Like a three-pack-a-day smoker who blames their chronic cough on everything but their addiction, President-elect Donald Trump continues to embrace an absurd and criminally irresponsible brand of denialism on the subject of climate change. This hard truth was exposed yet again by the latest horrific California brushfires. As the news outlet Cal Matt…

A person uses a garden hose in an effort to save a neighboring home from catching fire during the Eaton Fire on Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Like a three-pack-a-day smoker who blames their chronic cough on everything but their addiction, President-elect Donald Trump continues to embrace an absurd and cri…

Gov. Josh Stein (right) inspects a trailer on visit to western North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of the governor's office.) In many important areas, North Carolina’s new governor, Josh Stein, is wisely following in the footprints of his predecessor, Roy Cooper. In critical areas like public education, environmental protection, and reproductive freedo…

In many important areas, North Carolina’s new governor, Josh Stein, is wisely following in the footprints of his predecessor, Roy Cooper. In critical areas like public education, environmental protection, and reproductive freedom, Cooper was a champion of just and common sense policies. One area, however, in which the new administration can make ne…

As has been the case for several years now, at the start of 2025, no single issue poses a greater threat to the long-term well-being of North Carolinians – and indeed, all Americans — than the global climate crisis. From the economy to public health to natural disasters to immigration to species extinction, global warming from fossil fuel use is ra…

There are a lot of reasons that the death penalty is almost never imposed anymore. Not only is it hugely and uniquely expensive to apply and proven to be of no use in deterring crime, but stacks of evidence also confirm it has long been applied unjustly. Tragically, the death penalty is mostly reserved for cases involving defendants who are poor an…

Last week the nation paused to honor the life and legacy of former President Jimmy Carter. Carter died December 29, 2024 at the age of 100, and while opinions vary as to how successful his one term in the White House was, there’s a widespread consensus that no president in American history enjoyed a more productive or successful post-presidency. In…

North Carolina is in the national news again and, as with past embarrassments like the infamous bathroom bill and efforts to ban talk of sea-level rise, it’s not a flattering story. This time, it’s Republican state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin’s effort to retroactively throw out 60,000-plus ballots cast by registered voters in the 2024…

A mobile billboard circles the legislative building on January 8, 2025 highlighting Jefferson Griffin’s attempt to throw out thousands of ballots in the state Supreme Court race. (Photo by Christine Zhu) North Carolina is in the national news again and, as with past embarrassments like the infamous bathroom bill and efforts to ban talk of sea-level…

North Carolina elections have been shown to be fair, efficient and honest, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t always room for improvement. And one important change our state would do well to take a second look at is ranked choice voting – a system in which voters rank candidates in their order of preference. This assures that candidates can’t win wi…

Image: https://www.betterballotnc.org/ North Carolina elections have been shown to be fair, efficient and honest, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t always room for improvement. And one important change our state would do well to take a second look at is ranked choice voting – a system in which voters rank candidates in their order of preference. Th…

Demonstrators marched in front of the governor's mansion asking the governor to commute the death sentences of those on death row. (Photo: NC Newsline/Kel Lyons) There are a lot of reasons that the death penalty is almost never imposed anymore. As a growing cadre of experts has demonstrated, the death penalty is hugely and uniquely expensive to app…

There are a lot of reasons that the death penalty is almost never imposed anymore. As a growing cadre of experts has demonstrated, the death penalty is hugely and uniquely expensive to apply and doesn’t deter crime –indeed, there’s compelling evidence it spurs more of it. What’s more and more importantly, stacks of evidence now confirm the death pe…

Few governors in North Carolina history have been better prepared for the job than our state’s new chief executive, Josh Stein. Not only has Stein spent much of his professional career in elected office, but he was also raised in a family that preached and lived the value of public service and social justice. Now add his demonstrated commitment to …

Josh Stein is formally sworn in as North Carolina's next governor. (Photo: Screengrab from PBSNC video stream) Few governors in North Carolina history have been better prepared for the job than our state’s new chief executive, Josh Stein. Not only has Stein spent much of his professional career in elected office, but he was also raised in a family …

