News
Western North Carolina Christmas tree to appear at State Capitol
A Christmas tree farm from western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene was selected to have one of its trees appear at the North Carolina State Capitol.
News
Trump picks North Carolina leaders for key roles in next administration
Former President Donald Trump announced two major appointments from North Carolina to his administration set to take office in 2025. Among the nominees, Daniel P. Driscoll has been tapped to serve as Secretary of the Army, while Michael Whatley is poised to return as Chairman of the Republican National Committee.
News
Driscoll, of Boone, appointed as Secretary of the Army
"As a former Soldier, Investor, and Political Advisor, Dan brings a powerful combination of experiences to serve as a disruptor and change agent," said Trump in the press release announcing Driscoll's appointment.
News
Sharp drop in NC’s charitable giving noted by Council of State in final meeting of the year
Among the goodbyes and farewells of over half of the North Carolina Council of State members, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall pointed out North Carolinians' dramatic cut in charitable giving this year. Gov. Roy Cooper also encouraged members to stay focused on western North Carolina Helene recovery, wherever their next post of service will be.
News
Federal Appeals Court places NC mifepristone case on hold to deal with WVa suit
The 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals will not resolve a dispute over North Carolina’s restrictions on the abortion drug mifepristone until it settles a similar dispute in a West Virginia case.
News
NCInnovation provides audit report to House Oversight and Reform Committee
NCInnovation (NCI), the private nonprofit given $500 million in state taxpayer funds to facilitate its vision of commercializing more public university research in the state, sent a third party audit report to the NC House Oversight and Reform Committee late last month. NCI CEO Bennet Waters first gave testimony and answered questions for committee members...
Opinion
Opinion
Federal crash will hurt North Carolinians
America’s ship of state is huge, ornate, cluttered, and bound for calamity. Will North Carolinians just go along for the (perilous) ride? Or will we demand action before it’s too late?
Opinion
NC House bill would ignore SCOTUS at women’s expense
HB 1120 would require pregnancy centers receiving state funding to publicize confidential financial information, staff credentials, and services provided.
Opinion
Social Security insolvency would be a disaster for NC seniors
In our latest CJ Poll, one of the highest concerns among voters was Social Security and Medicare, the two behemoth entitlement programs that seniors rely on after retirement.
Opinion
Federalist 22: Other defects of the present confederation, continued…
Laws are a dead letter without courts to expound and define their true meaning and operation.
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
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.
Opinion
NC bill blurs AI policy, social media rules
I’m not saying government should stand by and do nothing, but we should certainly be wary of creating broad new authorities for state government without clear evidence that the benefits outweigh the costs.
News
UNC uses bridge funds for DEI-targeted research
The federal ban, and a new UNC Board of Governors policy emphasizing free speech and nondiscrimination, have not ended research targeted by the Trump administration for promoting left-wing racial and gender ideology.
News
Task force examines state gang violence strategy
Several participants suggested modern institutions have become more isolated, more bureaucratic, and less connected to the communities they serve.
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...