Institute Index

February 4, 2016 - Although the South has added millions of jobs in recent years, the region's low-road approach to economic development has meant many of them are low-paying jobs that leave families fighting to get by.

January 29, 2016 - The utility company wants to build a new $750 million gas-fired power plant in Western North Carolina. But it's been less than forthcoming with details about the plan, so environmental watchdogs have turned to the courts in hopes of forcing more transparency.

January 22, 2016 - Six years since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down restrictions on political spending, overwhelming numbers of Americans across the partisan spectrum says it's time for far-reaching reforms — and the message is getting through to elected officials.

January 13, 2016 - With oil prices at their lowest point in over a decade, House and Senate leaders will meet next week to discuss ways to shore up the industry, which has invested heavily in Congress.

January 6, 2016 - By the time President Obama announced a series of executive actions to restrict firearms this week, 147 Americans had already lost their lives to gun violence in the new year, with the first fatal shooting taking place in Florida just 15 minutes into 2016. But the ongoing carnage didn't stop the gun lobby and politicians it backs from threatening to block the plan.

December 16, 2015 - After issuing two formal warnings about the problem, an alliance of voting rights advocates and affected individuals have sued North Carolina officials for failing to comply with federal laws that require state agencies to help people register to vote.

December 10, 2015 - Economic inequality, which is particularly stark in Southern states, is worsening. Two new reports document the growing gap between the rich and poor, its implications for future U.S. economic growth, and policy options for narrowing it.