Carolina Journal News Reports | 2008 Archive

RALEIGH — Today, Carolina Journal Radio’s Mitch Kokai discusses excellence in education with Stephen Balch, president and founder of The National Association of Scholars. Balch recently addressed a conference sponsored by The Pope Center for Higher Education Policy. (Go here to find a station near you or to learn about the weekly CJ Radio podcast.)

RALEIGH – A new John Locke Foundation report guides North Carolinians through “vague, overbroad” policies proposed to help the state address global warming. The report shows how the policy proposals would raise taxes, hurt the poor, and limit consumers’ choices.

RALEIGH – North Carolina counties could boost public safety, cut costs, and improve health outcomes by steering the mentally ill away from jail and toward community-based care. That’s the major finding in a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report.

RALEIGH — One Saturday morning in early February, three-dozen activists gathered in the second- story offices of Planned Parenthood’s health clinic in downtown Raleigh.

RALEIGH — Waiting lists to enter North Carolina’s charter schools grow longer every day, but despite the growing demand, the supply of charter schools remains limited to 100 across the state by the General Assembly.

RALEIGH — Today, Carolina Journal Radio’s Donna Martinez discusses with John Locke Foundation fiscal policy analyst Joe Coletti the best way to deal with a water shortage. (Go here to find a station near you or to learn about the weekly CJ Radio podcast.)

RALEIGH – A new $7 million grant program will likely have little short-term or long-term impact on North Carolina’s high school dropout rate, according to a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report. North Carolina public schools recorded 23,550 dropouts in 2006-2007.

RALEIGH — A recent court ruling for equitable local funding of charter schools put smiles on the faces of the officials at some Mecklenburg County charters, but despite the victory, at least one of the school leaders is wary of further entanglements.

RALEIGH – A West Coast success story can guide N.C. cities and towns looking to spur redevelopment. A new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report shows how Anaheim, Calif., boosted its fortunes without using economic incentives or abusing eminent domain powers.

RALEIGH — Randy Parton says that for three years he dedicated his life to making the Roanoke Rapids theater a success, but after he signed the deal with the city Parton also tried to launch a clothing line and build a similar theater in Missouri.

RALEIGH — Today, Carolina Journal Radio’s Donna Martinez discusses Indiana’s contested photo-ID-for-voters law and the possible impact on North Carolina with Daren Bakst, legal and regulatory policy analyst for the John Locke Foundation. (Go here to find a station near you or to learn about the weekly CJ Radio podcast.)

RALEIGH — The Triangle’s two metropolitan planning organizations have joined forces to bring an ambitious mass-transit system to the region that could cost $2 billion, but taxpayers won’t get much time to digest the proposal.

RALEIGH — The role of trustees has become a key component in one of higher education’s more controversial issues: Who should govern the universities?

RALEIGH — The N.C. Court of Appeals ruled last week that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools systematically underfunded five charter schools in the county. The schools stand to gain nearly $500,000 because of the ruling, which could impact other charter schools and systems across the state.

RALEIGH — Raleigh officials say they are updating the city’s comprehensive plan to better manage growth, but some see dire consequences as a result of the effort.

CHARLOTTE — Author and political satirist P.J. O’Rourke recently addressed a John Locke Foundation Headliner event in Charlotte. He also discussed his recent book, On The Wealth Of Nations, with Mitch Kokai for Carolina Journal Radio. (Go to http://www.carolinajournal.com/cjradio/ to find a station near you or to learn about the weekly CJ Radio podcast.)

CHEROKEE — When Jackson County officials began to put together a plan to deal with development along U.S. 441 near Cherokee, they looked to an unusual source for ideas: School children from elementary grades through high school.

GREENSBORO — Guilford County voters will have not one but two school bonds on the ballot for the May 6 primary. The Guilford County Board of Education originally submitted a $457 million school bond package to Guilford County commissioners, but commissioners split the package into two bonds at its Jan.16 meeting.

RALEIGH — Two investigative reports released last week by the N.C. Office of the State Auditor found that State Treasurer Richard Moore and Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue used government resources to further their campaigns for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

RALEIGH — North Carolinians could gain new tools in the fight against forced annexation if the General Assembly follows through on issues raised by an annexation study group.

RALEIGH — What does it mean to be an educated person? Today, Carolina Journal Radio’s Mitch Kokai discusses that question with Richard Gamble, a Professor of History and Political Science at Hillsdale College, and editor of the recent book, The Great Tradition: Classic Readings on What it Means to Be an Educated Human Being. (Go to http://www.carolinajournal.com/cjradio/ to find a station near you or to learn about the weekly CJ Radio podcast.)