RALEIGH — The police department in Winston-Salem uses a commercial product called ShotSpotter, a network of audio sensors and software, to identify possible incidents of gunfire and ensure a faster response to them.
All in Opinion
John Hood: Science of Reading Bears Fruit
Over the past two years, North Carolina had made critical investments in the future of our state.
John Hood: State Revenues Are Down This Year
RALEIGH — State Controller Nels Roseland has just released five months of reports about North Carolina’s General Fund budget. I’m told the delay wasn’t nefarious. It was caused by a change in accounting systems. Well, better late than never — but I hope the delay hasn’t lulled our leaders into complacency.
John Hood: Both Sides Offer Bad Trade Policies
RALEIGH — For all the obvious and consequential differences between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, on one issue the two have much in common. Both the current and former administrations have employed tariffs and other restrictions to help special interests at the expense of average North Carolinians and their counterparts in other states.
John Hood: Light Touch Can Make Homes Affordable
RALEIGH — Because North Carolina is one of the seven states likely to determine the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, and also boasts highly competitive contests for governor and other statewide offices, local races may not be top-of-mind for most voters. Nevertheless, North Carolinians will elect hundreds of county and municipal officials this year — which essentially puts the issue of adequate, affordable housing on the ballot.
John Hood: No Silver Bullet for School Woes
RALEIGH — Because of the tremendous benefits conferred by better education, it would be great if policymakers knew precisely what silver bullets to fire to eliminate obstacles to higher achievement.
The Case Against School Vouchers on Steroids
Following his declaration of 2024 as the Year of Public Schools, Governor Roy Cooper is illustrating the risks the extreme Republican voucher plan poses to children and public schools, where more than 8 in 10 North Carolina children attend school . Today, the Governor released a new video walking through the problems with this voucher plan on steroids, along with a new fact sheet and web page.
Op-Ed: Employers Are Letting Their Employees Down and Hurting the Health System When They Don’t Support Weight Loss
Helping to change to trajectory of obesity and chronic disease is good for employers’ and for employees’ health and saves the health system money. Moreover, people with obesity are more likely to experience other health conditions, like depression, cancer and heart disease, that cause people to miss work.
John Hood: Sales Tax Rules Don’t Make Sense
RALEIGH — I think the North Carolina General Assembly deserves loads of credit for making our tax code friendlier to growth, investment, and freedom. In one respect, however, the state still imposes too heavy a load. It requires too many out-of-state retailers to collect and remit sales taxes. Lawmakers ought to fix this problem when they reconvene April 24.
John Hood: Disappointing Primaries Lacked Substance
RALEIGH — Party nominations for North Carolina’s 2024 elections are, for the most part, decided. Just four races remain to be settled in runoffs on May 14. So, would you say you’re generally satisfied or dissatisfied with our primaries this year?
John Hood: Common Fallacies Impede Sound Policy
RALEIGH — Those who advocate rational public policy, based on a thorough understanding of the principles of human action and the benefits of voluntary exchange, are bound to be disappointed much of the time.
Op-Ed: North Carolina's role in innovation
North Carolina’s role as the innovation state is becoming more apparent with each passing year. Our state’s elected officials, business leaders, academic institutions and technology minds have united to position the Tar Heel State among the most impactful innovation hubs in the nation.
Op Ed: North Carolina Must Choose Wisely on March 5th
As our state’s March 5th presidential primary approaches, North Carolinians will be faced with an important choice. After the last few years of record inflation thanks to wasteful government spending, a broken immigration system, and the American energy spigot being turned off, it’s obvious that the Biden administration is not up to the task of effectively leading our country.
John Hood: Democrats Hope to Defend Governor’s Office
Since the turn of the 20th century, North Carolina voters have picked Republicans for governor just four times: Jim Holshouser in 1972, Jim Martin in 1984 and 1988, and Pat McCrory in 2012. In each case, there was no Democratic incumbent. In each case, the GOP presidential candidate also won North Carolina.
John Hood: Lt. Governor Race Draws Fourteen Candidates
RALEIGH — Most of the executive-branch offices comprising North Carolina’s Council of State are either open seats in 2024 or will feature highly competitive races in both the primary and general elections. But none has attracted as many candidates as lieutenant governor.
John Hood: Three Democrats Run for Attorney General
RALEIGH — Since end of Reconstruction in 1877, a Republican candidate has been elected North Carolina’s attorney general precisely one time, in 1896. Two other Republicans served briefly in the office, but only by appointment.
Attorney General Stein urges court to protect medication abortion access
Attorney General Josh Stein this week urged a federal court to make clear that states cannot second guess the Food and Drug Administration and impose unnecessary restrictions on women’s access to medication abortion.
Op-Ed: New Bill Aims to Expand Non-Opioid Options for Seniors
Combating the opioid epidemic continues to be a personal fight for me, even before I was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives. As a registered pharmacist for 40 years, I experienced the firsthand effects of the opioid epidemic and the devastating impact it has on families. Now, as a member of the state legislature, I work tirelessly on legislation to combat this crisis that continues to claim too many victims.
John Hood: Don't subsidize new baseball team
Will North Carolina snag one of two new Major League Baseball franchises? That’s what Gov. Roy Cooper, Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon, and other civic and business leaders are hoping. They’re prepping a bid for a team to be based either in Raleigh or Charlotte. As soon as MLB announces its process and timeline, they’ll try to make their Carolina baseball dream a reality.
John Hood: North Carolina's likely path to 2040
In July of last year, the Census Bureau estimated that some 10.8 million people resided in our state. One of the fastest-growing in the country, North Carolina’s population ranks ninth, just below Georgia’s population of 11 million.