Politics & Government

In 2002, North Carolina was the first state in the country to establish a system of full public financing for its high court judges. The law was enacted after huge sums of money began flooding into court elections across the country.

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx appeared today before a Senate committee as his confirmation hearing began this afternoon on Capitol Hill.  President Obama nominated the two-term Charlotte mayor last month to replace the retiring Ray LaHood as U.S. Secretary of Transportation.  Senators will likely delve into his transit reforms in Charlotte during the hearing. 

In his opening statement, Foxx told the committee a story about going to his first job at age 12 by taking the number six bus after school.

If you've gone to the legislature these past four Mondays, you likely encountered a group of demonstrators singing, chanting, holding hands and raising signs. And a lot of them are getting arrested. Since April 29th, 153 people have been arrested at what the NAACP and other organizers are calling "Moral Mondays."

A group of community members and scholars joined host Frank Stasio on WUNC's The State of Things to talk about the recent arrests, as well as the theory and history behind civil disobedience on a global scale.

Farmers in North Carolina and around the country are keeping their eyes on Washington, where Congress is crafting a new Farm Bill. 

The Senate's version cuts more than $2 billion in agricultural spending per year, but includes about $100 billion in subsides over the next five years.  President Obama has asked Senators to find more ways to save money, including cuts to a farm insurance program.