Carolina Journal Radio No. 751: High Point proceeds with controversial baseball plan

High Point plans to move forward with a taxpayer-funded downtown baseball stadium, despite concerns from some Guilford County commissioners. Julie Tisdale, John Locke Foundation city and county policy analyst, analyzes the latest developments in the debate over devoting tax dollars to baseball in the Triad city. Division and debate cropped up to a greater degree than normal in a recent meeting of the University of North Carolina system’s Board of Governors. The fractious meeting had been sparked by concerns over the way board leaders and system President Margaret Spellings handled a controversy surrounding the Chapel Hill campus’s “Silent Sam” Confederate statue. Disgruntled board members put forward a series of resolutions creating new committees to study Spellings’ administrative team, a potential move of that team out of Chapel Hill, and the future of tuition and fees at UNC campuses. You’ll hear highlights from the discussion. Members of the N.C. House have been debating the possibility of redrawing judicial election maps across the state. Rep. Justin Burr, R-Stanly, explains why he promotes the idea. You’ll also hear from Rep. Rodney Moore, D-Mecklenburg, who wants to take more time to study the issue. As lawmakers consider the first statewide revision of judicial election districts in 60 years, judges are offering their own comments. District Court Judges Athena Brooks and Robert Stiehl and Superior Court Judge Joe Crosswhite offered public testimony during a recent hearing on judicial redistricting. You’ll hear highlights from their remarks. North Carolina’s state government collected more revenue than expected and spent less money than expected for the third year in a row. That’s great news. But Joseph Coletti, John Locke Foundation senior fellow for fiscal policy, explains why lawmakers need to shore up their support for spending restraint to avoid future problems.