NC House Bill 127, currently in committee, is yet another thinly veiled attempt at voter suppression. This bill places unnecessary restrictions on how North Carolinians can register to vote. Many trusted organizations — like the League of Women Voters and even the Henderson County Democrats — regularly host nonpartisan voter registration drives. In fact, I registered to vote at one of these events in downtown Hendersonville two years ago. These drives make registration access

At the next monthly School Board meeting, I’ll be taking a close look at the rapid expansion of state funding supporting private (mostly religious) schools through vouchers. Since public comment at the School Board meeting is limited to just 3 minutes, I’ll use the substance of my remarks as the basis for this Weekend Joe offering. The Start An early voucher program in North Carolina began in 2013 — known as the Opportunity Scholarships Program — with two pathways: one for st

Our Three Voices in Raleigh Are Failing Henderson County Our three voices at the North Carolina General Assembly— Senator Tim Moffitt  and Representatives Jennifer Balkcom and Jake Johnson —all voted for SB 382 , twice . In fact, Mr. Johnson was one of three sponsors of the bill. Described as “disguised as disaster relief”  by a Hendersonville Lightning  editorial, SB 382  has significantly weakened local zoning control , making it harder for cities and counties to protect fa