Cover

• DHHS defends lunch inspections
• ‘Green’ jobs estimates cost taxpayers millions
• Obama mandate on contraception would supersede North Carolina law

North Carolina

• Opponents battle over sea-level projections, Page 2
• Do Democrats have reason to smile about GOP district maps?, Page 3
• Tax cuts improve N.C.’s business rating, Page 4
• State Briefs, Page 4
• ‘Casino Jack’ Abramoff urges draining of D.C. corruption swamp, Page 5
• Federal Election Reform Commission advocated voter photo ID, Page 6

Education

• Despite spending, N.C. schools trail world peers in performance, Page 7
• Kristen Blair column: Redeeming ‘the dropout year,’ Page 7
• N.C. jumps in ALEC rankings, but still manages only a ‘C’ grade, Page 8
• Panel queries state official on school lunch fraud, Page 9

Higher Education

• UNC group’s case spurs faith, conscience issues, Page 17
• Shaw/Schalin commentary: Less is more, Page 17
• Are colleges and universities predatory lenders?, Page 18
• Campus Briefs, Page 18
• Issues in Higher Education: Free market developments can only improve higher education, Page 19

Local Government

• Charter school opponents called ideological, Page 10
• Town and County, Page 10
• BRAC growth expectations fall short for Fayetteville, Page 11
• Report: Wake County transit plan ‘not economically feasible,’ Page 11
• Michael Lowrey commentary: The kudzu of transit projects, Page 12
• Court rules against county firearms training school, Page 12

Learning Curve

• Book review: Rasmussen: Leaders don’t care what people want, Page 20
• From the Liberty Library, Page 20
• Dr. Troy Kickler commentary: Linda and Keith Blalock: A strange love story of the Civil War, Page 21
• Movie review: Don’t see ‘Woman in Black’ alone, Page 22
• Short Takes on Culture, Page 22
• Book review: Ameritopia not an easy read, but well worth a reader’s time, Page 23

Opinion

• Editorial: What’s for lunch? Bureaucracy, Page 24
• Daren Bakst commentary: Special interests shouldn’t select judges, Page 24
• John Hood commentary: A center-right economic agenda, Page 25
• Editorial: Jobs debate, Page 25
• Editorial: The real N.C. budget, Page 25
• Michael Walden commentary: A manufacturing comeback?, Page 26
• Editorial Briefs, Page 26
• Andy Taylor commentary: Inequality and lack of mobility as issues, Page 27
• Becki Gray commentary: Ask candidates the right questions, Page 27

Parting Shot

• Joint effort results in combat-ready Wienermobile (a CJ parody), Page 28