north carolina

Environment

Public gets last chance to weigh in on Duke-Progress merger

By Sue Sturgis

September 19, 2011 - The N.C. Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 20 about the proposed merger of Progress Energy and Duke Energy to form the nation's largest electric utility, which would operate under the Duke Energy name. The hearing represents the public's last chance to weigh in on the plan. If the merger is approved, the company would become the largest U.S. utility, worth over $35 billion and with more than 7 million customers in the Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.

Human Rights

Controversial immigration enforcement program goes statewide in North Carolina

By Rebekah L Cowell

March 21, 2011 - By Rebekah L. Cowell, special to Facing South

Environment

Hexavalent chromium pollution linked to coal ash disposal

By Sue Sturgis

February 3, 2011 - An independent report identifies 28 coal ash dump sites from Massachusetts to Nevada where hexavalent chromium has been detected in the groundwater at levels exceeding federal or state standards. Hexavalent chromium is one toxic waste product created by coal-fired power plants known to contain potentially dangerous levels of heavy metals, combustion byproducts and radioactive elements.

Politics

Investigative Series: How Pope Reigns

By Chris Kromm

January 14, 2011 - OCTOBER 2010 - PRESENT | Facing South's investigative series looks at North Carolina's most influential benefactor for Republicans and conservative groups -- and his growing national power.

Politics

GOP donor Pope: I didn't 'buy the North Carolina legislature' (video)

By Chris Kromm

November 16, 2010 - Art Pope responds to the Facing South/Institute investigation looking at his role in fueling the GOP's historic takeover of the North Carolina legislature in 2010.

Counting in a Crisis

By Chris Kromm

March 30, 2010 - Economic woes put North Carolina counties in danger of undercount in 2010 Census Study ranks 100 N.C. counties by risk level of losing millions of dollars in federal funds due to job losses, housing crisis

Environment

All North Carolina coal ash ponds are leaking toxic pollution to groundwater

By Sue Sturgis

October 7, 2009 - An in-depth review of monitoring data from coal ash ponds located next to 13 coal-burning power plants in North Carolina has revealed that all of them are contaminating groundwater with toxic metals and other pollutants -- in some cases at levels exceeding 380 times state groundwater standards.

Environment

POWER POLITICS: As North Carolina considers offshore drilling, coastal wind power goes untapped

By Sue Sturgis

April 27, 2009 - Environmental advocates expect a big turnout from the oil industry and its boosters in the "drill, baby, drill" crowd, so they're encouraging drilling opponents to attend the hearing and speak for two to five minutes on why they don't support opening up the state's coast to oil and gas operations.

Environment

POWER POLITICS: Satyagraha for the climate

By Sue Sturgis

April 20, 2009 - Today marks an important moment in the intensifying political battle ov

More regulatory failure: FDA didn't inspect syringe plant despite complaints

By Desiree Evans

February 27, 2009 - It hasn't been a good year so far in terms of preventing regulatory failures at Southern manufacturing plants. The nation is still reeling from a massive salmonella outbreak linked to peanut products from the Peanut Corporation of America's plant in Blakely, Ga., that has sickened sickened some 666 people and may have contributed to nine deaths.