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<title>Press Releases</title>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases</link>
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<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jan 2016 07:22:55 EST</pubDate>
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<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jan 2016 07:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=784</link>
<title>More than 280,000 N.C. students choose charter, private, homeschools</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to  Dr. Terry Stoops discussing National School Choice Week.

RALEIGH -- As North Carolina nears the 20th anniversary of the law that opened the door to public...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2015 07:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=783</link>
<title>Move from depreciation to expensing would improve N.C. tax code</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Dr. Roy Cordato discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- North Carolina lawmakers should take aim at the state&amp;#039;s current system of depreciation, as...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2015 07:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=782</link>
<title>Reforms boost N.C. business tax rank from No. 44 to No. 15</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- Recent historic tax reforms have helped North Carolina jump from No. 44 to No. 15 in the Tax Foundation&amp;#039;s annual ranking of state business climates. A new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report focuses on the reforms that attracted the Tax Foundation&amp;#039;s attention.

&amp;quot;North Carolina is on the right path to...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 6 Nov 2015 07:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=781</link>
<title>New tool could help address multibillion-dollar N.C. regulatory burden</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Jon Sanders discussing this Policy Report.

RALEIGH -- Regulation costs already reach at least $3.1 billion annually in North Carolina and might stretch to as...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 7 Oct 2015 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=780</link>
<title>Largest N.C. cities promised $65 million in incentives over five years</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Sarah Curry discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- North Carolina&amp;#039;s largest cities dealt with nearly 240 economic development contracts and...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2015 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=777</link>
<title>Former Gov. Jim Martin to discuss new biography Oct. 6 in Raleigh</title>
<description><![CDATA[NOT FOR PUBLICATION: Former Gov. Jim Martin and biographer John Hood will be available for media interviews in connection with this event. Contact Mitch Kokai for details. 

RALEIGH -- Former Gov. Jim Martin will discuss on Tuesday, Oct. 6, in Raleigh a new biography detailing his &amp;quot;essential but underappreciated&amp;quot; role in N.C. Republicans&amp;#039; recent electoral success.  

The 5:30...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2015 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=776</link>
<title>New biography documents Jim Martin&amp;#039;s role in N.C. GOP success</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to John Hood discussing Catalyst.

RALEIGH -- Republicans&amp;#039; recent success in North Carolina politics can be traced in many ways to the example set by Jim Martin. That&amp;#039;s...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2015 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=775</link>
<title>Charlotte maintains top spot in latest JLF tax burden list</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- Charlotte finds itself in the familiar position of leading North Carolina&amp;#039;s largest cities in the John Locke Foundation&amp;#039;s annual ranking of local tax-and-fee burdens. 

Residents of the Queen City and the rest of North Carolina are learning about the rankings later than normal this year, thanks to a...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 6 Aug 2015 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=774</link>
<title>Obamacare enrollment shows evidence of &amp;#039;adverse selection&amp;#039;</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Katherine Restrepo discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- Flaws built into the Affordable Care Act are leading to an older, sicker mix of insurance...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 9 Jul 2015 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=773</link>
<title>N.C. counties promised $284 million in incentives over five years</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Sarah Curry discussing this Policy Report.

RALEIGH -- N.C. counties entered into incentives contracts totaling nearly $284 million from 2009 to 2014,...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2015 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=772</link>
<title>JLF budget tool would free up $383 million for next N.C. budget</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- North Carolina state budget writers would have more money available for tax reduction, higher per-child tax credits, or additions to state savings reserves, if they adopt a budget technique used in a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report. 

