RALEIGH — An Asheville businessman is left with more questions than answers after a May 2 visit to his home by two armed special agents from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, apparently to question him about what the EPA interpreted as a “cryptic and concerning” email.
RALEIGH — The Economic Outlook Rank is a forecast based on a state’s current standing in 15 equally weighted policy variables, each of which is influenced directly by state lawmakers. Some of the variables examined are top marginal personal and corporate income tax rates, property tax burden, sales tax burden, estate/inheritance tax, state minimum wage, and right-to-work laws.
CHAPEL HILL — Chapel Hill became the first municipality in the nation to issue such a far-reaching ban when the town council enacted the measure March 26 by a 5-4 vote. The law goes into effect June 1. The council had been considering the law for nearly two years.
RALEIGH — The letter asks legislative leaders to support full sunshine principles by providing clear and precise calendars for House and Senate legislative sessions and committee meetings at least five business days in advance, along with a list of the issues that will be addressed.
RALEIGH — The institute made its first big headlines in a 2005 landmark case taking on tax credits and other economic development incentives for Dell to build a manufacturing plant in Forsyth County.
RALEIGH — Critics of requiring voters to present a photo ID at the polls say the practice would disenfranchise minority voters, and some even accuse proponents of being motivated by racism. They don’t mention, however, that a 21-member bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform, co-chaired by former President Jimmy Carter, advocated just such a policy in 2005.
RALEIGH — The U.S. Supreme Court may decide whether some state occupational licensing laws, including those covering the practice of dentistry, amount to an unconstitutional restraint of trade.
RALEIGH — Critics say the State Bar is attempting to stifle competition and reduce consumer choice. If our State Bar prevails, other states may follow suit and outlaw similar online self-help legal services.
RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Insurance changed the delivery requirements for all online correspondence continuing education courses in April. All online CE providers are required to track the time students spend in their online courses.
RALEIGH — Mecklenburg and Wake, the state’s largest and second largest counties respectively, are the other two counties that scored an “A.” Each has more than 900,000 residents, in contrast to Yadkin with just over 38,000.
RALEIGH — H.R. 822 would not establish a federal licensing system. Nor would it impose new federal penalities or force state officials to do anything other than recognize each other’s permits.
