News
Hearing in Zarutska killing officially bumped back to October
A court hearing originally scheduled this week in the murder case involving Iryna Zarutska’s death on Charlotte’s light rail line has been rescheduled for Oct. 27.
News
Election Day 2025 in North Carolina
Today, Nov. 4, 2025, is Election Day in North Carolina, with more than 550 cities, towns, and villages holding local municipal elections statewide.
Video
Locke’s Mitch Kokai analyzes congressional hearing in Charlotte after light rail murder
Mitch Kokai, John Locke Foundation senior political analyst, discusses the congressional hearing conducted in Charlotte in connection with the high-profile Iryna Zarutska murder. Kokai offered these comments during the Oct. 3, 2025, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”
Video
Carolina Journal’s Donna King assesses NC legislators’ response to the Charlotte light rail murder
Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses North Carolina legislative leaders’ response to the Charlotte light rail murder of Iryna Zarutska. King offered these comments during the Sept. 12, 2025, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”
Video
Duke’s John Staddon discusses Research Triangle’s urban transit challenges
Dr. John Staddon, Duke University professor emeritus, discusses urban transit challenges facing North Carolina’s Research Triangle. Staddon offered these comments during an interview for Carolina Journal Radio.
Podcast
July 17 Election Dominated By Republican Runoffs
John Hood on July 17 runoffs; David Rouzer, Harry Brown & Rob Jackson on using sea level projections to limit development; GOP legislators on changes to juvenile justice law; Anthony Papalas on Greece's fiscal woes; Michael Sanera on regional rail in N.C.
News
Light-Rail Projections Disappoint Feds
RALEIGH — Even while North Carolina’s three largest metro areas try to boost their “world class city” credentials with new light-rail transit systems, ridership trends suggest that such prestige projects will only aggravate already-spiraling costs. Nowhere is this more evident than in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, where the Triangle Transit Authority is the lead agency for a regional light-rail system that is supposed to cost about $630 million. TTA’s project got plenty of the wrong kind of attention early this year when it got snubbed in President Bush’s budget recommendations.
Opinion
No. 735: Municipal Leaders Should Abandon Light Rail
Light rail's high cost and low ridership dictate that municipal leaders abandon their lofty plans for down-to-earth buses.
