State lawmakers interested in improving access to health care in North Carolina should consider relaxing restrictions on nurse practitioners. That’s a recommendation from Katherine Restrepo, John Locke Foundation director of health care policy. Restrepo explains how so-called scope-of-practice reform could play an important role in boosting rural health care. Private property rights play a critical role in a free society. The U.S. Constitution focuses attention on protecting those rights. Ilya Somin, professor of law at George Mason University, discussed the Constitution’s property rights protections during a recent speech at N.C. State University. Somin shares themes from that presentation. Another mass school shooting, this time in Florida, has revived the discussion of arming school teachers and principals. During a recent N.C. legislative debate, Rep. Larry Pittman, R-Cabarrus, and Sen. Ronald Rabin, R-Harnett, shared opposing views on the issue. State government retirees saw an almost immediate benefit from the federal tax law change. State Treasurer Dale Folwell credits the quick work of his staff. Folwell explains how their actions helped place an extra $5.7 million in retirees’ bank accounts. Some economic commentators believe recent economic growth signals that increased inflation is on the way. Roy Cordato, John Locke Foundation senior economist, explains why those commentators are wrong. Cordato says the basic economic law of supply and demand counters the faulty argument linking growth to inflation.