News

Map Act disputes from Wake County could have major impact for taxpayers, property owners

The North Carolina Court of Appeals wrestled Wednesday with two Map Act cases from Wake County that could have significant impacts for both property owners and state taxpayers. Plaintiffs in the cases argued during an hourlong hearing that the state Department of Transportation seeks a Map Act “discount.” The department responded that the plaintiffs would force taxpayers to pay sums “many multiples higher” than awards offered in hundreds of other Map Act cases.

Report: VinFast $4 billion Chatham County factory may be further delayed

VinFast is reportedly once again considering delaying the construction of its proposed $4 billion electric vehicle factory in Moncure, Chatham County.

Theresa Opeka

NCDMV to redesign all state-issued driver’s licenses

State-issued driver’s licenses will have a brand-new look starting in June following changes and security enhancements made by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles.

Brianna Kraemer

NCSU’s sovereign immunity arguments challenged in Poe Hall dispute

A former North Carolina State University grad student and employee is challenging the university’s sovereign immunity arguments in a legal dispute involving the Poe Hall shutdown. The state Appeals Court issued a May 16 order granting the university a temporary stay in its dispute with Darren Masier.

Federal lawsuit over Asheville park ban heading toward settlement

A federal lawsuit challenging Asheville’s decision to ban local activists from using city parks is near a settlement. A notice filed Tuesday in US District Court prompted a judge in the case to cancel a hearing that had been scheduled later this week.

Medicaid ‘home health’ spending needs a closer look

While NC's $35 billion budget seems large, consider that spending on the state's Medicaid program ALONE spends that much, mostly through the federal government.

David Larson

Federalist 18: Insufficiency of Present Confederation to Preserve Union cont..

As a weak government, when not at war, is ever agitated by internal dissentions, so these never fail to bring on fresh calamities from abroad.

James Madison

Innovative ideas for cost savings in NC Medicaid

We recognize the need for creative investments that will help sustain supports and services for individuals with IDD, promoting independence and decreasing dependency on paid supports, and saving Medicaid dollars to be used in other ways.

Lisa Poteat

Supreme Court was right to protect donor privacy, and NC was ready

This decision is good news for every organization that has ever stood in government’s crosshairs for holding the “wrong” views. And it is good news for every North Carolinian who has ever written a check to a cause worth fighting for.

Jeanette Doran

Hedge-fund winnings from courtroom bets aren’t capital gains

When a hedge fund stakes $20 million on a mass tort and walks away with $200 million, somehow the IRS is supposed to treat it like a lucrative investment into an early Silicon Valley unicorn.

Yaël Ossowski

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.

Donna King

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.

Donna King

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.

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.

David N. Bass

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).

Mitch Kokai

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.”

Donna King

2027 Military World Games: Charlotte to make history as first US host city

The Queen City is set to be the first US host of the 2027 Military World Games.

Katherine Zehnder

How UNC silenced satire and the Daily Tar Heel

The articles may have been a bit out of touch, yes — but many of them were also really funny. And more importantly, students on campus should have the latitude to make clumsy jokes.

Isabella Cashman

The legend of North Carolina’s most famous mother

NC native Anna Whistler’s portrait (and life) still captivate 150 years later.

Ben Sellers

Carolinians helped shape comic culture

While we properly associate American pop culture with places such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, I’d recently come to appreciate the pivotal contributions of North and South Carolinians to the pulp fiction of the early 20th century and the comic-book culture that followed it.

John Hood

Gov. Stein presents Long Leaf Pine honors at Executive Mansion

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is one of North Carolina’s highest civilian honors, awarded to individuals with a proven record of extraordinary service to the state.

Anna Claire Walker

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