Brown Has Golden State Thinking Big Even In Tough Times During the 30-plus years Barbara O'Connor has known California Gov. Jerry Brown (D), she says the man once derided as "Gov. Moonbeam" has developed a well-deserved reputation as... Read More

ENVIRONMENT: ILLINOIS Gov. Pat Quinn (D) vetoes SB 3442, which would have required plastic bag manufacturers to set up collection and recycling programs and barred local municipalities from establishing their own plans (QUAD-CITY TIMES). • The U... Read More

ENVIRONMENT: The NORTH CAROLINA Senate approves SB 820, legislation that would legalize the natural gas drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the Tar Heel State. The measure moves to the House (NEWS & OBSERVER [RALEIGH])... Read More

ENVIRONMENT The WYOMING Game and Fish Commission approves a plan to allow hunters to kill up to 52 wolves in the Equality State this fall (IDAHO STATESMAN [BOISE]). • The HAWAII House gives final approval to HB 2296, which would bar the import... Read More

ENVIRONMENT A MONTANA judge blocks any further relocation of Yellowstone National Park bison to the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Judge John McKeon blocked any transfers until a lawsuit filed by ranchers and property rights groups opposed to the... Read More

ENERGY: The OHIO House and Senate approve SB 315, which requires greater disclosure of chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, process to extract natural gas from underground shale deposits. The measure also requires water sampling within... Read More

KASICH SIGNS OH FRACKING BILL: Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) signed sweeping energy legislation last week (SB 315) that among many provisions establishes new rules regulating natural gas drilling procedures in the Buckeye State. But some Republican lawmakers... Read More

ENVIRONMENT The ILLINOIS Senate approves HB 4119, which would ban the sale or possession of shark fins, a delicacy often used in Chinese cooking. The measure moves to Gov. Pat Quinn (D) for review (QUAD-CITY TIMES [DAVENPORT]). • VERMONT Gov... Read More

KASICH CONTINUES PUSH FOR DRILLING TAX: Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) renewed his call to impose steeper oil and gas drilling taxes on out-of-state oil companies in order to pay for an income tax cut for Buckeye State residents, telling reporters, "The... Read More

FRACKING REMAINS A HOT TOPIC IN MANY STATES: The controversial process of hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking," has boiled over in numerous statehouses this year. The battle has often come down along party lines, with Republicans heavily... Read More

FRACKING REMAINS A HOT TOPIC IN MANY STATES: The controversial process of hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking," has boiled over in numerous statehouses this year. The battle has often come down along party lines, with Republicans heavily... Read More

KASICH CONTINUES PUSH FOR DRILLING TAX: Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) renewed his call to impose steeper oil and gas drilling taxes on out-of-state oil companies in order to pay for an income tax cut for Buckeye State residents, telling reporters, "The... Read More

ENVIRONMENT A MONTANA judge blocks any further relocation of Yellowstone National Park bison to the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Judge John McKeon blocked any transfers until a lawsuit filed by ranchers and property rights groups opposed to... Read More

ENVIRONMENT: ILLINOIS Gov. Pat Quinn (D) vetoes SB 3442, which would have required plastic bag manufacturers to set up collection and recycling programs and barred local municipalities from establishing their own plans (QUAD-CITY TIMES). • The U... Read More

ENERGY: The OHIO House and Senate approve SB 315, which requires greater disclosure of chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, process to extract natural gas from underground shale deposits. The measure also requires water sampling within... Read More