money in politics

September 5, 2014 - Now that he's stepping down as North Carolina's budget director, conservative kingmaker Art Pope will have more time to devote to his discount retail company, which recently announced controversial plans to open a grocery in a historic black Raleigh neighborhood that's also a food desert. But Pope may face competition from a food cooperative offering a dramatically different business model.

September 4, 2014 - With money pouring in from groups that don't have to disclose their donors, this is being called the "Dark Money Election." But a number of innovative initiatives are underway to limit money in politics and to promote reforms that give political power back to ordinary Americans.

August 7, 2014 - This week Gov. Pat McCrory announced that his budget director, conservative mega-donor and businessman Art Pope, will resign. The move frees Pope to resume leadership in the political influence machine he's built just in time for the fall elections.

July 25, 2014 - The deal joining North Carolina-based tobacco giants Reynolds American and Lorillard also unites two of the state's biggest corporate political contributors. Besides donating directly to candidates and committees, the companies have also been funneling money into outside spending groups active in the state's politics.

July 23, 2014 - Environmentalists and others have condemned the Obama administration's decision to open up the Atlantic to seismic testing for oil and gas reserves, blaming political pressure from deep-pocketed oil and gas interests. Just how much is the industry spending to influence federal policy?

July 17, 2014 - A new Facing South/Institute for Southern Studies analysis finds that super PACs and other outside groups spent more than $2.6 million targeting state races in North Carolina's 2014 primaries, with almost half targeted at a key seat for the state supreme court.

July 2, 2014 - Millions of dollars in outside expenditures in North Carolina's May 2014 primary were hidden or delayed from being made public thanks to loopholes in the law. If the state Senate fails to act on a bill soon, millions more will likely be obscured from public view in November.