Check out the posts below to stay informed.

View Articles by Topic:

September 18
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

School Quality vs. the Virus

With the coronavirus still rampant across North Carolina, the top education concern in many families has… Continue Reading

Churches’ Watchwords: Every Vote Counts!

August 12
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Churches’ Watchwords: Every Vote Counts!

It’s pretty obvious why the N.C. Council of Churches and its allies on the faith-and-justice spectrum… Continue Reading

The Virus and the Vulnerable

July 31
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

The Virus and the Vulnerable

The image of a perfect storm conveys a rueful irony – the storm whose components are… Continue Reading

Pandemic Session’s Tangled Tale

July 6
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Pandemic Session’s Tangled Tale

The scenario was familiar as the N.C. General Assembly engaged in another frantic and exhausting push… Continue Reading

Joint Letter from N.C. Faith Leaders to N.C. Elected Leaders

July 1
North Carolina Council of Churches

Joint Letter from N.C. Faith Leaders to N.C. Elected Leaders

The leaders of the denominational members of the North Carolina Council of Churches have sent a… Continue Reading

Swing Toward Safer Voting

May 28
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Swing Toward Safer Voting

With just five months and change until Election Day, 2020 – and with many virus-leery North… Continue Reading

Safe Elections: The Pressure’s On

May 8
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Safe Elections: The Pressure’s On

Members of the N.C. House and Senate, resolutely confronting the deadly and disastrous coronavirus pandemic, have… Continue Reading

In search of voting’s ‘new normal’

April 22
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

In search of voting’s ‘new normal’

When and if members of the N.C. General Assembly reconvene as scheduled on April 28 –… Continue Reading

Virus-era Voting – Buckle Up

April 1
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Virus-era Voting – Buckle Up

In keeping with the familiar rhythms of American politics, this is a year when many of… Continue Reading

Voter ID’s Rough Ride

February 22
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Voter ID’s Rough Ride

The North Carolina General Assembly’s Republican majority is down to what looks to be its last-ditch… Continue Reading

‘Sound Basic’ Truths About Our Schools

January 17
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

‘Sound Basic’ Truths About Our Schools

UpdateOn Jan. 21, Superior Court Judge David Lee, who oversees compliance in the Leandro school-quality case, issued… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report: Sidetrack for photo voter ID

January 7
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Raleigh Report: Sidetrack for photo voter ID

A long road remains to be traveled before North Carolinians find out whether they’ll have to… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report: Flawed deal to resurrect Silent Sam

Dec 13, 2019
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Raleigh Report: Flawed deal to resurrect Silent Sam

When leaders of the N.C. Council of Churches two years ago adopted a policy statement entitled… Continue Reading

Gerrymanderers Seeing the Light, or Scared Straight?

Oct 25, 2019
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Gerrymanderers Seeing the Light, or Scared Straight?

Perhaps the Republicans who control North Carolina’s General Assembly have finally gotten the message: their decade-long… Continue Reading

Ambush at Override Gulch

Sep 13, 2019
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Ambush at Override Gulch

When N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore called the House to order for its scheduled 8:30 a.m.… Continue Reading

Path to Fairer Maps, Better Government

Sep 6, 2019
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Path to Fairer Maps, Better Government

If politics can be described as a contact sport, it’s perhaps fitting to say that when… Continue Reading

Guns, Medicaid, Gridlock

Aug 12, 2019
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Guns, Medicaid, Gridlock

It can’t have escaped many folks’ notice – even those, bless their hearts, for whom the… Continue Reading

On Gerrymandering, High Court Looks to States

Jul 1, 2019
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

On Gerrymandering, High Court Looks to States

You have to wonder: What would U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. tell that proud North… Continue Reading

No Medicaid Expansion? Just say no!

Jun 27, 2019
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

No Medicaid Expansion? Just say no!

Not to belabor the obvious, but when North Carolina’s elected leaders craft a spending plan for… Continue Reading

Staying Sane: Gun Laws that Work

Jun 17, 2019
Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director

Staying Sane: Gun Laws that Work

The Mother Emanuel, Charleston, SC, shooting was four years ago today, June 17. The N.C. General… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report – April 29, 2019

Apr 29, 2019
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Raleigh Report – April 29, 2019

Introduced Bills CRIMINAL JUSTICE HB 834 – Ban the Box would prohibit the state from asking… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report – April 22, 2019

Apr 22, 2019
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Raleigh Report – April 22, 2019

INTRODUCED BILLS CRIMINAL JUSTICEHB 781 – Limitations on Use of Solitary Confinementactually contains several items related… Continue Reading

Medicaid Expansion: Doing the Right Thing

Apr 19, 2019
Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director

Medicaid Expansion: Doing the Right Thing

The people of North Carolina pay federal taxes. Our tax dollars help fund the 90 percent… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report – April 11, 2019

Apr 11, 2019
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Raleigh Report – April 11, 2019

INTRODUCED BILLS CRIMINAL JUSTICE HB 587 – Repeal Death Penalty would abolish the death penalty, and… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report – April 5, 2019

Apr 5, 2019
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Raleigh Report – April 5, 2019

