July 2017
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