It seems like all public officials celebrate transparency, until it applies to them. Case in point: Gov. Roy Cooper, who (years ago as attorney general) wrote the introduction to the North Carolina Guide to Open Government and Public Records for the N.C. Press Association. “The spirit with which public…
On Tuesday, I received a call from school officials informing parents of activities for a “national school walkout,” planned in response to the recent deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Wednesday morning, I did what I expect many other parents did. I had a conversation with my children about gun…
Stand-alone makeup schools can operate in North Carolina without a government-issued license, the N.C. Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners now says. The decision, resulting from court-ordered mediation, ends a federal lawsuit filed by Jasna Bukvic-Bhayani of Charlotte. As Carolina Journal reported last year, Bukvic-Bhayani…
Props to N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger for guiding the conversation in our state back toward things that matter. Things about which we can happily disagree. Courts, pipelines, solar farms, elections? Nah. Let’s talk barbecue, he says. Better yet, let’s talk barbecue while…
The NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey gives educators the chance to be heard. Every two years, the Department of Public Instruction conducts a comprehensive survey to learn more about teaching and learning conditions in the state’s public schools, including charter…
CHAPEL HILL — Two years after taking her seat as president of the University of North Carolina, Margaret Spellings is “pleased, but not satisfied” with her work so far. It’s been a busy and chaotic climb. During her first year in office, Spellings, along with the…
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about local government debt. It all started when I was preparing for a presentation and took a look at the Wake County budget for this year. I nearly fell out of my chair. This year alone, Wake County’s budget includes just more than $273 million in debt…
Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page wants well-trained armed volunteer resource officers protecting every North Carolina public school. “The time for action is now,” Page said during a Feb. 28 news conference at the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office. Legislators, law enforcement agencies, and educators…
Protecting our investments means taking care of what we own. As state taxpayers, we own a lot of stuff — office, school and university buildings, state agencies and department offices, courthouses, prisons, libraries, books … and lots of land. North Carolina owns 42 parks, a symphony orchestra, a zoo, and seven history and two art museums. …
The U.S. Senate should establish a special committee to investigate the roles of the U.S. Olympics Committee and U.S.A. Gymnastics in the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case, say lawmakers, including North Carolina U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis. Nassar, team…
