On the cover

• Trafficking in flesh

• Trafficking in the Triangle

 

News

• Quick Takes, Page 2

• Rep. Mark Walker: ‘God’s hand of protection was on that field,’ Page 3

• 2017 Budget compromise, Page 4

• Governor signs up N.C. for Paris climate deal, Page 6

• McCrory sounds like he’s ready for a rematch with Cooper, Page 7

• Choose judges on merit, chief justice says, Page 8

• Debate over what to do with short-term rentals continues without a solution, Page 9

• Terra Ceia community fights huge solar farm, Page 10

• Did solar company obtain land for Terra Ceia farm legally?, Page 11

• Human trafficking: A lawmaker’s perspective, Page 13

 

Interviews

• Chief justice addresses transparency, bias, access, Page 18

• Business ‘bottleneckers’ support rules that drive away their competition, Page 19

 

Opinion

• Julie Tisdale commentary: Lower property taxes mean more money for consumers, businesses, Page 14

• Mitch Kokai commentary: Governor’s numbers skew the tax break story, Page 15

• Frank Pray commentary: Thought police are undermining higher education, Page 16

• Kristen Blair commentary: As adolescent depression rises, schools rush in, Page 17

• George Leef commentary: Can the feds do something to protect campus speech? Should they?, Page 17

• Editorial: Some merit in merit plan, Page 20

• Becki Gray commentary: We have the Roadmap to Freedom, Page 20

• Media Mangle: Divergent opinions and the power of independent thought, Page 22

• Michael Walden commentary: Is North Carolina state pension plan ripe for change?, Page 22

• Andy Taylor commentary: Coddling parents, higher education raising passive, reactive generation, Page 23

• Marc Rotterman commentary: MS-13 a threat to North Carolina, Page 23

• Jones Street gems, Page 24

 

John Hood commentary

• Voter ID will likely return, Page 21

• Political rhetoric affects trade views, Page 21

• New budget strikes a balance, Page 21