INTRODUCED BILLS CRIMINAL JUSTICE/PRISON REFORM HB 460/SB 545 – Fair Chance Hiring would require state agencies… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report – March 25, 2019

Mar 25, 2019
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Raleigh Report – March 25, 2019

INTRODUCED BILLS ECONOMIC JUSTICE HB 422/SB 234 – Healthy Families & Workplaces/Paid Sick Days is similar… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report – March 11, 2019

Mar 11, 2019
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Raleigh Report – March 11, 2019

INTRODUCED BILLS GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION With the passing last month of the first anniversary of the… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report – February 26, 2019

Feb 26, 2019
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Raleigh Report – February 26, 2019

INTRODUCED BILLS ECONOMIC JUSTICE HB 46 – Economic Security Act of 2019HB 46 is a collection… Continue Reading

Gerrymandering Dooms Voter ID Amendment, Judge Says

Feb 25, 2019
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Gerrymandering Dooms Voter ID Amendment, Judge Says

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to specify that the court ruling does not address… Continue Reading

Gail Phares to receive Faith Active in Public Life Award

Feb 14, 2019
Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director

Gail Phares to receive Faith Active in Public Life Award

Each time the Council holds its bi-annual Legislative Seminar, we honor those whose public lives reflect… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report – February 12, 2019

Feb 12, 2019
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Raleigh Report – February 12, 2019

The 2019 Long Session of the General Assembly is now in full swing. As a result… Continue Reading

More Truth About Torture

Jan 22, 2019
Para Drake, NC No Torture Project Coordinator

More Truth About Torture

The decade-long struggle for truth and justice got a welcome boost this weekend with a powerful… Continue Reading

Elections Oversight: No Place for Secrecy

Dec 18, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Elections Oversight: No Place for Secrecy

Update: After this article was written, Gov. Cooper did veto House Bill 1029, as he was urged… Continue Reading

Election Milestone on Path to Change

Nov 8, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Election Milestone on Path to Change

The first thing Gov. Roy Cooper did after he reported for work on Wednesday, Nov. 8,… Continue Reading

Vetting the Vote: North Carolina’s Involvement in Torture

Oct 18, 2018
Para Drake, NC No Torture Project Coordinator

Vetting the Vote: North Carolina’s Involvement in Torture

Every seat in the North Carolina General Assembly is being challenged in the upcoming election. Every… Continue Reading

When It Rains Voter Suppression

Sep 19, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

When It Rains Voter Suppression

It’s a truism that weather affects elections. Yes, many of us would slosh through a downpour… Continue Reading

Power Struggle has them Scrambling

Aug 2, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Power Struggle has them Scrambling

The drive by Republicans who control the N.C. General Assembly to enhance their already formidable power,… Continue Reading

Governor Faces a Squeeze

Jun 28, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Governor Faces a Squeeze

Depending on the context, it could be called poor sportsmanship. Or bullying. Or a flouting of… Continue Reading

Power Push’s Troubling Twists

Jun 22, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Power Push’s Troubling Twists

The current leaders of the North Carolina General Assembly – top members of the state House… Continue Reading

Proposed Tax Amendment Doesn’t Make Cents

Jun 15, 2018
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Proposed Tax Amendment Doesn’t Make Cents

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director Senate Bill 75 is on the move. It would put… Continue Reading

Voter ID Follows Budget Bulldozer

Jun 11, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Voter ID Follows Budget Bulldozer

North Carolina’s new state budget – now on a fast track to final enactment by the… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — May 30, 2018

May 30, 2018
North Carolina Council of Churches

Raleigh Report — May 30, 2018

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director The North Carolina General Assembly re-convened for its 2018 “short… Continue Reading

No More Mottos

May 25, 2018
Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director

No More Mottos

Hours after teachers marched on Raleigh to talk about funding needs for their schools, their students,… Continue Reading

Marching for Schools, and for Children

May 18, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Marching for Schools, and for Children

They suited up in their red t-shirts, hoisted their homemade signs and coursed like a river… Continue Reading

Doing the School-money Shuffle

Apr 30, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Doing the School-money Shuffle

When the N.C. General Assembly convenes on May 16, legislators will be “welcomed” by a throng… Continue Reading

Pray and Vote

Apr 20, 2018
Mary Elizabeth Hanchey, Program Associate for Legislative Advocacy and Interfaith Outreach

Pray and Vote

The North Carolina Council of Churches believes that participating in our democracy is one critical component… Continue Reading

School Districts: Keeping It Together

Apr 13, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

School Districts: Keeping It Together

Public education in North Carolina has its share of challenges, not the least of which has… Continue Reading

Public Schools’ Call to Quality – For All

Apr 2, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Public Schools’ Call to Quality – For All

It was perhaps the N.C. Supreme Court’s finest hour. In 1997, the high court held unanimously… Continue Reading

On the Hot Seat, Where She Belongs

Mar 19, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

On the Hot Seat, Where She Belongs

Ordinary Americans – those of us not allowed to know the secrets of high-level espionage work… Continue Reading

Class Sizes and More: An Awkward Finale

Feb 15, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Class Sizes and More: An Awkward Finale

As the General Assembly wraps up its weirdly timed and generally ill-conceived winter session, it would… Continue Reading

The Commission Came to Town

Feb 13, 2018
Mary Elizabeth Hanchey, Program Associate for Legislative Advocacy and Interfaith Outreach

The Commission Came to Town

Only rarely does the United States Commission on Civil Rights hold hearings outside of Washington D.C.… Continue Reading

With Rights at Stake, Judges Stand Tall

Feb 5, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

With Rights at Stake, Judges Stand Tall

The pattern has become familiar – and a welcome pattern it is, even if brought about… Continue Reading

Looking for Help?