North Carolina's state Supreme Court (Photo: Clayton Henkel) It’s now been nine weeks since the November election and nearly a month since recounts confirmed that incumbent state Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs narrowly defeated her Republican challenger, state Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin. As such, it’s long past time for Griffin t…

It’s now been nine weeks since the November election and nearly a month since recounts confirmed that incumbent state Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs narrowly defeated her Republican challenger, state Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin. As such, it’s long past time for Griffin to concede and allow the state’s high court to get back to wor…

A new year is upon us and with it, some important changes in state government. As a result of the November election, North Carolina now has several new leaders serving on its Council of State – most notably a new governor. After eight years in the governor’s mansion and nearly 40 in elected office, Roy Cooper has exited public service – at least fo…

Gov. Roy Cooper’s second four-year term as our state’s chief executive has come to a close, and if there’s one accomplishment from that period that stands out above all others it was his tireless and ultimately successful campaign to expand the state’s Medicaid program – a move that has saved and will continue to save, quite literally, thousands of…

Today — January 6 – marks the anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history. It was four years ago today that a violent mob spurred on by then-President Donald Trump invaded the U.S. Capitol Building in a deadly effort to nullify the results of the 2020 presidential election. The insurrection was an act of criminality that sealed Trump…

Donald Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Getty Images) Today — January 6 – marks the anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history. It was four years ago today that a violent mob spurred on by then-President Donald T…

Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump, speaks to attendees during a Sept. 25, 2024, campaign rally in Mint Hill, North Carolina. Trump’s victory in Tuesday’s election could set the stage for wide-ranging changes to policy. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Donald Trump’s second administration is poised to soon do a great…

Donald Trump’s second administration is poised to soon do a great deal of damage in several important areas. Whether it’s health care, education, the federal courts, reproductive freedom, immigration, foreign policy or the economy, millions of people will suffer needlessly if Trump follows through on all of his campaign promises. That said, when it…

Yet another gambling casino opened close to North Carolina last month when the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the corporate giant Caesar’s christened a new facility just across the border in Danville, Virginia. And between it, a pair of tribal casinos in western North Carolina and the explosion of legalized sports gambling in our state, it’s …

Gamblers take a break from the 1,500 slot machines in Caesars Virginia. (Photo: Greg Childress) Yet another gambling casino opened close to North Carolina last month when the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the corporate giant Caesar’s christened a new facility just across the border in Danville, Virginia. And between it, a pair of tribal casi…

It’s a great tragedy of our time that the global climate change crisis is not something that emerged suddenly or as a surprise. Not only have scientists predicted how it would play out for decades, so too have many of the polluters whose CO2 emissions have done so much to cause it. A powerful new report from the nonprofit Energy and Policy Institut…

Duke Energy and other utilities, particularly in the South, are pushing to add new natural gas plants like this Florida facility. (Photo by Glen Richard/iStock Images Getty Images) It’s a great tragedy of our time that the global climate change crisis is not something that emerged suddenly or as a surprise. Not only have scientists predicted how it…

Gov. Roy Cooper discusses ongoing efforts to surge resources into Western NC (Pool photo/Paul Barker-Governor's Office) Gov. Roy Cooper’s second four-year term as our state’s chief executive is ending and, by any fair assessment, he’s done a heck of a job. In numerous vitally important areas – education, transportation, economic development, enviro…

Gov. Roy Cooper’s second four-year term as our state’s chief executive is ending and, by any fair assessment, he’s done a heck of a job. In numerous vitally important areas – education, transportation, economic development, environmental protection – Cooper has, despite the obstruction of legislative leaders — been a stalwart champion of average No…

If there was one story that dominated the news this past year – aside from the election – and left a lasting imprint on North Carolina, it was Hurricane Helene. The storm ravaged western North Carolina in late September causing an estimated $58 billion in damage. Unfortunately, the Republican-controlled legislature passed only modest relief measure…

The devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina is rightfully provoking calls for more action than has been forthcoming from state and federal lawmakers, and one area in which one hopes such demands will bear fruit is in planning and prevention. Regrettably, state Republican legislative leaders have repeatedly blocked legislat…