RALEIGH — Having spent most of my career commissioning, editing, or writing about public policy research, I understand its inherent limitations. Still, I cling to a belief, however naïve it may be, that careful study of complex problems can produce at least some clear answers that most policymakers will accept.
Like everything else in society, college football can speak to our hyper-politicized culture. And no, I’m not talking about the vulgar chants directed at Joe Biden spreading across college stadiums. I’m talking about the unmasked fans and packed stadiums.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is seeing a sharp increase in COVID-19 clusters among school sports teams. For the period between July 1 and Sept. 2, 2021, clusters among school sports teams accounted for 45% of all clusters in North Carolina middle and high schools, despite most school sports activities not beginning until August as schools began the fall semester. School sports teams are urged to follow NCDHHS guidance for youth sports.
The N.C. House will take up sports betting legislation after a bill to expand wagers statewide passed in the Senate last week.Senate Bill 688 was read for the first time in the House on Tuesday, Aug. 24. The legislation was then referred to the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.
Leaders and supports of the N.C. High School Athletic Association gave a passionate defense of the organization Tuesday night in the wake of proposed legislation that would remove the organization from oversight and management of high school sports in North Carolina.
On Tuesday, the N.C. Senate Education Committee presented a bill that would effectively end the High School Athletic Association's role in supervising high school athletics, a role the organization has held since 1913.
Today, Governor Roy Cooper signed an Executive Order establishing rules for how student-athletes enrolled in a postsecondary educational institution in North Carolina can earn compensation or obtain representation, for use of their name, image and likeness while enrolled at the institution.
In the latest twist of the College World Series drama, the mothers of N.C. State baseball stars Reid Johnston and Tyler McDonough said Sunday their sons tested negative six times and were not allowed to continue playing in the CWS. The Wolfpack's Cinderella run at the national championship was cut short over the weekend when the NCAA sent the Pack packing amid a cloud of questionable COVID protocols that imposed a testing regime on N.C. State that other teams did not have.
In its latest hearing into the N.C. High School Athletic Association, the private nonprofit that governs and manages most aspects of High School Sports, prominent education leaders said they have many of the same concerns as legislators.
The N.C. House is not planning to move the Save Women’s Sports Act (H358) this session, according to North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore. In an interview with the Associated Press, Moore said that votes are not needed at this point. The bill would apply to college, middle, and high school sports and would require that sports be designated co-ed or specifically for males or females.
The General Assembly will soon consider a bill that seeks to protect women’s sports by preventing boys and men from being allowed to compete on female teams in middle school, high school and college.
