News
Urban exodus sparks Triangle-Triad merger
While suburban areas experience a surge of growth, inner cities like Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem face a decline in daytime population by more than half.
News
Hometown Debate discusses N.C.’s rural-urban health care divide
Rural hospitals are finding it more difficult to stay open. Since 2006, 11 rural hospitals in North Carolina have closed — seven in the past six years, as more people move to cities and suburbs. “Access to Health Care in Rural Areas” was the topic of discussion as a panel of state lawmakers and health...
News
Republicans reversing course on government role in rural broadband?
North Carolina for many years has been a battleground over government-backed broadband services. The issue seemed to be settled in 2011, when the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed the Level Playing Field Law, which severely restricted local governments’ ability to get into the broadband business. Fair enough, some legislators say — but what about local governments...
Opinion
It’s not about urban versus rural
If you talk a lot about “urban” issues such as the optimal location of light-rail lines or “rural” issues such as the plight of family farms, most of the population will tune you out.
Podcast
Employment picture varies widely across N.C. counties
From Carolina Journal Radio Program No. 742: North Carolina’s unemployment rate has dropped by more than one full percentage point during the past year, dropping most recently to 4.2 percent. But that headline rate masks wide variations among the 100 counties. N.C. State University economist Michael Walden has examined county-by-county rates. He explains why some...
Opinion
BRIGHT Futures Act applies urban values to rural communities
Many people choose to live in rural areas because they don't want big-city folks to tell them what they should value.