The report identifies savings that would lead to a General...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 4 Jun 2015 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=771</link>
<title>Misleading report fails to hide N.C. renewable mandate costs</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Jon Sanders discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- A report from a renewable energy industry group fails in its goal of deflecting attention away...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 3 Jun 2015 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=770</link>
<title>Repeal certificate-of-need law to boost N.C. health care supply</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Katherine Restrepo discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- North Carolina lawmakers can boost patient choice, put downward pressure on health care costs, and...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 1 Jun 2015 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=769</link>
<title>Repealing Map Act would pave way for new transportation planning path</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Jon Guze discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- Full-scale repeal offers the only solution for N.C. legislators to fix all problems tied to the state&amp;#039;s Map...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2015 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=768</link>
<title>JLF budget plan emphasizes savings, fiscal discipline</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Sarah Curry discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- North Carolina state government would boost its savings reserves and set aside more money for...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 6 May 2015 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=765</link>
<title>Extending, expanding targeted incentives would harm N.C. growth</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Dr. Roy Cordato discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- North Carolina lawmakers would harm, not help, the state&amp;#039;s economic growth if they extend...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2015 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=764</link>
<title>New N.C. department makes sense for IT, not for veterans affairs</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Sarah Curry discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- Gov. Pat McCrory&amp;#039;s proposal to establish a new state government department for information...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 9 Apr 2015 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=763</link>
<title>Voluntary certification should replace most N.C. state licensing</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Jon Sanders discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- North Carolina could promote job creation, lower consumer prices, and boost...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 5 Mar 2015 07:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=762</link>
<title>Governor&amp;#039;s budget focuses on priorities, keeps state spending in check</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- Gov. Pat McCrory&amp;#039;s new $21.5 billion General Fund spending plan would focus government resources on education and other high-priority items, without reversing important elements of the state&amp;#039;s sweeping 2013 tax reform plan.

&amp;quot;This budget meets the needs of a growing system of public schools by directing millions of dollars for enrollment increases and classroom resources,&amp;quot; said Dr....]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 2 Mar 2015 07:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=761</link>
<title>FCC made mistake in lifting N.C. municipal broadband restrictions</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- The Federal Communications Commission made a mistake when it approved the city of Wilson&amp;#039;s petition to overturn a North Carolina law limiting municipal broadband services. A new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report explains why.

Based on official comments JLF submitted to the FCC in 2014, the new...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 9 Feb 2015 07:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=759</link>
<title>N.C. ranks No. 23 in freedom nationwide, No. 5 within Southeast</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Dr. Terry Stoops discussing the new First in Freedom Index.

RALEIGH -- North Carolina ranks No. 23 among the 50 states, and No. 5 among Southeastern states, in...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2015 07:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=758</link>
<title>Local grants better than N.C. tax credits for historic preservation</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Sarah Curry discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- North Carolina lawmakers made the right decision when they ended state historic preservation tax credits....]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2014 07:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=757</link>
<title>JLF promotes Swanson to president and CEO as 25th anniversary approaches</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- As the John Locke Foundation prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary with new programs and initiatives, the free-market think tank is also announcing the promotion of Executive Vice President Kory Swanson to the post of president and CEO. 

Longtime president John Hood is taking a new job as president of the John William Pope Foundation, a Raleigh-based grantmaker, but will remain...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=756</link>
<title>Latest jobs report yields &amp;#039;excellent&amp;#039; news for North Carolina </title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- The latest federal employment report delivers excellent news for North Carolina. That&amp;#039;s the assessment from the John Locke Foundation&amp;#039;s chairman, who notes that state employers added 14,000 new jobs in September. That means a net employment gain of 108,500 over the past year.

&amp;quot;That&amp;#039;s a year-over-year growth rate of 2.7 percent, far higher than the national average of 1.9 percent,...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=755</link>
<title>N.C. can build on economic momentum with capital gains tax cut</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Dr. Roy Cordato discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- North Carolina can continue the positive economic momentum of its recent tax reforms...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=754</link>
<title>Fracking fluid consists almost entirely of water, sand</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Jon Sanders discussing this policy report.

RALEIGH -- Roughly 99 percent of the fluid used in the hydraulic fracturing process consists of water and sand....]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 20 Aug 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=753</link>
<title>New N.C. budget sets better course for future spending plans </title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Sarah Curry discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- Legislators have raised teacher pay, set aside money for potential Medicaid cost overruns, and made a...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=752</link>
<title>Report cuts through hype and details facts of fracking</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Jon Sanders discussing this policy report.

