State Policy

June 20, 2014 - As the North Carolina legislative session draws to a close, Moral Monday organizers are planning a mass protest on June 23 involving sit-ins and teach-ins inside the legislative building to begin the voter mobilization work leading up to the Nov. 4 election.

June 20, 2014 - The North Carolina Senate is considering a bill to address Duke Energy's coal ash pollution, but it fails to go far enough to protect communities from the health hazards of the toxic waste.

June 13, 2014 - A recent study looked at the costs associated with corrupt government, showing that corruption is taking a heavy toll on taxpayers in Southern states -- an average of $1,308 annually per capita in the most corrupt states, which are concentrated in the region.

June 13, 2014 - This week's Moral Monday protest in Raleigh focused on education, in particular the funding crisis for public schools. North Carolina was once known as a leader in public education, but not anymore. What's happening?

June 6, 2014 - North Carolina has passed a law fast-tracking fracking. Now state leaders are seeking taxpayer dollars to help the industry -- despite the billions it earns in annual profits and its detrimental effects on environmental health.

June 4, 2014 - A new conservative advocacy group called Carolina Rising says a falling unemployment rate is good news for North Carolina's economy. But economists warn of ominous developments behind the numbers, including people dropping out of the workforce and a shift toward low-wage jobs. Meanwhile, state lawmakers are considering new cuts to unemployment benefits.

May 23, 2014 - After public outcry over a bill to lift North Carolina's fracking moratorium that made unauthorized disclosure of fracking chemical trade secrets a felony offense, the state Senate changed the penalty to a misdemeanor before passing the bill and sending it to the House, where it appears it might face opposition for other reasons.