Institute Index

July 11, 2014 - Clean-energy advocates are battling Duke Energy's plan to cut payments to homeowners with grid-tied solar panels for the excess power they sell back to the company. Meanwhile, a major investment bank says the falling price of solar panels and battery storage could encourage large numbers of U.S. homeowners and businesses to abandon utilities altogether and go off-grid.

July 2, 2014 - Today marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended Jim Crow segregation and led to a profound political realignment of the South that continues to shape the nation today.

June 27, 2014 - In June 1964, volunteers from across the U.S. descended on Mississippi to help tear down barriers keeping African Americans from the ballot box. Their work led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act, but today that law is under attack -- and the effort to restore it is getting little support so far from Mississippi's elected leaders.

June 20, 2014 - Income inequality in the U.S. began growing dramatically around the time unionization rates began plummeting. Can the current push to organize the South reverse the trend?

June 13, 2014 - This week's Moral Monday protest in Raleigh focused on education, in particular the funding crisis for public schools. North Carolina was once known as a leader in public education, but not anymore. What's happening?

June 5, 2014 - The EPA unveiled a rule this week requiring power plants to stop using the Earth's atmosphere as an open sewer for dumping carbon pollution. While the rule doesn't go far enough to halt dangerous global warming, it will reduce health-damaging pollution and save thousands of lives -- but some states vow to fight it.

May 22, 2014 - As scientists issue fresh warnings about the threat of dramatic sea-level rise over the coming centuries due to climate change, North Carolina officials in charge of ensuring the coastal state is planning adequately want to limit their forecasts to 30 years to satisfy the demands of pro-development interests.

May 15, 2014 - Fast-food workers around the world are taking part in a one-day strike today to demand higher pay and the right to unionize.

May 9, 2014 - North Carolina's usually low-profile mid-term primary election drew a record-shattering $2.5 million in spending for state-level races from corporate-funded outside groups unconnected to candidates' campaigns or political parties, with much of that money spent to influence a key state Supreme Court race.

May 2, 2014 - With the North Carolina primary election set for May 6, corporate interests are spending to influence the outcome of a state Supreme Court race like they've never spent before.