VOLUME 10 ISSUE 30 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2025
NSJONLINE.COM
COURTESY NC STATE
A person exits the Free Expression Tunnel on NC State’s campus. The school was 10th in a ranking of 257 colleges’ free speech climate.
Nearly two-thirds of colleges fail group’s free speech rankings
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BRIEF this week
Stein replaces outgoing DOT chief Raleigh Gov. Josh Stein announced that N.C. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary and General Counsel Daniel Johnson will replace the agency’s current Secretary Joey Hopkins, who is retiring on Oct. 1. Former Gov. Roy Cooper Hopkins appointed Hopkins to the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) post in October 2023 and Stein kept him in that role when he was elected governor. Hopkins had previously been the agency’s chief operating officer. Johnson worked in private practice prior to joining the NCDOT and served as an assistant district attorney in Wake County. Johnson is a Navy and Marine Corps medal recipient and a native of Hickory. He earned undergraduate and law degrees at the University of North Carolina.
Nickel announces run for Wake DA RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Former North Carolina congressman Wiley Nickel announced his candidacy for Wake County district attorney on Tuesday. Nickel was elected to the U.S. House in 2022 but didn’t seek a second term due to redistricting. The Democrat initially launched a U.S. Senate campaign for next year but stepped aside after former Gov. Roy Cooper entered that race. At least two other Democrats are running to succeed outgoing DA Lorrin Freeman. Party primaries are set for March, with a general election in November 2026.
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NC farmers to get $221M in Helene aid The USDA block grant targets certain losses not covered by other relief funding By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — North Carolina farmers will see some relief after a $221 million federal block grant was issued to cover crop production losses not covered under crop insurance or other Hurricane Helene relief funds.
North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden signed a $221 million federal block grant agreement for the state during a Sept. 5 meeting at the N.C. Mountain State Fair in Fletcher. The block grant targets infrastructure damage, market losses, future economic losses and timber losses, applicable for the 39 counties officially declared disaster areas following See AID, page A2
Three North Carolina schools ranked in the top 10 for campuses with the best free speech By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH —The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, along with its survey partner College Pulse, released its sixth annual College Free Speech Rankings on Sept. 9, revealing that 166 of the 257 (over 64%) schools surveyed received an “F” for free speech climate. The annual report by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a nonpartisan nonprofit, is the largest of its kind, and this year’s report was based on opinions gathered from 68,510 students. Beyond the “F” schools, the report graded 64 schools in
USS North Carolina audit finds $2.1M in reporting errors Twelve issues were cited in the report By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A state audit of the finances for the USS North Carolina has uncovered $2.1 million in reporting errors for the year ending Sept. 30, 2024. The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor’s (OSA) financial audit report states the financial reporting errors “include, but are not limited to, overstating deferred outflows to pensions by $430,000, overstating beginning net position by $248,000, and understating salaries and benefits by $36,000.” The financial reporting issues in the OSA’s audit span 12
different areas, the largest of which was the cited $430,000 related to pensions and was due to incorrect recording of transactions associated with the plan. Understatement of restricted expendable net position was the second biggest amount at $378,000, mainly due to errors in net position calculations. The OSA recommendations included strengthening internal controls by reallocating responsibilities, including key accounting and financial reporting responsibilities, to help reduce reliance on a single individual and ensure proper segregation of duties. Additionally, it was recommended that the Battleship Commission management See SHIP, page A3
“The Commission is committed to achieving a high standard of financial reporting and internal controls. We have had a history of clean audit reviews.” Jay Martin, USS North Carolina Battleship Commission executive director
the “D” range. Eleven schools earned a “C” or higher. “These findings should continue to raise alarm,” stated the FIRE report. “The top ranked school for freedom of speech got a B-, the only time any school has even gotten above a C+. This means that the vast majority of American colleges and universities are failing to protect and foster free expression.” Claremont McKenna College took the top spot this year in best college campuses for free speech with a score of 79.86, which translated to a B-. Of the 10 North Carolina colleges in the report, three were ranked among the top 10: UNC Greensboro (6th), Appalachian State (8th) and NC State University (10th). Other North Carolina schools ranked in the top 50 include East Carolina (14th), UNC Chapel Hill (19th), UNC See SPEECH, page A3