Like so many cities and towns, the Connecticut burg of Norwalk was ready for its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony this year. But when officials went to give the lights a test drive, several strands didn’t work. Was this yet another example...
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) proposed legislation last week to return control over the issuance of liquor licenses to local governments. Under the current system, the number of liquor licenses in most locales is capped, with additional licenses...
The head of the Orlando-based group People United for Medical Marijuana announced a “massive, statewide paid petition effort” to get a constitutional amendment allowing medical pot on FLORIDA’s 2016 ballot. A medical pot amendment fell...
CA Approves SB 716, SB 142 & AB 96 The CALIFORNIA Senate gives final approval to SB 716, which would make the Golden State the first to ban elephant handlers from using a bullhook, a sharp-pointed tool animal activists say is inhumane. It moves...
FBI NABS AL LAWMAKER IN CORRUPTION STING : FBI agents arrested longtime ALABAMA Rep. Jack Williams, former state GOP Chairman Marty Connors and Trina Healthcare CEO Ford Gilbert last Monday on corruption charges. Gilbert is accused of devising a scheme...
LA Senate Approves SB 178 The LOUISIANA Senate approves SB 178 , which would allow Pelican State students to wear bulletproof backpacks on school grounds. It is now in the House (FOX8LIVE.COM [NEW ORLEANS]). IL Governor Signs SB 863 ILLINOIS...
IN House Approves HB 1137 and HB 1214 The INDIANA House unanimously approves HB 1137 , which codifies that hemp and its related products, like CBD oil or cannabidiol, are not marijuana and therefore are not regulated by the state’s drug laws...
His controversial deal with Chinese manufacturing company FoxConn might have helped skewer Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) bid for a third term, but it seems unlikely that Gov.-elect Tony Evers (D) will be able to stop it from continuing forward...
On occasion, really valuable things mistakenly find their way to thrift stores or yard sales. Such was the case last month when, as the AP reports , an original copy of a 1774 “rebel” newspaper featuring articles penned by some guy named John...
CO POT SALES BREAK $1B LEVEL EARLIER THAN EVER Combined recreational and medical marijuana sales in COLORADO topped $1 billion in August, the earliest point they’ve reached that level in the four years marijuana has been allowed for recreational...
Last month the West Virginia House voted to impeach all of the sitting justices on the state’s Supreme Court. And this week the Senate will begin its impeachment trial for those justices. At least a couple of the justices have been charged...
According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, America’s GDP grew by 4.2 percent between the first quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of this year, the highest quarterly rate since 2014. And an energy boom, fueled by higher oil and gas prices...
STATES TEMPORARILY BLOCK 3D PRINTABLE GUNS U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik temporarily blocked the TEXAS -based company Defense Distributed from publishing blueprints on the Internet for making plastic guns on 3D printers. That decision came...
TRUCKING INDUSTRY SUES RI OVER NEW TOLL SYSTEM The American Trucking Association and three companies - MASSACHUSETTS -based, convenience-store chain Cumberland Farms; MASSACHUSETTS -based cargo carrier M&M Transport Services; and NEW JERSEY -based...
Baker Opposes MA Nurse Staffing Mandates MASSACHUSETTS Gov. Charlie Baker (R) said a recent report by the state Health Policy Commission has convinced him to vote no on Question 1 , a ballot measure that would require strict nurse-to-patient ratios...
AK Senate Pres Calls for Consideration of Sales Tax: In response to the budget plan proposed last month by ALASKA Gov. Bill Walker (I), calling for new taxes, a reduction in Permanent Fund dividends, and $100 million in spending cuts to address the...
Vermont First Lady Katie Hunt is no fan of the media. As the Burlington Free Press reports , Hunt was miffed last year when the press leaked news of their engagement, which the couple had wanted to keep private. She also wasn’t thrilled with the...
Elected leaders get their share of nice gifts, most of which are fairly generic . But some can be downright quirky. As CBS News reports , Alaska Gov. Bill Walker has had his share of both. Some of the more interesting include a pair of sea otter fur mittens...
The MARYLAND Senate approves SB 323, which would require the Old Line State to cut its greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent from 2006 levels by 2040. The bill has moved to the House (BALTIMORE SUN).
California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed legislation this week to expand a tax on health insurers to avoid a loss of federal money that would have made a huge hole in the state’s Medi-Cal budget. Brown signed a package of bills on Tuesday -...
Social Policy in NY NEW YORK Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) issues Executive Order No. 151, which directs Empire State police and government and social-service agencies to identify those who appear to be homeless and, when temperatures are at freezing or below...
SC Weighs Policing Capitol Demonstration Permits A SOUTH CAROLINA Senate panel has approved a bill ( SB 944 ) that would create a permitting process for demonstrations on Capitol grounds that would allow law enforcement officials to deny a permit if...
Speaking of pressers on the California Capitol steps...there has been a noticeable dearth of such dog and pony shows this year. As the Los Angeles Times reports, theories as to why abound, from the stewardship of decidedly non-flashy Gov. Jerry Brown...
The Alabama House Republican Caucus has proposed a plan to address a projected budget shortfall of $290 million for 2016. The plan calls for cost reductions, including the suspension of longevity bonuses for state employees for a year and mandatory furloughs...
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner seems like a guy who needs a hug, some decaf or likely both. Rauner came into office breathing fire and vowing to take names and dismember anyone who gets in his way. Okay, not really that last part but he has definitely been...