The school year is underway and so is the fingerpointing between local school district officials and the state. The source of the argument is money and the impact on class size and the number of classroom teachers. John Locke Foundation education policy analyst Terry Stoops explains the controversy over how much money is available to districts, how it is being used, and why some districts are uncomfortable using one-time federal stimulus dollars for recurring expenses. Stoops also discusses his new education checklist, which is designed to give candidates and voters an idea of key education issues/policies on which they can evaluate candidates and school board members. Next we turn to national politics. After an eventful August break, members of Congress are now back in Washington debating issues such as health-care reform. Before they returned to the Capitol, U.S. Sens. Kay Hagan and Richard Burr shared their thoughts with North Carolina reporters about the ongoing health-care debate. You’ll learn how the Tar Heel senators are approaching the issue. Speaking of health care, a key concern raised by critics of the Obama administration’s proposals involves choice. A 44-year-old South Carolina breast cancer survivor named Tracy Walsh recently recorded an Americans for Prosperity television ad that highlights that concern. Walsh says she fears a government-run health-care system would have stopped her from getting a double mastectomy. She explains why she’s speaking out against President Obama’s proposals. That’s followed by advice for business owners on excelling in today’s economic climate. If you’re trying to improve your business, you might want to consult an ancient Chinese military text. At least that’s the theory behind Mark McNeilly’s book, Sun Tzu and the Art of Business: Six Strategic Principles for Managers. McNeilly explains how the principles spelled out in the classic Art of War apply to the business world. And finally, Roy Cordato, John Locke Foundation vice president for research, discusses the state of North Carolina’s air quality. You might be surprised to learn that this year, North Carolina could record its lowest number of high-ozone days of any year on record. Cordato explains the data and why the message from some national air quality advocacy groups is usually different.