2008

RALEIGH – The Triangle’s largest public school districts earn disappointing grades for “parent-friendliness,” according to a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report. Wake County schools pick up a C…

RALEIGH – The Triad’s largest public school systems earn poor grades for “parent-friendliness,” according to a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report. Guilford schools earn a C and Forsyth…

RALEIGH – North Carolina school districts are not very “parent-friendly,” according to a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report. But western school districts earn better grades than others in…

This report develops a system to evaluate school districts on how “parent-friendly” they are. In other words, to what extent do North Carolina’s school districts provide children a sound, basic education in a stable and safe school environment that is responsive to the needs of children and the concerns of parents?

The North Carolina General Assembly approved a $21.4 billion budget for fiscal year (FY) 2009, up 3.4 percent from FY 2008, with $21.2 billion in appropriations for operating expenses, up 4.0 percent. As usual, the final budget was prepared behind closed doors by the House Speaker and President Pro Tem of the Senate with minimal involvement from all but a dozen legislators of either party and little opportunity for the public or other legislators to review spending proposals before a final vote.

RALEIGH – North Carolina’s auto insurance market does not work. It undercharges many bad drivers and overcharges nearly all of the best drivers while guaranteeing profits for insurance companies. That’s…

North Carolina’s government-controlled auto insurance system is unfair to good drivers because it overcharges them in order to subsidize some of the state’s more risky and dangerous drivers. Every auto insurance policy written in the state has a hidden tax – which averages 6 percent – that goes to the government-mandated, privately run insurance pool. Download PDF file: North Carolina’s Unfair Auto Insurance System (544 kb)

RALEIGH – Nearly two-thirds of North Carolina voters oppose climate change legislation that would raise gasoline prices or electricity rates, according to a new poll. Opposition grows as the potential…

RALEIGH – The John Locke Foundation will honor the late Nobel Laureate economist Milton Friedman July 31 as part of the national Friedman Legacy for Freedom campaign. July 31 would…

RALEIGH – North Carolina law places few limits on cities and towns seeking to annex property owners by force. That’s the key message in a new John Locke Foundation…