Institute Index

October 17, 2013 - A new report from the Southern Education Foundation finds that low income students constitute a growing majority of public school children in 17 states, most of them in the South. At the same time, the South lags far behind other regions in per-pupil spending.

October 11, 2013 - With the federal government shutdown approaching its second week, many Americans are suffering the effects -- but they're especially severe for people already living in poverty.

September 26, 2013 - A record number of Americans receive food stamps, with residents of Southern states especially dependent on the anti-hunger program. So why are Southern politicians who in turn depend on the political support of hungry constituents so eager to cut the program's funding?

September 20, 2013 - A private political nonprofit that does not have to publicly disclose its donors is running TV ads across North Carolina touting the governor's agenda amid widespread criticism and slipping poll numbers.

September 13, 2013 - A group of prominent Democrats has launched a project to promote the idea that coal is part of a sustainable U.S. energy future -- even as new evidence emerges showing just how environmentally destructive coal really is.

September 5, 2013 - An official state study group is recommending that North Carolina be given the power to compel non-consenting landowners into fracking leases. The N.C. Mining and Energy Commission is set to review those recommendations this week before they're passed along to the legislature.

August 30, 2013 - Fast food workers in cities across the South and elsewhere in the U.S. went on strike this week as part of a campaign to raise wages. We take a by-the-numbers look at why they're taking action.