Jan 23, 2018
Mary Elizabeth Hanchey, Program Associate for Legislative Advocacy and Interfaith Outreach

Looking for Help?

The Federal Government of the United States of America shut down at midnight on Friday. It… Continue Reading

Thumbs-up to Fairer Districts

Jan 22, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Thumbs-up to Fairer Districts

Progress in rooting out North Carolina’s gerrymandered voting districts hasn’t always occurred in a straight line.… Continue Reading

U.S. Court: Those Districts Won’t Fly

Jan 12, 2018
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

U.S. Court: Those Districts Won’t Fly

Grand constitutional questions in this country aren’t settled until the Supreme Court has its say, either… Continue Reading

Tax Plan Twist: Churches, Charities, Candidates

Nov 17, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Tax Plan Twist: Churches, Charities, Candidates

With Republicans on Capitol Hill and in the White House desperate to post a big legislative… Continue Reading

GOP’s Goal: A Tilted Bench

Oct 23, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

GOP’s Goal: A Tilted Bench

To the Republicans who run the N.C. General Assembly, the concept of judicial independence – central… Continue Reading

Defenders of Rights; Defenders of Privilege

Sep 30, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Defenders of Rights; Defenders of Privilege

At many levels, Americans are confronting issues of race relations and racial justice with an intensity… Continue Reading

Post-Charlottesville: What Trump Said, and When

Aug 17, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Post-Charlottesville: What Trump Said, and When

When President Trump stepped to a White House lectern on Monday and rebuked the instigators of… Continue Reading

Marching Orders for New Maps

Aug 10, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Marching Orders for New Maps

The three federal judges could have just come right out and said it: The Republicans who… Continue Reading

Rights Advocacy At Risk

Aug 3, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Rights Advocacy At Risk

The optics, as they say, are terrible. But in a state whose motto is “To Be… Continue Reading

Uh-Oh – It’s the Legislature, Again

Jul 27, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Uh-Oh – It’s the Legislature, Again

Better get used to it. The N.C. General Assembly, after an all-too-brief adjournment during July, is… Continue Reading

Doomed Veto Spotlights Budget Flaws

Jun 30, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Doomed Veto Spotlights Budget Flaws

Presented with a new state budget that, whatever its occasional virtues, is mainly about easing tax… Continue Reading

Senate Health Care Plan Released: Would Make the Most Vulnerable More So

Jun 22, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Senate Health Care Plan Released: Would Make the Most Vulnerable More So

Members of the United States Senate have released their proposed health care plan, all 142 pages… Continue Reading

New Budget with Old Agenda Falls Short

Jun 22, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

New Budget with Old Agenda Falls Short

By now the strategy is familiar – the strategy used by the N.C. General Assembly’s Republican… Continue Reading

Senate Health Care Plan — Let’s Keep Calling

Jun 21, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Senate Health Care Plan — Let’s Keep Calling

As the Senate continues its secret deliberations on a health care plan that will effect all… Continue Reading

Thursday, June 15 — NC Health Care Call-in Day

Jun 14, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Thursday, June 15 — NC Health Care Call-in Day

The Council’s commitment to health care as a basic justice issue dates back decades. Significant progress… Continue Reading

Gerrymander Remedy: Redraw, Now

Jun 14, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Gerrymander Remedy: Redraw, Now

The Republicans who took control of North Carolina’s General Assembly with the elections of 2010 were,… Continue Reading

GA’s Budget Proposals — Harmful not Helpful

Jun 12, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

GA’s Budget Proposals — Harmful not Helpful

The General Assembly leaders meeting to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the… Continue Reading

UPDATE — High Court to NC: Draw Those Districts Fairly

Jun 8, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

UPDATE — High Court to NC: Draw Those Districts Fairly

UPDATE In separate, party-line votes on June 8, the state House and Senate rejected Gov. Cooper’s… Continue Reading

Update — GA Takes Up Dangerous Gun Law, June 7

Jun 7, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Update — GA Takes Up Dangerous Gun Law, June 7

Representatives in the General Assembly are scheduled to take up H.B. 746 this afternoon. Calls are… Continue Reading

Gun Bill Advances in GA; National Gun Violence Awareness Day is June 2

Jun 1, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Gun Bill Advances in GA; National Gun Violence Awareness Day is June 2

Consider the shame of the North Carolina General Assembly working to rush through a bill that… Continue Reading

