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August 27, 2012 - The North Carolina General Assembly's Republican leaders are raising more money from special-interest political action committees than their predecessors, despite promises to end the state's "pay to play" political culture.

August 27, 2012 - Public employees of the North Carolina city hosting next week's Democratic National Convention protest because they have to work long hours at low pay yet are denied collective bargaining rights.

August 24, 2012 - The Securities and Exchange Commission stood up to intense pressure from the likes of ExxonMobil and the American Petroleum Institute to approve rules that will shine a light on dealings between some of the world's biggest corporations and the poor countries from which they extract vast amounts of wealth.

August 23, 2012 - Congressman Todd Akin (R-Mo.) has sparked controversy with his wildly un-scientific remarks about rape and pregnancy -- but he's hardly the only politician with eyebrow-raising views on the matter.

August 22, 2012 - The theme of the Republican National Convention in Florida is "We Built This," an echo of the GOP's anti-government spending message. But bashing the public sector may not fly in Florida, a state that relies on defense dollars, the space program and other taxpayer-funded programs for economic survival.

August 22, 2012 - Tests find low levels of health-damaging pollutants including radioactive elements in and around the Texas Brine sinkhole in Bayou Corne, La. -- but environmental advocates say the potential cumulative health impacts justify continued monitoring.

August 22, 2012 - Louisiana's school voucher program, meant to give low-income families greater choice, leaves fewer options for students with disabilities.