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Commentary Archives • NC NewslineSixteen years without a minimum wage hike is way too longPhoto: Clayton Henkel
Over the last 87 years – particularly during the 20th Century – few innovations in the American economy have done more to lift up average people than the minimum wage.
As it was first conceived and applied, the federal minimum wage law assured that a person who worked full-time was paid enough to support their family. And for many decades, the minimum wage actually worked that way.
Unfortunately, in recent decades—thanks to opposition from the political right – the federal minimum wage has remained mired at the absurdly inadequate level of seven dol...2025-07-2501 min
The Bottom Line from NC NewslineSixteen years without a minimum wage hike is way too longPhoto: Clayton Henkel
Over the last 87 years – particularly during the 20th Century – few innovations in the American economy have done more to lift up average people than the minimum wage.
As it was first conceived and applied, the federal minimum wage law assured that a person who worked full-time was paid enough to support their family. And for many decades, the minimum wage actually worked that way.
Unfortunately, in recent decades—thanks to opposition from the political right – the federal minimum wage has remained mired at the absurdly inadequate level of seven dol...2025-07-2501 minPodcasts Archives • NC NewslineSixteen years without a minimum wage hike is way too longPhoto: Clayton Henkel
Over the last 87 years – particularly during the 20th Century – few innovations in the American economy have done more to lift up average people than the minimum wage.
As it was first conceived and applied, the federal minimum wage law assured that a person who worked full-time was paid enough to support their family. And for many decades, the minimum wage actually worked that way.
Unfortunately, in recent decades—thanks to opposition from the political right – the federal minimum wage has remained mired at the absurdly inadequate level of seven dol...2025-07-2501 minPodcasts Archives • NC NewslineFailure of property tax relief bills highlights folly of GOP fiscal policies(Photo: Clayton Henkel)
North Carolina Republican lawmakers’ mad rush to slash income taxes on corporation and the wealthy in recent years has produced many disastrous impacts. See, for example, our threadbare and crumbling public schools.
But there’s another big and negative impact: the effect on property taxes.
Thanks to fast rising home prices, there’s a growing need to update and raise property tax exemptions for seniors and other homeowners on fixed incomes so they’re not forced out of their homes.
Unfortunately, because of plummeting income tax revenues...2025-07-2201 minCommentary Archives • NC NewslineFailure of property tax relief bills highlights folly of GOP fiscal policies(Photo: Clayton Henkel)
North Carolina Republican lawmakers’ mad rush to slash income taxes on corporation and the wealthy in recent years has produced many disastrous impacts. See, for example, our threadbare and crumbling public schools.
But there’s another big and negative impact: the effect on property taxes.
Thanks to fast rising home prices, there’s a growing need to update and raise property tax exemptions for seniors and other homeowners on fixed incomes so they’re not forced out of their homes.
Unfortunately, because of plummeting income tax revenues...2025-07-2201 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineFailure of property tax relief bills highlights folly of GOP fiscal policies(Photo: Clayton Henkel)
North Carolina Republican lawmakers’ mad rush to slash income taxes on corporation and the wealthy in recent years has produced many disastrous impacts. See, for example, our threadbare and crumbling public schools.
But there’s another big and negative impact: the effect on property taxes.
Thanks to fast rising home prices, there’s a growing need to update and raise property tax exemptions for seniors and other homeowners on fixed incomes so they’re not forced out of their homes.
Unfortunately, because of plummeting income tax revenues...2025-07-2201 minCommentary Archives • NC NewslineThe damage Trump’s deportation agenda is doing to the economyThe administration’s goal of deporting one-million people per year will disrupt many sectors including the construction industry. (Photo: Clayton Henkel)
It’s an article of faith on the political far right that the Trump administration’s mass immigrant deportation policies will be a boon to U.S. born workers.
A new report from economists at the Economic Policy Institute, however, finds the opposite to be true and that the net impact of mass deportation on employment – both for immigrants and U.S. born workers – is decidedly negative.
Indeed, the administration’s goal of dep...2025-07-1701 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineThe damage Trump’s deportation agenda is doing to the economyThe administration’s goal of deporting one-million people per year will disrupt many sectors including the construction industry. (Photo: Clayton Henkel)
It’s an article of faith on the political far right that the Trump administration’s mass immigrant deportation policies will be a boon to U.S. born workers.
A new report from economists at the Economic Policy Institute, however, finds the opposite to be true and that the net impact of mass deportation on employment – both for immigrants and U.S. born workers – is decidedly negative.
