September 19, 2014 -
The South is the country's fastest-growing region, and transplants from elsewhere may be changing the region's political leanings.
September 18, 2014 -
Homeless men were bused to a public hearing on fracking in western North Carolina to boost the appearance of support for the controversial drilling technique. The men were wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the name of the N.C. Energy Coalition, a front for big oil and gas interests.
September 17, 2014 -
A new study into what causes long voting lines has found that race plays a role in who waits the longest. It also found that states may be breaking their own laws by failing to invest adequate resources in elections.
September 17, 2014 -
Dollar Tree of Virginia and Dollar General of Tennessee are battling to take over North Carolina-based Family Dollar -- but the takeover fight isn't the most interesting part of this story, which also involves sleeping anti-trust watchdogs, wage theft and other exploitative labor practices, and a business model that profits from economic desperation.
September 16, 2014 -
The civil rights group has filed a complaint with the State Board of Elections and a local district attorney over a TV ad sponsored by the campaign of state Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger that suggests citizens need to show a photo ID to vote -- even though the ID requirement doesn't take effect until 2016. In North Carolina, misrepresenting election law to discourage voting is a felony.
September 15, 2014 -
A study by researchers at five universities found contamination of drinking water in Texas and Pennsylvania from gas drilling operations. The authors say it wasn't fracking per se that caused the contamination but faulty gas well construction -- though they note that fracking could potentially affect well integrity.
September 12, 2014 -
A resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution and overturn the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision lifting restrictions on money in politics failed in the Senate this week on a party-line vote. But voters support such an amendment by a wide margin, and pro-reform activists vow to press on.
