Kentucky Republicans are forming a 527 organization called “Kentucky Strong” to recruit and train prospective female political candidates. “Women are leaders in their homes, businesses, communities and increasingly at all levels...
Citing ongoing conflict with lawmakers of both parties, Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) said he will wait until at least January before seeking to fill dozens of vacancies on state boards and agencies. Angry that lawmakers had not acted on tax reform proposals...
Death Penalty Measure Challenged in NE Death penalty opponents in NEBRASKA have filed a lawsuit to block a proposed ballot measure aimed at reinstating capital punishment in the state. The suit alleges the measure should be invalidated because Gov...
Brown to Run OREGON Gov. Kate Brown (D) announced she will seek to retain her job in next fall’s election to select someone to fill the remaining two years in the term of Gov. John Kitzhaber (D), who resigned in February amid corruption charges...
CALIFORNIA Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signs AB 1222, which among several things codifies regulations that currently apply to individual tow truck drivers to also apply to towing companies and requires a towing company or the owner or operator of a tow truck...
CALIFORNIA Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signs AB 902, which allows a person of any age who commits a traffic infraction not involving a motor vehicle to participate in a diversion program that is sanctioned by local law enforcement and eliminates the requirement...
LA Signs Common Core Bills LOUISIANA Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) signs a trio of bills related to common Core: HB 373, which requires public hearings to discuss Common Core standards in the state’s six congressional districts; SB 43, which adds legislative...
CALIFORNIA Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signs SB 407, which authorizes a health care provider to employ or contract licensed midwives for the purpose of providing comprehensive perinatal services (LEXISNEXIS STATE NET). Also in CALIFORNIA, Gov. Brown (D) signs...
CALIFORNIA Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signs AB 53, which requires a parent, legal guardian, or the driver of a motor vehicle to properly secure a child under a specified age in an appropriate rear-facing child passenger restraint system, unless the child is...
For years, a small but vocal – very vocal – group of Californians has been pushing hard for the Golden State to legalize ferrets, a small member of the weasel family they contend make great pets. Alas, lawmakers in Sacramento rarely agree...
Politics is not a sport for the weak of constitution. Proof came again recently when, as reported by The New York Times , a political ally turned frenemy put out a book accusing British Prime Minister David Cameron of having quite the wild youth. Included...
Pope Francis has become one of the most popular and occasionally controversial people in the world. With huge crowds expected wherever he goes, his much anticipated visit to the U.S. in late September – including an address to both houses of Congress...
Death penalty opponents in NEBRASKA have filed a lawsuit to block a proposed ballot measure aimed at reinstating capital punishment in the state. The suit alleges the measure should be invalidated because Gov. Pete Ricketts (R), who helped finance the...
As we mentioned in a previous post , September was National Preparedness Month. Now October seems destined to put us to the test. An NPR broadcast this morning points out one big problem with preparedness planning—it only works when you’re...
Mass deaths from falsified medicines are not uncommon. In 2012, a fake tuberculosis drug administered to patients at a hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, killed 100 people. Officials in India investigating the deaths of more than 8,000 people in a Himalayan...
California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed legislation last week making the Golden State the fifth to allow doctors to legally prescribe terminally ill patients drugs to help them end their own life. The signing of ABx2 15 ended – at least temporarily...
By the end of this year, 25 states will have considered legislation to allow terminally ill patients to end their own lives, according to the Death With Dignity National Center. Although Death with Dignity measures failed in 12 of those states, they were...
Nearly every state in the nation is struggling to maintain its aging transportation system. But Utah is one of just seven states (the others are Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Washington) that passed a gas tax increase this year to help...
New Jersey lawmakers are getting creative in their efforts to rescue struggling Atlantic City. A bill (SB 2721) approved by the Senate’s State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee last week would exempt “A-list...
The U.S. Justice Department has reached a $20.8 billion final settlement with BP over its role in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. That sum is $2.1 billion bigger than the $18.7 billion initial settlement announced in July, which was already the...
OR Tax Refund Kicking In OREGON will give taxpayers $402 million in rebates on their 2015 returns, thanks to the state’s kicker law, which requires the state to give taxpayers their money back whenever revenues exceed the forecast made at the...
Some information about state legislatures is pretty easy to find, such as which party controls each chamber or who contributed to legislators’ election campaigns. But what those lawmakers do for a living when their legislatures aren’t in session...
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine (R) has filed a lawsuit challenging parts of a new voter-approved marijuana ordinance in the city of Toledo because he says they contradict with state law and will encourage crime. The city’s “Sensible Marihuana...
Online Voter Registration Comes to WV WEST VIRGINIA residents are now able to register to vote online through the Secretary of State’s website. The only identification required is a valid West Virginia driver’s license or an ID card issued...
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) expressed reservations about a proposal from state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg to launch the Lottery’s own fantasy sports website. Baker said he would prefer the Lottery focus on its current offerings. “The...