Cover

• Fed probe urged of U.S. attorney’s office
• Budget includes tax cuts, teacher bonuses

North Carolina

• Agreement: Renewable energy depends on subsidies, Page 2
• Bill easing rules could aid struggling rural hospitals, Page 3
• Budget provision could delay corporate tax cut, Page 4
• State Briefs, Page 4
• N.C. reinstating work requirement for food stamp eligibility, Page 5
• Critic: N.C. insurance rate-setting rules bad for consumers, Page 6
• Catalyst explains Martin’s role in transforming N.C. GOP, Page 7

Education

• New budget could double opportunity scholarships, Page 8
• Kristen Blair column: Downsizing federal role in education, Page 8
• NCGA moves charter school operation to state board, Page 9

Higher Education

• Community colleges look at ‘earning gains’ accountability, Page 17
• Jay Schalin commentary: The English department’s willful self-destruction, Page 17
• UNC salaries dwarf those in other state agencies, Page 18
• Campus Briefs, Page 18
• Issues in Higher Education: Why is it necessary to ask universities what students are learning?, Page 19

Local Government

• Large cities promised $65 million in incentives over five years, Page 10
• Raleigh planners working to legalize, then regulate Airbnb, Page 11
• Bond measure folded into March 2016 primary election to save money, Page 12
• City of Raleigh program working to fix leaks in water and sewer lines, Page 12
• N.C. Appeals Court tackles ‘historical’ cell phone data, Page 13

Learning Curve

• Book review: In A Full Life, Jimmy Carter’s malaise continues, Page 20
• From the Liberty Library, Page 20
• Troy Kickler commentary: Ohio transplant Tourgee influenced Reconstruction-era N.C., Page 21
• Book review: Ham and Benson: The outrage machine just needs to chill out, Page 22
• Book review: AEI’s Brooks makes the conservative case for winning hearts, Page 23

Opinion

• Editorial: Making spending visible and trackable, Page 24
• Roy Cordato commentary: The Fair Tax vs. Obamacare, Page 24
• Editorial: Taxpayer protection, Page 25
• Editorial: Reduce inequality, Page 25
• John Hood commentary: Fewer split the difference, Page 25
• Michael Walden commentary: Belk’s sale and N.C. retailing, Page 26
• Media Mangle: Media preoccupations, Page 26
• Andy Taylor commentary: Higher ed costs get serious attention, Page 27
• Becki Gray commentary: Budget was late, but worth the wait, Page 27

Parting Shot

• 2015-17 budget gives all retirees Lone Leaf Pine award (a <CJ parody), Page 28