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