Cover

• N.C. government jobs recession-proof
• Jobs plans abound, but do any work?
• Republicans push agenda during feisty session

North Carolina

• Annexation reforms give residents a vote, Page 2
• Red ink, sweat, and tears flow in Raleigh as N.C. budget passes, Page 3
• JLF: Compensate sterilization victims, Page 4
• State Briefs, Page 4
• Proposed occupational licensing laws target entrepreneurs, Page 5

Education

• Teacher makes student lobby against her legislator dad, Page 7
• Kristen Blair commentary: What is a diploma worth?, Page 7
• State lawmakers on mission to conquer obesity, Page 8
• School reform scores solid gains in 2011 General Assembly, Page 9

Higher Education

• Professors turn their ire on conservative students, Page 17
• Jane S. Shaw commentary: Secrets of success from Dilbert’s creator, Page 17
• NCGA crafts compromise budget for UNC system, Page 18
• Campus Briefs, Page 18
• Issues in Higher Education: Diverse group agrees: Incentives lacking for good teachers, Page 19

Local Government

• JLF Guide: Stick to core gov’t functions, Page 10
• Town and County, Page 10
• Court: Dam owners should get compensation for diversions, Page 11
• Michael Lowrey commentary: Broadband law removes taxpayer risk, Page 11
• Monthly billing plan could save Durham money and water, Page 12
• From the Newsstands, Page 12
• Triad residents see little trouble PARTing with transit agency, Page 13

Learning Curve

• Book review: Shapiro chronicles TV’s liberal propaganda, Page 20
• From the Liberty Library, Page 20
• Troy Kickler commentary: Compensation for eugenics program victims finally debated, Page 21
• Book review: Dispelling Smoot-Hawley’s Myths, Page 22
• Short Takes on Culture, Page 22
• Book review: Gray’s Battle takes philosophical look at health reform, Page 23

Opinion

• Editorial: The git-‘er-done session, Page 24
• Karen Y. Palasek commentary: Cognitive dissonance: More than a state of mind, Page 24
• John Hood commentary: Don’t that beat all?, Page 25
• Editorial: Perdue’s bad bet, Page 25
• Editorial: GOP picks the penalty, Page 25
• Michael Walden commentary: Economic ‘isms’, Page 26
• Editorial Briefs, Page 26
• Andy Taylor commentary: UK and US: Still close but drifting apart, Page 27
• Becki Gray commentary: GOP-led NCGA gets a B for first 100 days, Page 27

Parting Shot

• State seeks economic bump from Edwards trial (a CJ parody), Page 28