All in Opinion

John Hood: Carolinians Thwarted Britain’s Southern Gambit

RALEIGH — During the first few months of America’s war for independence, the British redcoats occupying the rebellious city of Boston won one major battle (for Bunker Hill and nearby Breed’s Hill, on June 17, 1775) as well as several minor skirmishes. But the Continental Army, under its new commander George Washington, kept the occupiers bottled up in the city. If the Americans ever managed to place cannons onto the heights overlooking the harbor, the British authorities realized, their position in Boston would become untenable.

Reps. Ager, Cervania Statement on House Oversight Hearing

The House Oversight Committee engaged in cynical partisan theatre to paint Charlotte in a negative light despite the fact that Charlotte is safer per capita than many areas in the state, more economically successful, and effectively subsidizes the rest of the state through its contributions to state tax revenue. Charlotte is a symbol of the importance of our cities, and the legislature wishes to make an example of it to cow other cities into servile submission.

Matt Adams: North Carolina is Growing… But Can the Housing Market Keep Up?

North Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the United States. People from all over are attracted to our high-quality of life, lower cost of living, booming job market, and diverse geography. What’s not to love? Unfortunately, several policymakers fail to support initiatives that back our growing population, namely, private investment in the housing market.  

John Hood: Three Wishes for the Telehealth Genie

RALEIGH — According to folklore, extraordinary beings resent being confined within ordinary spaces. In “The Fisherman and the Jinni,” one of the stories Sheherazade tells her misguided husband in One Thousand and One Nights, the being in question is so angry at being imprisoned for centuries in a bottle that he has to be tricked into granting wishes rather than killing his lowly liberator outright. In Disney’s Aladdin, the genie isn’t so vengeful but still describes his confinement as “phenomenal cosmic powers” uncomfortably crammed into an “itty bitty living space.”

Governor Stein Highlights Successful Community-Based Crisis and Mental Health Services

(RALEIGH) Today Governor Josh Stein visited RHA Health Services’ Alamance County Behavioral Health Center in Burlington to host a roundtable discussion with community leaders highlighting the critical role that crisis and mental health services play in keeping North Carolinians healthy and safe. The Alamance Center is a partnership of county, state, and local management entities (LMEs) that supports individuals with developmental disabilities, substance abuse, and other behavioral health needs. 

John Hood: Swing Voters Aren’t Necessarily Ticket-Splitters

RALEIGH — Like it or not, the 2026 election cycle is in full swing. For North Carolina’s March 3 primary, voters are already mailing in absentee ballots to help determine party nominees for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, the state legislature, state courts, and many local offices. The deadline for registering to vote in the primary is February 6. Early in-person voting begins on February 12 and lasts until February 28.

Time to Rein in the College Athletics Spending Spree

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. 
 


John Hood: Property Tax Merits Reform, Not Repeal

RALEIGH — North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) had created a 23-member select committee to evaluate potential reforms of the state’s property-tax system. That is a fine idea, a sensible reaction to surging property values and changing fiscal conditions. But members ought not be distracted by out-of-state chatter about repealing the property tax entirely. That is a bad idea, destined to fail.