Cover

• Southport port proposal spurs opposition
• Salt war could victimize country hams

North Carolina

• N.C. seeks to operate high-risk insurance pool, Page 2
• Iffy investments, excessive spending drain state’s Escheat Fund, Page 3
• Perdue, lawmakers, tangle over bridges, Page 4
• N.C. Briefs, Page 4
• For second year, state conducts tax reviews of large families, Page 5

Education

• State laws hamper charters in diversity quest, says JLF, Page 7
• Terry Stoops commentary: Bev Perdue: Virtual Governor, Page 7
• Charter increase bill raises red flags for supporters, Page 8
• Firm that hired Moore makes more in fees than 25 other firms, Page 9

Higher Education

• Pushing legislation too quickly prevents real debate of issues, Page 11
• Jenna Ashley Robinson commentary: Fertile ground for budget cuts, Page 11
• UNCW reading instruction method makes waves, Page 12
• Campus Briefs, Page 12
• Issues in Higher Education: One UNC-CH student’s quest for a diversity advocacy certificate, Page 13

Local Government

• African hair braiders say new regulations threaten craft, Page 16
• Courts: Manmade ditch is a navigable waterway, Page 17
• Michael Lowrey commentary: Horsey set enjoys tax-funded galloping, Page 17
• Raleigh water users conserve, get rewarded with rate hikes, Page 18
• Reid’s bill would overturn ban on collective bargaining, Page 19

Learning Curve

• Book review: Mattera looks at youth’s infatuation with Obama, Page 20
• From the Liberty Library, Page 20
• Troy Kicker commentary: Free Markets don’t just benefit entrepreneurs who get rich, Page 21
• Book review: Book navigates Wall Street maze, Page 22
• Short Takes on Culture, Page 22
• Book review: Why some companies slide into oblivion and others succeed, Page 23

Opinion

• Editorial: Charter-like nonsense, Page 24
• Jon Ham commentary: Stopping the barbarians, Page 24
• John Hood commentary: Some cuts are just cuts, Page 25
• Editorial: The urge to merge, Page 25
• Editorial: Incentives don’t matter, Page 25
• Michael Walden commentary: Recession is over, but …, Page 26
• Editorial Briefs, Page 26
• Andy Taylor commentary: Winner of May 4 primary: Republicans, Page 27
• Marc Rotterman commentary: The new Silent Majority, Page 27

Parting Shot

• Benefit concert planned to save Global Transpark (a CJ parody), Page 28