For several years now, supporters of public charter schools have been stymied in their efforts to convince enough legislators to lift or completely remove the arbitrary 100-school cap on public charter schools in North Carolina. But with a shift in legislative power from the Democrats to the Republicans, the cap may soon find itself on the chopping block. John Locke Foundation Director of Education Studies Terry Stoops explains that while lifting the cap would be a very good policy move for parents, it would be a mere first step toward ensuring real innovation and choice in K-12 education. Stoops outlines his other recommendations for parental empowerment. Then we turn to a specific state budget burden that has been exacerbated by the poor economy. North Carolina’s historically high unemployment rate in recent years has created an additional problem for state government: The state owes the federal government $2.5 billion for loans used to pay unemployment benefits. Kevin Carlson, assistant chairman for finance and administration at the N.C. Employment Security Commission, recently outlined the details of that debt for state lawmakers. You’ll hear details, along with reaction from Joseph Coletti, John Locke Foundation Director of Health and Fiscal Policy Studies. Next we look at the scandal-plagued state crime lab. The State Bureau of Investigation continues to attract attention to efforts to clean up the embattled lab. Interim lab director Joe John recently explained to reporters the chief challenges in fixing the lab’s problems, and SBI Director Greg McLeod touted efforts to seek dual accreditation for the lab. That’s followed by a look at the continuing legal fight for more transparent and accountable government in our state. The N.C. Institute for Constitutional Law recently won a court battle with the N.C. Secretary of State’s office over the availability of public records linked to a lobbying complaint. NCICL executive director Bob Orr calls the case a major victory for open government. And finally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking to force numerous businesses that emit greenhouse gases to obtain permits to do so. John Locke Foundation Director of Legal and Regulatory Studies Daren Bakst explains why the latest EPA move reflects an extreme global warming agenda from the agency that’s being advanced with a creative approach to federal law.