News
NCGA to introduce crime legislation in wake of recent murders
NCGA leaders announce plans to introduce legislation that would target crime in the wake of recent murders.
News
Another $12M+ in federal recovery funds headed to WNC after Helene
As the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene approaches, the US Department of Homeland Security announced earlier this week that western NC has been approved for more than $12 million in FEMA grant disbursements.
News
De minimus expires, halting US shipments
As the de minimis import exemption expires, US consumers will see shipments halted and significant cost increases on international orders.
News
Charlie Kirk dies after being shot at campus event in Utah
Charlie Kirk, 31, the political icon and co-founder of Turning Point USA, has reportedly died Wednesday, after being shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem,
News
Durham declares itself a ‘4th Amendment Workplace’ immigration sanctuary
Durham’s action is part of a wider initiative by Siembra NC and follows Carrboro, which became the first Triangle city to adopt the “Fourth Amendment Workplace” label in May.
News
NC Supreme Court mulls class-action status for Carteret solid waste fee dispute
North Carolina’s highest court will decide whether a legal challenge to Carteret County’s solid waste fees will move forward as a class-action suit. The court heard an hour of oral arguments Wednesday in the dispute.
Opinion
Opinion
When war first came to Fayetteville
In the Carolinas, in particular, much of the war consisted of Patriots and Loyalists raiding, robbing, wounding, or killing each other in regular spasms of violence.
Opinion
Hands off backyard chickens: Draft UDO ruffles feathers
The proposed restriction on chicken ownership in Johnston County's draft UDO would effectively ban roosters outright and cap hens for most people up to 10.
Opinion
A British lord’s warning to his American cousins on their 250th birthday
"A republic, if you can keep it. Can you, cousins? Can you?" Lord Daniel Hannan asked the 2026 CLC audience.
Opinion
Federalist No. 10: Union as safeguard against domestic faction and insurrection cont…
The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States.
Elections
News
Boliek sworn in as state auditor, says he’ll start with audit of DMV
On Wednesday, Dave Boliek was sworn in as the new state auditor of North Carolina and announced his hires for senior staff and says he will start work with an audit of the Department of Motor Vehicles.
News
2024 in review: A year of civic engagement in NC
The year 2024 was marked by significant developments across politics, the economy, education, and energy in North Carolina. As one of the nation’s most dynamic and closely watched states, it played a pivotal role in shaping regional and national conversations.
News
Trump nominates Bishop to be deputy director for budget at OMB
"Dan has been a tireless fighter for our MAGA Movement in the House of Representatives on the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees," Trump said in a press release issued Tuesday night. "Dan will implement my cost-cutting and deregulatory agenda across all Agencies, and root out the Weaponized Deep State."
News
Democrats want federal court to address GOP challenge of 60,000 NC ballots
The North Carolina Democratic Party filed a lawsuit Friday to ensure challenges of 60,000 ballots in the state's latest election are addressed in federal court. Republicans filed the challenges with the State Board of Elections. The challenges could affect the outcome of the state Supreme Court race between Democrat Allison Riggs and Jefferson Griffin, along with a handful of state legislative contests.
News
Griffin asks Appeals Court to order decision on election protests by Tuesday
Republican North Carolina Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin is turning to North Carolina’s second-highest court for an order that would force state election officials to make a final decision about Griffin’s election protests Tuesday. The State Board of Elections had planned to hear oral arguments about the protests the following day, according to a document Griffin filed Friday with the state Court of Appeals.
Videos
Video
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.”
Video
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...
Video
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.”
Video
Locke’s Mitch Kokai assesses North Carolina’s open US Senate race in 2026
Mitch Kokai, John Locke Foundation senior political analyst, discusses North Carolina’s open US Senate election in 2026. Kokai offered these comments during the Jan. 1, 2026, edition of C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal.”
Video
The Debrief: Revolutionary Roads – Protest in Petticoats
In this special episode of The Debrief, John Locke Foundation CEO Donald Bryson sits down with Carolina Journal editor Donna King to explore a bold chapter in North Carolina’s revolutionary history: the Edenton Tea Party. They discuss the significance of this early act of political protest and its impact on the American Revolution. For more...
Culture
Opinion
Hands off backyard chickens: Draft UDO ruffles feathers
The proposed restriction on chicken ownership in Johnston County's draft UDO would effectively ban roosters outright and cap hens for most people up to 10.
Opinion
NC’s civics education should be revolutionary
By assessing civics statewide and tracking progress with a standardized benchmark, we could ensure students understand how our history equips them to be informed, engaged citizens.
Opinion
Social disconnection is everyone’s problem
Let’s all be social-capital investors. The need is great, the potential payoffs huge.
Opinion
Don’t let Epstein saga distract from creating culture of safety
An estimated 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday, and most children who are harmed are abused by someone they know and trust.
Civil Society
Opinion
The importance of civic engagement 250 years after the founding
What YMCA's Youth and Government program is doing is remarkable. This year’s conference garnered interest from NC state legislators, mayors, policy analysts, and state officials.
Opinion
Institute fosters stronger public leadership
Times change. When we introduce IOPL to potential fellows, partners, and donors, some hear the word “political” and think “toxic,” or at least “partisan.”
Opinion
NC leaders champion post-election unity through ‘Civic Saturdays’
Like a faith gathering, it incorporated music, fellowship, shared meals, and thoughtful discourse — but with democracy as its central theme.
Opinion
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...
Opinion
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...