My son, Nicholas, is autistic and intellectually disabled. He is 24, and he needs help in areas most nondisabled people take for granted, including self-care, communication, ensuring his safety, and forming relationships and connections. For the past 15 years, Nicholas has received invaluable help from a public program made possible by Medicaid that supports people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Every day, I hear from people across North Carolina—teachers, small business owners, young professionals, and retirees—who feel like the ground is shifting under their feet. They’re working hard, raising families, planning futures. 

Throughout my long career in law enforcement, and my time as Sheriff of Rutherford county, I have witnessed many threats to public safety such as drug epidemics, trafficking networks and more. What is quietly developing in the shadow of social media and online stores is something that you would not expect: a health crisis that is masquerading as a wellness trend. 

I've been helping North Carolina's young people train to work with both their hands and their minds for over 20 years, getting them ready for the jobs, many of which are best learned with real-world experience, like trades and agriculture.

As lawmakers in Raleigh consider a bill that would change the required hours for teens’ provisional permits, some are raising concerns.