Other items of interest

Questions about expenses associated with Mecklenburg County’s Department of Social Services helped lead to two WBT Radio appearances for Meck Deck blogger Jeff Taylor. He discussed the controversy with Pete Kaliner and Tara Servatius. Meanwhile, John Hood continues to contribute his expertise to National Review Online’s main blog, “The Corner.” ConservativeBlogWatch.com picked up Hood’s latest blog entry on the negative consequences associated with “Bailout Nation.” The Lincoln Tribune highlighted Carolina Journal contributor Jim Stegall‘s latest exclusive on Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools’ proposal for merit-based pay for teachers. The Tribune also republished CJ Managing Editor Rick Henderson‘s article on ties between the Golden LEAF board and former Gov. Mike Easley. N.C. Senate Republicans highlighted the same article in a blast e-mail. Speaking of Senate Republicans, a Taylorsville Times article about GOP Senate candidate Daniel Soucek referenced his connection to the E.A. Morris Fellowship for Emerging Leaders. (Most recently, Dan is a 2009 graduate of the E.A. Morris Fellowship for emerging leaders in North Carolina.)