February 2018
On the cover
• Behind the walls: Problems at North Carolina prisons have gone on for years
News
• Quick Takes, Pages 2 – 5
• Federal tax cut will help N.C. craft alcohol producers, but they say much work remains, Page 6
• Solar giants getting stronger as opponents struggle to fight back, Page 7
• Some low-performing schools adopt restart model, but many seem hesitant to try, Page 8
• Stein, Saine announce measures targeting identity theft, Page 9
• Redistricting Timeline: Of elections and courts, Pages 10 and 11
• Polls, Page 24
Opinion
• Julie Tisdale commentary: Time for capital city to rethink free downtown bus line, Page 14
• Mitch Kokai commentary: Clear up confusion about corporate tax ‘giveaways,’ Page 15
• Anthony Hennen commentary: Why doesn’t America have more apprentices?, Page 16
• Kristen Blair commentary: Tax reform that boosts K-12 choices, Page 17
• Jenna Robinson commentary: How the N.C. legislature can improve higher education in 2018, Page 17
• Editorial: A fight that’s not worth having, Page 20
• Terry Stoops commentary: Good news in teacher turnover report, Page 20
• John Trump commentary: Ability to exercise free speech should be critical factor when choosing a college, Page 22
• Michael Walden commentary: Is North Carolina’s economic shift complete?, Page 22
• Andy Taylor commentary: Revolving around the president’s sun, Page 23
• Becki Gray commentary: Lawmakers’ work is ongoing, and there’s nothing secret about it, Page 23
Interviews
• Tom Campbell: New home for ‘NC SPIN’ after its milestone 1,000th program, Page 18
• Rep. Virginia Foxx talks PROSPER Act, challenges for higher education, Page 19
Commentary by John Hood
• Paying, training officers better, Page 21
• Requiring people getting government assistance to work, Page 21
• Drilling benefits exceed the costs, Page 21