Filibustering and other such political gabfesting as a means of blocking legislation has been practiced by every party since Plato walked the earth. The latest incarnation comes from the Oregon Legislature, where outmanned Republicans have managed to...
Uber-patriotic national holidays are a golden opportunity for minor league baseball teams in deep red locales to fill the stadium. Such was the case in May when the Pacific Coast League’s Fresno Grizzlies marked the Memorial Day holiday with a video...
Last year, HSBC announced plans to hire 1,000 data scientists to work on AI and big data projects which it hopes will improve its customer experience and risk management. Josh Bottomley, Global Head of Digital Data and Development at HSBC, explains to...
In the battle to mold and amend California’s sweeping data privacy law before it goes into effect next year, efforts to carve out numerous exceptions are easily winning out over those that would make the law even tougher. The ramifications...
As of the start of this year, at least 25 states had passed laws requiring businesses that handle personal data to implement security procedures to protect that information from unauthorized access, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures...
This month Oklahoma and West Virginia became the first two states to reach legal settlements with drug companies over their role in the opioid crisis. Together the states will receive almost $300 million as a result of those agreements. With hundreds...
Since 2017 over 55,000 people from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras have come to the United States seeking asylum. That flood of new immigrants is stretching the resources of city and state governments - particularly those in California, Florida, Maryland...
SOME CT TOWNS BLOCKING AFFORDABLE HOUSING Dozens of wealthy towns in CONNECTICUT have blocked the construction of low-income housing within their borders for the past two decades. The percentage of low-income housing has actually declined somewhat...
Last month it looked like Connecticut might become the second state, after Washington, to enact a public health insurance option, with Gov. Ned Lamont and Democratic legislative leaders announcing their support for a bill ( HB 7267 ) that would create...
The U.S. Supreme Court has suspended two lower court rulings requiring new congressional district maps to be drawn in Michigan and Ohio, pending a decision by the justices on the constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering. Lower courts had ruled...
BILL BLOCKING BIRTH DATES FROM VOTER LISTS ADVANCES IN RI A bill ( HB 5925 ) approved by RHODE ISLAND’s House Judiciary Committee would enshrine into law Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea’s (D) current policy of excluding full birth dates...
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) wasted no time last week addressing the final batch of bills lawmakers sent to him this session, vetoing eight and letting another 10 become law without his signature. Most of the measures Hogan vetoed would have imposed...
Saying it would guarantee “a better auto insurance system for everyone,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed SB 1 , a sweeping overhaul of the Wolverine State’s auto insurance laws. One of the most significant changes contained...
Cooper Signs NC Pay Leave Order Saying that “parenting is often more than a full-time job,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) issued Executive Order 95 last week, which grants up to eight weeks of paid parental leave to many of the estimated...
CA Assembly Endorses AB 5 The CALIFORNIA Assembly endorses AB 5 , a bill that could require employers to officially recognize hundreds of thousands of so-called “gig” workers as employees. Under the bill, employers seeking to avoid having...
ME Governor Signs HB 798 MAINE Gov. Janet Mills (D) signs HB 586 , a bill that eliminates religious and philosophical exemptions for receiving immunizations required by Pine Tree State schools and day cares. The law takes effect 90 days after lawmakers...
CA Assembly Approves AB 1162 The CALIFORNIA Assembly approves AB 1162 , which would largely ban the small bottles of shampoo and other toiletries provided by hotels. Hotels could still provide the small bottles of shampoo and other personal care products...
AL House and Senate Endorse SB 73 The ALABAMA House and Senate endorse SB 73 , a measure that would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from employing contractual “gag clauses” to forbid pharmacists from telling customers if they can save...
WA Governor Signs SB 5497 WASHINGTON Gov. Jay Inslee (D) signs SB 5497 , legislation that bars local authorities from asking residents about their immigration status. Washington joins CALIFORNIA and OREGON with so-called “sanctuary state”...
Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks MI Law A federal judge temporarily blocks a MISSISSIPPI law that would ban most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, at about six weeks of pregnancy. U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves previously banned a Magnolia...
The role of chief executive—whether that’s a president, CEO, managing director or some other title—is critical to the success of any organization. That’s why, when the position becomes vacant, such careful attention must be placed...
TX Legislature Gives Final Approval to SB 22 The TEXAS Legislature gives final approval to SB 22 , which contains an amendment that would bar local governments from doing any business with Planned Parenthood. It moves to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for consideration...
Man, it just ain’t any fun being a kid these days. Case in point comes from Georgia, where Gov. Brian Kemp last month vetoed a bill that would have required most Peach State schools to schedule recess time for kids in grades K-5. But as the Atlanta...
It’s never a good idea to feed wildlife, if for no other reason they lose their fear of humans even while humans don’t lose their fear of them. Such is the case these days in New Hampshire, where Mink the black bear has returned from exile...
Being in politics means learning to roll with the punches, but former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently had to take that lesson a step further. As the Washington Post reports , Schwarzenegger was signing autographs at his annual Arnold Classic...