Indeed, the administration’s goal of dep...2025-07-1701 minPodcasts Archives • NC NewslineThe damage Trump’s deportation agenda is doing to the economyThe administration’s goal of deporting one-million people per year will disrupt many sectors including the construction industry. (Photo: Clayton Henkel)
It’s an article of faith on the political far right that the Trump administration’s mass immigrant deportation policies will be a boon to U.S. born workers.
A new report from economists at the Economic Policy Institute, however, finds the opposite to be true and that the net impact of mass deportation on employment – both for immigrants and U.S. born workers – is decidedly negative.
Indeed, the administration’s goal of dep...2025-07-1701 minCommentary Archives • NC NewslineHunger and homelessness in North Carolina are about to get much worseThe alcove of a vacant building in downtown Raleigh provides temporary shelter for North Carolina’s homeless population. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)
President Donald Trump may have only the faintest idea of what’s in the massive budget bill he signed into law last Friday, but sadly, the contents and the destructive impacts they’ll have are no mystery to the nation’s already beleaguered charities.
Last week, North Carolina food banks sent out an urgent alert explaining that the bill’s massive cuts to SNAP food assistance will have devastating effects.
While...2025-07-0901 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineHunger and homelessness in North Carolina are about to get much worseThe alcove of a vacant building in downtown Raleigh provides temporary shelter for North Carolina’s homeless population. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)
President Donald Trump may have only the faintest idea of what’s in the massive budget bill he signed into law last Friday, but sadly, the contents and the destructive impacts they’ll have are no mystery to the nation’s already beleaguered charities.
Last week, North Carolina food banks sent out an urgent alert explaining that the bill’s massive cuts to SNAP food assistance will have devastating effects.
While...2025-07-0901 minPodcasts Archives • NC NewslineHunger and homelessness in North Carolina are about to get much worseThe alcove of a vacant building in downtown Raleigh provides temporary shelter for North Carolina’s homeless population. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)
President Donald Trump may have only the faintest idea of what’s in the massive budget bill he signed into law last Friday, but sadly, the contents and the destructive impacts they’ll have are no mystery to the nation’s already beleaguered charities.
Last week, North Carolina food banks sent out an urgent alert explaining that the bill’s massive cuts to SNAP food assistance will have devastating effects.
While...2025-07-0901 minPodcasts Archives • NC NewslineCounties must address biased and unjust property tax assessments(Photo: Clayton Henkel)
It’s a universal rule of local government that nobody likes their property tax bill or the way their property is assessed. By any measure, the assessors have a tough and thankless job.
That said, it’s also true that there are unjust assessments and sometimes they’re the byproduct of historical bias and discrimination that affect large numbers of property owners. And right now, that appears to be the case in some North Carolina communities.
As NC Newsline reported last week, advocates in Orange County recently provided compell...2025-06-0201 minCommentary Archives • NC NewslineCounties must address biased and unjust property tax assessments(Photo: Clayton Henkel)
It’s a universal rule of local government that nobody likes their property tax bill or the way their property is assessed. By any measure, the assessors have a tough and thankless job.
That said, it’s also true that there are unjust assessments and sometimes they’re the byproduct of historical bias and discrimination that affect large numbers of property owners. And right now, that appears to be the case in some North Carolina communities.
As NC Newsline reported last week, advocates in Orange County recently provided compell...2025-06-0201 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineCounties must address biased and unjust property tax assessments(Photo: Clayton Henkel)
It’s a universal rule of local government that nobody likes their property tax bill or the way their property is assessed. By any measure, the assessors have a tough and thankless job.
That said, it’s also true that there are unjust assessments and sometimes they’re the byproduct of historical bias and discrimination that affect large numbers of property owners. And right now, that appears to be the case in some North Carolina communities.
As NC Newsline reported last week, advocates in Orange County recently provided compell...2025-06-0201 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineNC prisons are a mess and lawmakers must act(Photo of Central Prison by Clayton Henkel)
No one ever said our state prisons would or should be cushy places to live and work. But neither should they be decrepit dumps in which an underpaid and understaffed workforce struggles to cope with an inmate population that is at once aging and unhealthy, and increasingly hopeless and prone to violence.
Unfortunately, as a recent legislative hearing made clear, that’s pretty much where things stand today.
As Department of Adult Correction secretary Leslie Dismukes told lawmakers, thanks largely to low pay...2025-05-3001 minCommentary Archives • NC NewslineNC prisons are a mess and lawmakers must act(Photo of Central Prison by Clayton Henkel)
No one ever said our state prisons would or should be cushy places to live and work. But neither should they be decrepit dumps in which an underpaid and understaffed workforce struggles to cope with an inmate population that is at once aging and unhealthy, and increasingly hopeless and prone to violence.
