
In 1998 voters approved $200 million in bonds to extend natural gas to 22 northeastern counties. State Senate leader Marc Basnight’s influence apparently enabled political allies to manage most of the available funds. None of the money is likely to be paid back and the pipeline project isn’t expected to be economically feasible for decades, if ever.
Northeast Partnership
North Carolina's Northeast Partnership, a regional economic development agency established by the General Assembly in 1994, almost immediately afterward declared itself a private nonprofit organization and therefore not subject to public records laws. Funded almost entirely by state government, the partnership's leaders have allegedly sought to boost their own financial stakes in private companies by attempting to obtain state economic incentives for those companies. These efforts have been helped through their ties to State Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight.
Privaris Incentives
A fingerprint technology company promoted by State Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight received money from the state’s Tobacco Trust Fund.
Randy Parton Theatre
In February 2007 North Carolina officials approved the state's first usage of tax increment financing, or TIFs, with the creation of the Carolina Crossroads development project in Roanoke Rapids, with the Randy Parton Theatre as the centerpiece. A series of Carolina Journal stories have unearthed several unconventional arrangements and relationships between government and private enterprise.
Redistricting
North Carolina House and Senate redistricting plans.
Six Simple Tools
Reforming state government in North Carolina is a monumental task, but the first step to accomplishing it is to break the problems down into smaller, bite-sized ones. This series presents the basics on how to make government smaller, taxes lower, schools better, neighborhoods safer, travel faster, and our freedom greater.
Spotlight on Speaker Black
Dark clouds are gathering over the political organization of House Speaker Jim Black. Stories about Meredith Norris, Kevin Geddings, investigations, lobbying laws, and investigations are accumulating.
The Currituck Ferry
An expensive "solution" to getting a few dozen kids to school on the Outer Banks has proved to be a complex scandal, complete with malfeasance and a federal criminal investigation.
The Global TransPark
A boondoggle from the start. This series records what is possibly the largest government waste and failure in North Carolina state history, a failed cargo-airport project that has brought false hopes but little impact to Kinston and Eastern North Carolina.
Who's Who at the Board of Elections Hearings
The State Board of Elections is conducting public hearings in response to a formal complaint filed by Democracy North Carolina in June 2004 alleging illegal campaign activity.
Democracy North Carolina is a nonpartisan watchdog organization committed to a range of campaign-finance reforms that include improving disclosure of the flow of political money.
At least 60 persons have received subpoenas to bring records and appear in person to answer questions.
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