Commentary/Opinion

By John Hood RALEIGH — Test scores are up for North Carolina’s public-school students — a welcome development, although the news isn’t all good. On average, 55% of students in…

By Mike Walden Ever since the pandemic, the housing market has been difficult for buyers, especially for young and first-time buyers. Housing prices have been rising at a rate much…

By John Hood RALEIGH — I am not much of a weeper. But a recent survey of American schoolchildren is testing my stoic disposition. Only 36% of 13-year-olds say they…

By John Hood RALEIGH — Since the federal reconciliation bill was signed into law last month, fans and foes of the sprawling legislation have waged a war of words over…

By John Hood RALEIGH — Of all the legislation enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly this year, none is more significant than House Bill 402, which strengthens legislative oversight…

By Mike Walden Inflation continues to be one of the top issues in the country. Although some prices have fallen, many are still rising and, what’s more troubling, are rising…

By John Hood RALEIGH — It’s not the biggest threat to public safety, I admit, but panhandling along and often on North Carolina roadways is illegal, dangerous, counterproductive — and…

By John Hood RALEIGH — The likely Democratic nominee for North Carolina’s Senate race next year, former Gov. Roy Cooper, led likely Republican nominee Michael Whatley by six points in…

By John Hood RALEIGH — As Americans continue to celebrate our country’s semiquincentennial — the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the war for American independence — I…

By Mike Walden A renewed debate about the three -isms of socialism, communism and capitalism has been sparked by a proclaimed socialist candidate, who some claim is actually a communist,…

By John Hood RALEIGH — I don’t know for certain who will win North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race next year — and neither do you. The likely Democratic nominee, Roy…

By John Hood RALEIGH — North Carolina is in a mess. It was an entirely predictable mess. Indeed, I and others have been predicting it for more than two years.…