Cover

• Basnight-inspired “B&B’ concerns Hyde Countians
• Lawyers spent gas-tax funds on beer and candy

North Carolina

• Reaction mixed to Rand’s proposals to deal with health care, Page 4
• Out-of-wedlock births a policy issue waiting to be addressed, Page 5
• Study: N.C. scores ‘average’ in freedom, Page 6
• Republican leader questions gas tax payment, Page 6

Education

• Commissioner says busing foes trying to roll back diversity, Page 9
• Terry Stoops commentary: Curtailing dropouts, Page 9
• N.C. Republicans push ‘aggressive’ education agenda package, Page 10
• Report: One-fifth of students ineligible for meal programs, Page 11
• Will Obama’s support for charters make a difference? Page 12

Higher Education

• Governor’s budget adds a little funding for community colleges, but cuts UNC, page 13
• Campus briefs, Page 13
• Jenna Ashley Robinson commentary: On-campus truth in advertising, Page 14
• With endowments decreasing, private colleges get creative, Page 14
• Issues in Higher Education: A is for average, B is for being there, C is for … comatose? Page 15

Local Government

• Local governments dig own budget holes, Pagew 16
• Guilford officials wrestle with shortage of lawyers, Page 17
• Michael Lowrey commentary: Bad days in banktown, Page 17
• Local Innovation Bulletin Board, Page 18
• Tax delinquencies jump in Buncombe County, Page 18
• Pasquotank loses manufactured housing case in appeals court, Page 19

Learning Curve

• Book review: Robert V. Remini’s Andrew Jackson, Page 20
• Troy Kickler commentary: American business has shown it doesn’t need help in a crisis, Page 21
• Short Takes on Culture, Page 22
• Book review: Thomas E. Woods Jr.’s Meltdown, Page 22
• Book review: Louis E. Carabini’s Inclined to Liberty, Page 23

Opinion

• David N. Bass commentary: The spending juggernaut, Page 24
• Editorial: Little Miss Sunshine, Page 24
• Editorial: Teacher pay, Page 25
• Editorial: Improving health care, Page 25
• John Hood commentary: Disrespecting the Constitution, Page 25
• Marc Rotterman commentary: GOP, get serious, Page 26
• Mike Walden commentary: Is recession-proof a myth? Page 26
• Andy Taylor commentary: The faulty logic of public financing, Page 27
• Letters to the editor, Page 27

Parting Shot

• Mary Easley slates ‘Governors Gone Bad’ series (a CJ parody), Page 28