July 2020
On the cover
• New year, new session, new problems: Lawmakers deal with unrest, orders, vetoes
News
• Polls, Page 2
• Community college board debates police training as system expects enrollment surge, Page 3
• Governor orders monuments removed from Capitol, won’t say who ordered police to leave, Page 4
• N.C. Community College System President Peter Hans elected to lead UNC, Page 5
• Competing task forces from governor, lawmakers await clear direction, deadlines, Page 6
• Cooper order throws local governments into financial havoc, Page 7
• Legislature passes mini budgets, Page 9
• Defining the short session, Page 9
• Shutdown winners, shutdown losers, Page 10
• Health screenings, social distancing on the school calendar for fall 2020, Page 12
• Governor NO, Page 12
• Cooper’s face mask order raises questions of enforcement, Page 13
• Local governments pay price for governor’s ‘tax relief,’ Page 14
Feature
• Q&A with Matt Ridley: Renowned optimist looks to innovation to heal world from COVID-19, Page 15
Opinion
• Amy Cooke commentary: Rule of law … or mob rule?, Page 2
• Terry Stoops commentary: What do teachers really think about their schools?, Page 16
• George Leef commentary: Are you sure you want to go to grad school?, Page 17
• Shannon Watkins commentary: Try doing the math … or just don’t, Page 17
• Becki Gray commentary: Free market drives innovation: key to attacking, defeating virus, Page 18
• Mitch Kokai commentary: Competitors for top court position take opposing sides in sex predator case, Page 19
• John Trump commentary: You seem lost, governor. We certainly are, Page 22
• Michael Walden commentary: Job churning: How will the job market change?, Page 23
• Andy Taylor commentary: The great debate: To wear or not to wear?, Page 23
• Jordan Roberts commentary: Is Medicaid expansion free to the state?, Page 24
Commentary by John Hood
• Defunding the police is absurd, Page 2
• Another shutdown order will fail, Page 21
• Job losses merit energetic response, Page 21