The political conventions are over and Charlotte and Tampa have returned to normal, but the ramifications of the media coverage continue. Carolina Journal Publisher Jon Ham analyzes the narratives that emerged from the conventions and discusses media bias that raised its head once again. Then we turn to analysis of North Carolina’s status as a battleground state from two well known commentators. Charlie Cook of the Cook Political Report and David Gergen of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School shared their thoughts recently during an election panel discussion in Charlotte. You’ll hear highlights.Next is look at the continuing struggle by the state to provide health care services. Recently, the state and federal governments signed a deal to end a lawsuit over treatment of mentally ill people in adult care homes and hospitals. The deal could cost North Carolina taxpayers $287 million over eight years, but Emery Milliken, an attorney with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, recently explained to lawmakers why the arrangement makes sense. That’s followed by a look at the best policies for job creation as politicians spend much of their time this campaign season explaining their plans for boosting the number of new jobs in North Carolina and across the country. A group dubbed the Job Creators Alliance is trying to spread the word about the best ways to reach that goal. Alliance member Billie Redmond explains the group’s purpose and the role it hopes to play in the political debate. And finally, school choice advocates are applauding the approval by the state Board of Education of 25 new public charter schools. John Locke Foundation Director of Research and Education Studies, Terry Stoops, brings us up to date on the number of charters, the types of students benefitting from the schools, the work still to be done on regulatory matters, and the next  front in the school choice movement.