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May 19, 2016 - In a recent National Public Radio interview, the businessman and conservative mega-donor denied funding anti-LGBT rights groups that support North Carolina's "bathroom bill." But the record clearly shows he has.

February 4, 2016 - The only super PAC in the billionaire Koch brothers' conservative political network, which is set to spend almost $1 billion on this year's election, Freedom Partners Action Fund just submitted its year-end report to the Federal Elections Commission. It shows a small number of conservative mega-donors are bankrolling the group's efforts, including seven Southern businessmen.

August 13, 2015 - After a stint as North Carolina's budget director, discount retail magnate and Republican kingmaker Art Pope is back to spending money on electoral politics.

February 25, 2015 - Charles and David Koch, who run the Koch Industries conglomerate and support a national network of conservative political groups, plan to spend close to $900 million on the 2016 elections -- and they're getting help from businesspeople in the South.

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.

May 2, 2014 - Deep-pocketed interest groups are spending unprecedented amounts to influence a critical primary race for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat. Here's a look at the key people and groups behind the Big Money onslaught.

December 20, 2013 - Informational pickets at stores owned by conservative donor and North Carolina budget director Art Pope entered their third week, expanding into towns and cities with a more conservative political reputation.