Cover

• Rand Key Player in Easley Property Swap
• UNC-CH Reimbursed $27K for Commute

North Carolina

• As Cities and Towns Step Up Annexation Efforts, Citizens Rebel, Page 5
• Push For Publicly Financed Elections Seen, Page 6
• N.C. Briefs, Page 6
• Cowell Implements Ethics Rules to Prevent Moore-Era Activities, Page 7

Education

• Char-Meck Superintendent Wants Teacher Pay Tied to Performance, Page 9
• Terry Stoops commentary: The Truth About Student Funding, Page 9
• Buncombe Early College Program Faces Challenges, Page 10
• Wake School Reformers Aim to Revamp Real Estate Deals, Page 11
• Asheville Charter Offers Innovative Learning Experience, Page 12
• UNC, Military Sign Collaborative Agreement, Page 13
• Campus Briefs, Page 13

Higher Education

• Pope Center Honors Professors At Wake Forest, Duke, ECU, Page 14
• Jay Schalin commentary: Let the Debates Begin, Page 14
• Issues in Higher Education: ‘Bottom-Up Strategies’ Don’t Require New Laws or Mandates, Page 15

Local Government

• Charlotte Puts Crime Onus on Landlords, Page 16
• Town and County, Page 17
• Appeals Court Throws Out W-S’s Anti-Loitering Law, Page 17
• Michael Lowrey commentary: The Cult of the Next Big Thing, Page 17
• Audit Finds Major Problems With Raleigh Computer Upgrade, Page 18
• Local Innovation Bulletin Board, Page 18
• Seeking to Upset Status Quo, Gate City Demands New Leadership, Page 19

Learning Curve

• Book Review: Eureka Man: From Ancient World to Modern Science, Page 20
• From the Liberty Library, Page 20
• Troy Kickler commentary: A Strong Federal System Offers Best Protection Against Tyranny, Page 21
• Book Review: Beck Provides Ammo for Arguments: Page 22
• Short Takes on Culture, Page 22
• Book Review: Two Lively Whodunits Expose Causes of Current Financial Crisis, Page 23

Opinion

• Editorial: Economic Forecast Gloomy For 2010, Page 24
• Les Merritt commentary: Do-Nothing Ethics Commission, Page 24
• Editorial: Call Out the Reserves, Page 25
• Editorial: No Longer Low-Tax, Page 25
• John Hood commentary: Election Sends Mixed Signals, Page 25
• Michael Walden commentary: What Really Caused the Recession? Page 26
• Editorial Briefs, Page 26
• Andy Taylor commentary: What a University Is Not, Page 27
• Marc Rotterman commentary: The Travesty of Civil Trials for Terrorists, Page 27

Parting Shot

• Easley Scandal Is Theme for New Lottery Game (a CJ parody), Page 28