Carolina Journal Radio No. 729: One coastal N.C. county cuts off new solar projects

One coastal North Carolina county is fed up with solar energy operations. Currituck County commissioners have enacted a moratorium on new solar operations. Carolina Journal recently highlighted the commissioners’ concerns. Editor-in-Chief Rick Henderson highlights key points from the Carolina Journal report. Some advocates are pushing North Carolina to engage in “mens rea” reform. “Mens rea” is Latin for “guilty mind.” The idea is that some state laws – especially those linked to regulations –  do not specify that a person should have an intent to do harm before they can be charged with a crime. Joe Luppino-Esposito, policy analyst for Right on Crime and the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, explains how North Carolinians would benefit from a clearer application of “mens rea” in the state’s law books. Retailers and consumer advocates are speaking out against the proposed border-adjustment tax under discussion now on Capitol Hill. You’ll hear highlights from a recent news conference on the topic. It featured leaders of the N.C. Retail Merchants Association and Americans for Prosperity, along with the CEO of discount retailer Variety Wholesalers. Those who want North Carolina to reform is electoral redistricting process continue to make their case to state lawmakers. A bipartisan group within the N.C. House filed a bill again this year to change the current process, which allows legislators to draw the maps for their own elections and for congressional races. You’ll hear why both Republicans and Democrats are supporting reform. A national news publication recently recognized North Carolina’s best high schools. The top five were all schools of choice. Terry Stoops, John Locke Foundation vice president for research, assesses the significance of the U.S. News and World Report ranking for the state’s growing school choice movement.