Commentary/Opinion
State Isn’t Prepared For Bad Times
By John Hood RALEIGH — Is there an immediate prospect of resolving the budget standoff between the North Carolina Senate and House? I hear conflicting signals. When fiscal analysts for…
Hospitals Should Battle In The Marketplace, Not The Courtroom
By David Larson Carolina Journal Two weeks ago, there was a nice groundbreaking ceremony with a lot of smiling faces. Gov. Josh Stein traveled all the way out to the…
Leandro Should Have Ended Long Ago
By John Hood RALEIGH — For all the confusion, finger-pointing, and rancor that accompanied the North Carolina Supreme Court’s final ruling in the Leandro school-finance case, the primary emotion it conjured in…
Why The Halifax Resolves Matter
By John Hood RALEIGH — On April 12, a large crowd of North Carolinians will gather in the town of Halifax to commemorate the 250th anniversary of a pivotal historical…
You Decide: Is The Economy Headed For A Nosedive?
By Mike Walden At the beginning of 2026, most economists, including me, were predicting a reasonably decent year for both businesses and households. We expected growth, a jobless rate between…
Facts Must Come Before Explanations
By John Hood RALEIGH — Who is to blame for North Carolina losing its industrial base over the past two decades? Misguided federal lawmakers who passed free-trade agreements? Foolish state…
Letter To The Editor: Save Our Historic Fremont School
Fremont Elementary School has been a part of our community’s story for more than a century. Built in 1923 through the dedication and generosity of Fremont’s citizens, the school has…
Carolina Arts Need Your Investment
By John Hood RALEIGH — The brilliant (and controversial) French artist Edgar Degas drew, painted, and sculpted. Although he relished a wide range of subjects, his best-known works depict ballet…
Opinion: In Politics, Decency Should Still Matter
By John Hood RALEIGH — Among the worst features of today’s politics is its pervasive crudity. Democrats and Republicans don’t just compete for electoral power and disagree on policy. They…
Opinion: Welfare Reforms Create Good Problems
By John Hood RALEIGH — When Congress passed its budget-reconciliation bill last summer, it created a bunch of problems for North Carolina policymakers — thank goodness! No, really. Federal law…
You Decide: Is The Homebuying Market Improving?
By Mike Walden Ever since COVID-19, buying a home has been a challenge, especially for first-time buyers. Buyers have been hit by a triple-whammy. Home prices surged, homes for sale…
Letter To The Editor: Red Cross Month Honors Neighbors Who Give Hope When Help Can’t Wait
As our country marks its 250th year, I’ve been thinking about what truly brings communities together. For me, it always comes down to people — neighbors caring for neighbors. In…
