Carolina Journal Radio No. 752: Placing new AP, SAT scores in context

North Carolina public school students saw gains in the past year in both Advanced Placement courses and SAT scores. Terry Stoops, John Locke Foundation vice president for research, examines the data. Stoops explains whether the latest numbers represent unqualified good news. The Trump administration has talked about achieving energy dominance. Daniel Fine, associate director of the New Mexico Center for Energy Policy and senior policy analyst for the New Mexico State Department of Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources, assesses the Trump team’s proposals. Fine explains whether the United States is capable of meeting those goals. Among the ideas the University of North Carolina system’s Board of Governors wants to pursue is a renewed focus on reducing tuition and fee burdens for students. You’ll hear highlights from a recent BOG debate about the issue. North Carolina has achieved major economic gains in recent years, but those gains often have gone unreported as media outlets have focused on political infighting. Donald Bryson, N.C. state director of Americans for Prosperity, explains why his group is drawing attention to the economic gains through a program dubbed NC Real Solutions. The Carolina Beach Town Council recently earned kudos from the John Locke Foundation’s city and county policy analyst. Julie Tisdale says she was happy to see local leaders debating whether the town places too many restrictions on construction and use of accessory buildings. Tisdale says Carolina Beach already has taken positive steps to loosen rules regarding the height and size of those structures. She’s waiting to see how the town will address rules limiting use of accessory buildings for apartments or rental units.