NCDMV to redesign all state-issued driver’s licenses

State-issued driver’s licenses will have a brand-new look starting in June following changes and security enhancements made by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles.

Brianna Kraemer

NCSU’s sovereign immunity arguments challenged in Poe Hall dispute

A former North Carolina State University grad student and employee is challenging the university’s sovereign immunity arguments in a legal dispute involving the Poe Hall shutdown. The state Appeals Court issued a May 16 order granting the university a temporary stay in its dispute with Darren Masier.

Federal lawsuit over Asheville park ban heading toward settlement

A federal lawsuit challenging Asheville’s decision to ban local activists from using city parks is near a settlement. A notice filed Tuesday in US District Court prompted a judge in the case to cancel a hearing that had been scheduled later this week.

Federal Appeals Court rules against Greensboro police officer who fatally shot suspect

The 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals will allow the family of Joseph Lopez to continue pursuing its federal lawsuit against the Greensboro Police officer who shot and killed Lopex in 2021. Officer Matthew Hamilton had argued that federal qualified immunity and North Carolina’s public official immunity protected him from the Lopez estate’s suit.

Charlotte private school responds to critics in Turpin case

A Charlotte private school involved in a legal dispute with parents of two expelled students responded Tuesday to Republican officials who back the parents’ case. Lawyers for Charlotte Latin School filed two documents with the state Supreme Court.

North Carolina: Early to the revolution

In early 1776, battle lines in NC had already been drawn between loyalists to the British crown and American patriots. At the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge, these lines burst into the open.

Jane Shaw Stroup

Let’s recommit to letting economic freedom ring

This "Fourth of July," let's recognize just how much we need the principles from our founding and recommit ourselves to ringing the bell of economic liberty loud and clear.

Jeff Moore

The paradox of privilege

Many privileges we have are simply due to people building good things for their families and communities to set them up for success. And we'd be dishonoring their efforts by trampling on what they've handed us.

Luke Niforatos, Paul Brintley

Bill puts marijuana pipe dreams before NC health and safety

Today’s high-potency marijuana and THC drugs are medically and scientifically linked to lower IQ, psychosis, depression, suicidality, motor impairment, and schizophrenia — especially for young people with developing brains.

Citizens should clarify voting rights

North Carolina voters will be asked this fall to remove a troubling ambiguity in the state constitution. An overwhelming, bipartisan majority of state legislators — 40 of 50 senators, 104 of 120 representatives — voted to place the amendment on the ballot. Nevertheless, say some left-leaning critics, the measure is at best an unnecessary distraction...

John Hood

Biden rallies with Stein in Raleigh hours after alarming debate with Trump

A much more energetic President Joe Biden greeted his supporters at a rally in Raleigh Friday afternoon after what both sides of the aisle is calling a disastrous performance in a debate against former President Donald Trump Thursday night.

Theresa Opeka

What to watch for in Thursday’s presidential debate

Don't expect to witness your favorite candidate in the same persona you see at rallies. Debates are usually a different audience and a different strategy.

Rape-kit backlog in focus in governor’s race

A new television ad launched by the Republican Governors Association (RGA) claims the Attorney General Josh Stein “failed women” by taking years to address nearly 12 thousand untested rape kits across the state that could lead to capturing suspected sexual offenders that were yet to be identified.

Dallas Woodhouse

Robinson rallies NCGOP with vision for economic and educational change at state convention

North Carolina's Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson headlined the NCGOP State Convention Saturday night with a powerful speech drawing stand ovations from the crowd of an estimated 1,000 party faithful.

Jacob Emmons

Knott is officially NC Republicans’ nominee for Congressional District 13

The Republican runoff race for Congressional District 13 was finalized Tuesday evening, with Brad Knott officially becoming the Republican nominee. Knott was facing a runoff with Republican Kelly Daughtry, but earlier this month Daughtry announced she was dropping out.

Democrats run anti-Morrow bill in NC Senate

Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, D-Wake, is running Senate Bill 867, Superintendent of Public Instruction Minimum Requirements. The measure mandates that the state superintendent “must have at least one year of experience as a teacher or school administrator in this State or a member of a local board of education or the State Board of Education.” The legislation notably leaves out homeschool educators, and few other Council of State positions have such requirements.