Action Alert: May 31, 2017 — GA May Act on Guns

May 30, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Action Alert: May 31, 2017 — GA May Act on Guns

As was feared, some members of the General Assembly may be bringing back legislation that would… Continue Reading

Lines of Influence: Justices Zap Voting Map

May 25, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Lines of Influence: Justices Zap Voting Map

Following the elections of 2010 – tilted as they were by an intense right-wing pushback against… Continue Reading

For Children, It’s Good News and Bad News from the GA

May 23, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

For Children, It’s Good News and Bad News from the GA

Last week was a mixed bag for children and youth in terms of activity at the… Continue Reading

Budget’s Big Picture: A Crumbling Core

May 19, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Budget’s Big Picture: A Crumbling Core

So, the question as always comes down to one of vision. The elected chieftains who decide… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — May 10, 2017

May 11, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — May 10, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director [For more information on bills, including committee referrals and re-referrals,… Continue Reading

Retiring Judge Stands Tall

Apr 27, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Retiring Judge Stands Tall

As Shakespeare’s King Lear famously put it, “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — April 26, 2017

Apr 27, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — April 26, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director [The deadlines for the introduction of most new bills have… Continue Reading

Faith Leaders: Make Yourselves Heard on Juvenile Justice

Apr 24, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Faith Leaders: Make Yourselves Heard on Juvenile Justice

A change in New York law earlier this month leaves North Carolina alone in a place… Continue Reading

Tax-Cut Fever Threatens Services

Apr 22, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Tax-Cut Fever Threatens Services

How many times do we have to say it? Well, it’s worth repeating – especially in… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — April 21, 2017

Apr 21, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — April 21, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director [For the latest committee referrals and re-referrals, go to the… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — April 17, 2017

Apr 17, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — April 17, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director Newly Introduced Bills BUDGET AND TAXES H 540, Teachers &… Continue Reading

New Push for Broader Medicaid, Better Health

Apr 14, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

New Push for Broader Medicaid, Better Health

North Carolina’s failure under Republican leadership to improve low-income residents’ access to health care via the… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — April 10, 2017

Apr 10, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — April 10, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director Bills are being introduced at a rapid pace as the… Continue Reading

Shock Waves from High Court ‘Nuke’

Apr 8, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Shock Waves from High Court ‘Nuke’

Our national politics are in an ugly place, driven by an accelerating cycle of suspicion, accusation,… Continue Reading

Swallow Hard: H.B. 2’s Less-than-Ideal ‘Repeal’

Apr 1, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Swallow Hard: H.B. 2’s Less-than-Ideal ‘Repeal’

Call it a head-on collision between politics and principle. Is anyone surprised that politics prevailed? Yet… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — March 26, 2017

Mar 26, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — March 26, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director Newly Introduced Bills BUDGET AND TAXATION H 356, Tax Reduction… Continue Reading

GOP Mantra: Party Hearty!

Mar 24, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

GOP Mantra: Party Hearty!

They might not care for the image, but Republican members of the N.C. General Assembly act… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — March 21, 2017

Mar 23, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — March 21, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director Newly Introduced Bills BUDGET AND TAXATION HB 329, Home School… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — March 13, 2017

Mar 14, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — March 13, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director Newly Introduced Bills CRIMINAL AND JUVENILE JUSTICE H 233, Ban… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — March 7, 2017

Mar 7, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — March 7, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director Newly Introduced Bills BUDGET AND TAXES S 147, Reenact School… Continue Reading

H.B. 2 ‘Compromise’ Must Protect Rights

Mar 3, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

H.B. 2 ‘Compromise’ Must Protect Rights

The fight over North Carolina’s House Bill 2 – the law that notoriously stamps the state’s… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — February 28, 2017

Mar 1, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — February 28, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director Newly Introduced Bills ENVIRONMENTAL CARE H 171, Change Exclusion for… Continue Reading

N.C.’s Reckless ‘Party Time’

Feb 25, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

N.C.’s Reckless ‘Party Time’

Politics, at least in a democracy, is competitive. The analogy to sports may be simplistic but… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — February 20, 2017

Feb 20, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — February 20, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director Newly Introduced Bills BUDGET AND TAXES S 75, Constitutional Amendment… Continue Reading

Governor Fights Power Shortage

Feb 17, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Governor Fights Power Shortage

North Carolina’s governor gets to live in a mansion whose handsome property occupies a full city… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — February 15, 2017

Feb 15, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — February 15, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director As the legislative session continues, there’s been a marked increase… Continue Reading

Big Stakes in High Court Pick

Feb 1, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Big Stakes in High Court Pick

Compared with some of the provocatively, even outrageously unsuited people whom President Trump has chosen for… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report — January 31, 2017

Jan 31, 2017
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report — January 31, 2017

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director The 2017 General Assembly has begun its work. Elected in… Continue Reading

Medicaid Push: Cooper’s Strong Start

Jan 20, 2017
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Medicaid Push: Cooper’s Strong Start

For many of us, these are troubling times as Donald Trump ascends to the nation’s highest… Continue Reading

Seeds of Change in a Momentous Year

Dec 31, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Seeds of Change in a Momentous Year

