Politics

December 19, 2014 - 501(c)(3) nonprofits are not supposed to get involved in supporting or opposing political candidates -- yet such groups spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on ads criticizing specific candidates during the North Carolina election this year. Are they breaking the law or just pushing it to its limits?

December 18, 2014 - After Democrats' dismal showing in the 2014 elections, some pundits were quick to blame the South -- and even called on the party to leave it behind. But here's why that would be a mistake.

December 11, 2014 - Environmental advocates announced they discovered a coal ash leak into North Carolina's Yadkin River from a Duke Energy power plant just days before 60 Minutes aired a report in which the CEO said her company was "operating safely." Will the EPA finally take tough action to stop the ongoing coal ash disaster in that state and others -- or will that job continue to fall to private watchdogs?

December 9, 2014 - A new study by ethics researchers takes a fresh approach to examining corruption in state governments and finds a perception of big problems in the South -- and Kentucky in particular. How does your state rate?

December 8, 2014 - As the national debate over immigration rages on, some Southern mayors are taking steps to carry out the President's executive order protecting millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation -- even while most Southern states are suing to block the policy.

December 5, 2014 - Duke University researchers have published a study that uses math to show just how wildly North Carolina's congressional districts misrepresent the will of voters. The findings comes amid a growing push for nonpartisan redistricting reform to end gerrymandering.

November 25, 2014 - A report from the voting rights watchdog group Democracy North Carolina documents the disenfranchising effects of the state's restrictive new election law.