For those of us who’ve grown up around the Queen City, she’s only gotten more beautiful with age. The Southern capital of banking has become a premier hub for technology, energy and finance, complete with the fifth-highest major city population boom in the country. That’s led to a more diverse and inclusive economy, but also higher costs of […]
NC Reps push for alcohol provision during RNC
“Extending the ‘Last Call’ time would be up to the individual businesses, and would be a huge boom, for modernization of our state’s alcohol policy. Not only would clubs, bars, and restaurants have more flexibility, but consumers would also have a bigger range of options to choose from, and that could finally provide an incentive […]
End North Carolina’s archaic monopoly on liquor sales
When it comes to alcohol policy, North Carolina is more an outlier than exemplar. Though ours is among 17 states with an alcohol control system, where the state retains monopoly control of part of the alcohol trade, it stands out as one of the most restrictive. Private liquor stores are banned, prices are fixed, and […]
How the Carolinas could suffer from Trump’s tariffs
In the last election and on the global stage, President Donald Trump talked tough on trade. It’s us versus them and we’re losing, he says. Put simply, he views the current trade deficit, when we import more from a country than we export to it, as detrimental to American jobs. Since January, that trade deficit […]
N.C. alcohol rules should join the 21st century
Imagine you’re prepping a dinner party for 10 friends. You pull out your smartphone and fill your Amazon shopping cart with the best meats, vegetables and delectable cheeses. Then, a bottle of Californian Cabernet Sauvignon pops up as a recommendation. You read the reviews, scope out pictures of the winery, and add to cart. Finally, […]
Why should banks pay taxes while credit unions get a break?
In Springfield, Missouri in August, President Donald Trump laid out the core motivation of his comprehensive tax plan: fairness. If Congress and the administration are serious about making America’s tax structure fairer, their first action should be to end the free ride enjoyed by large credit unions at the expense of banks and taxpayers. While […]
Let’s get real about N.C.’s alcohol laws (including the drinking age)
North Carolina can no longer afford its Temperance-era alcohol laws. Across the state, a new generation of beer entrepreneurs are giving the Tar Heel State some much needed pride. Worth over $1.2 billion, our craft beer industry is boosting North Carolina’s position as the fastest-growing economy in the Southeast. But if we want to expand […]
The North Carolina That I Call Home
Without so much as a care, my family moved to North Carolina from the French-speaking Canadian province of Québec when I was a 5-year-old lad. The reason for our move was purely economic, and it has affected our lives for the better in innumerable ways. We learned all about the quirks of southern living and […]
DNC: Charlotte ‘convention bump’ enough to help Democrats’ uphill battle in NC?
By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org CHARLOTTE — The whole point of a Democratic Convention in North Carolina was to support President Barack Obama‘s effort to capture the state’s critical 15 electoral votes. But a funny thing happened on the way to Charlotte: the popular local Democrats who might show up at the president’s side — lending him their credibility […]
Little Hollywood: Military Access, Incentives Drive N.C. Film Industry
Military access, incentives drive N.C. film industry The cities of Belmont and Gastonia can boast of their role in an award-winning television series. Broadcast on the cable network Showtime, the series “Homeland” won two awards at this year’s Golden Globe Awards, one for best actress and another for best drama series. The local connection stems […]