As we watched the egregiously unqualified Donald Trump campaign for and win election to the White… Continue Reading

UPDATE: Raleigh Report — Special GA Session on HB2

Dec 20, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

UPDATE: Raleigh Report — Special GA Session on HB2

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director Updated December 21, 9:50 p.m. Special Session #5 of the… Continue Reading

Post-Election Travesty Targets the Governor

Dec 15, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Post-Election Travesty Targets the Governor

The ugly truth can’t be evaded or denied: North Carolina’s General Assembly, in the grip of… Continue Reading

Wise Leaders Would Answer the Call for Justice and Righteousness

Dec 15, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Wise Leaders Would Answer the Call for Justice and Righteousness

Remarks delivered by Jennifer Copeland at a December 15 press conference in Raleigh on the General… Continue Reading

UPDATE — Urgent Action Required: Let GA Members Hear from You

Dec 15, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

UPDATE — Urgent Action Required: Let GA Members Hear from You

The NC NAACP has called for a People’s Assembly at 4:30 p.m., today, Thursday, December 15,… Continue Reading

Possible Surprises in Upcoming Special Session

Dec 10, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Possible Surprises in Upcoming Special Session

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director The General Assembly returns to town this coming Tuesday, December… Continue Reading

The Path to McCrory’s Last Stand

Dec 9, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

The Path to McCrory’s Last Stand

He and his supporters twisted and turned, wriggled and squirmed. But 27 days after the Nov.… Continue Reading

Maps Again Key to Power, Rights

Dec 5, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Maps Again Key to Power, Rights

No one reading this post is likely to pull a brain muscle describing ways in which… Continue Reading

Plots Thicken in Election’s Aftermath — UPDATED

Nov 18, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Plots Thicken in Election’s Aftermath — UPDATED

Donald Trump’s campaign for the presidency was a waste-pit wallow through a sludge of fear and… Continue Reading

A Troubling Choice, Yet Glimmers of Hope

Nov 11, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

A Troubling Choice, Yet Glimmers of Hope

Those of us aligned with the Council of Churches share a political outlook whose priorities include… Continue Reading

At Campaign Trail’s End, Voters Rule

Oct 27, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

At Campaign Trail’s End, Voters Rule

As the 2016 campaign season grinds along the final stretch toward Election Day on Nov. 8… Continue Reading

Stand Up and Vote

Oct 25, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Stand Up and Vote

So far, our family of five has stood in line, collectively, for five hours and 15… Continue Reading

Voting 2016 – What You Need to Know to Be Sure Your Ballot Counts

Oct 11, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Voting 2016 – What You Need to Know to Be Sure Your Ballot Counts

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director of the NC Council of Churches There has been a… Continue Reading

Trump, Business Values and H.B. 2

Oct 1, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Trump, Business Values and H.B. 2

Donald Trump may strike a populist, anti-big business note a la Bernie Sanders from time to… Continue Reading

Proposed H.B. 2 Deal Falls Short

Sep 19, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Proposed H.B. 2 Deal Falls Short

Who can blame North Carolina’s restaurant and hotel operators for wishing the whole House Bill 2… Continue Reading

Bad Law vs. Big Games

Sep 17, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Bad Law vs. Big Games

When ultra-visible organizations with major economic leverage press for political change, sometimes the right thing to… Continue Reading

Early Voting Draws Support

Sep 9, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Early Voting Draws Support

The folks in North Carolina who want to make it harder rather than easier for people… Continue Reading

Election Maps Under Scrutiny

Aug 12, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Election Maps Under Scrutiny

The Republican Party developed a national strategy to seize and hold legislative power, and in North… Continue Reading

Voting Rights, Redeemed

Aug 5, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Voting Rights, Redeemed

Even for ardent voting rights advocates, there’s little comfort to be gained from a federal appeals… Continue Reading

Governor in the Glare

Jul 29, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Governor in the Glare

There was a time, back in the range of 2008, when Pat McCrory looked as though… Continue Reading

Scrambled Session’s Lows and Highs

Jul 10, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Scrambled Session’s Lows and Highs

The N.C. General Assembly’s 2016 regular session, which drew to a sudden close on July 1,… Continue Reading

Tax Cap’s Enduring Mischief

Jun 30, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Tax Cap’s Enduring Mischief

Sorry for the sugar-coating, but the state Senate’s attempt to enshrine its preferred tax policies in… Continue Reading

Immigrants as Scapegoats — Again

Jun 26, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Immigrants as Scapegoats — Again

There wasn’t a lot to like about what occurred the other day in a state Senate… Continue Reading

Beyond Pulse: Vigilance, Tolerance

Jun 17, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Beyond Pulse: Vigilance, Tolerance

Let’s face it. We, that would be all of us who proudly claim the title of… Continue Reading

The Cost of Making Tax Cuts Permanent

Jun 13, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

The Cost of Making Tax Cuts Permanent

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director of the NC Council of Churches The Senate Finance Committee… Continue Reading

Budgeting that Tests our Values

Jun 3, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Budgeting that Tests our Values

