News - Carolina Journal

Native American bones, bureaucratic creep, and a stalled Carteret County housing development

In the town of Cedar Point, a subdivision development has encountered a major roadblock after the discovery of Native American artifacts and some human remains. State archaeologists believe these findings are of historical significance, which has halted the project after only about three dozen homes were built. This situation has highlighted the confusion and delays as the lines of bureaucratic jurisdiction become blurred.

Cooper vetoes bill making juvenile justice changes

Gov. Roy Cooper pulled out his veto stamp a second time this year — this time striking down a bill making changes to North Carolina’s “Raise the Age” legislation. Cooper handed down his veto of House Bill 834 at 4:59 p.m. Friday.

Carolina Journal’s Donna King assesses NC budget stalemate

Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses the latest developments in North Carolina’s state budget debate. King offered these comments during the June 14, 2024, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

Lawmakers tout $500 million economic benefit of US Open in Pinehurst

The state appropriated $18 million in incentives and millions of dollars in extra tax breaks to the USGA in a 2020 bill.

Brianna Kraemer

Poll: Seven-in-10 NC voters support constitutional ban on non-citizen voting

A recent poll of North Carolina voters found a 68% support margin for a state constitutional amendment specifically prohibiting non-citizens from voting in elections. The poll from Carolina Partnership for Reform noted that with Republican legislators holding supermajorities in both chambers, such an amendment could make it on the ballot in November without Democratic support. The...

Bill restoring driving privileges for certain DWI offenders passes Senate

All 46 senators present voted in favor of House Bill 250, which allows someone who has a second driving while impaired offense to get a limited driving privilege as long as their vehicle has an interlock installed.

Brianna Kraemer

Opinion

Our wrongful-conviction compensation system needs reform

The process of being compensated for losing decades of one's life should not be secretive; it should be streamlined.

Miles Kirkpatrick

To secure NC’s future, we must protect property rights

Reforming and strengthening our removal laws are apparent steps we can take to prevent further abuses and address the root causes of squatting.

Fund core programs or save surplus

Put money not needed for core services into savings or, alternatively, pay down state debt, which frees up recurring dollars no longer needed for debt service.

Resist the government quick fix

Let's avoid the governmental quick fixes that actually make the problems worse, even if we may benefit from their short-term relief, and instead focus on keeping things affordable for consumers through market-based solutions.

Primed by activist high schools, NC students arrive in college ready to protest

While students being allowed to express themselves is important, schools that allow, or even encourage, major disruptions in the school day (like walkouts and rallies) for radical causes should focus instead on boosting the state's reading and math scores.

Elections

Robinson rallies NCGOP with vision for economic and educational change at state convention

North Carolina's Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson headlined the NCGOP State Convention Saturday night with a powerful speech drawing stand ovations from the crowd of an estimated 1,000 party faithful.

Knott is officially NC Republicans’ nominee for Congressional District 13

The Republican runoff race for Congressional District 13 was finalized Tuesday evening, with Brad Knott officially becoming the Republican nominee. Knott was facing a runoff with Republican Kelly Daughtry, but earlier this month Daughtry announced she was dropping out.

Democrats run anti-Morrow bill in NC Senate

Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, D-Wake, is running Senate Bill 867, Superintendent of Public Instruction Minimum Requirements. The measure mandates that the state superintendent “must have at least one year of experience as a teacher or school administrator in this State or a member of a local board of education or the State Board of Education.” The legislation notably leaves out homeschool educators, and few other Council of State positions have such requirements.

Biden visits NC to pay respects and tout clean water

President Joe Biden made two stops in North Carolina on Thursday. The first took place after 1 pm in Charlotte when he met privately with the grieving families of the four officers who were killed in an ambush in east Charlotte on Monday.

In-person early voting for the May 14 runoff election gets underway

In-person early voting for the May 14 second primary/runoff election began Thursday at 8 am. It will end on Saturday, May 11 at 3 pm.

Theresa Opeka, Katherine Zehnder

Federal judge strikes down NC crime for felon voting

A federal judge has struck down North Carolina’s law criminalizing felon voting. The law “was enacted with discriminatory intent, has not been cleansed of its discriminatory taint, and continues to disproportionately impact Black voters,” according to a court order US District Judge Loretta Biggs issued Monday.

