Carolina Journal

No, President Trump, let’s not nationalize election administration

Many of the reforms Trump has been seeking, such as improving voter rolls and election system security, would make our elections better. But it is not his call to make those changes.

Andy Jackson

The gender gap in NC higher education is growing

Nationally, women account for nearly two-thirds of student-loan debt, fill universities at a faster pace than men, and dominate many of the lowest-earning majors. North Carolina reflects national trends as the percentage of women in higher education is steadily outpacing men. In 2021, female students made up 58% of total undergraduate enrollment and male students made up 42% nationally. Women closed...

Isabella Cashman

NC loses 7,200 manufacturing jobs in 2025, says NC Commerce

Manufacturing in NC lost 7,200 jobs over the past year, a 1.6% decrease. The only other job sector to report losses was the information category, down 700 jobs.

Anna Claire Walker

Early voting begins for NC 2026 primary

In-person early voting for North Carolina’s 2026 primary election kicked off Thursday at 319 early voting sites statewide, a 6% increase from 301 sites in the May 2022 primary, according to an analysis of early voting sites conducted by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (NCOSA).

Theresa Opeka

UNC urges top court to reject records case linked to COVID’s origin

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is asking the state Supreme Court not to take a case related to a watchdog group’s search for records linked to COVID-19’s origins.

Judge clarifies protective order in case of Zarutska stabbing death

The judge overseeing the federal case against Decarlos Brown Jr. in the 2025 stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska clarified Wednesday an earlier order shielding information about the case from public view.

Top NC court urged to take hog ‘slush fund’ case again

A Randolph County pastor is asking North Carolina’s highest court to take another look at a case involving millions of dollars that critics have labeled the North Carolina attorney general’s hog farm “slush fund.”

NC expands apprenticeships with federal workforce funds

Building on being named the best state for business, economic development, and workforce development, NC is allocating funds to a state program that will connect high school students with career opportunities through pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships.

Theresa Opeka

4th Circuit now ‘safe haven’ for asbestos suit evasion, dissent warns

The federal Appeals Court circuit covering North Carolina has become a “safe haven” for companies seeking to avoid liability for asbestos claims, according to dissent filed Wednesday.

Featured

Cartoon

No catch

Freed Hamas hostage from NC meets First Lady at White House

Hamas seized 251 hostages, including Keith and his wife, Aviva Siegel. Keith was a North Carolina expatriate living in Israel and grew up in Chapel Hill.

Isabella Cashman

Media climate coverage flummoxed by winter’s ups and downs

One might think that having to admit to weeks of “bitter” and “extreme cold” in winter shortly after declaring that winter had permanently “lost its cool” would be fatal to climate fearmongering. Not a bit.

Jon Sanders

Cartoon

Groundhog Day

Judge’s ruling could mean good news for smaller NC political parties

A ruling favoring the Justice For All Party sends a signal about future disputes over third-party ballot access in North Carolina.

Mitch Kokai

Poll

January 2026 — North Carolinians want to choose their public school

Opinion

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist No. 6: Concerning dangers from dissensions between the states

Donald Bryson

Why NC is outperforming the nation’s soft landing

Fran Hudson

Stability of law requires clarity of language

Watch This

Locke’s Mitch Kokai assesses NC health care funding challenge

Mitch Kokai, John Locke Foundation senior political analyst, discusses North Carolina’s health care funding challenges linked to the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Kokai offered these comments during the Jan. 16, 2026, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

Mitch Kokai

Locke’s Donald Bryson discusses tariffs’ impact in North Carolina

John Locke Foundation CEO Donald Bryson discusses the impact of tariffs in North Carolina. A new Locke report from North Carolina State University Professor Jeffrey Dorfman estimates a $695 million negative impact on the state’s farming industry, with 8,000 lost jobs. Bryson offered these comments during the Jan. 13, 2026, edition of Spectrum News 1’s...

Donald Bryson

Carolina Journal’s Jeff Moore analyzes NC legislators’ tax and budget impasse

Jeff Moore, John Locke Foundation vice president of communications, discusses factors leading to a tax and budget impasse among North Carolina’s legislative leaders. Moore offered these comments during the Jan. 9, 2026, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

Jeff Moore

Cooper, King analyze recent polling in NC’s US Senate race

Political scientist Chris Cooper of Western Carolina University and Carolina Journal Editor-in-Chief Donna King discuss recent polls in North Carolina’s 2026 US Senate race. Cooper and King offered these comments during the Jan. 23, 2026, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

Donna King

Polls

November 2025 — Cooper Maintains Lead in Senate Race

RALEIGH — With one year until the midterm election, Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper continues to lead in North Carolina’s US Senate race. According to the latest Carolina Journal Poll, a survey of 600 likely voters in North Carolina that was conducted November 9–10 by Harper Polling, Cooper (47.3%) leads former Republican Party Chairman Michael...

September 2025 — Majority of NC Voters Believe America is on the ‘Wrong Track’

RALEIGH — For the first time since October of 2024, the majority of voters in North Carolina say they believe the United States is headed in the wrong direction. According to the latest Carolina Journal Poll, conducted by Harper Polling, 53.7% of voters said they believe things in America are headed on the “wrong track”...

August 2025 — Cooper shows early lead on Whatley in US Senate Race

RALEIGH — Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper has an 8.2-point lead in the race against Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley for North Carolina’s open US Senate seat. According to the latest Carolina Journal Poll, conducted by Harper Polling, 47.3% of voters say that they would vote for Cooper if the Senate election were held...

January 2026 — North Carolinians want to choose their public school

RALEIGH — This week marks the 16th annual National School Choice Week. Every year, in recognition of National School Choice Week, the Carolina Journal Poll surveys likely North Carolina voters on matters of education. In this year’s poll, voters continued to show strong support for school choice programs, such as open enrollment, the Opportunity Scholarship...

State Government

No, President Trump, let’s not nationalize election administration

Many of the reforms Trump has been seeking, such as improving voter rolls and election system security, would make our elections better. But it is not his call to make those changes.

Andy Jackson

Early voting begins for NC 2026 primary

Theresa Opeka

UNC urges top court to reject records case linked to COVID’s origin

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is asking the state Supreme Court not to take a case related to a watchdog group’s search for records linked to COVID-19’s origins.

NC House committee questions Buncombe County over DEI

Buncombe officials sought to “correct the record” on testimony given to the committee on Jan. 7 by Republican Asheville lawyer Ruth Smith.

David N. Bass

Federal Government

No, President Trump, let’s not nationalize election administration

Many of the reforms Trump has been seeking, such as improving voter rolls and election system security, would make our elections better. But it is not his call to make those changes.

Andy Jackson

Judge clarifies protective order in case of Zarutska stabbing death

4th Circuit now ‘safe haven’ for asbestos suit evasion, dissent warns

The federal Appeals Court circuit covering North Carolina has become a “safe haven” for companies seeking to avoid liability for asbestos claims, according to dissent filed Wednesday.

NC included in US DOT operation targeting illegal trucking

Hundreds of drivers and just over 1,200 vehicles were taken off the road because of violations during Jan. 13-15 operation.

Anna Claire Walker