Let’s assume the worst, which for the moment would mean that the N.C. Senate’s version of… Continue Reading

Sour Notes, Again, in Budget Song

May 26, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Sour Notes, Again, in Budget Song

Well, did anyone really expect North Carolina’s General Assembly, in finalizing a new state budget, suddenly… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report: Weekly Update, May 25, 2016

May 25, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report: Weekly Update, May 25, 2016

The update is compiled on a volunteer basis by George Reed, the Council’s retired executive director.… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report Weekly Update: May 17, 2016

May 17, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report Weekly Update: May 17, 2016

The update is compiled on a volunteer basis by George Reed, the Council’s retired executive director.… Continue Reading

Tar Heel Beacon of Tolerance

May 13, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Tar Heel Beacon of Tolerance

Take heart, fair-minded North Carolinians. The state’s not-always-pristine but still vaguely operative image as a place… Continue Reading

Don’t Neglect the June 7 Election

May 4, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Don’t Neglect the June 7 Election

By George Reed, Retired Executive Director of the Council North Carolina has a second primary coming… Continue Reading

Raleigh Report Weekly Update: May 3, 2016

May 3, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report Weekly Update: May 3, 2016

Today, the weekly update from Raleigh Report resumes as a supplement to Steve Ford’s commentary. The… Continue Reading

Voter Suppression Gets a Pass

Apr 29, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Voter Suppression Gets a Pass

A federal judge’s ruling that upholds changes in North Carolina election laws, despite their effect of… Continue Reading

Bathroom Drama’s Many Plots

Apr 21, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Bathroom Drama’s Many Plots

Here’s a funny thing about House Bill 2, the “bathroom bill” (now law) that’s causing North… Continue Reading

Beyond Bathrooms: Jobs, Fairness

Apr 13, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Beyond Bathrooms: Jobs, Fairness

North Carolina’s House Bill 2 – rammed through the General Assembly and signed into law in… Continue Reading

Hurtful Law Sends Signals

Apr 1, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Hurtful Law Sends Signals

Yes, it was a pretty neat trick — one bill that manages to expose many vulnerable… Continue Reading

Making Discrimination Easier in NC

Mar 24, 2016
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Making Discrimination Easier in NC

Almost 24 years ago, leaders of the North Carolina Council of Churches approved a policy statement… Continue Reading

Trump’s Campaign of Us versus Them

Mar 21, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Trump’s Campaign of Us versus Them

If Donald J. Trump successfully concludes his so-far-dominant push to become this year’s Republican presidential nominee,… Continue Reading

District Challengers: ‘Oh, No, You Don’t!’ (Updated)

Mar 7, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

District Challengers: ‘Oh, No, You Don’t!’ (Updated)

After a panel of federal judges threw out North Carolina’s congressional district map because it trampled… Continue Reading

Legislators’ High-Court Switcheroo

Feb 29, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Legislators’ High-Court Switcheroo

After a five-year exercise in seeking to put a lasting stamp on North Carolina government and… Continue Reading

District Drama Spotlights Power, Fairness

Feb 19, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

District Drama Spotlights Power, Fairness

The Republicans who control North Carolina’s General Assembly are determined to draw election-district boundaries favoring their… Continue Reading

Thumbs Down on Racial Gerrymanders

Feb 9, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Thumbs Down on Racial Gerrymanders

With an eye toward the battles over redistricting that have roiled North Carolina politics for the… Continue Reading

Election Changes’ Telltale Timing

Feb 5, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Election Changes’ Telltale Timing

It was just one little comment, perhaps ventured with the flicker of a wry smile. But… Continue Reading

Voter ID on Trial

Jan 29, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Voter ID on Trial

The ongoing legal challenge to North Carolina’s voter ID rule, now playing out before a federal… Continue Reading

Race, Courts and Twisted Districts

Jan 9, 2016
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Race, Courts and Twisted Districts

Few of the decisions made by the men and women of our General Assembly are so… Continue Reading

2015: Our Conservatives Weren’t Kidding

Dec 31, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

2015: Our Conservatives Weren’t Kidding

For those of us who want to see North Carolina governed with the interests of all… Continue Reading

Trump’s Anti-Muslim Bluster

Dec 14, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Trump’s Anti-Muslim Bluster

In the game of bridge, when a trump card is played to win a trick, that’s… Continue Reading

Doing Right by Syria’s Refugees

Nov 21, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Doing Right by Syria’s Refugees

Photo by I. Prickett, UNHCR Against the toxic brew of fear and political opportunism that has… Continue Reading

UNC System’s New Sheriff

Oct 30, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

UNC System’s New Sheriff

The notably dapper Thom Goolsby, member of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, made… Continue Reading

‘We stand adjourned’ – finally!

Oct 3, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

‘We stand adjourned’ – finally!