Videos

Carolina Journal’s Donna King assesses NC budget stalemate

Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses the latest developments in North Carolina’s state budget debate. King offered these comments during the June 14, 2024, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

Interview: State Superintendent Candidate Michele Morrow

Carolina Journal contributor David Bass sits down with with Republican State Superintendent Candidate Michele Morrow to discuss her goals, qualifications, and campaign. Editor’s note: Equal time was offered to her opponent, Democratic candidate Mo Green, who declined to be interviewed.

Locke’s Mitch Kokai analyzes polling in NC governor’s race

Mitch Kokai, John Locke Foundation senior political analyst, discusses recent polling in North Carolina’s race for governor. Kokai offered these comments during the May 31, 2024, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

Carolina Journal’s Donna King assesses changing NC budget surplus numbers

Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses the potential impact of a smaller North Carolina state budget surplus than officials had projected. King offered these comments during the May 10, 2024, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

Interview: Jack Clark, Republican candidate for State Auditor

As the May 14th second primary approaches, Carolina Journal invited the candidates into our studios to talk about their goals and the 2024 race. Under North Carolina’s election laws candidates must win their primary with 30%, plus one, of the vote or the second place finisher in the contest may request a second primary. There...

Interview: Dave Boliek, Republican candidate for State Auditor

As the May 14th second primary approaches, Carolina Journal invited the candidates into our studios to talk about their goals and the 2024 race. Under North Carolina’s election laws candidates must win their primary with 30%, plus one, of the vote or the second place finisher in the contest may request a second primary. There...

Culture

Lawmakers tout $500 million economic benefit of US Open in Pinehurst

The state appropriated $18 million in incentives and millions of dollars in extra tax breaks to the USGA in a 2020 bill.

Brianna Kraemer

Primed by activist high schools, NC students arrive in college ready to protest

While students being allowed to express themselves is important, schools that allow, or even encourage, major disruptions in the school day (like walkouts and rallies) for radical causes should focus instead on boosting the state's reading and math scores.

Native American bones, bureaucratic creep, and a stalled Carteret County housing development

In the town of Cedar Point, a subdivision development has encountered a major roadblock after the discovery of Native American artifacts and some human remains. State archaeologists believe these findings are of historical significance, which has halted the project after only about three dozen homes were built. This situation has highlighted the confusion and delays as the lines of bureaucratic jurisdiction become blurred.

Government subsidies raises prices, even in childcare

This week a variety of groups have been pushing out narratives on more taxpayer funding for childcare. You may wonder why, suddenly, this is such a crisis issue. It is because billions in COVID-era government handouts to the industry are expiring this month.

Updates to sex education standards raise concerns among conservatives

The North Carolina Board of Education recently voted to approve updates to the Healthful Living Standards for K-12 public schools, but some conservatives are wary of adjustments to the sex education components of the standards. North Carolina law requires school districts to “[t]each that abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage is the expected standard for all...

Civil Society

For healthy civil society, politics needs to stay in its lane

Political and cultural causes are important. They motivate us to make the world around us better and hone our sense of justice. Also, the excitement of fighting the good fight can be, for lack of a better word, fun. But everything has its time and place. And even if we think a particular political issue...

Flashback: North Carolina’s Easter Monday tradition forged on the baseball diamond

On Good Friday state offices will be closed in North Carolina for Holy Week, along with 10 other states. However, that has not always been the case in North Carolina. The Monday after Easter — rather than Good Friday — was a legal holiday in North Carolina for 52 years, and for many years before...

Dallas Woodhouse

Carolina Journal’s Donna King discusses Disney going ‘woke’

Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses Disney’s controversial programming changes. King offered these comments during the April 8, 2022, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “Front Row with Marc Rotterman.”

Locke’s Mitch Kokai discusses New York Times’ warning about free speech

Mitch Kokai, John Locke Foundation senior political analyst, discusses the New York Times’ column warning about America’s “free-speech problem.” Kokai offered these comments during the March 25, 2022, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “Front Row with Marc Rotterman.”

Jordan Peterson returns to Durham 4 years after city moves to ‘cancel’ him

Canadian professor, author, and psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson on Thursday offered a non-political and largely academic lecture on the psychology of beauty, dreams, and purpose. The reaction from city officials and activists to the address at the Durham Performing Arts Center was night-and-day from the one leading up to his appearance four years earlier. It...

Ukrainian people in NC rally to support homeland

As the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine continues to escalate, North Carolina’s local Ukrainian population is rallying to bring attention to the suffering of people in their homeland and to gather supplies to help them. Donna Goldstein, co-president of the Ukrainian Association of North Carolina, finds herself at the forefront of these efforts. Goldstein has...

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