LATEST NEWS AND OPINION

RALEIGH — There are many critters designated by law to symbolize North Carolina. For example, we have an official state bird (red cardinal), reptile (eastern box turtle), horse (colonial Spanish mustang), mollusk (Scotch bonnet), dog (Plott Hound), and mammal (eastern gray squirrel), as well as two state amphibians (the marbled salamander and Pine Barrens tree frog).

Obesity rates are skyrocketing in our nation. In the last two decades, obesity has doubled among American adults.  Despite the growing consensus and greater understanding of the disease, many people continue to view obesity as a lifestyle choice or personal failure. It’s important to understand that for many Americans, obesity is not a choice.  It’s a chronic disease that affects every layer of a patient’s life.

Nowadays, it’s easy for important information on key issues to get lost. That’s why I am glad that Senator Michael Lazzara took the time to highlight the significance of rescheduling cannabis in his op-ed, “Rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug.” With growing evidence that cannabis has many therapeutic benefits, we cannot ignore the reality that cannabis-based treatments work.

Although the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tried to address the high cost of prescription drugs, this Forbes article rightly points out the unintended consequences of its "pill penalty.” In the short term, this pill penalty raises the cost of prescription tablets and capsules; in the long term, it stifles important pharmaceutical innovation and research into convenient, easy-to-use pills. 

Governor Josh Stein announced the following judicial appointment: 

On March 13, the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor released its performance audit of NCInnovation (NCI), a state-backed private nonprofit created to help commercialize research from North Carolina universities.

North Carolina is one of several states considering passage of the REINS Act, which would require that rules and regulation set by state agencies with an economic impact of $1 million or more in one year be codified by the state legislature.

Raleigh, N.C. – Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), and Sens. Amy Galey (R-Alamance) and Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) filed a bill to provide additional school calendar flexibility to local school districts and hold school district officials accountable if they defy the school calendar law.

For years, critics have accused tech of "rotting young minds." But in an unexpected twist, TikTok has quietly rolled out a feature that's doing the opposite: making kids smarter.

RALEIGH — For universities, state governments, localities, medical providers, and other institutions receiving lots of federal money, it’s time to batten down the hatches. Storm’s a-brewing.