Debate about public education in North Carolina gets bogged down by some popular myths. The myths include misconceptions about teacher pay and the impact of school choice on public school enrollment. Terry Stoops, John Locke Foundation vice president for research and director of education studies, addresses those myths and attempts to correct the record. Occupational licensing laws limit economic opportunities in North Carolina. During a recent speech for the Federalist Society in Raleigh, attorney Justin Pearson of the Institute for Justice explained how. Pearson shares highlights from that presentation in a one-on-one interview. The University of North Carolina System has faced several recent high-profile controversies. But system leaders are focusing on positive initiatives heading into the new year. Interim President Dr. William Roper recently highlighted some of the positive news for the system’s Board of Governors. The Leandro school-funding lawsuit has been influencing N.C. public policy for a quarter century. Jeanette Doran, president and general counsel of the N.C. Institute for Constitutional Law, discusses recent developments in the case. She highlights observers’ concerns that a judge could order the General Assembly to spend $8 billion more on education programs over the next eight years. N.C. policymakers could take steps to reduce health care costs without touching any policy related to the federal Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Instead they could eliminate some of the 53 state health insurance mandates. Jordan Roberts, John Locke Foundation health care policy analyst, is highlighting the impact of those mandates on N.C. health care.