News
Battle over judicial, utilities appointments reaches NC Appeals Court
North Carolina’s second-highest court wrestled Tuesday with a constitutional battle over government appointments called Stein v. Hall.
News
Who’s pro-business? New report ranks lawmakers’ voting record
Republicans as a whole outranked Democrats in the legislature, but two NC Democrats outranks some Republican members.
News
NC’s rainy-day fund shrinks, as state drops in national ranking
In 2022, North Carolina was recognized by the Pew Research Center as having one of the best rainy-day funds or savings reserves in the country. At that time, the state’s savings reserve was projected to reach $4.75 billion by the end of the biennium.
News
NAACP to add new NC congressional map to existing lawsuit
The North Carolina NAACP and Common Cause hope to challenge the state’s new congressional map as part of their existing federal redistricting lawsuit.
News
Cooper jumps to early fundraising lead in Senate race
In the latest Carolina Journal poll, Cooper has also maintained an early lead over Whatley in the 2026 US Senate race, but the his lead was cut nearly in half from August to September.
News
Trial in UNC tennis player’s class-action suit more than a year away
A University of North Carolina tennis player’s class-action lawsuit against NCAA prize-money restrictions would not go to trial until November 2026.
Opinion
Opinion
Cost curve bends, but not enough
Medical spending in the US as a share of gross domestic product was 15% lower than projected 14 years earlier, and indeed was only “marginally higher” than in 2010.
Opinion
End NCAE’s taxpayer-subsidized dues check-off privilege
Any organization receiving public payroll deductions should annually certify that it meets the law’s requirements and provide documentation sufficient to verify its membership and eligibility.
Opinion
Boosting civic knowledge among young adults is no simple task
The future of American civic life depends on students' continued willingness to learn real lessons from the nation's past.
Opinion
The right balance of tech for NC schools
Despite the good intentions of many school leaders and teachers, we are concerned by growing evidence that suggests those tools are harmful for our children’s learning and development and undermine our own efforts to promote intentional screen use at home.
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
The Debrief: Remaining Covid Lawsuits + Sam Hayes Interview
This week on The Debrief, Mitch Kokai and Donna King discuss the remaining covid lawsuits and other court cases in North Carolina. Plus, North Carolina State Board of Elections Executive Director Sam Hayes sat down with Carolina Journal’s Theresa Opeka to talk about his first year in office, including his accomplishments and what’s on the...
Video
Carolina Journal’s Donna King analyzes NC state budget debate
Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses major developments in North Carolina’s ongoing state budget debate. King offered these comments during the May 15, 2026, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”
Video
UNC-Asheville whistleblower complaint explored
Carolina Journal reporter David Bass speaks with former University of North Carolina at Asheville research assistant Aidan Settman about his whistleblower complaint against the university.
Video
Locke’s Mitch Kokai analyzes NC’s marquee Senate race
Mitch Kokai, John Locke Foundation senior political analyst, discusses North Carolina’s high-profile US Senate race. Kokai offered these comments during an April 21, 2026, interview with WNCN (CBS17).
Video
Locke’s Donald Bryson analyzes NC teacher pay proposals
John Locke Foundation CEO Donald Bryson discusses current ideas for raising teacher pay in North Carolina. Bryson offered these comments during the April 10, 2026, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”
Culture
News
NC lawmakers debate $10 strip club fee amid 1st Amendment concerns
NC lawmakers consider a $10 fee on strip clubs serving alcohol, sparking debate over sexual assault funding and First Amendment rights.
Opinion
Boosting civic knowledge among young adults is no simple task
The future of American civic life depends on students' continued willingness to learn real lessons from the nation's past.
News
NC passed on buying part of the Carolina Hurricanes
As the Carolina Hurricanes continue to make their way through the Stanley Cup Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights, state Treasurer Brad Briner made known that North Carolina was presented with the opportunity to buy part of the franchise last year, but passed.
News
Social media, AI safety bill advances in NC Senate
Social media bill is quickly advancing through the General Assembly, Democrats say it may not go far enough.
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...