Cover

• Stolen-identity tax refund fraud widespread
• Victims surprised to learn they were SIRF targets
• Three convicted in Perdue campaign probe

North Carolina

• Indy brewer wants out of wholesale controls, Page 2
• Senate proposes to regulate construction of transmission lines, Page 3
• Medical society offers Medicaid reform ideas, Page 4
• State Briefs, Page 4
• McCrory unveils new ‘data-driven’ 10-year transportation plan, Page 5
• Obamacare surcharge likely to boost cost of health insurance, Page 6

Education

• JLF report tackles problems, questions about Common Core, Page 7
• Kristen Blair commentary: Is learning better with a box?, Page 7
• ‘Opportunity scholarship’ plan geared to help low-income families, Page 8
• Proposed board would oversee state’s charter schools, Page 9

Higher Education

• CCs working to improve remedial course results, Page 17
• Jay Schalin commentary: N.C. State’s monument to futurism, Page 17
• UNC chancellor choice a ‘surprising’ selection, Page 18
• Campus Briefs, Page 18
• Issues in Higher Education: Politically correct incidents in the ivory tower: my top picks, Page 19

Local Government

• Restaurant owner might ignore zoning rules, Page 10
• Town and County, Page 10
• Raleigh officials offer little explanation in manager firing, Page 11
• Michael Lowrey commentary: McCrory plan uses highway dollars wisely, Page 11
• Mooresville knocks Charlotte out of N.C.’s top-taxing city spot, Page 12
• JLF: Billions in debt added without taxpayer approval, Page 13

Learning Curve

• Book review: Tate offers advice, info to help survive Obamacare, Page 20
• From the Liberty Library, Page 20
• Troy Kickler commentary: Names of street and parks in Raleigh loaded with history, Page 21
• Book review: Biography puts more frost on flakiness of California’s Jerry Brown, Page 22
• Book review: Authors argue it’s Progressives who are true enemies of science, Page 23

Opinion

• Editorial: Our incurious governor, Page 24
• Becki Gray commentary: Addressing the keys to economic recovery, Page 24
• Editorial: Medicaid competition, Page 25
• Editorial: Fixing interstates, Page 25
• John Hood commentary: Research guides policy initiatives, Page 25
• Michael Walden commentary: Robots in our workplace future?, Page 26
• Editorial Briefs, Page 26
• Andy Taylor commentary: Margaret Thatcher will be missed, Page 27
• Marc Rotterman commentary: The honor and grace of George H.W. Bush, Page 27

Parting Shot

• Former Gov. Easley seeks escape from political Siberia (a CJ parody), Page 28