When you think of the general election, you probably think of the races for president and governor. But John Locke Foundation President John Hood says you should be getting educated about North Carolina’s race for a seat on the Supreme Court. He profiles the race and why it is considered a key ballot item. Then we turn to a fascinating development in environmental news. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contends that exposure to any amount of an air pollutant known as airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can cause severe health problems — even death. So why did EPA set up experiments in North Carolina exposing people to elevated levels of the pollutant? Steve Milloy, founder and publisher of JunkScience.com, wants to know. He’s filed a complaint with the N.C. Medical Board. Next is a look at the state’s system of unemployment benefits, which has generated headlines because it has generated more than $2.6 billion in debt to the federal government. But that’s not the system’s only problem. State Auditor Beth Wood recently briefed state lawmakers about the challenges linked to a “pay and chase” system in which the state makes payments, then tries to recoup money that has been overpaid. You’ll hear her comments, along with a response from legislators. That’s followed by a look at southern history. George Washington set many precedents as the first chief executive under the U.S. Constitution. Among them was the practice of touring states and meeting with constituents across the country. Warren Bingham has documented Washington’s Southern tour of 1791 for a forthcoming book. He shares key insights from his research. And finally, Carolina Journal Managing Editor Rick Henderson updates two recent CJ stories that get to the heart of the role of government and what happens when government overreaches its appropriate boundaries. Henderson talks about a Utah court case about African hairbraiding and its relationship to North Carolina’s licensing requirements, and he gives us the latest on “caveman diet” blogger Steve Cooksey’s legal fight with North Carolina regulators over his online diet advice.
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