civil rights
Norman C. Francis, a stalwart New Orleans leader in civil rights, business and education dies at 94
Francis was the first Black president of Xavier University and integrated Loyola University's law school
Ben Ledbetter
Ben Ledbetter, MPA, is a former journalist. Down Ballot covers local and state news in the U.S.
South Carolina
BREAKING: Spartanburg County Council calls meeting for Friday regarding possible new data center
If approved, the facility would be the fifth for the Upstate South Carolina County
North Carolina
California Pays Farms to Make Biogas from Hog Waste in North Carolina, Where Locals Say It’s Fueling Pollution
Last year, six farms were the first in the Tar Heel State to get funding from California’s program offsetting its transportation emissions. Their permits to make biogas already have civil rights complaints against them for the pollution from the process.
Mitchell County
N.C. continues to pursue cleanup of illegal mine in Mitchell County
Since the August order, the state has conducted multiple inspections at the mine and has observed that Horizon 30’s attempt to prevent harm to the site has not been successful
Mental Health
Who gets a bed in NC’s state psychiatric hospitals — and who waits?
The three state-operated facilities are designed to serve North Carolinians with the most complex mental health needs, including those who can’t be treated safely in community-based facilities.
Federal Government
Lawmakers seeking answers following FAA restrictions in El Paso, Texas region
NOLA group works to improve conditions for Mardi Gras clean-up workers, MS senators call for improved disaster response after winter storm, Tribal court hearing for former Swain, NC sheriff delayed
Jesse Jackson
A ‘servant leader’ honored: The nation pays tribute to Jesse Jackson, civil rights icon
How Jesse Jackson was shaped by Southern segregation − and went on to reshape American political life
Federal Government
The whistleblower, the Forest Service, and an endless battle in North Carolina’s mountains
Scott Ashcraft warned that the agency was imperiling Native American gravesites and artifacts. Then his three-decade career fell apart.
Helene
N.C. announces $5.7M for Flood Resilience Projects in the French Broad River Basin
Down Ballot Staff Reports Today in Woodfin, Governor Josh Stein announced $5.7 million in grants from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Flood Resiliency Blueprint to reduce flood risk in the French Broad River Basin. The announcement includes eight projects that will create new floodwater storage,
Environment
A Troubled Hog Farm in Wayne County, North Carolina, Is Hit With a New String of Violations
Equipped with both a biodigester to capture methane from hog waste and a system to spray what’s left of the feces and urine onto nearby farm fields, the former White Oaks Farm continues to pollute the surrounding environment.
Immigration
Young, undocumented immigrants are finding it increasingly hard to attend college as South Carolina and other states restrict in-state tuition or ban them altogether
William McCorkle, College of Charleston, The Conversation (The Conversation) December 9, 2025 By William McCorkle, College of Charleston The Trump administration’s aggressive deportation policies have heightened stress among the country’s approximately 14 million immigrants who are living in the U.S. without legal authorization. The sharp rise in
Environment
Extreme drought impacts three North Carolina counties
Parts of three counties are in extreme drought: Cabarrus, Stanly and Union counties.