by Mitch Kokai Checks and balances within our government’s structure play an important role. When they work, they ensure no politician grabs more power than he’s allowed to use. But a lawsuit over Gov. Roy Cooper’s COVID-19 executive orders reminds us that checks and balances c
by Ken Raymond Last month, I posted a description of my personal encounters with law enforcement while driving the streets, roads, and highways throughout this country for the past 35 years. And just a little about me: I’m a 56-year old, 300-plus pound black man that has driven unarmed
by Donnie Harrison Some fifty-five years ago I took a solemn oath, which in part, stated that I would “be alert and vigilant to enforce the criminal laws of this State.” Now, decades later, North Carolina law enforcement officers take the same oath, an oath, which in effect, obligates us to
by John Trump The N.C. General Assembly was correct in voting — unanimously — to extend a deadline for businesses to renew state alcohol permits. The N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, in response to the governor’s lockdown orders, set a grace period for bars, restaurants, and
by Jordan Roberts America’s convoluted, public-private health care system is filled with bad policies and inefficiencies. Government intrusion into the market has rendered it unusable and impenetrable for many. A lack of price transparency is one of the most glaring issues in America’s healt
by John Hood North Carolina’s “headline” unemployment rate in May was 12.9%. That’s the highest monthly rate since the Great Depression. But on a number of occasions during the month, I talked with North Carolina restauranteurs and other business owners who were struggling to fill vacancies
by Mitch Kokai Local and national headlines have highlighted recent battles involving history. There’s the ongoing dispute over toppling Confederate monuments . Some question the merits and demerits of American Founders . We even see debate about whether 1776 or 1619 ma
by John Hood If you are among the minority of North Carolinians who haven’t supported the expansion of parental choice in education over the past two decades — in the form of charter schools, open enrollment among district schools, and aid to private-school students who have special needs or
by John Hood With hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians out of work and millions fearful about their futures, state and local policymakers are about to encounter a parade of companies, industries, and special-interest groups asking for targeted tax breaks and other handouts. They
by Jeanette Doran The Governor issued yet another order on June 24. This one imposing a statewide “face covering” requirement. In Executive Order 147 , Cooper ordered the use of face coverings by most North Carolinians whether they are inside or outside, unless an exception applies
300 by John Hood Conventional wisdom has it that progressives champion urbanity and conservatives disdain it. There’s some truth to that. Progressives are far more likely than conservatives to prefer walkable, high-density communities over auto-dependent, detached-dwelling neighborh
by John Hood As soon as he heard the news that a mob had torn down statues on the grounds of North Carolina’s State Capitol on the evening of June 19, Gov. Roy Cooper realized his mistake. He had not been clear enough in instructing his aides, including Secretary of Public Safety