Unfortunately, as a recent legislative hearing made clear, that’s pretty much where things stand today.
As Department of Adult Correction secretary Leslie Dismukes told lawmakers, thanks largely to low pay...2025-05-3001 minPodcasts Archives • NC NewslineNC prisons are a mess and lawmakers must act(Photo of Central Prison by Clayton Henkel)
No one ever said our state prisons would or should be cushy places to live and work. But neither should they be decrepit dumps in which an underpaid and understaffed workforce struggles to cope with an inmate population that is at once aging and unhealthy, and increasingly hopeless and prone to violence.
Unfortunately, as a recent legislative hearing made clear, that’s pretty much where things stand today.
As Department of Adult Correction secretary Leslie Dismukes told lawmakers, thanks largely to low pay...2025-05-3001 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineTrump to western North Carolina: Drop deadAn Asheville cyclist pedals toward a "WNC Strong" billboard moving past an enormous debris pile from Helene on his right. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)
Sometimes, it’s hard to keep track of the wild policy swings that are the signatures of the second Trump administration. From tariffs and trade to Russia and Ukraine, it often takes just hours for supposedly strong policy stances to be contradicted or abandoned by the president or his aides.
And now, this chaotic pattern is directly impacting North Carolina.
Both last fall and this past Jan...2025-05-2901 minCommentary Archives • NC NewslineTrump to western North Carolina: Drop deadAn Asheville cyclist pedals toward a "WNC Strong" billboard moving past an enormous debris pile from Helene on his right. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)
Sometimes, it’s hard to keep track of the wild policy swings that are the signatures of the second Trump administration. From tariffs and trade to Russia and Ukraine, it often takes just hours for supposedly strong policy stances to be contradicted or abandoned by the president or his aides.
And now, this chaotic pattern is directly impacting North Carolina.
Both last fall and this past Jan...2025-05-2901 minPodcasts Archives • NC NewslineTrump to western North Carolina: Drop deadAn Asheville cyclist pedals toward a "WNC Strong" billboard moving past an enormous debris pile from Helene on his right. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)
Sometimes, it’s hard to keep track of the wild policy swings that are the signatures of the second Trump administration. From tariffs and trade to Russia and Ukraine, it often takes just hours for supposedly strong policy stances to be contradicted or abandoned by the president or his aides.
And now, this chaotic pattern is directly impacting North Carolina.
Both last fall and this past Jan...2025-05-2901 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineNC lawmakers invite right-wing advocacy group to consult on UNC admissions(Photo: Clayton Henkel)
There are many things that state leaders should do these days to improve the UNC System. Providing adequate funds to hire and retain topflight faculty and reining in out-of-control professional sports programs would be a good start.
Unfortunately, at present, the emphasis in Raleigh is on advancing a right-wing political agenda, and so it is that state House Republicans have approved a bill to give a local far right propaganda outfit — a group founded by conservative financier and activist Art Pope known as the Martin Center for Academic Renewal — a role...2025-05-2701 minCommentary Archives • NC NewslineNC lawmakers invite right-wing advocacy group to consult on UNC admissions(Photo: Clayton Henkel)
There are many things that state leaders should do these days to improve the UNC System. Providing adequate funds to hire and retain topflight faculty and reining in out-of-control professional sports programs would be a good start.
Unfortunately, at present, the emphasis in Raleigh is on advancing a right-wing political agenda, and so it is that state House Republicans have approved a bill to give a local far right propaganda outfit — a group founded by conservative financier and activist Art Pope known as the Martin Center for Academic Renewal — a role...2025-05-2701 minPodcasts Archives • NC NewslineNC lawmakers invite right-wing advocacy group to consult on UNC admissions(Photo: Clayton Henkel)
There are many things that state leaders should do these days to improve the UNC System. Providing adequate funds to hire and retain topflight faculty and reining in out-of-control professional sports programs would be a good start.
