State Auditor Beth Wood’s office found that Shelton Jeffries, the former superintendent of Nash County Public Schools, violated his contract and district procedures by ringing up $45,690 in questionable expenses during his three-plus years at the helm. The school board said in a response to…
The N.C. Supreme Court has thrown out a lawsuit against owners of an Orange County quarry. Chief Justice Paul Newby’s opinion in the case focuses attention on the fundamental importance of the right to petition government. The quarry owners had been sued because of comments their representatives made during…
A unanimous N.C. Supreme Court has ruled that public school students can sue their school board for ignoring harassment from other students that blocks their access to a sound basic education. Chief Justice Paul Newby wrote the 16-page opinion. It allows a family with three students to proceed with…
Mitch Kokai, John Locke Foundation senior political analyst, discusses the ongoing negotiation over a federal police reform proposal. Kokai offered these comments during the May 28, 2021, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “Front Row with Marc Rotterman.”…
Liberal activist the Rev. William Barber is loudly calling for a special prosecutor to take over the case of Andrew Brown, who was shot after Pasquotank County deputies tried to serve him with search and arrest warrants. “Inept. Incompetent. Incapable of fixing this,” said…
N.C. senators are moving forward an omnibus criminal justice reform bill that would make a wide range of changes to state law in response to recent cases of rioting, violence against first responders, and accusations of police brutality. Senate Bill 300 covers a…
A bill moving through the General Assembly would eliminate provisions that broadly criminalize rules violations of certain occupational licensing boards and commissions. The measure is another step on lawmakers’ part to crack down on overcriminalization in North Carolina law. House Bill 68 addresses such occupations as optometry, dentistry, nursing…
The state House wants Congress to reject proposals for packing the U.S. Supreme Court. The House voted 68-44 Thursday to support a federal “Keep Nine” amendment to the U.S. Constitution. House Joint Resolution 286 urges Congress to propose the “Keep Nine” amendment, which would declare “The Supreme Court…
Republican leadership in the General Assembly has introduced legislation to increase penalties for rioting across North Carolina. House Bill 805 would establish a new level of felony penalties for rioters who cause property damage or serious bodily injury or death to others, including…
You might expect the N.C. Supreme Court’s three Republican justices to wind up on the losing end when the court issues split 4-3 decisions. But the recent ruling in State v. Meader reminds us that party labels don’t dictate every Supreme Court outcome. Given the right set…
