Some large families are still waiting for their state income tax refund, thanks to the state’s special scrutiny of tax returns that claim a large number of dependents. Carolina Journal’s David Bass provides an update on the story he’s followed for more than a year. He says some families are fuming mad over the delay and the state’s requirement that they provide additional documentation of their dependent claims. Is there a basis for state concerns? Next we turn to the economy. Official economic statistics suggest the United States moved out of a recession as early as June 2009. With continued double-digit unemployment in North Carolina, that date might not seem to fit the facts. Economist Michael Walden of N.C. State University explains how his colleagues define “recession” and offers suggestions about the best way to interpret the data. Speaking of economic struggles, the Democrats who run the General Assembly have focused much of their attention this year on jobs, including measures designed to aid small businesses. Their Republican critics say these measures will do little to nothing to address North Carolina’s economic struggles. You’ll hear a critique of Democratic proposals from Sen. Robert Rucho, R-Mecklenburg. That’s followed by a look at concerns over North Carolina promise of lifetime pension benefits for all government workers who’ve worked long enough to qualify for those benefits. Some state leaders wonder about the sustainability of the current defined-benefit pension system. Robert Clark, professor of management, innovation, and entrepreneurship and professor of economics at N.C. State University, leads a study group examining North Carolina’s pension system. He explains some of the key issues that group must address. And finally, we delve into a key criticism of public charter schools. Critics says the schools fail to enroll enough students from racial and ethnic minorities, but John Locke Foundation Director of Education Studies Terry Stoops says there’s a reason why that sometimes occurs and that it can be traced to conflicting state rules, not the charter administrators. Stoops explains that state law requires charters to fill open slots by colorblind lottery when demand for space exceeds capacity. A lottery, by definition, means the selections are done at random, rather than by seeking a certain percentage of racial and ethnic minorities.