More and more these days, North Carolina cities are investing taxpayer money into businesses and facilities that compete with the private sector – putting private companies at a distinct disadvantage. John Locke Foundation Local Government Analyst Michael Sanera provides examples of golf courses, convention centers, and even a restaurant that compete with private entrepreneurs around the state. He discusses what should be the appropriate line in the sand that elected officials and policymakers draw between the public and private sectors of the economy. Then we hear from one of the most well known conservatives in the country. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich wants to see the nation’s public policy return to a path marked by core American principles. Gingrich offered some ideas to guide policymakers during his address at the John Locke Foundation’s 20th anniversary celebration in Cary. You’ll hear highlights from that speech. Next, we turn to education. North Carolina state government has doled out millions of dollars in recent years for grants targeting dropout prevention efforts in public schools. Now even some supporters are wondering when they will start to see results from those grants. Reps. Cullie Tarleton, D-Watauga, William Current, R-Gaston, and Susan Fisher, D-Buncombe, are among those who discussed the future of dropout prevention efforts during a recent legislative meeting. That’s followed by a debate over incentives. State economic development policy relies heavily on using targeted tax breaks as incentives to lure companies to North Carolina. During a recent meeting, Sen. Don East, R-Surry, recommended that his colleagues consider extending existing incentive policies to cover more small businesses. Colleagues including Sen. Ed Jones, D-Halifax, seemed intrigued by the idea, but John Locke Foundation fiscal policy analyst Joseph Coletti offers an alternative approach that would improve the tax picture for all businesses and individuals. And finally, some global warming alarmists are starting to sing a new tune. In a recent piece in USA Today, for example, Julianne Malveaux wrote about her belief that climate change policies are a civil rights issue. Locke Foundation Legal and Regulatory Policy Analyst Daren Bakst offers his view of that argument and provides an update on the state’s climate change commission, which met this month.