Unfortunately, at present, the emphasis in Raleigh is on advancing a right-wing political agenda, and so it is that state House Republicans have approved a bill to give a local far right propaganda outfit — a group founded by conservative financier and activist Art Pope known as the Martin Center for Academic Renewal — a role...2025-05-2701 min
News & ViewsFormer director of the State Board of Elections, Karen Brinson Bell, on her tenure, accomplishmentsKaren Brinson Bell joins NC Newsline's Rob Schofield to discuss her six year tenure as director of the NC State Board of Elections. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)
Over the past six years, few public servants in North Carolina have had a bigger or more positive impact under more difficult circumstances than former State Board of Elections executive director Karen Brinson Bell. Despite woefully inadequate appropriations from the state legislature and relentless attacks from uninformed conspiracy theorists, Brinson Bell persevered, strengthened North Carolina elections and kept them among the nation’s most efficient and honestly run...2025-05-2623 minPodcasts Archives • NC NewslineFormer director of the State Board of Elections, Karen Brinson Bell, on her tenure, accomplishmentsKaren Brinson Bell joins NC Newsline's Rob Schofield to discuss her six year tenure as director of the NC State Board of Elections. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)
Over the past six years, few public servants in North Carolina have had a bigger or more positive impact under more difficult circumstances than former State Board of Elections executive director Karen Brinson Bell. Despite woefully inadequate appropriations from the state legislature and relentless attacks from uninformed conspiracy theorists, Brinson Bell persevered, strengthened North Carolina elections and kept them among the nation’s most efficient and honestly run...2025-05-2623 minPodcasts Archives • NC NewslineLegislature’s cruel attacks on transgender rights will endanger livesA demonstrator holds a sign reading "Trans Kids Belong" at a March 2024 rally outside the North Carolina Legislative Building. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)
Why are so many conservative politicians obsessed with denying the existence of transgender people? Several years ago, it was the infamous bathroom bill that sought to micromanage the public restrooms trans people used.
Now, the same forces are at it again with bills targeting transgender youth. Under legislation approved by the state House last week, charges of abuse and neglect against parents who refuse to acknowledge their child’s gen...2025-05-1301 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineLegislature’s cruel attacks on transgender rights will endanger livesA demonstrator holds a sign reading "Trans Kids Belong" at a March 2024 rally outside the North Carolina Legislative Building. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)
Why are so many conservative politicians obsessed with denying the existence of transgender people? Several years ago, it was the infamous bathroom bill that sought to micromanage the public restrooms trans people used.
Now, the same forces are at it again with bills targeting transgender youth. Under legislation approved by the state House last week, charges of abuse and neglect against parents who refuse to acknowledge their child’s gen...2025-05-1301 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineSupreme Court’s Riggs-Griffin ruling is an assault on democracyNC Supreme Court (Photo: Clayton Henkel)
It’s been almost six months since state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin narrowly lost last year’s election to incumbent Justice Allison Riggs. Two recounts confirmed the result.
Unfortunately, Griffin’s effort to overturn the election based on the farfetched theory that thousands of registered voters should have their ballots thrown out continues.
And last week, four Republican state Supreme Court justices endorsed the scheme — ruling that the votes of numerous military and overseas voters will be trashed unless they can somehow provide a photo ID...2025-04-1601 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineRepublicans are looking to overturn more elections than just the Supreme Court raceNC Supreme Court (Photo: Clayton Henkel)
Many North Carolinians have been rightfully angered in recent months by Republican efforts to overturn Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin’s election loss to Justice Alison Riggs by seeking to throw out thousands of legally cast ballots. But sadly, there are other equally treacherous efforts underway.
The most obvious are bills from GOP lawmakers that slash the powers of two Democrats who won convincing victories last fall – Gov. Josh Stein and Attorney General Jeff Jackson.
Rather than respecting the will of the voters, Republicans have sough...2025-04-1001 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineLatest ruling in Riggs-Griffin election dispute is an assault on democracyDemonstrators in downtown Raleigh declare Allison Riggs rightfully won the state Supreme Court race against Jefferson Griffin. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)It’s now been more than five months since North Carolina voters elected incumbent Justice Allison Riggs over challenger Jefferson Griffin to a state Supreme Court seat, but amazingly, Republican efforts to overturn the election continue.
Last Friday, a pair of GOP state Court of Appeals judges accepted Griffin’s ridiculous theory that sixty-five thousand registered North Carolina voters who complied with all voting rules, including providing a valid photo ID, must still none...2025-04-0701 minNews & ViewsLynn Bonner on the ongoing efforts of a NC Supreme Court candidate to have 60,000+ ballots discardedFile photo of Lynn Bonner/ Photo of State Supreme Court signage by Clayton Henkel
The big political story in North Carolina right now continues to revolve around the unsettled election for a seat on state Supreme Court. Multiple recounts confirmed that the incumbent justice, Democrat Allison Riggs, was the narrow winner over Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin, but nearly three months after Election Day, Griffin has yet to concede. Instead, he’s gone to court in an effort to have the ballots cast by more than 60,000 registered voters thrown out on a variety of technical grounds, in...2025-02-0310 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineIt’s long past time for GOP Supreme Court candidate to concedeNorth Carolina's state Supreme Court (Photo: Clayton Henkel)
It’s now been nine weeks since the November election and nearly a month since recounts confirmed that incumbent state Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs narrowly defeated her Republican challenger, state Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin.
