Other items of interest

News 14 Carolina interviewed JLF President John Hood this week about divisive political television ads. N.C. Senate Republicans took note this week of Hood’s columns on political humility, the so-called Charlotte curse in Tar Heel politics, an open-minded approach to public policy ideas, and the political implications of Gov. Beverly Perdue’s vetoes. Hood’s latest contributions to National Review Online’s primary blog, “The Corner,” included observations about Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, the top contenders for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. The Southern Pines Pilot promoted Hood’s upcoming speech to the Moore Republican Men’s Club. WPTF Radio listeners had a chance to hear Thursday from Washington Examiner senior political columnist Tim Carney, the latest John Locke Foundation Headliner speaker. Carney spoke with Bill LuMaye after the luncheon event. Speaking of WPTF, JLF Vice President for Outreach Becki Gray returns today for a second straight guest-host appearance with Rick Martinez. Gray delivered her regularly scheduled state government preview earlier this week for WTSB Radio listeners, and she returns to the WTSB airwaves this afternoon for a recap. Gray’s column reviewing the 2011 legislative session attracted attention in the past week from N.C. Senate Republicans and state Republican Party chairman Robin Hayes. ([J]ust this morning, the John Locke Foundation has written an excellent summary of their work.) Director of Communications Mitch Kokai discussed the week’s top political news during his latest chat with Curtis Wright on WAAV/WFNC’s morning program. A letter in the Roanoke-Chowan News Herald noted the Locke Foundation’s D grade for Bertie County government transparency. An Examiner.com Republican legislative candidate profile noted JLF involvement in efforts to loosen the state’s ballot restrictions.