North Carolina
NC legislators should focus on deregulating the labor market | Opinion
RALEIGH — Our state continues to outpace our peers in economic growth. Over the past five years, North Carolina’s gross domestic product expanded by an inflation-adjusted annual average of 3.1% vs. 2.3% for the nation as a whole. Our total employment rose 9.2% over the same period, again beating the national average of 4.7%.
But now is no time to rest on our laurels. Other states are redoubling their recruitment efforts, retooling their education and transportation systems, and reforming their tax and regulatory codes. Moreover, our economy faces new headwinds. Domestic and international reaction to the Trump administration’s new trade war will temper expectations and raise costs for both households and businesses.
During its 2025 session, the General Assembly should continue to make North Carolina a better place to live, work, invest, and create new businesses. Given tight budgets and modest revenue projections, lawmakers will have more room to maneuver on regulatory reform than on tax reform.
To be more specific, we should further deregulate labor markets in North Carolina. Our state already forbids compulsory unionization and wisely abstains from fiddling with market prices for labor. But policymakers ought to make it even easier to create new jobs, enter new occupations, and deliver goods and services more efficiently.
Here are three good ways to open up our labor markets:
First, the General Assembly should enact House Bill 763, the “Neighbor State License Recognition Act.” Sponsored by Reps. Jeff Zenger (R-Forsyth), Steve Tyson (R-Craven), Ben Moss (R-Richmond), and Mark Pless (R-Haywood), this legislation would establish occupational-license reciprocity with our nearby states of Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The bill would allow North Carolina residents previously licensed in one of those other states to obtain a professional license in North Carolina without undergoing another round of costly training and testing requirements. Only medical professions such as physicians and veterinarians would be exempt.
In a just-released paper for the John Locke Foundation, economists Edward Timmons and Conor Norris observed that North Carolina currently licenses more occupations than do all but 10 other states in the country. While such regulations are often sold as consumer protection, the preponderance of research shows they confer few safety benefits or quality improvements. Their primary effect (and true purpose) is to make labor markets less competitive, raising consumer prices by up to 16% and reducing employment in North Carolina by a net of about 42,500 jobs.
When states recognize licenses issued by other states, wrote Timmons and Norris, the resulting elimination of “redundant training, testing, or education requirements” tends to boost in-migration by highly productive professionals — helping not only those newcomers but also businesses seeking employees and consumers seeking services.
Second, the General Assembly should reexamine North Carolina’s current array of certification rules and licensing boards. Senate Bill 451, for example, would reduce the minimum requirements for continuing education and professional development for contractors, inspectors, auctioneers, real estate brokers, electrologists, cosmetologists, foresters, and other licensed professionals. Its sponsors include Sens. Tim Moffitt (R-Henderson), Steve Jarvis (R-Davidson), and Tom McInnis (R-Moore).
Finally, lawmakers should follow up these initial steps by adopting a more-sweeping measure known as the “Right to Earn a Living Act.” This would change the regulatory paradigm altogether, requiring licensing boards to prove that any rules they apply are “narrowly tailored to accomplish a compelling government interest.”
Arizona, Tennessee, and Louisiana have already adopted this legislation in some form. It “places the burden on the state to demonstrate the necessity of licensing,” Timmons and Norris wrote, “and it assumes that individuals have a right to work without the impediment of regulation. Under the Right to Earn a Living Act, occupational licensing is the regulation of last resort.”
I think state lawmakers should pursue a broad range of deregulatory initiatives this session, from certificate-of-need and scope-of-practice reforms to the NC REINS Act, which would require legislative authorization for a regulation exceeding $1 million in economic impact.
Still, licensing reform would be a good place to start.
John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His books Mountain Folk, Forest Folk, and Water Folk combine epic fantasy with American history (FolkloreCycle.com).
North Carolina
Three Underrated UNC Football Seniors To Watch in 2026
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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North Carolina
Memorial service held for former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett
Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
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North Carolina
No. 11 Virginia vs. No. 3 North Carolina Live Updates | NCAA Men’s Lacrosse
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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