Justice

November 25, 2015 - Outgoing Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) signed an executive order this week to automatically restore voting rights to certain felons. The state is among several in the South with harsh felony disenfranchisement laws that disproportionately deprive African-American citizens of access to the ballot.

November 25, 2015 - Rural America is long on opportunity and short on people. If the rest of America doesn't want an influx of courageous and determined new residents, send them our way.

November 20, 2015 - A task force studying ways to fix the state's broken health care system takes aim at a law that criminalizes prenatal drug use.

November 20, 2015 - While politicians' hostile response to Syrian refugees has dominated the national debate since last week's tragedy, local leaders across the South are calling for compassion, fighting Islamophobia and taking action to welcome families fleeing war.

November 18, 2015 - Will exploiting fear of terrorism help North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory win what's expected to be a tough re-election battle? His campaign is giving it a try, issuing a fundraising appeal touting his call to bar Syrian refugees from his state over security concerns.

November 17, 2015 - The draconian law is already "causing real harm to women across the state of Texas," says one women's health advocate.

November 10, 2015 - A North Carolina law that bans so-called "sanctuary city" ordinances uses language from a model bill crafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a corporate interest advocacy group whose members include private prison companies that stand to profit from immigrant detention.