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August 4, 2015 - More than 100 companies have severed ties with the controversial American Legislative Exchange Council, but documents show 54 companies still sponsoring the conservative policy group's annual meeting this summer, including top energy companies and businesses in the South.

April 30, 2015 - Five years after the BP disaster, a group of governors led by North Carolina's Pat McCrory is pushing for drilling in the Atlantic. The group has close ties to a secret-money nonprofit and energy lobbyists, a relationship that raises questions about transparency, ethics and the blurring of public and private interests.

November 14, 2013 - The State Policy Network -- a national alliance of right-wing think tanks funded by businessmen including the Kochs of Koch Industries, the Waltons of Wal-Mart, and Art Pope of Variety Stores -- is driving a corporate agenda in state legislatures. So why they aren't reporting their lobbying activities?

May 15, 2013 - For years, North Carolina mega-donor Art Pope kept a low profile, quietly building one of the most influential state-based political networks in the country. Now, from his perch as the governor's budget director, Pope and his agenda are getting national media scrutiny.

November 28, 2012 - Conservative groups whose clout grew in the recent N.C. elections want to repeal a groundbreaking state law requiring utilities to generate a small percentage of energy from renewable sources. Incoming Republican Gov. Pat McCrory has close ties to renewable energy foes -- and to renewable energy proponents. If forced to choose, which side would he be on?

June 1, 2012 - The campaign calling on companies to sever ties with the American Legislative Exchange Council is one of the most successful corporate accountability initiatives in history, but it now faces the challenge of persuading those unfazed by consumer unrest.

April 30, 2012 - Embroiled in controversy for its role in passing "Stand Your Ground", the American Legislative Exchange Council also worked to block federal regulation of toxic power plant waste that's contaminating groundwater supplies across the country -- and it turns out that the group has close ties to major coal ash polluters.