RALEIGH -- How safe is fracking? Does it contaminate water? Use too much water? Use secret chemicals? As...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=751</link>
<title>Block grants, tax credits would help improve N.C. Medicaid</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Katherine Restrepo discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- Converting the federal portion of North Carolina&amp;#039;s Medicaid program into an annual block...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=750</link>
<title>N.C. lawmakers should make history, scrap e-cigarette tax</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Sarah Curry discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- North Carolina lawmakers should &amp;quot;make history&amp;quot; by becoming the first legislative body to repeal a...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=749</link>
<title>Wilmington keeps No. 4 spot in annual N.C. tax burden ranking</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- Local taxes and fees in Wilmington topped $2,195 per person in the 2012 budget year, according to a new John Locke Foundation report. That total placed Wilmington at No. 4 for the second straight year in a ranking of the state&amp;#039;s larger cities.

Charlotte bumped Mooresville out of the top...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=748</link>
<title>Chapel Hill, Durham, and Cary in top 10 for N.C. local tax burdens</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- Local taxes and fees topped $2,315 per person in Chapel Hill during the 2012 budget year, as the Orange County town dropped from No. 2 to No. 3 among North Carolina&amp;#039;s largest municipalities in per capita local government costs. 

Durham ($2,111) dropped one spot to No. 6, and Cary ($1,951) maintained its No. 9 ranking in the John Locke Foundation&amp;#039;s annual ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=747</link>
<title>Greensboro drops, Winston-Salem, High point climb on tax burden list</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- Local taxes and fees topped $1,900 per person in Greensboro during the 2012 budget year, a total that helped the city drop nine spots to No. 17 in a ranking of North Carolina&amp;#039;s largest communities. High Point ($1,947) moved up two spots to No. 10, while Winston-Salem ($1,808) climbed one spot to No. 21, according to a new John Locke Foundation ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=746</link>
<title>Rocky Mount maintains No. 26 rank in annual tax burden list</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- Local taxes and fees in Rocky Mount totaled about $1,569 per person in the 2012 budget year. The city ranked No. 26 out of North Carolina&amp;#039;s 35 largest ranked cities in local government costs per person, according to a new John Locke Foundation report. Wilson, at $1,916 per person,...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=745</link>
<title>New Bern drops, Kinston climbs in annual tax burden ranking</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- Local taxes and fees in New Bern totaled about $1,530 per person in the 2012 budget year, and the city dropped three spots to No. 28 on a list ranking North Carolina&amp;#039;s largest cities based on their per-person local government costs, according to a new John Locke Foundation ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=744</link>
<title>Catawba tumbles to No. 76 in annual tax-and-fee burden list</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- Catawba County ranks No. 76 in the state in the amount of local taxes and fees residents pay, when that amount is expressed as a share of their income. Catawba dropped 46 spots from No. 30 in the latest edition of a new John Locke Foundation report. 

Hickory&amp;#039;s local tax-and-fee...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=743</link>
<title>Greenville ranks among most frugal in N.C. tax burden list</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- Local taxes and fees in Greenville totaled $1,464 per person in the 2012 budget year, ranking the city No. 30 out of 35 larger North Carolina cities, according to a new John Locke Foundation report.

A technical revision has led to significant changes in Greenville&amp;#039;s ranking. The report...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=742</link>
<title>Fayetteville holds fourth-lowest ranking in JLF tax burden list</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- Local taxes and fees in Fayetteville totaled $1,338 per resident in the 2012 budget year, according to a new John Locke Foundation report. Fayetteville ranked No. 32 among North Carolina&amp;#039;s 35 largest cities in local government costs per person. Sanford ($1,660) ranked no....]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=741</link>
<title>Charlotte regains top spot on annual N.C. tax-and-fee burden list</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- After a one-year dip, Charlotte regains the top spot on the John Locke Foundation&amp;#039;s annual list of larger N.C. cities with the highest local government costs per person. Mooresville, which had ended Charlotte&amp;#039;s 11-year run at No. 1 last year, drops to No. 2 in the latest list.
...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=740</link>
<title>Asheville tax burden holds steady at No. 7 in annual N.C. ranking</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- Local taxes and fees in Asheville totaled about $2,078 per resident in the 2012 budget year, ranking the city No. 7 out of North Carolina&amp;#039;s largest ranked cities, according to a new John Locke Foundation report. Asheville also ranked No. 7 in 2011.

