Nov. 10, 1898, is an infamous day that forever exemplifies a tyrannical government’s capacity to murder and terrorize, even here in North Carolina. Most are unaware that this day also helped spawn many draconian laws that carry the echoes of terror even today. These terrorists and their sympathizers eventually implemented liquor prohibition, alcohol-control state laws...
North Carolina can add another item to its crowded shelf of accolades: according to a newly updated study, our state’s road system ranks second in the nation in performance and cost-effectiveness. The Reason Foundation has just released the 27th Annual Highway Report. It was brainchild of my longtime friend and colleague, the late UNC-Charlotte professor...
North Carolina Democrats desperately needed a fresh-faced 29-year-old Tricia Cotham to succeed when she was appointed to Mecklenburg Counties House District 100 in 2007. The North Carolina Democratic Party was mired in corruption and scandal. The North Carolina Democrat party WAS the face of corruption and scandal. The North Carolina Democrats were the jailbird caucus. Cotham...
Throughout the heated North Carolina Medicaid expansion debate, one word was repeated time and again: supply. Opponents of expansion cited the health care professional shortage as a serious concern that would be exacerbated if over 600,000 individuals were added to the Medicaid rolls. Thankfully, there are some policy reforms that can help alleviate the health-care...
Five months after its latest major ruling in North Carolina’s Leandro case, the N.C. Supreme Court is on track to consider the long-running education funding dispute again. Perhaps this time the court will display a stronger regard for the constitutional separation of powers.
This year, DreamWorks’ “The Prince of Egypt” turns 25. Despite being made in a previous generation, my children love watching it. And by this point, I am fairly certain each of my children knows most, if not all, the lyrics to each song. It’s a work of cinematic art that has likely secured its place...
I started writing my column for North Carolina newspapers in 1986. From the start, I resolved to focus primarily on state and local issues. Newspapers were already chock-full of opinions about national politics and international affairs. As a then-college student, I didn’t think my views on these topics would be distinctive enough to interest editors...
