preemption

March 23, 2018 - Sheriff candidates in some Southern counties are campaigning on a promise to stay out of immigration enforcement, but new state laws could force police and judges to participate in the Trump administration's crackdown.

November 17, 2017 - Democrats, liberal-leaning independents and a growing number of progressives lead two-thirds of the South's 30 largest cities, but their agenda is under attack from the region's conservative legislatures through preemption and other efforts to limit local control.

September 4, 2017 - As wages stagnate nationally, more Southern states than ever before are embracing anti-union laws and laws to prevent local governments from raising pay and requiring family sick leave.

June 2, 2017 - Immigrant rights advocates are working to block the harshest sanctuary city ban in the nation before it goes into effect on Sept. 1.

April 14, 2017 - When states preempt progressive local policies, it's not just a political power struggle that ensues but real suffering for those who would benefit most from anti-discrimination, minimum wage and other measures.

March 31, 2017 - Immigrant-welcoming local governments in the South are navigating a challenging political terrain as states in the region adopt bans on so-called "sanctuary" policies and as the federal government also moves to crack down on sanctuary communities. 

January 27, 2017 - On transgender rights, immigrant protections, minimum wage increases and more, Southern cities are facing escalating efforts by state and federal officials to block local progress.

April 1, 2016 - North Carolina's controversy over a state law pre-empting local LGBT protections brings into sharp relief a political battle underway between growing, progressive Southern cities and conservative state leadership.