As N.C. lawmakers look for ways to improve school safety in the aftermath of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting, one area that’s attracting attention is increased access to school mental health services. Lindsay Marchello, Carolina Journal associate editor, reports on a recent meeting that emphasized recommendations for more school nurses and psychologists. Marchello also notes...
When the General Assembly returns to work in May, lawmakers will focus on key education-related issues, including school safety and the funding formula for school districts. Terry Stoops, John Locke Foundation vice president for research, assesses the legislature’s approach to education heading into the 2018 session in Raleigh. More than a year into Donald Trump’s...
Pro-growth policies have helped boost North Carolina’s economy in recent years. From tax reform to regulatory reform to government spending restraint, policymakers have taken steps to help boost North Carolina’s competitiveness. Becki Gray, John Locke Foundation senior vice president, highlights evidence of the state’s recent economic successes. A process called civil asset forfeiture allows law...
The University of North Carolina system recently studied the way its campuses train teachers for the state’s public schools. The resulting report titled “Leading On Literacy” draws poor reviews from Terry Stoops, John Locke Foundation vice president for research. Stoops shares his concerns about UNC teacher training. He also offers suggestions for improvement. Time is...
North Carolina government could help improve health care in the state by reforming the existing system of graduate medical education. That’s a recommendation from Katherine Restrepo, the John Locke Foundation’s director of health care policy. Restrepo explains GME’s important role and suggests ideas for helpful changes. When you think of concepts linked to the U.S....
The General Assembly continues to raise questions about negotiations that led Atlantic Coast Pipeline developers to set up a $57.8 million fund that would be controlled by Gov. Roy Cooper. Leading legislators have labeled the money a “slush fund” that seems to violate constitutional rules about the use and oversight of state money. Carolina Journal...
The N.C. Press Association recently recognized Carolina Journal’s excellence with three awards. Carolina Journal Online won first-place honors in NCPA’s annual competition for Election/Political Reporting and Editorials. CJ also collected a third-place award for News Enterprise Reporting. Editor-in-Chief Rick Henderson discusses the awards and their significance for Carolina Journal’s work. Thirty years have passed since...
State lawmakers interested in improving access to health care in North Carolina should consider relaxing restrictions on nurse practitioners. That’s a recommendation from Katherine Restrepo, John Locke Foundation director of health care policy. Restrepo explains how so-called scope-of-practice reform could play an important role in boosting rural health care. Private property rights play a critical...
Problems have been festering for years at North Carolina’s state prisons. A fatal 2017 attack on officers at a Pasquotank County prison helped push the issue into the headlines. The latest Carolina Journal cover story focuses on the issue. Associate Editor Kari Travis discusses key findings from her investigation. Two recent federal law enforcement investigations...
Gov. Roy Cooper has generated controversy by announcing a special $58 million fund connected with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project. The fund is slated to pay for mitigation work connected with the pipeline, along with other economic development and renewable energy projects. Cooper considers the fund a “voluntary contribution” to the state. Critics say Cooper...
Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration ended months of speculation by approving a key water-quality permit for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. While complaints from environmental activists grabbed headlines, Cooper also raised eyebrows by announcing the creation of a new fund totaling nearly $58 million. Cooper says the money can fund more than just mitigation of the pipeline’s...
