On the cover

• Permits for tree-cutting may be at root of pipeline mitigation fund delay

 

News

• Governor plans to place indefinite hold on Medicaid transformation, Page 2

• Polls, Page 2

• Quick Takes, Pages 3 – 5

• UNC board is ready to move on, despite documents revealing behind-the-scenes drama, Page 6

• The constitutional question looming over Leandro, Page 9

• Presidential contender wants to cut charter school funding, end privatization of schools, Page 11

• Walker’s legislation may have spurred NCAA to reconsider amateur rules, Page 11

 

Features

• Karrie Dixon: ECSU’s leader sees new beginning for overlooked university, Page 12

• Clark Neily: Legal expert targets government’s ‘qualified immunity,’ Page 19

 

Opinion

• Terry Stoops commentary: Will the courts order lawmakers to make money appear magically?, Page 14

• Branson Inscore commentary: Panelists discuss problem of too much free speech, Page 15

• Rob Jenkins commentary: How colleges can survive the coming enrollment crash, Page 15

• Kristen Blair commentary: Survey says? Media is kids’ world, Page 16

• Mitch Kokai commentary: Decisions could help voters in 2020 N.C. Supreme Court races, Page 17

• Becki Gray commentary: Reviewing the legislative session that was, Page 18

• Editorial: Atlantic Coast Pipeline report reveals abuse of power, Page 20

• John Trump commentary: Share the roads … and share the costs, too, Page 22

• Andy Taylor commentary: Conservatives might need a dose of the 1970s, Page 23

• Michael Walden commentary: Are cities losing their luster?, Page 23

• Jordan Roberts commentary: How do we pay? Financing Medicare for all, Page 24

 

Commentary by John Hood

• Uncertain policy has economic cost, Page 2

• Name-calling won’t help Cooper, Page 21

• States should drive health reform, Page 21