The senators and representatives who make up North Carolina’s General Assembly let their 2015 session run… Continue Reading

Power Plays, Surprises at Session’s End

Sep 25, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Power Plays, Surprises at Session’s End

These closing weeks, or days, of the General Assembly’s session are sometimes known as the silly… Continue Reading

Budget Struggle’s Bitter End

Sep 17, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Budget Struggle’s Bitter End

The proverbial elephant labored and, against all hopeful expectations, brought forth a mouse. The “elephants” who… Continue Reading

The Odor Around the Lottery

Sep 5, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

The Odor Around the Lottery

When North Carolina legislators by the narrowest of margins 10 years ago approved a state lottery,… Continue Reading

Rule to Harass, or Punish, the Jobless

Aug 24, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Rule to Harass, or Punish, the Jobless

Even while North Carolina was still in the grips of the Great Recession, with thousands of… Continue Reading

Tale of Two Chambers Amid Budget Conflict

Aug 21, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Tale of Two Chambers Amid Budget Conflict

North Carolina has two legislative bodies, the 120-member House of Representatives and the 50-member Senate. They’re… Continue Reading

Protect Us from the ‘Protection Act’

Aug 13, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Protect Us from the ‘Protection Act’

With its misguided “Taxpayer Protection Act” scheme, the state Senate looks to put a crowning touch… Continue Reading

Private School Vouchers, Lax Standards

Aug 1, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Private School Vouchers, Lax Standards

The principle of judicial restraint is a wonderful thing. It helps keep judges – as they… Continue Reading

Tax Cuts, Tax Shifts, Budget Battles

Jul 24, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Tax Cuts, Tax Shifts, Budget Battles

Don’t be surprised if, during the General Assembly’s closed-door negotiations to craft a new state budget,… Continue Reading

Courtroom March for Voting Rights

Jul 20, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Courtroom March for Voting Rights

Republican legislators can hardly get around the fact that their 2013 overhaul of North Carolina election… Continue Reading

Conflicts over Policies, Power, Pride

Jul 9, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Conflicts over Policies, Power, Pride

Regarding the state of affairs within the N.C. General Assembly these days, one little set of… Continue Reading

Voting Rights Sense, in a New Light

Jun 29, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Voting Rights Sense, in a New Light

Over and over, we heard North Carolina’s stringent voter identification law, enacted by the Republican-controlled legislature… Continue Reading

Sad Signals on Tolerance, Rule of Law

Jun 14, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Sad Signals on Tolerance, Rule of Law

Gov. Pat McCrory tried to warn his fellow Republicans who call the tunes in the General… Continue Reading

Veto Overriders Flex Their Muscles

Jun 6, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Veto Overriders Flex Their Muscles

North Carolina’s General Assembly has muddled through many undistinguished moments since conservative Republicans took charge four… Continue Reading

Via Vetoes, McCrory Declares Independence

Jun 3, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Via Vetoes, McCrory Declares Independence

Anticipation of an unpleasant event – gallows humorists usually cite the prospect of being hanged –… Continue Reading

Bills Wink at Polluters, Abusers

May 28, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Bills Wink at Polluters, Abusers

For a boatload of lofty, noble and wise sentiments, look no farther than the opening fanfares… Continue Reading

Republican Budget makes Republicans Fume — Updated

May 21, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Republican Budget makes Republicans Fume — Updated

Let’s admit it – we were fooled. We never realized that the N.C. House of Representatives,… Continue Reading

Revenue Boosts and Tax-cut Boasts

May 16, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Revenue Boosts and Tax-cut Boasts

The rooster crowed. The sun came up. The rooster puffed his feathered chest as he beheld… Continue Reading

When Lawmakers Itch to Execute

May 7, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

When Lawmakers Itch to Execute

The last person to be put to death by the State of North Carolina – in… Continue Reading

At the Legislature, a Fateful Crossing

Apr 30, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

At the Legislature, a Fateful Crossing

With its self-imposed April 30 “crossover” deadline, the General Assembly can sidetrack bills that haven’t gained… Continue Reading

High Court’s Double-Take on Districts

Apr 23, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

High Court’s Double-Take on Districts

There’s certainly no guarantee that the U.S. Supreme Court, in sending North Carolina’s election district scheme… Continue Reading

What Can We Say? An Invitation to Write to George

Apr 21, 2015
Rose Gurkin, Former Program Associate for Administration

What Can We Say? An Invitation to Write to George

George Reed’s retirement luncheon is set for Tuesday, June 2. This is a short five weeks… Continue Reading

Justice Advocates Convene for the Cause

Apr 18, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Justice Advocates Convene for the Cause

The Council of Churches’ Legislative Seminar – its top-profile public event of the year – is… Continue Reading

Tax Cuts’ Costs Becoming Clear

Apr 11, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Tax Cuts’ Costs Becoming Clear

Since taking veto-proof control of the NC General Assembly in the elections of 2012, members of… Continue Reading

Religious Freedom or Using Religion to Justify Discrimination?

Apr 2, 2015
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Religious Freedom or Using Religion to Justify Discrimination?

