All tagged op ed
As a state senator representing the hardworking people of North Carolina, I've always believed in the value of college sports. It’s brought pride to our communities, boosted our economy, and enriched the educational experience at our universities. From the roar of the crowd at Appalachian State when they slay a football giant to the excitement of basketball in Wilmington, athletics have been a unifying force.
Months before Hurricane Helene, UNC-Chapel Hill warned that North Carolina faced a shortage of “decent, secure, and affordable housing.” After Helene destroyed 100,000 homes, the crisis deepened. While efforts to strengthen the housing market are underway, recent proposals risk cutting off a critical source of supply.
Childhood vaccines continue to be a major point of discussion here in North Carolina and across the country. As a respiratory therapist, I help patients of all ages manage and treat breathing and cardiopulmonary disorders. For babies with breathing issues, this care helps strengthen lung function and overall respiratory health. Given how even minor respiratory issues can be serious for small, vulnerable infants, I encourage parents to have personal conversations with their doctors about vaccines so they can make carefully considered, medically supported decisions.
I live every day managing numerous chronic conditions including gout, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Years ago, I was obese, and it took serious medical care, discipline, and access to effective treatments to turn my health around. Today, I rely on five prescription medications to keep these conditions under control. Without them, my quality of life and my future would be at risk.
December 8, 2025 – Approximately 70 business leaders, economic developers, and elected officials gathered at Greensboro's Proximity Hotel on Monday, December 8, 2025, for the 11th Annual North Carolina Clean Energy Champion Awards. U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) gave the keynote remarks and received the Legacy of Clean Energy Leadership Award for his nearly 20 years of engagement with industry leaders and support of clean energy policies to expand economic investment opportunities.
In 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina. Over a year later, we're still picking up the pieces. Infrastructure is still being repaired. Small businesses are still trying to rebuild. The folks in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where I own a fishing gear business that also offers guided fishing trips, have worked tirelessly to restore river access and reopen the outdoor spaces people travel from all over the country to enjoy.
Agriculture remains one of North Carolina’s strongest economic pillars, supporting livelihoods from small family operations to major agribusinesses. But while crops, livestock, climate, and markets vary widely across the state, producers share one universal need: dependable access to affordable fertilizer. In recent years, that need has become harder to meet.
Over the past month, North Carolina has been confronted with a wave of immigration enforcement actions that left families frightened, educators overwhelmed, and entire school communities destabilized. The headlines have been loud, but the impact on our students has been far quieter, unfolding in classrooms, in counseling offices and at kitchen tables across our state. As I listened to educators and community leaders describe what they’re witnessing, it reminded me of my own—very different—experience.
When I ran for office, I promised that I would fight for common-sense policies rooted in our core conservative principles. That means protecting our citizens and ensuring that we keep the good-paying jobs that sustain our communities. Right now, I'm concerned about how upcoming changes to Medicare Part D reimbursement will affect long-term care pharmacies in our state.
In addition to my role as State Senator for North Carolina’s 35th district in the State General Assembly, I am also a small business owner, helping run my family-owned business, Johnson Insurance Management. As both a State Senator and small business owner, I want to speak out in opposition to proposed federal legislation that claims to be in the interest of small business owners like me and many others across North Carolina but, in reality, only benefits big businesses.
In addition to my role as State Senator for North Carolina’s 35th district in the State General Assembly, I am also a small business owner, helping run my family-owned business, Johnson Insurance Management. As both a State Senator and small business owner, I want to speak out in opposition to proposed federal legislation that claims to be in the interest of small business owners like me and many others across North Carolina but, in reality, only benefits big businesses.
In a time when political division and a gridlock in Congress dominates the headlines, there’s one issue that should unite us all – the fight against cancer. No matter our background, beliefs or zip code, nearly every family has felt the pain and uncertainty that a cancer diagnosis brings. Still, like many Americans, I put off keeping up with my recommended cancer screenings until just a few years ago. When I was fortunate enough to receive clear results, I realized the risk I had taken by waiting so long to get screened. Now, I’m committed to educating others in our community about the importance of routine screenings and how early detection can make all the difference in the fight against cancer.
Energy is the backbone of our economy and our way of life. From powering homes to fueling businesses, reliable and affordable energy keeps America moving forward. But today, outdated permitting rules are blocking the very projects we need to secure our future. Regulations that were designed to provide a fair process have turned into roadblocks. Instead of delivering better outcomes, they now drive up costs, stall job creation, and leave families footing the bill.
North Carolina’s mountains, beaches, and vibrant cities rank it among the top states in the country for hitting the road. While smooth summer travels are always the goal, a popped tire, broken engine, or minor collision can dampen a vacation.
In all my years involved in politics, I have seen only a handful of proposals that receive real overwhelming support among the public. The federal App Store Accountability Act is one of them.
The governor of North Carolina earns an annual salary of a little over $200,000 per year. While it’s only about a fifth or less of what the average partner in a big law firm can expect to bring home and a fiftieth what the football coach at the state’s flagship university rakes in, it’s still good money. In a state where the median household income is around only a third of that amount and millions subsist at or below the poverty line, for most people, getting a job with a 200k salary would feel like winning the lottery.
The North Carolina General Assembly is considering two very different approaches to the issue of money and the courts. House Bill 315 would ban litigation financing in its entirety. House Bill 925, the Consumers in Crisis Protection Act, would instead regulate consumer legal funding with strong safeguards for families and businesses.
Growing up, there was a period when my family relied on food stamps to survive. At the time I admittedly felt some embarrassment about that fact, yet I found a way to use the foundation provided by that public assistance to achieve several important goals in life.
No one likes to have the rug pulled out from under them.
No matter who you are or what you do, certainty in today’s business world isn’t just nice to have, it’s a necessity
As a U.S. Navy veteran, I am honored to manage a team that serves other veterans who find themselves without a home in North Carolina. In my role as director of outreach for Veterans Services of The Carolinas (VSC), our team collaborates daily with the faith-based community, mental health and substance use providers, LME/MCOs, law enforcement, housing providers, and others across all 100 counties of North Carolina.
