The latest Carolina Journal cover story delves into the N.C. Railroad Company’s plans to spend $13 million to buy land supporting a proposed industrial “megasite” in Randolph County. CJ Managing Editor Rick Henderson shares details of the newspaper’s investigation, including the unusual fact that the land sits nowhere near the N.C. Railroad’s existing track. North Carolina has a relatively large military footprint. But some advocates say the state has fallen short when it comes to providing services and opportunities that would keep military veterans in the Tar Heel State. Ilario Pantano, assistant secretary at the state Division of Veterans Affairs, discusses efforts to change that story. Some N.C. lawmakers are looking at loosening state occupational licensing restrictions. They got some recent advice on the topic from Becki Gray and Jon Sanders of the John Locke Foundation. You’ll hear highlights from their presentation. Among the many tributes made to the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, the Campbell University Law School held a special memorial service in Scalia’s honor. It highlighted Scalia’s important role in influencing judges, legal scholars, and the Federalist Society. A Scalia friend also shared personal anecdotes. You’ll hear highlights. Then JLF Vice President for Research and Resident Scholar Roy Cordato takes aim at economic impact studies. Cordato explains why the most common studies ignore useful cost-benefit analysis of government projects. Instead those studies treat costs as benefits, skewing the results in favor of projects that might not be worthwhile for taxpayers.
State-owned Railroad to Devote Millions to Megasite
Related
Jon Hardister to resign effective April 8
Rep. Jon Hardister, R-Guilford, announced Thursday that he will resign his position in the North Carolina House, telling Carolina Journal that he would not rule out a return to public service at some point in the future, but for now he will be working in the private sector.
EDUCATE Act would end race-based mandates in medical schools
Rep. Greg Murphy, R-NC, a physician, has introduced a bill in Congress that would ban -race-based mandates in medical schools.
Nearly $200 million wagered in NC’s first week of sports betting
Online sports betting proved to be big business the first week it became legal in North Carolina. According to a Sports Betting Report released Wednesday by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, over $198 million was wagered by North Carolinians, while payouts amounted to $141.5 million.
Another JDIG grant bites the dust as Durham company pulls out of agreement
The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Economic Investment Committee (NCEIC) ended yet another Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) on Tuesday after a Durham firm said it couldn’t create the 878 jobs promised under the agreement.