Commentary Archives • NC Newsline: Daily Summaries Delivered

Five truths about North Carolina property taxes and a proposed GOP constitutional amendment

North Carolina property taxes are in the news this spring. Republican state lawmakers are advancing a proposed constitutional amendment that would direct the legislature to limit local property tax increases. Though it has yet to be debated or voted upon by either the House or Senate, the proposed amendment — which is contained in House […]

Who are your county’s primary voters – in 2026 and beyond?

Do you wonder which voters in your county turned out more than others in the March primary? Did Republican men cast more ballots than Democratic women? Did Black seniors outperform white voters age 65 and older? How did your county compare with the other 99 – and did a hot race, like a primary contest […]

Duke Energy doubles down in the Carolinas: What consumers stand to lose—and gain

The Duke Energy Carolinas/Duke Energy Progress merger, approved by North and South Carolina regulators on May 1, may appear to be routine corporate restructuring. In practice, it could shape the future of electricity in the region. The merger raises concerns about market power, consumer price impacts, and regulatory flexibility across diverse territories. At the same […]

Duke Energy doubles down in the Carolinas: What consumers stand to lose—and gain

The Duke Energy Carolinas/Duke Energy Progress merger, approved by North and South Carolina regulators on May 1, may appear to be routine corporate restructuring. In practice, it could shape the future of electricity in the region. The merger raises concerns about market power, consumer price impacts, and regulatory flexibility across diverse territories. At the same […]

Return of Jim Crow

UNC classroom ‘First Amendment’ policy advances right-wing war on expertise

Last month, a group calling itself the UNC Alumni Free Speech Alliance (UNC AFSA) sent a letter to UNC chancellor Lee Roberts urging UNC to adopt a policy requiring all course syllabi to include language assuring students that they have First Amendment rights to free speech in the classroom. The stated rationale for this policy […]

NC’s new Medicaid ‘compromise’ comes at a cruel and frightful cost

It’s understandable that North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein decided to host a signing ceremony last week that featured a smattering of legislative Republicans when he approved new “compromise” legislation to extend funding for the state’s Medicaid health insurance program. After having enjoyed precious few policy wins and endured 16 months of relentless and frequently dishonest […]

NC’s new Medicaid ‘compromise’ comes at a cruel and frightful cost

It’s understandable that North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein decided to host a signing ceremony last week that featured a smattering of legislative Republicans when he approved new “compromise” legislation to extend funding for the state’s Medicaid health insurance program. After having enjoyed precious few policy wins and endured 16 months of relentless and frequently dishonest […]