Opinion (Page 6)

• Treat federal aid as shock absorber

  While nearly all states and localities will take a major fiscal hit from the COVID-19 crisis, some — such as North Carolina — were better prepared than others to handle unforeseen shocks.

  by John Hood
• Two N.C. businesses help tell tale of government thwarting innovation

  The owner of a meat company has enjoyed freedom to adapt to COVID-19. Government blocks a fitness center owner from having the same chance.

  by Mitch Kokai
• Education debate need not be vicious

  For most parents, there is no practical alternative to enrolling their children in public or private schools. So, our schools will reopen. And North Carolinians are going to have lots of arguments about it.

  by John Hood
• National unemployment rate reaches more than 19%

  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released “The Employment Situation — April 2020” Friday stating the seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate was 14.7%. But on page three of the report, the agency explains that due to the unique nature of the coronavirus, “the overall unemployment rate would have been almost…

  by Don Carrington
• Help and hope for the emergency homeschool parent 

  Millions of parents are emergency homeschoolers now. They’re adapting gamely to school closures necessitated by COVID-19. But parents are worried about learning in this brave new world. In a Gallup poll released April 8, 49% said they’re concerned the pandemic will negatively impact their child’s education. …

  by Kristen Blair
• The private school plight with public school consequences 

  The coronavirus recession, the Great Lockdown, and the Great Suppression are all terms used to describe the global economic downturn produced by COVID-19 mitigation measures. As elected officials issued stay-at-home orders and closed “nonessential” enterprises, unemployment skyrocketed. From mid-March to mid-April, about 22 million Americans, or roughly…

  by Dr. Terry Stoops
• Cooper should bring out jobs expert to explain N.C. employment situation

  So, where is the state’s jobs expert? I haven’t seen one. Is it Secretary of Commerce Tony Copeland or one of his employees? Gov. Roy Cooper usually has Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry and Health and Human Services Director Dr. Mandy Cohen at his daily coronavirus briefings. Sprayberry talks about…

  by Don Carrington
• Numbers missing from lockdown debate

  Our leaders should receive our thanks for their efforts, and our prayers. But they should neither request nor receive our uncritical deference.

  by John Hood
• Federal grant highlights ongoing dispute over control of N.C. government spending

  The federal CARES Act places some relief money under the governor's control, but the N.C. Constitution says legislators control all spending decisions.

  by Mitch Kokai
• Public records will shine light on Cooper’s response to employment security’s problems 

  After Gov. Roy Cooper ordered restaurants and bars closed starting March 16 due to the coronavirus, unemployment benefit claims in North Carolina skyrocketed. More than 1 million North Carolina workers have filed claims for unemployment insurance as of May 3, the Division of Employment Security reports. The state’s…

  by Don Carrington