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.

February 20, 2015 - While governors in the Southeast are pushing for offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic, elected officials in other East Coast states are fighting the proposal, saying the potential cost is too great.

February 19, 2015 - Democrats made Big Money in politics a big issue in 2014, and now some Republicans want to tackle campaign-finance reform, too. But how far will GOP support go?

February 18, 2015 - With state and federal policies taking a heavy financial toll on historically black colleges and universities, one public HBCU in South Carolina is facing the threat of closure -- and its supporters are fighting back with a federal race-discrimination lawsuit.

February 12, 2015 - States have laws about parental drug use. But Tennessee's law handcuffs new mothers, including ones who are poor, upon delivery. Treatment for those seeking help is rare.

February 11, 2015 - A Facing South/Institute for Southern Studies report reveals the top power players in North Carolina politics, based on their lobbying clout and spending on state elections. It's a snapshot of the special interests that are best able to make their voices heard -- and push their agenda -- with state lawmakers.

February 10, 2015 - In a new report, "Tar Heel Power Brokers," Facing South/Institute for Southern Studies ranks the top 101 most influential special interests in North Carolina politics through a combination of lobbying power and political spending in N.C. state-level elections. Use this interactive graphic to look up any special interest and learn about its spending and lobbying.