David N. Bass

Carolina Journal’s Donna King assesses NC budget stalemate

Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses the latest developments in North Carolina’s state budget debate. King offered these comments during the June 14, 2024, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

Interview: State Superintendent Candidate Michele Morrow

Carolina Journal contributor David Bass sits down with with Republican State Superintendent Candidate Michele Morrow to discuss her goals, qualifications, and campaign. Editor’s note: Equal time was offered to her opponent, Democratic candidate Mo Green, who declined to be interviewed.

Locke’s Mitch Kokai analyzes polling in NC governor’s race

Mitch Kokai, John Locke Foundation senior political analyst, discusses recent polling in North Carolina’s race for governor. Kokai offered these comments during the May 31, 2024, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

Mitch Kokai

Carolina Journal’s Donna King assesses changing NC budget surplus numbers

Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses the potential impact of a smaller North Carolina state budget surplus than officials had projected. King offered these comments during the May 10, 2024, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

Interview: Jack Clark, Republican candidate for State Auditor

As the May 14th second primary approaches, Carolina Journal invited the candidates into our studios to talk about their goals and the 2024 race. Under North Carolina’s election laws candidates must win their primary with 30%, plus one, of the vote or the second place finisher in the contest may request a second primary. There...

Interview: Dave Boliek, Republican candidate for State Auditor

As the May 14th second primary approaches, Carolina Journal invited the candidates into our studios to talk about their goals and the 2024 race. Under North Carolina’s election laws candidates must win their primary with 30%, plus one, of the vote or the second place finisher in the contest may request a second primary. There...

Theresa Opeka

Let’s recommit to letting economic freedom ring

This "Fourth of July," let's recognize just how much we need the principles from our founding and recommit ourselves to ringing the bell of economic liberty loud and clear.

Jeff Moore

Luke Niforatos, Paul Brintley

Bill puts marijuana pipe dreams before NC health and safety

Today’s high-potency marijuana and THC drugs are medically and scientifically linked to lower IQ, psychosis, depression, suicidality, motor impairment, and schizophrenia — especially for young people with developing brains.

The paradox of privilege

Many privileges we have are simply due to people building good things for their families and communities to set them up for success. And we'd be dishonoring their efforts by trampling on what they've handed us.

NC school district files motion to dismiss ‘illegal alien’ suspension lawsuit

They argue that Christian’s due process rights were not violated because he was afforded a hearing prior to his suspension in compliance with state law and school policy. They say he was not entitled to appeal his short-term suspension under state law.

Brianna Kraemer

News consumers deserve better than automated click bait

Baiting someone to click on an irrelevant article may be a small victory, but it's a bad long-term strategy. Because some of the those who click may never click again.

For healthy civil society, politics needs to stay in its lane

Political and cultural causes are important. They motivate us to make the world around us better and hone our sense of justice. Also, the excitement of fighting the good fight can be, for lack of a better word, fun. But everything has its time and place. And even if we think a particular political issue...

Flashback: North Carolina’s Easter Monday tradition forged on the baseball diamond

On Good Friday state offices will be closed in North Carolina for Holy Week, along with 10 other states. However, that has not always been the case in North Carolina. The Monday after Easter — rather than Good Friday — was a legal holiday in North Carolina for 52 years, and for many years before...

Dallas Woodhouse

Carolina Journal’s Donna King discusses Disney going ‘woke’

Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses Disney’s controversial programming changes. King offered these comments during the April 8, 2022, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “Front Row with Marc Rotterman.”

Locke’s Mitch Kokai discusses New York Times’ warning about free speech

Mitch Kokai, John Locke Foundation senior political analyst, discusses the New York Times’ column warning about America’s “free-speech problem.” Kokai offered these comments during the March 25, 2022, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “Front Row with Marc Rotterman.”

Mitch Kokai

Jordan Peterson returns to Durham 4 years after city moves to ‘cancel’ him

Canadian professor, author, and psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson on Thursday offered a non-political and largely academic lecture on the psychology of beauty, dreams, and purpose. The reaction from city officials and activists to the address at the Durham Performing Arts Center was night-and-day from the one leading up to his appearance four years earlier. It...

Ukrainian people in NC rally to support homeland

As the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine continues to escalate, North Carolina’s local Ukrainian population is rallying to bring attention to the suffering of people in their homeland and to gather supplies to help them. Donna Goldstein, co-president of the Ukrainian Association of North Carolina, finds herself at the forefront of these efforts. Goldstein has...