When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020, Gov. Roy Cooper and other officials began exercising government power in ways unprecedented in modern times.
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John Hood: Progressives made a faulty prediction
My progressive friends are frustrated. They should be. After more than a decade of conservative governance, North Carolina has implemented many policies the Left disdains — from major tax cuts and spending restraint to regulatory reform and parental choice in education.
Thomas Mills: The lastest victim of Wokism
The creator of the comic strip “Dilbert” went on a racist rant last week and now hundreds of newspapers across the country have dropped the cartoon. Scott Adams, who posted his screed on his YouTube channel, called Black people “a hate group” and told White people to stay away from them. Of course Adams will complain that he’s being canceled. This time, he’s probably right.
John Hood: Get off the voter ID merry-go-round
North Carolinians want their election laws to include a photo ID requirement. They’ve made this clear many times. In 2018, a large majority of voters chose to add such a requirement to the state constitution.
Thomas Mills: An Inhospitable working environment
I grew up the son of a state employee. My father served as a district court and superior court judge. In exchange, he received a steady salary, good health insurance, and a generous pension program. He could have made more money in the private sector as an attorney, but the benefits helped offset the difference and made the job a bit more attractive.
John Hood: Yes, they'll waste our money again
We will probably never know how much of our money was squandered during the pandemic by reckless politicians. But here are two damning numbers to start with: $400 billion and $855,000 per job year.
John Hood: Broyhill Helped Build the Modern GOP
As the founder of one of North Carolina’s largest companies, James Edgar Broyhill helped build high-quality, durable furniture. His son James Thomas Broyhill, who died February 18 at the age of 95, helped build something just as lasting: the North Carolina Republican Party.
Thomas Mills: The lies that threaten us
The Dominion lawsuit against Fox News is exposing the lies of the so-called news organization. Filings reveal emails showing Fox News personalities like Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity knew election conspiracies were bunk, but they kept reporting them. Hell, they’re still reporting them. Carlson worries that Trump will destroy him if he doesn’t repeat what he knows are lies.
Thomas Mills: Wooing Rural Voters
I’m glad to see that the new Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party is going to put a renewed emphasis on reaching out to rural communities. I was born and raised in Anson County and began my career in politics working in Cleveland and Rutherford Counties in the early 1990s.
John Hood: Biden’s Budget Consensus Can’t Last
Newly elected U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina’s 11th District attended his first State of the Union address last week and joined his fellow Republicans in calling out Joe Biden’s fiscal irresponsibility.
Leandro judge rules plan is underfunded by $785 million, won’t order transfer
The judge in North Carolina’s long-running Leandro school funding legal dispute calls for state government to spend an additional $785 million on education-related items. But he has jettisoned a controversial provision from a previous court ruling that raised constitutional concerns.
New Senate ad misleads the voters
Mark Robinson, North Carolina’s Republican lieutenant governor, has just endorsed U.S. Rep. Ted Budd over former Gov. Pat McCrory in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate. In a new ad promoting Budd’s candidacy, Robinson speaks directly to the camera. “Pat’s a nice guy — but he’s no conservative,” Robinson says, alleging among other charges that “Pat put liberals in charge of state textbooks.”
Cawthorn cited for having loaded gun at Charlotte airport
On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-11th District, was cited for possession of a dangerous weapon after having a loaded handgun at the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Police say that Cawthorn cooperated with authorities after an agent found the weapon in a bag and Cawthorn said it was his.
Leandro judge signals he will order more N.C. education spending next week
The judge overseeing North Carolina's long-running Leandro school funding lawsuit signaled Friday that he will produce an order next week calling for additional state education spending.
Poll: GOP candidates favored heading into NC's midterms
A new Civitas poll shows that Republican candidates running for U.S. Congress and the state legislature in North Carolina are in good shape heading into the 2022 midterm election.
John Hood: Freedom is a tool for progress
I’m a conservative without a conversion story. Plenty of others have such a tale — they read a certain book, had a certain teacher, or somehow became disenchanted with their previous, left-leaning views.
N.C. Dems advocate legalizing marijuana on ‘420’
On April 20, or "4/20," which in the world of marijuana smokers is like a national holiday, prominent N.C. Democrats celebrated the day themselves by calling for the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana and for clemency for those currently in prison for marijuana charges. The term "4/20" was popularized by the Grateful Dead as a time some of their fans would smoke together after school.
CNN+ goes dark after one month, eulogy tweets are flying
CNN has pulled the plug on its streaming service, CNN+, less than a month after it launched. It is scheduled to shut down on April 30. Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s new parent company, made the decision.
Roy Cooper for president? Why he was named a top pick for 2024
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is among the top 10 Democrats named in The Washington Post’s quarterly Democratic presidential candidate ranking for 2024 released on April 16. Cooper came in at 6th place, down from 5th in its last ranking. The paper calls him "one leading contender you hear the least about” and says he is a “Biden-style candidate who checks lots of boxes.”
OPINION: Parents' bill of rights is a must in today’s hyper-politicized culture
One positive emerging out of the politicization of classrooms is the awakening of parents to their rights and responsibilities in educating their children. Truthfully, in many families, too much instruction has been outsourced to the state without much thought.