Policy Watch reporter Lisa Sorg discusses some of the top environmental stories of the last year.

Gene Nichol is Boyd Tinsley distinguished professor at the University of North Carolina. He was director of the UNC Poverty Center (2008-2015) until it was closed by the Board of Governors for publishing articles critical of the governor and General Assembly. Since 2015, his research has been supported by the N.C. Poverty Research Fund. Nichol is author of THE FACES OF POVERTY IN NORTH CAROLINA: Stories From Our Invisible Citizens (UNC Press, 2018)

The number of uninsured children nationwide increased by about 276,000 children last year, the first significant increase in a decade, according to a new report released by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.The analysis shows that in North Carolina, 119,000 or 4.8 percent of the state’s children remain without health coverage. We discuss the findings and the need for Medicaid expansion with Ciara Zachary.

Peg O’Connell of the Hope Center at Pullen discusses the challenges facing youth who age out of the foster care system.

Common Cause executive director Bob Phillips on the troubling rush to enact voter ID legislation, allegations of voter fraud in 9th congressional district, and efforts to combat gerrymandered maps.

Kristin Collins of the Center for Death Penalty litigation discusses North Carolina’s obsolete and unfairly applied capital punishment laws. Read their report: Unequal Justice.

Julie Cox of the Inter-faith Food Shuttle discusses her group’s work to combat hunger in North Carolina, and the massive need that remains unaddressed.

David Rice, director of the non-profit Higher Education Work, joins us to discuss the present and future of higher education in North Carolina, college affordability, state funding levels and the major leadership changes this year atop the UNC system.