Asheville trailed Charlotte, Mooresville,...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=739</link>
<title>Charlotte reclaims top spot in annual JLF tax burden list</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- Eight of North Carolina&amp;#039;s largest cities now have annual local tax-and-fee burdens topping $2,000 per person. Charlotte regains its No. 1 statewide ranking among the largest cities, with a local government bill of $2,379 per person. That&amp;#039;s according to a new John Locke Foundation ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=738</link>
<title>Latest jobs reports show strong growth in North Carolina </title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- The latest federal employment data for North Carolina show positive signs of economic recovery, despite an increase in the state&amp;#039;s official unemployment rate for May. That&amp;#039;s the assessment from John Locke Foundation President John Hood.

North Carolina&amp;#039;s official unemployment rate for May was 6.4 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That rate is up 0.2...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=737</link>
<title>JLF budget tool would generate $667 million for teacher raises, surplus</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Sarah Curry discussing this Spotlight report. 

RALEIGH -- North Carolina state budget writers would have more flexibility to fund teacher...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 2 Jun 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=736</link>
<title>JLF&amp;#039;s Agenda 2014 helps advance liberty, prosperity, growth</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Dr. Roy Cordato discussing Agenda 2014.

RALEIGH -- Building on positive reforms from the past few years, North Carolina&amp;#039;s elected leaders can take more steps...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=735</link>
<title>Senate budget shifts money from lower priorities to boost teacher pay</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- The proposed N.C. Senate budget plan would shift money away from lower priorities to meet the goal of raising public school teacher pay across the state. John Locke Foundation experts reviewing the $21.2 billion plan for 2014-15 like the Senate&amp;#039;s focus on spending existing revenue more efficiently.

&amp;quot;In the not-too-distant past, a plan to raise teacher pay or fund another major...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 20 May 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=734</link>
<title>Academic research shows N.C. education reforms moving in the right direction</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Dr. Terry Stoops discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- A survey of nearly 900 academic studies from the past quarter-century shows North Carolina...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 14 May 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=733</link>
<title>Governor&amp;#039;s budget plan covers top priorities without leaving N.C. in the red</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- Gov. Pat McCrory&amp;#039;s proposed $20.99 billion General Fund budget for 2014-15 would cover the state&amp;#039;s top priorities with a modest spending increase, while ensuring that an expected revenue shortfall does not create a long-term budget hole. John Locke Foundation experts offer that assessment after perusing the budget plan McCrory unveiled today.

&amp;quot;The 1.7 percent increase over the...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=732</link>
<title>Haywood would create new hurdle for local businesses with 50 percent tax hike</title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to Sarah Curry discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- Haywood County would place its local hospitality businesses at a competitive disadvantage with those in...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=731</link>
<title>Latest employment data bolster case for fiscally conservative N.C. approach</title>
<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH -- The latest federal employment data for North Carolina support the case that a fiscally conservative approach to state fiscal policy is helping improve the economy&amp;#039;s long-term outlook. That&amp;#039;s the assessment from John Locke Foundation President John Hood.

North Carolina&amp;#039;s official unemployment rate for March was 6.3 percent, according to data released this morning from the U.S. Bureau...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 15 Apr 2014 07:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<link>http://johnlocke.org/press_releases/display_story.html?id=730</link>
<title>Academic research backs N.C. reforms reducing tax, regulatory burdens </title>
<description><![CDATA[Click here to view and here to listen to John Hood discussing this Spotlight report.

RALEIGH -- The past quarter-century of academic scholarship suggests state and local officials can promote economic...]]></description>
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