Cover

• Both conservatives and liberals are de-nouncing the 2002 Farm Bill, signed into law in May by President Bush. The farm subsidies, worth almost $200 billion, are promising massive payouts to farmers in North Carolina and across the country. Page 1

North Carolina

• Charter boat operators on the North Carolina coast are sick of losing business to part-time maritimers, and have brought a petition before the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission asking the agency to help establish a state charter boat license. Page 4
• The N.C. House and Senate approved, and Gov. Mike Easley signed, a new budget at the end of September that increases spending by nearly $600 million over actual spending last year. Page 5
• The United States — a symbol of the worldwide triumph of ideals championed by 17th century philosopher John Locke — today finds itself threatened by the “terror masters” of the Middle East, writer Michael Barone says. Page 5

Education

• A new study says NEA/AFT representation is harmful to teachers and inhibits progress in school choice. The report proposes ending the union monopoly on collective bargaining for teachers. Page 6
• Education is taking a turn for the classical in some public schools around the country, and in North Carolina as well. Page 6
• Case studies reveal some interesting facts about the perspectives of policy reformers vs. classroom teachers. One of the most surprising is that they do not share the same fundamental perspective in areas having to do with reform and innovation. Page 7
• Teachers at Arlington Elementary in Gaston County have turned a grade level proficiency of 37 percent into an 89.4 percent proficiency rating. For a low-performing school such as Arlington, the likelihood of such breakthrough success seemed remote five years ago. Page 9

Higher Education

• Student and public outcry resulted in hours and services being restored to D.H. Hill Library on the campus of North Carolina State University, school officials announce. Page 10
• The American Association of University Professors has announced the formation of a committee to study incidents after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that may limit academic freedom. Page 11
• The fall semester has started. The war on terror is reportedly about to extend to Iraq. And “teach-ins” have returned to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with the usual suspects participating. Page 12
• George Leef writes that Chancellor James Moeser’s Sept. 4 “State of the University” (of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) address may have had listeners nodding off, but it actually contains a number of points that North Carolinians who pay UNC-CH’s bills should know about. Page 13

Local Government

• Counties and cities have been adding their names to a list that are suing the state for withholding local reimbursements. The lawsuit alleges that state Secretary of Revenue Norris Tolson violated the N.C. Constitution when he went along with the governor’s mandate to keep millions of dollars that belong to counties. Page 14
• Greensboro civic leaders have presented Guilford County with an innovative plan to build a new stadium for the Greensboro Bats minor league baseball team. Page 15

Learning Curve

• Dueling reviews by Carolina Journal’s Thomas Paul DeWitt and Erik Root of the book The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War. Page 19

Opinion

• Editorials about session limits for the state legislature and North Carolina’s U.S. Senate Race. Page 21
• Michael Walden says using government edict is not the only way to reduce water usage. Another is the system that’s used to ration virtually every product in our economy: The price system. Page 23

Parting Shot

• State Democratic Party leaders, inspired by the North Carolina Libertarian Party’s “Ladies of Liberty” calendar, have produced their own “Hardbodies of the Democratic Party” calendar. Page 24 Contents