One of the top priorities for the conservative majorities at the General Assembly this year is a bill that would dramatically expand the state’s controversial private school voucher program. Under the legislation, all North Carolina households with kids – even wealthy families who already send their children to exclusive and expensive private schools – would […]

The post Education policy expert Kris Nordstrom of the NC Justice Center discusses school vouchers appeared first on NC Newsline.

It’s a hard truth of American politics that many state and federal lawmakers base their decisions and votes almost exclusively on how it will impact their own political futures. Often, even hugely momentous, life and death votes are cast with an eye to the polls and the views of TV talking heads, rather than the […]

The post Rep. John Autry discusses the attacks on transgender students and the promise of psychedelics appeared first on NC Newsline.

Western Carolina University political scientist Chris Cooper discusses the fast-approaching 2024 election cycle — including the likelihood of a Biden- Trump rematch, the GOP gubernatorial primary in North Carolina, and the impact that the debate over abortion rights is likely to have.

The post Western Carolina University Professor Chris Cooper discusses early contenders in the 2024 elections appeared first on NC Newsline.

A recent ruling by a Texas federal judge sought to end the access American women have enjoyed for more than two decades to the safe and effective abortion medication known as Mifepristone. Fortunately, the Supreme Court has – at least for the time being – stayed the ruling. But  Congresswoman Kathy Manning believes the stakes […]

The post U.S. Rep. Kathy Manning discusses reproductive freedom, the debt ceiling and a rise in antisemitism appeared first on NC Newsline.

North Carolina is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. With a fast-growing population – particularly in urban areas – this problem has been present for years, but it’s grown appreciably more dire since the onset of the pandemic, with the median price of a home shooting up 25 percent just since 2021. Recently […]

The post Erin Wynia of the NC League of Municipalities discusses the state’s housing crisis appeared first on NC Newsline.

As anyone who pays attention to North Carolina politics is well-aware, the General Assembly was rocked recently by the decision of State Rep. Tricia Cotham of Mecklenburg County to switch her political allegiance from the Democratic Party to the GOP. The move gives Republicans a supermajority in both legislative chambers and would seem to boost […]

The post Sen. Graig Meyer discusses abortion restrictions, vouchers, and future transportation funding appeared first on NC Newsline.

Read this year’s report card. One of the most important and worrisome impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath has been the hugely negative impact on the mental health of our nation’s youth. Recently, the children’s advocacy group NC Child partnered with the North Carolina Institute of Medicine to prepare and release a 2023 […]

The post NC Child Health Policy Director Kaylan Szafranski discusses the 2023 Children’s Health Report Card appeared first on NC Newsline.

It’s a hard truth that North Carolina’s criminal justice system regularly metes out wrongful and inequitable sentences, and recently, NC Newsline investigative reporter Kelan Lyons detailed one such deeply disturbing case. Bobby Norfleet was convicted of a crime in 1979 as a young man – trying unsuccessfully to set a fire to a house – […]

The post Disability Rights NC attorney Susan Pollitt and investigative reporter Kelan Lyons appeared first on NC Newsline.

State Rep. Marcia Morey of Durham County provides an update on the events at the General Assembly – including the disturbing votes to repeal the state’s pistol permit system and introduce online sports gambling to the state.

The post Rep. Marcia Morey discusses sports wagering, repeal of the state’s pistol permit system appeared first on NC Newsline.

One of the top agenda items for Republican leaders at the General Assembly this year is legislation that would micromanage the teaching of U.S. history and discussions of race – mostly for the purpose of limiting discussion and assuring that white students in particular, aren’t made to feel guilty or uncomfortable. Unfortunately, as North Carolina […]

The post NCSU Prof.Michael Schwalbe on efforts to stifle discussions of race and privilege in our schools appeared first on NC Newsline.