Question to John Hood and Chris – After nine consecutive weeks of decline North Carolina’s initial unemployment claims have risen for two consecutive weeks. The unemployment rate for our state increased from 6.5 percent in August to 7.3 percent in September. What does this tell you about our economy?

Question to Dennis Wicker and Anna Beavon Gravely - North Carolina had more than 14,000 new cases in one week, the highest numbers of death in a single day and the highest number of covid hospitalizations since the virus started. Rather than ease restrictions or even tighten then Governor Cooper announced we were remaining in Phase three. Did he do the right thing?

NC SPIN episode # 1145 Air Date 10/23/2020

Topics:
The overview
The House of Representatives
The Senate

Panelists:
Anna Beavon Gravely, Executive Director NC Free
Dennis Wicker, former Lt. Governor of NC
John Hood, syndicated columnist and author
Chris Fitzsimon, Direct States Newsroom
Tom Campbell, Moderator

This week Tom Campbell discusses the financial impact small towns are feeling from lost revenue due to the Coronavirus.

Question to John Hood and Chris Fitzsimon – The Census ended Thursday after the Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration in halting it. North Carolina’s population is undercounted according to Carolina Demography Center at UNC. An undercount of 3 percent could cost our state $4.9 billion over 10 years. What’s your reaction to this news?

Question to Peg O’Connell and Patrick Sebastian – The State Department of Motor Vehicles is moving its headquarters to Rocky Mount in December. It is part of a movement to decentralize state offices across the state. About one-third of the current emmployees have chosen not to make the move. Whatdo you think of the idea of decentralizing state government from Raleigh?

NC SPIN episode #1144 Air Date 10/16/2020

Topics:
The elections
Appellate court races
Council of State
Tell Us Something We Don’t Know

Panelists:
Patrick Sebastian, communications consultant
Peg O’Connell, political analyst
Chris Fitzsimon, Director, States Newsroom
John Hood, syndicated columnist and author
Tom Campbell, Moderator

This week Tom Campbell discusses the importance of selecting judges and learning a little about the candidates, instead of just picking names at random.

Question to John Hood and Rob Schofield – The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Duke Energy might be a candidate for acquisition by Florida’s NextEra Energy, which has a market value about twice as much as Duke. What’s your reaction to a potential acquisition of Duke? Will it help or hurt customers? Will it create too large a monopoly?

Question to Donna Martinez and Rufus Edmisten – In July 30 percent of North Carolina adults with children reported that they were behind in their rent or mortgage payments and could not afford enough food for their families, according to the census bureau. Congress has been unable to come up with more relief funds. What should be done to help these families struggling in this time?