Carolina Journal | Carolina Journal Radio

Outgoing Gov. Mike Easley wants the state to speed up work on infrastructure projects to help boost the economy. Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue supports the idea as well. But John Locke Foundation Fiscal Policy Analyst Joe Coletti says there are much more effective ways to stimulate economic growth. He discusses his recommendations, along with ideas for plugging the $1.5 billion to $2 billion gap between projected state tax revenues and planned state spending. Next, the Department of Public Instruction has endured criticism for years because of its testing and accountability program, the ABCs of public education. DPI’s chief academic officer, Rebecca Garland, recently outlined for lawmakers plans to change the testing program. You’ll hear highlights from her presentation. Then JLF Education Policy Analyst Terry Stoops responds to Garland’s presentation and offers his own analysis and ideas for improving public school testing and accountability. That’s followed by a look at North Carolina’s government-mandated coastal property insurance program, known as the Beach Plan, which could set the state up for a “property insurance disaster.” That’s the assessment from Eli Lehrer, senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Lehrer discusses his latest JLF research report and offers recommendations for fixing the flawed Beach Plan. Then we delve into the decision by UNC President Erskine Bowles to appoint a commission to look at student conduct and hate speech. The idea came to fruition following offensive comments about President-elect Barack Obama painted in the N.C. State “Free Expression Tunnel” on election night. While the language was clearly troubling and offensive, some say a possible speech code for university campuses is the last thing North Carolina needs. Jay Schalin of the Pope Center for Higher Education Policy explains why.

History

Since 1991, Carolina Journal – the monthly newspaper of the John Locke Foundation – has provided thousands of readers with in-depth reporting, informed analysis, and incisive commentary about the most pressing state and local issues in North Carolina. With a particular emphasis on state government, politics, the General Assembly, education, and local government, Carolina Journal has offered unique insights and ideas to the public policy debate.

Its related newsletter, Carolina Journal Weekly Report, delivers timely news and analysis by fax and email. And its popular web site, Carolina Journal.com, serves as a “one-stop shop” for elected officials, government leaders, journalists, lobbyists, and political insiders who visit every day to read exclusive stories, commentaries, and daily news links to the best reporting and commentary in the North Carolina print and broadcast media.

Now Carolina Journal’s trademark blend of news, analysis, and commentary is available on the airwaves as Carolina Journal Radio.

A weekly, one-hour newsmagazine, Carolina Journal Radio is hosted by Donna Martinez and Mitch Kokai and features a diverse mix of guests and topics. Education reform, tax policy, the state legislature, affirmative action, air pollution, freedom of the press and the courts – these are just a few of the subjects that Carolina Journal Radio has tackled since the program began production in 2003.

Currently broadcast each weekend on 20 commercial radio stations – from the mountains to the coast – Carolina Journal Radio is a one-of-a-kind program that seeks to inform and elevate the discussion of North Carolina most critical issues, and to do so in a fair, entertaining, and thought-provoking way.

Carolina Journal Radio Podcast

New for 2006, Carolina Journal Radio is now available as a podcast, for listening directly on your computer, or synching to a portable MP3 player, such as an iPod. You will need a podcast application, such as iTunes (available for Windows and Mac OS X) to access the podcast. New episodes will be posted the week after they air on the radio.

If you are using iTunes, you can subscribe to the podcast via this direct link to CJ Radio at the iTunes Music Store. To subscribe to the podcast with another application: right-click on the orange feed icon, copy the link, and paste it into the subscription field of your podcasting software (in iTunes, go to the "Advanced" menu and select "Subscribe to Podcast").

For More Information

The program is a co-production of the John Locke Foundation and Carolina Broadcasting Systems Inc., both based in Raleigh. Inquiries about guests and topics should be directed to the Locke Foundation at 919-828-3876. Inquiries about the show’s production, distribution, and advertising opportunities should be directed to Carolina Broadcasting at 919-832-1416.

Listeners who would like to receive a weekly email containing advance notice of upcoming Carolina Journal Radio guests and topics should email Mitch Kokai.

Where to Hear the Program

Stay tuned for upcoming announcements of additional stations joining the network.

Interested North Carolinians can also subscribe to a monthly tape or CD containing two full-length episodes of Carolina Journal Radio. It’s a great way to catch up on programs listeners may have missed or for those without a local affiliate to listen to the show. Contact Mitch Kokai for more information.

Carolina Journal Radio

This week's program

History

Carolina Journal Radio Podcast

For More Information

Where to Hear the Program