RALEIGH — A workshop conducted in late March, led by experts in getting economic development incentives from state and local governments, shows that large companies are now banding together to learn how to extract as much public money as possible from elected officials. The seminar taught dozens of corporate government-relations…
RALEIGH — Ernst & Young has become a player on both sides of incentives policy in North Carolina. The company established a cozy relationship with state officials through an incentives bill it helped create in 2001, the N.C. Economic Stimulus and Job Creation Act. The Department of Commerce hired Ernst…
RALEIGH — A national taxpayer advocacy organization based in Washington opened its third state chapter Tuesday in North Carolina. The Americans for Prosperity Foundation, which will develop grassroots activism promoting limited government and individual freedom, established other chapters in Texas and Kansas. “Americans for Prosperity will fight to end the…
RALEIGH — The president of the N.C. Center for Applied Textile Technology created the appearance of a conflict of interest by accepting outside teaching jobs, State Auditor Ralph Campbell’s Office said in an investigative audit released in mid-April. The auditor’s office was asked to review the secondary employment of the…
KERNERSVILLE — After a vote by the local school board, Southern Guilford High School will have to give up its name, the Indians, while High Point Andrews High School will be allowed to retain the name Red Raiders but must retire an American Indian mascot. Although the new regulation passed…
RALEIGH — Contrary to exaggerated claims by environmental extremists that air pollution is worsening, air-quality expert Joel Schwartz told three separate audiences in NC last week that conditions have improved nationwide and in their state. Using data culled from studies published by the Environmental Protection Agency, Schwartz demonstrated that pollution…
RALEIGH -- In recent years budget watchers annually have warned of coming fiscal train wrecks because state leaders have spent one-time revenues to finance annually recurring expenditures. And every year lawmakers have put off a structural solution by extending or raising taxes. The most commonly recognized one-time revenue source was…
CHAPEL HILL—This fall UNC-Chapel Hill will offer a new academic minor: “sexuality studies.” Students who complete 12 hours’ worth of the interdisciplinary courses can receive a minor in sexuality studies. Some of the courses include a history course on “the history of sexuality in America” and a political science course…
RALEIGH — Gov. Mike Easley released his mid-biennium budget term adjustments yesterday, which he said maintained his priorities for spending discipline, creating jobs, and improving public education. Forecasters anticipate economic growth by a rate of 5.5 percent for 2004-05, which raised revenue expectations by $200 million. Easley’s revised budget comes…
RALEIGH — When Gov. Mike Easley introduced his proposed biennial budget last year, he asked the legislature to implement spending limits tied to the average growth in personal income. “The current budget model needs to be reformed,” Easley said in February 2003. “Last year, we have reduced the state operating…
