Is it possible that an academic’s provocative statements about a controversial issue could prevent that person from receiving a tenure-track job? Jane Shaw, president of the Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, analyzes the case of a former faculty member at NC State University that speaks to that question. Shaw also discusses why tenure is so sought after on university campuses and whether it has value to the community and students. Then we turn to the high unemployment in our state. As Republican leaders of the North Carolina General Assembly finalized their state budget plan this year, their Democratic counterparts joined Gov. Beverly Perdue and left-leaning advocacy groups in predicting tens of thousands of public-sector job losses. A recent report from Perdue’s Office of State Budget and Management suggests the numbers of actual state government layoffs are much smaller than the left-leaning politicians and pundits had implied. You’ll hear highlights from a legislative debate about the OSBM report, along with reaction and analysis from Carolina Journal Managing Editor Rick Henderson. Next is a look at North Carolina’s Medicaid program. The state Department of Health and Human Services pegs the shortfall in its Medicaid budget at $139 million. But some lawmakers question that figure. You’ll hear deputy state health secretary Michael Watson and Sen. Pete Brunstetter, R-Forsyth, offer contrasting views of the Medicaid budget picture during a recent legislative briefing. That’s followed by a discussion of what happens if elements of federal law – even the U.S. Constitution – conflict with natural law. Who decides which law takes precedence? Political philosopher, legal scholar, and University of Texas government professor J. Budziszewski discusses natural law and its links to the American governing document. And finally, Carolina Journal reporter David Bass discusses complaints from 20-somethings about the tough job market and high cost of a college education.