As such, it’s long past time for Griffin to concede and allow the state’s high court to get back to work.
Unfortunately, that’s a step he refuses to take.
Instead, Griffin has filed a Hail Mary lawsuit in which he argues that the...2025-01-0701 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslinePrison overcrowding demands immediate action from state leadersOutside Raleigh's Central Prison a banner offers open interviews to would-be job seekers. The vacancy rate of North Carolina’s corrections officers is now 40%. (Photo: Clayton Henkel)Everyone knows that prison is a tough place to be – both for the incarcerated people who are there serving time and the professionals that our government employs to oversee them.
And, of course, on one level – especially for those who are imprisoned — that’s as it should be. A prison sentence is not a vacation, but punishment that’s reserved for people who commit serious violations of societal rules.
2024-12-2501 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineToday is a day to lift up human rightsDecember 10 is Human Rights Day. (Photo: Clayton Henkel)
Americans have a rightful reverence for the people who’ve served and sacrificed in our nation’s wars. It’s why we celebrate Memorial Day and Veterans Day – and other patriotic holidays like Independence Day, Flag Day and Armed Forces Day.
And today marks another celebration that deserves similar attention and respect, but that unfortunately seldom receives its due.
Today, December 10, is Human Rights Day – an international commemoration that’s been celebrated around the world for more than 75 years.
And especially right now – i...2024-12-1001 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineGOP lawmakers from western NC should demand better of their leadersRep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) and other mountain Republicans could secure a better deal for western North Carolina hurricane relief by voting to sustain a gubernatorial veto (Photo: Clayton Henkel)
State lawmakers are back in Raleigh for another lame duck session – a time during which they ought to deemphasize politics and divisiveness and, especially as western North Carolina continues to reel from Hurricane Helene, craft ambitious common good solutions.
Instead, unfortunately, it’s likely Republican leaders will demand that all GOP members vote to override Gov. Cooper’s veto of a massive power grab bill th...2024-12-0201 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineThousands of North Carolinians can still make their votes count in this year’s election(Photo: Clayton Henkel).In the event you thought this year’s election was over and all of the races decided – hold on a minute.
It turns out tens of thousands of ballots that North Carolina voters cast are yet to be counted.
That’s because there are many circumstances – most notably when people forget their photo ID or show up at the wrong precinct – that voters get to cast so-called provisional ballots that only get counted
later.
And for those who lacked ID, their ballots won’t be counted at all unless t...2024-11-1101 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineA status quo election (with one very big exception)Voters file into Chavis Community Center in Raleigh to vote. (Photo: Clayton Henkel)
This week’s election in North Carolina was what might be properly termed a “status quo election.” Republicans continued to dominate the presidential contest, and Democrats returned the favor in the governor’s race.
Meanwhile, most of the other races for statewide offices were pretty much evenly divided and all decided by a point or two. And thanks to egregious gerrymandering, Republicans won most of the congressional and legislative races even though the vote was, as usual, about evenly split. But, of c...2024-11-0701 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineCheapskate legislature underfunds North Carolina’s DMVCustomers wait their turn at a DMV Tag & Title Agency office in Wake County. NCDMV officials hope modernizing the system and moving more services online in the future can reduce wait times. (Photo: Clayton Henkel)
For newcomers, it may be hard to believe, but there was a time in North Carolina in which heading to the local DMV office wasn’t a maddening and tortuous exercise.
Unfortunately, that’s changed in most places. Today, walk-up customers almost always face long lines, and it can take weeks to find an appointment slot online.
As...2024-10-1801 minThe Bottom Line from NC NewslineNC 2023 teacher of the year Kimberly Jones on the education needs Helene helped exposeKimberly S. Jones, 2023 NC Teacher of the Year (Photo: NCDPI)
One of the many areas in which Hurricane Helene has had a devastating impact in western North Carolina is public education. While the state Board of Education has made an initial request of 166 million dollars to begin to address some of the destruction, many school districts remain closed indefinitely and the recovery is sure to take months if not years.
Recently, to shed more light on these challenges, News and Views producer Clayton Henkel caught up with the 2023 North Carolina teacher of the y...2024-10-1412 min