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 has landed what is seemingly the final major piece of its frontcourt for the 2026-27 season, multiple sources have confirmed. Alexandros Samodurov announced his commitment to the Tar Heels on Saturday by way of Jonathan Givony of Draft Express.
The 6-foot-11 Greek native will bring international experience and an advanced skillset to a UNC program that was still looking to add a starting-worthy big man to its rotation. He’ll join 18-year-old 7-footer Sayon Keita, who committed to UNC a month ago, to man most of the minutes in the middle.
Now 21 years old, Samodurov plays for Panathinaikos in Greece’s top pro league, and also in EuroLeague. This is the same professional club as fellow Greece national team standout and UNC transfer commitment Neoklis Avdalas.
Samodurov earned All-Star honors with the Greece U20 National Team last summer, averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 blocks at the FIBA U20 Eurobasket. He also averaged 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds playing for the Greece Senior National Team last year.
>>> Expert Analysis: Samodurov Addition All About Stretch Big Skill Set for UNC
“The Panathinaikos forward has always been an intriguing prospect with his combination of elite size, ball-handling ability and flashes of passing, shooting and defensive playmaking,” said a FIBA report from the Eurobasket event.
Samodurov declared for the NBA Draft but the league announced on May 28 that he had withdrawn his name. He was ranked the No. 41 draft prospect in The Athletic’s Mock Draft and is No. 72 on ESPN’s Big Board.
New coach Michael Malone has been tasked over the past two months with overhauling the roster. Samodurov marks the seventh program acquisition, joining two previously committed high schoolers, and three returning players to form the 2026-27 roster.
Whether Samodurov or Keita start at center remains to be seen, but the other members of the starting lineup when UNC’s season opens in six months on Nov. 2 are expected to be Utah transfer Terrence Brown, NC State transfer Matt Able, Virginia Tech transfer Avdalas and returning forward Jarin Stevenson.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. — A Murphy, North Carolina man with prior felony convictions was sentenced this week after authorities say he was caught with a large cache of illegal drugs and firearms.
44-year-old John Anthony Barreiro of Murphy was sentenced Thursday to 22 years in prison and ordered to serve five years of supervised release, according to an announcement from Russ Ferguson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Authorities say Barreiro illegally possessed 15 firearms along with more than 1,600 fentanyl pills and more than 800 grams of methamphetamine and cocaine.
According to court documents, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Barreiro’s vehicle on Dec. 4th, 2023.
Authorities say Barreiro fled instead of stopping, leading to a vehicle pursuit.
Court documents show that during the chase, Barreiro threw a Glock 9mm pistol out of the passenger-side window.
Authorities say he later threw a bag out of the same window containing more than 300 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl tablets, fentanyl powder and cocaine.
Law enforcement later recovered the firearm and the drugs, according to court records.
After throwing the gun and drugs from the vehicle, authorities say Barreiro pulled over and was arrested.
Investigators say they found additional clear baggies with suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in the vehicle and on Barreiro.
Authorities also say Barreiro had $7,840 in cash, marijuana, a loaded Glock 30-round capacity magazine and a bag containing multiple loose rounds of 9mm ammunition in the vehicle.
Later the same day, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a Murphy home where Barreiro was known to reside.
Law enforcement seized 14 firearms, 1,450 fentanyl tablets, fentanyl powder, cocaine and almost 500 grams of methamphetamine, authorities say.
Barreiro had prior convictions that prohibited him from possessing firearms.
Barreiro pleaded guilty on Sept. 26th to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
He was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison on Thursday.
Barreiro remains in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
North Carolina
Families in Durham say they’re barely getting by; New report says Americans are saving less
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — With the price of gas, groceries and housing continuing to climb, many who live in Durham say there’s not much left over to put away at the end of the month.
Samuel Fisher was filling up his daughter’s car at a Durham gas station when he admitted he’s had to get creative to stretch his budget. “We haven’t saved. We’re not rich,” he said. “We were saving a few hundred dollars here and there.”
Fisher said he’s now driving his daughter’s smaller car while she’s on vacation because it’s cheaper to fill up than his SUV. “It costs me 90 dollars to fill up,” he said with a laugh. “She’s not here, so I’m going to drive her car. Save some money.”
For others, cutting back has become a daily routine. Anne McConville said everything she was wearing came from a thrift store. “Black jumpsuit, black top and this necklace that was only three dollars,” she said. “It’s beautiful.”
McConville said shopping secondhand helps her afford the basics. “Every time I go shopping, I spend 100 dollars. For me. I just buy produce.”
A new federal report shows Americans are saving less overall. The U.S. personal savings rate fell to 2.6 percent in April, a sign that rising costs for essentials are squeezing household budgets.
Arkell Barnes, a Triangle-based financial advisor for the past 30 years, said even small amounts of savings matter. “I always recommend people put something away no matter what. Pay yourself first,” he said.
Barnes said finding small ways to cut costs can help families build a cushion. “Refinancing, taking meals to work instead of going out, watching your subscriptions,” he said.
It’s advice 79-year-old Jerry McClain is already following. Pushing a cart of groceries to his car, he said he’s scaled back his spending. “I’m older, so I don’t do as much,” McClain said. “I don’t go out as much. I don’t eat out as much.”
Barnes said more people are also picking up side jobs to bring in extra income. It’s something he believes could help boost savings in the long run.
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