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