campaign contributions

June 19, 2013 - The Civitas Institute is publicizing the names, residence, political registration, employers, and other details of those arrested at the ongoing NAACP-organized protests at the legislature. The project calls to mind how Southern civil rights opponents once published the names of NAACP supporters in newspapers to encourage retaliation against them.

June 18, 2013 - A utility watchdog and its hired expert scoured Duke Energy rate-hike filings and uncovered numerous instances where the company inappropriately charged customers for things like political contributions and a sports team sponsorship. They're calling on state regulators to fine Duke at least $5 million for the violations.

June 14, 2013 - With special-interest spending on judicial races soaring, a new study finds that a state supreme court justice who gets half of his or her contributions from business groups votes in favor of business interests two-thirds of the time.

April 19, 2013 - Saturday, April 20, marks the third anniversary of the deadly BP Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. We take a by-the-numbers look at the still-unfolding disaster today.

March 14, 2013 - Of the four primary sponsors behind new legislation to repeal North Carolina's groundbreaking renewable energy law, three have documented ties to the fossil fuel-funded conservative policy group that's been gunning for renewables.

March 14, 2013 - When Uranium Energy Corp. sought permission to launch a large-scale mining project in Goliad County, Texas, it seemed the EPA would stand in the way -- until a powerful Democratic lobbyist and fundraiser intervened.

March 8, 2013 - In the wake of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) filibuster this week raising concerns about the Obama administration's policy on the domestic use of drones against U.S. civilians, we take a by-the-numbers look at U.S. drone use and drone makers' political clout.

March 7, 2013 - Clean water advocates have filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the U.S. Coast Guard over its refusal to release public records about a chronic leak from Taylor Energy oil wells off the Louisiana coast. Caused by an underwater mudslide during Hurricane Ivan, the spill has been fouling Gulf waters since 2004.

March 4, 2013 - NC WARN is running full-page ads in North Carolina newspapers calling on Gov. Pat McCrory to disclose exactly how much stock he holds in Duke Energy, his longtime employer, and to recuse himself from making appointments to the state regulatory commission that oversees the company.

February 19, 2013 - As some conservative lawmakers target the state's renewable energy law for repeal, a new study details its benefits to the state's economy and consumers.