February 2017
On the cover
• State may turn Mattamuskeet Lodge over to private party
• NCGA returns, seeking areas of agreement
North Carolina
• Opening day at the General Assembly, 2017, Page 2
• Future of Medicaid expansion out of Congress’ hands, Page 3
• Legislature in other states typically confirm Cabinet appointments, Page 4
• NCGA elections in 2017 ‘almost certainly off the table,’ insiders say, Page 5
• General Assembly leaders want Amazon Wind Farm shut down, Page 6
• Court halts shift of power from state board to DPI, Page 7
• Cooper, NCGA will butt heads over Opportunity Scholarships, Page 8
• A crazy December at the General Assembly, Page 14
Local government
• Map Act victims wary of Cooper’s transportation pick, Page 9
• Julie Tisdale commentary: Convention center must stand on its own, Page 10
• Katherine Restrepo commentary: State-level deregulation can replace Obamacare, Page 10
• Mitch Kokai commentary: Legislators’ rainy day fund a smart fiscal move, Page 11
Education
• Issues in Higher Education: In N.C., community college controversies open Pandora’s box, Page 16
• George Leef commentary: Students’ First Amendment rights at issue, Page 17
• Kristen Blair commentary: Federal education policy gets an overhaul, Page 17
Opinion
• John Trump commentary: N.C. taxpayers getting a taste of distillery business, Page 18
• Interview: Justices say American government requires good civics education, Page 19
• Becki Gray commentary: Can lawmakers find common ground?, Page 20
• Editorial: A tale of two recoveries, Page 20
• Editorial: State court spotlight, Page 21
• Editorial: Local abuses, Page 21
• John Hood commentary: North Carolina is no Cuba, Page 21
• John Trump commentary: Can Cooper be a leader?, Page 22
• Michael Walden commentary: Solving an economic mystery, Page 22
• Andy Taylor commentary: Reynolds’ democracy fails on myriad points, Page 23
• Mitch Kokai commentary: Prepare for the ‘cuts,’ Page 23
Parting Shot
• UNC study leads to cancellation of football programs (a CJ parody), Page 24