Discussions in recent days of so-called religious freedom bills in Indiana, Arkansas, and now North Carolina… Continue Reading

North Carolina Redistricting on High Court’s Radar

Apr 2, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

North Carolina Redistricting on High Court’s Radar

“Racial gerrymandering strikes at the heart of our democratic process, undermining the electorate’s confidence in its… Continue Reading

Medicaid Message Packs a Punch

Mar 27, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Medicaid Message Packs a Punch

Call it an exercise in futility? Well, no. There may not be a chance in the… Continue Reading

Universities Take a Hit with Loss of Ross

Mar 20, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Universities Take a Hit with Loss of Ross

Photo by Dan Sears, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The University of North Carolina… Continue Reading

Council Puts Hot Topics on the Table

Mar 16, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Council Puts Hot Topics on the Table

The mission of the NC Council of Churches extends into many areas that highlight the links… Continue Reading

Coming to the Seminar? Bring a Friend!

Mar 11, 2015
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Coming to the Seminar? Bring a Friend!

The Council’s 2015 Legislative Seminar is about a month away, and we have an exciting program… Continue Reading

Mar 3, 2015
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Register for 2015 Legislative Seminar — Updated with Workshops and Presenters

Join us on April 14 at Greenwood Forest Baptist Church in Cary for the Council’s 2015… Continue Reading

Time to Uphold UNC’s Anti-Poverty Mission

Feb 22, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Time to Uphold UNC’s Anti-Poverty Mission

One can say this about UNC-Chapel Hill’s Gene Nichol without fear of contradiction: He doesn’t seem… Continue Reading

Grading the Schools: The Poverty Link

Feb 16, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Grading the Schools: The Poverty Link

The scheme ordered up by the conservatives who hold power in the NC General Assembly to… Continue Reading

Join us for HKonJ 2015

Feb 9, 2015
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Join us for HKonJ 2015

In these challenging days in North Carolina, there is nothing more important for people of faith… Continue Reading

Who Pays When It Comes to Taxes?

Jan 15, 2015
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Who Pays When It Comes to Taxes?

People who are poor pay a greater percentage of their income in taxes than do those… Continue Reading

District Lines Entangle Race, Politics

Jan 6, 2015
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

District Lines Entangle Race, Politics

The Republicans who rule North Carolina’s General Assembly start the new year riding tall in the… Continue Reading

Election Explanations as the Dust Settles

Dec 6, 2014
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Election Explanations as the Dust Settles

North Carolina’s new U.S. senator-in-waiting, state House Speaker Thom Tillis, had what appears to have been… Continue Reading

Expand Medicaid? Now’s the time

Nov 16, 2014
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Expand Medicaid? Now’s the time

The decision last year by the conservatives who control North Carolina’s state government not to expand… Continue Reading

Conservatives, Riding High, Can Heed Cooler Heads

Nov 8, 2014
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Conservatives, Riding High, Can Heed Cooler Heads

There’s no getting around the fact that when North Carolinians went to the polls on Nov.… Continue Reading

Voter Protection Hotline

Oct 31, 2014
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Voter Protection Hotline

We are coming to the end of the time for voting. Early Voting ends this Saturday, November 1.… Continue Reading

Judgeships Crowd Ballot with Bubbles

Oct 24, 2014
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Judgeships Crowd Ballot with Bubbles

For people who enjoy voting, North Carolina’s upcoming election promises to be a real treat. Federal,… Continue Reading

Voter Suppression Highlighted From on High

Oct 15, 2014
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Voter Suppression Highlighted From on High

When thorny constitutional issues are being hashed out in the courts, it’s a fact of life… Continue Reading

Early Voting Map Helps Locate Sites

Oct 9, 2014
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Early Voting Map Helps Locate Sites

Our friends at the NC Conservation Network have created a useful (and nifty) interactive map of… Continue Reading

Judges Give ‘The Full Bill’ Thumbs-Down

Oct 4, 2014
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Judges Give ‘The Full Bill’ Thumbs-Down

October 9, 2014 Update: On October 8, the US Supreme Court handed down the final word… Continue Reading

Where to Go for Voting Info

Sep 30, 2014
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Where to Go for Voting Info

Perhaps the N.C. chapter of Americans for Prosperity was just trying to be helpful when it… Continue Reading

Voting Rights Update for Pastors and Other Faith Leaders

Sep 26, 2014
George Reed, Former Executive Director

Voting Rights Update for Pastors and Other Faith Leaders

November 4 is Election Day. Because of changes in election laws, it is important that people… Continue Reading

Judges Ponder Rules to Vote By

Sep 24, 2014
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Judges Ponder Rules to Vote By

North Carolina’s upcoming general election – Election Day is Nov. 4 – will be the first… Continue Reading

An Election-Year Call to Faith Leaders

Sep 15, 2014
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

An Election-Year Call to Faith Leaders

Our time to choose North Carolina’s 2014 general election will be held on Tuesday, November 4.… Continue Reading

Power Surge Hits Streams, Constitution

Aug 21, 2014
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Power Surge Hits Streams, Constitution

The N.C. General Assembly during its 2014 session – a session so rife with disputes among… Continue Reading

Revenue-starved Budget Rattles and Rolls

Aug 5, 2014
Steve Ford, Volunteer Program Associate

Revenue-starved Budget Rattles and Rolls

The debate is familiar: State government is too big. No, it’s too small. People in the… Continue Reading