Interesting articles from around the web

Hotly contested local races set to take the political stage in NC
http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2017/08/09/hotly-contested-local-races-set-take-political-stage-nc/

The consultant hired to redraw state legislative districts for Republican House and Senate leaders will be paid $50,000 for his service.  Say what?! 
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article166115407.html

Democrats  gerrymander in Maryland for partisan advantage.  Emphasizes the need for a transparent, non-partisan process rather than just new maps.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/how-deep-blue-maryland-shows-redistricting-is-broken/531492/?utm_source=atlfb

Leveraging the Power of Black Women 
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/women/news/2017/07/31/436903/leveraging-power-black-women/#.WYhl1BEsc2E.email