A new poll from Elon University shows what scares North Carolinians the most — from shootings in a public place to rising health-care costs. To ticks and snakes. The poll was conducted in partnership with the News & Observer…
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2. A bill filed Tuesday, April 2, in the N.C. House would dramatically revamp how the state governs liquor sales and distribution, including a provision allowing for Sunday sales. Distillers, brewers, and consumers would…
The governor’s behind it, and state Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen is for it. Some freshmen legislators have made it a priority, some leaders in the N.C. House think it’s a good idea, and 32 states have implemented a version of it. But does Medicaid expansion…
State education leaders are promoting career paths that don’t involve attending four-year universities. State Superintendent Mark Johnson and N.C. Community College System President Peter Hans announced February Career Pathways Month. In a news conference Monday, Feb. 4, Johnson and Hans spoke about the importance of…
Female genital mutilation isn’t illegal in North Carolina, but a group of senators are introducing a bill to change that for girls younger than 18. State Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth, announced Jan. 30 she’s sponsoring a bill to ban the FGM on minors. North Carolina…
North Carolina’s franchise tax is a punitive and opaque tax levied on businesses organized under one of the usual corporate forms, primarily C-Corps and S-Corps. It is inconsistent with both good economics and good government. Most of the problems associated with the corporate income tax are also present in the…
Editor’s note: This story was corrected to reflect that Erin’s Law has not yet been passed in New York. The original version misstated that it had been adopted by New York legislators. We sincerely apologize for the error. North Carolina is one of 15 states that fails to…
Much of the media coverage of the continuing government shutdown has focused on stories of federal workers who aren’t getting paid. Stories about irregular inspections of our food and longer, slower lines at airports. Expect more of the same. But some things we enjoy…
The N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has released its initial 2018 annual report, the pages of which are filled with colorful photos of smiling people and happy numbers. Proponents of our ABC system make so much of the commission’s power and propensity to “control”…
Clearly, 2018 was a Democratic year, as it should have been given a Republican was in the White House. The Democrats picked up 40 seats in the House and seven governorships. The Republicans’ veto-proof “super majorities” were broken in both chambers of the General Assembly. It wasn’t quite the “blue…
