News

Former Durham official can proceed with suit over extortion claim

Former Durham City Council member Monique Holsey-Hyman can move forward with her lawsuit against the city, former colleagues, and city staff over extortion claims linked to a 2023 development vote.

Settlement talks delay NC dwelling insurance hike hearing

A hearing on a proposed average 68.3% rate hike in dwelling insurance across North Carolina scheduled for May 4 has now been pushed back to July 6, according to North Carolina Department of Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.

Theresa Opeka

Study: NC gains a new resident every 7 minutes

NC is the third most popular destination state in the country, behind Texas and Florida. South Carolina and Tennessee round out the top five.

Report calls for reform to involuntary commitment, mental health treatment

A House committee report calls for sweeping reforms to North Carolina’s involuntary commitment system, citing gaps in mental health care and public safety.

Andrew Pomeranz

Top NC court tackles $3 billion retiree health benefits dispute

The North Carolina Supreme Court will decide in the months ahead whether 220,000 government retirees can continue to pursue a class action lawsuit against the state health plan and retirement systems.

It’s no coincidence that the free thrive

America is the top destination for migrants in the world because we create an environment where people can thrive. And within our nation, NC is near the top. Does that make us the greatest place to be on earth? Pretty much.

David Larson

Federalist 15: Insufficiency of Present Confederation to Preserve Union

Each State, yielding to the persuasive voice of immediate interest or convenience, has successively withdrawn its support, till the frail and tottering edifice seems ready to fall upon our heads, and to crush us beneath its ruins.

Alexander Hamilton

An Aspirational North Carolina

At every inflection point in American history, someone dared to imagine a world that didn’t exist. They dared to imagine a reality that seemed absolutely insane.

Claire Olson

Why newcomers are choosing North Carolina

North Carolina is clearly doing something right in that environment, as evidenced by the National Taxpayer’s Union Foundation study.

Tax season 2026: The year of historic refunds

The average refund is up nearly 11% this year, topping $3,500. And as people adjust their withholding under the lower tax rates we made permanent, millions are already seeing more in their take-home pay.

Richard Hudson

Should NC reform its primary system? The case to return to 40% threshold

In a Carolina Journal poll conducted shortly after the November elections, 43% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the results of the 2024 primaries, stating that they did not produce the best candidates for the general election. While 46% were satisfied and 10% were unsure, the significant level of dissatisfaction highlights potential issues within North Carolina’s primary system.

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.

Katherine Zehnder

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.

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."

Theresa Opeka

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.

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.

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.”

Donald Bryson

Locke’s Mitch Kokai analyzes Berger’s election concession

Mitch Kokai, John Locke Foundation senior political analyst, discusses Sen. Phil Berger’s concession in his primary election loss to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. Kokai offered these comments during the March 27, 2026, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

Mitch Kokai

Carolina Journal analyzes Berger’s election concession

Nick Craig of the Carolina Journal News Hour and the John Locke Foundation’s Mitch Kokai discuss Senate Leader Phil Berger’s election concession on March 24, 2026.

NIck Craig, Mitch Kokai

Cooper, King analyze recent polling in NC’s US Senate race

Political scientist Chris Cooper of Western Carolina University and Carolina Journal Editor-in-Chief Donna King discuss recent polls in North Carolina’s 2026 US Senate race. Cooper and King offered these comments during the Jan. 23, 2026, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

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.”

Mitch Kokai

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...

Donald Bryson

It’s no coincidence that the free thrive

America is the top destination for migrants in the world because we create an environment where people can thrive. And within our nation, NC is near the top. Does that make us the greatest place to be on earth? Pretty much.

David Larson

NC faces demographic shift as US birth rate hits record low

The US birth rate reached a new recent low in 2025, even while data for NC showed a similar though less severe decline, with implications for the economy and public education.

David N. Bass

An Aspirational North Carolina

At every inflection point in American history, someone dared to imagine a world that didn’t exist. They dared to imagine a reality that seemed absolutely insane.

Claire Olson

CJ exclusive: Shatner reflects on legacy ahead of NC appearances

On Wednesday, April 15, he will visit Greensboro’s Tanger Center; and on Friday, April 17, he will head to Charlotte’s Ovens Auditorium.

Ben Sellers

Council of State holds meeting at historic Halifax

Gov. Josh Stein opened the April Council of State meeting with a nod to history, but the day’s most urgent message centered on a present-day threat: wildfires burning across North Carolina.

Annie Dance

A post-Thanksgiving reflection on gratitude over grievance

Outrage won’t solve our problems. And it won’t prepare us for tomorrow. What is needed now is a sense of redemption and reasons to feel hopeful.

Michael Cooper

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.

Drew DiMeglio

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.”

John Hood

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.

Ashlynn Warta

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...

David Larson