Scholarly research has established that places with smaller, less costly, less monopolistic governments tend to experience higher rates of economic growth and social progress. John Locke Foundation Director of Research and Education Studies, Terry Stoops, explains the new tool for measuring North Carolina’s embrace of these freedom-friendly policies: the First in Freedom Index. The 2015 ranking puts North Carolina in the middle of the pack when compared to other states. Stoops digs into the details for fiscal freedom, regulatory freedom, education freedom, and health care freedom. Speaking of health care and health insurance, conservatives have talked about repealing and replacing Obamacare. Avik Roy, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and opinion editor at Forbes, believes the conversation ought to shift toward “transcending” Obamacare. During a recent visit to North Carolina, Roy explained his ideas in a one-on-one interview with CJ Radio. Next is a closer look at education policy. North Carolina schools continue to deal with the Read to Achieve law, which is designed to ensure that students read at grade level by the end of the third grade. You’ll hear highlights from a recent legislative discussion of the law’s implementation. That’s followed by a look at history. Legal scholars will celebrate this year the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. State Rep. Paul “Skip” Stam, R-Wake, recently explained for colleagues why that centuries-old English document still has importance in the modern world. And finally, we look at North Carolina’s constitutional requirement for a balanced General Fund budget. John Locke Foundation Director of Fiscal Studies Sarah Curry explains how the requirement works and the many areas of funding that are exempt from it. Thus, Curry says, the requirement needs updating for the fiscal problems and concerns of today.