October 23, 2025
Commentary/Opinion
Why I Teach: A Story Of Heart Over Hype
By Dr. Ken Robol At Johnston Community College, we may not have the deep pockets or shiny new buildings of larger institutions like Wake Tech — but what we do…
You Decide: Is It Code Red For The Economy?
By Mike Walden Recently, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released its quarterly GDP report, the first of the year and the first during the new Trump administration. Normally, this…
National Police Week: Supporting Law Enforcement
National Police Week is May 11 – 17, 2025 By: A.Z Williams As someone who has been in public safety for 35 years, I appreciate the acknowledgement and homage paid…
Opinion: Carolinians Still Make Lots Of Stuff
By John Hood RALEIGH — You’ve heard it as often as I have: “we don’t make things here anymore.” It reflects the widespread belief that domestic manufacturing and other goods-producing…
Opinion: Agriculture Faces Severe Labor Shortage
By John Hood RALEIGH — Recessions hurt. North Carolina’s headline unemployment rate hit 11.2% during the peak of the Great Recession in 2010. During the COVID-era Great Suppression of 2020,…
Opinion: Higher Costs Threaten Housing Affordability
By John Hood RALEIGH — Few states are adding housing stock more quickly than our state — but far too many North Carolinians struggle to find reasonably priced residences to…
You Decide: Who Controls The Federal Reserve?
By Mike Walden One of my favorite topics, both when I was teaching at NC State University and now as I continue to speak to various groups, is the Federal…
Letter To Editor: Life Jackets Save Lives, But Only If They Are Worn
A close call on Holt’s Lake in Johnston County is a reminder of how important it is to wear a life jacket. Two people jumped into the water to rescue…
Opinion: Andrew Jackson Was No Protectionist
By John Hood RALEIGH — Shortly before Donald Trump’s return to the White House, staffers made sure to rehang an Andrew Jackson portrait that Joe Biden had removed. Trump described…
You Decide: Can We ‘Have It All?’
By Mike Walden After earlier jobs in the private sector (furniture) and the government sector (local and federal), I found my ultimate career in teaching. As I look back, I…
Opinion: Why North Carolinians Downsized Governors
By John Hood RALEIGH — There are many critters designated by law to symbolize North Carolina. For example, we have an official state bird (red cardinal), reptile (eastern box turtle),…
You Decide: Why Are Recession Fears Back?
By Mike Walden There’s a word most economists — indeed, most people — don’t want to hear, and it begins with an “r.” I’ll give you a 5-second countdown to…
