For years the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center received millions in state taxpayer dollars to develop jobs and economic opportunity in depressed rural parts of the state. But a scathing state audit brought to light major problems with the group. Carolina Journal Manager Editor Rick Henderson wasn’t surprised, since Carolina Journal has been looking into the Center’s operations since 1997. Henderson discusses the fallout from the audit and why taxpayers are better off with the demise of the group. Next is a look at tax reform. After months of discussion and weeks of haggling, North Carolina’s elected leaders reached a compromise on tax reform. Gov. Pat McCrory, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, House Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg, and N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker praised the plan during a news conference announcing the final deal. You’ll hear details. Then we turn to problems with North Carolina’s Medicaid program. The McCrory administration is taking positive steps to address major flaws in North Carolina’s Medicaid program, according to analysis from the Florida-based Foundation for Government Accountability. The foundation’s research director, Jonathan Ingram, discussed key problems with the current Medicaid program and the positive aspects of McCrory’s reform plan during a recent presentation for the John Locke Foundation. That’s followed by a look at the ongoing debate over charter school autonomy. A fight between the Pamlico County school system and a local charter school is leading lawmakers toward greater freedom for charter schools across the state. You’ll hear highlights from a recent debate about a proposal to allow existing charter schools to expand into new grades without seeking permission from the State Board of Education. And finally, after years of talking about tax reform, state legislators have finally acted on the idea and Gov. Pat McCrory signed it into law. JLF’s Vice President for Research, Roy Cordato, analyzes the reform plan and explains why it is positive news for individual taxpayers and companies doing business in our state.