The North Carolina Democratic Party has been rocked by news of a sexual harassment allegation inside party headquarters and a financial settlement signed by the party chairman, David Parker. John Hood, president of the John Locke Foundation, discusses the potential political impact of the revelations, but explains why he thinks the election will turn on other issues. Then we turn to debate over hydraulic fracturing. The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources recently released a report that suggests North Carolina could move forward with permitting hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for shale gas. State House members hope DENR can turn its attention now to developing a regulatory framework for fracking. You’ll hear highlights from a recent news conference featuring Reps. Mitch Gillespie, R-McDowell, Mike Stone, R-Lee, and Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford. Then we hear about fracking and other energy options from Sen. Bob Rucho, R-Mecklenburg, who has been leading his chamber’s efforts on that issue. He recently presented highlights of legislation he plans to pursue when the General Assembly returns to work this month. That’s followed by a look at gun rights. The government can restrict your gun ownership rights if you commit a felony. Your rights are less clear once you have served the sentence connected with that felony. Attorney Dan Hardway represented the plaintiff in Britt v. North Carolina, a case in which the N.C. Supreme Court held that the North Carolina Felony Firearms Act unconstitutionally infringed upon the plaintiff’s gun rights. Plaintiff Barney Britt was an ex-felon who had completed his sentence years before the government banned him from owning guns. And finally, Carolina Journal Managing Editor Rick Henderson explains why a blogger who blogs about his fight against diabetes is being threatened with jail by state licensing authorities, who say he can’t dispense recommendations like a nutritionist. Henderson discusses the role of licensing boards and how they impact a variety of industries, including those related to health care, and why licensing in many cases is simply about keeping competition out.