The MAINE Department of Education announces it will not give Pine Tree State schools A-F letter grades this year. Officials said the reason for the action was that students are taking a new assessment test and the state will not have enough data to measure...
A three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia issued a new congressional map for the state that gives Democrats a chance to pick up another seat in this year’s election. The judges ruled last year that...
North Carolina’s 2013 voter ID law returned to federal court last week in a case that could have ramifications across the country. The law - passed by the state’s GOP-led General Assembly six weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court, in Shelby County...
Environment In CO The COLORADO Supreme Court strikes down an ordinance in the town of Longmont that barred hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and the disposal of waste water associated with the process within city limits. The court said the law was...
The CALIFORNIA Senate approves SB 674, which would require local and state law enforcement agencies to sign certifications for qualified immigrant crime victims when they have been helpful to the investigation of a crime like sexual assault and domestic...
As Illinois entered its sixth month without a state budget last week, Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) and Democrats who control the state’s General Assembly reached a rare agreement to free up $3.1 billion in state funds. The money will go to a host of needy...
Last Tuesday, primary elections were held in four states - Maine, Nevada South Carolina and Virginia - and a special election was held in Wisconsin. Support for President Trump continued to be a key factor in GOP primaries. Corey Stewart eked out...
Federal Court Rejects Appeal A federal court rejects an appeal by for-profit colleges to halt implementation of Obama administration rules that make it easier for defrauded students to get their federal loans forgiven and prohibit colleges from forcing...
On Election Day Oregon voters rejected a proposition ( Measure 104 ) that would have required a three-fifths majority in both chambers of the state’s legislature to approve tax hikes, as well as other policy changes that would increase state revenues...
Two GOP governors have signed executive orders making their states the latest to bar government agencies from doing business with companies that are boycotting Israel. On October 23 rd , Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) signed EO 01.01.2017.25 , which requires...
Expensive Ballot Battle Coming to CA The California secretary of state’s office announced last month that a measure imposing price controls on state drug purchases has qualified for the state’s November 2016 ballot. The California Drug...
Cuomo Enlists Subway to Fight Zika NEW YORK Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said subway workers in New York City will help the state fight the spread of the Zika virus by dropping mosquito-killing larvicide tablets into puddles of stagnant water between rail...
California lawmakers have been exceedingly vocal in their intentions to battle the Trump administration at every turn. But they may soon face off with another foe that comes from closer to home: the Golden State’s own Republican delegation to Congress...
Moving quickly to act on a campaign pledge, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) began dismantling predecessor Gov. Tom Corbett’s (R) private-option “Healthy PA” in favor of extending traditional Medicaid to hundreds of thousands of newly...
The ARKANSAS Senate approves legislation that would authorize the continuance of the state’s so-called “private option” Medicaid expansion plan for another year. That program uses federal funding to pay for private health care insurance...
The truth shall set you free. But sometimes it can also free you from your job. Such was the case recently for Virginia resident Juli Briskman. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, her story will. As the Washington Post reports , Briskman is the woman...
Crime In Florida A FLORIDA court rules that an expansion of the Sunshine State’s “stand your ground” law is unconstitutional. Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch said lawmakers overstepped their authority in requiring prosecutors to disprove...
Talk of tax reform in the nation’s capital at the start of the year had state lawmakers and governors scrambling to prepare for it. But the panic has subsided, evidently because state officials no longer think it will happen before the end of the...
The option of casting a straight party-line vote with a single click or mark of an election ballot would be eliminated in INDIANA under a bill backed by GOP leaders of the state’s House. Straight-ticket voting has been on the decline over the past...
It sounded like a good plan at the time. California Republicans, irritated at the failure of majority Democrats to come up with a plan to address the Golden State’s perpetually clogged roadways, developed a campaign to foster public support for...
SB 468 Approved in LA The LOUISIANA Senate approves SB 468 , which would require all exotic dancers in the Pelican State to be at least 21. The bill moves to the House (TIMES-PICAYUNE [NEW ORLEANS]). SB 5949 Signed in NY NEW YORK Gov. Andrew...
No Smoking on NJ & CA Beaches The NEW JERSEY Assembly and Senate endorse AB 893 , which would ban smoking at all Garden State public parks and beaches. It is now with Gov. Chris Christie (R), who vetoed similar legislation in 2014 (NJ.COM). The...
TX Planning $1.3B in Transportation Projects The TEXAS Transportation Commission unveiled a plan last month calling for $1.3 billion in roadway projects to reduce traffic congestion around the state's five largest cities: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth...
Dayton Out of Hospital MINNESOTA Gov. Mark Dayton (D) was briefly hospitalized last week after fainting at a public event. The 69-year-old Dayton, who also underwent elective back surgery last December, was released after one day. Doctors believe he...
Prince’s shocking and untimely death shook the entire world last month, spurring a tsunami of tributes and condolences from musicians, athletes, fans and even President Obama . A wealth of state and national lawmakers also weighed in, though none...