In The States

WASHINGTON - The Federal Election Commission on Wednesday announced the filing schedules for upcoming special elections to fill the seats of former Reps. Debra Haaland and Marcia Fudge, both of whom have taken positions in the Biden administration. Prior to... Read More

ATLANTA (AP) — Critics of Georgia's new Republican-backed election law issued fresh calls Monday to boycott some of the state's largest businesses for not speaking out more forcefully against the law, a day after advocacy organizations filed a lawsuit in... Read More

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York is poised to join a growing number of states that have legalized marijuana after state lawmakers reached a deal to allow sales of the drug for recreational use.  The agreement reached Saturday would expand... Read More

A Georgia lawmaker was arrested and forcibly removed from the state Capitol Thursday night as Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed a sweeping overhaul of state election laws, including adding new restrictions on voting by mail. Georgia State Rep. Park Cannon,... Read More

CHEYENNE, Wyo. –  The state of Wyoming sued the Biden administration Wednesday challenging what state lawmakers describe as a "de-facto moratorium on oil and gas leasing" on federal land. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Wyoming, asserts Interior... Read More

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Miami Beach Interim City Manager Raul J. Aguila declared a state of emergency Saturday lasting through April 12 as spring break crowds overwhelm the popular tourist destination. Officials have imposed strict curfews to curb the partygoers'... Read More

The Kansas Senate has confirmed two women to serve on the state's court of appeals, including the first woman of color to serve in that position. In doing so, the Senate took steps to assure itself neither woman would be... Read More

WASHINGTON - Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., is looking to get ahead of what could be a prolonged debate over infrastructure priorities and has proposed streamlining and expediting the permitting process to get projects moving faster. Davis is the prime sponsor... Read More

DENVER - A bill that would establish standards of care for every dog and cat housed in an animal shelter or rescue facility in the state passed a crucial test in the Colorado legislature this week. HB1160, known as the... Read More

WASHINGTON - Rep. Filemón Vela, D-Texas, announced Monday he will not seek reelection in 2022, becoming the second House Democrat to announce their retirement in what could be a difficult cycle for the majority party. Earlier this month, Rep. Ann... Read More

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Last week, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a multitude of resources for Washington state citizens, including extension of the state’s eviction moratorium and a new phase for vaccine eligibility, as well as the resumption of long-term care visitations... Read More

SANTA FE, N.M.— The New Mexico House of Representatives has approved the Wildlife Conservation and Public Safety Act which would prohibit traps, snares and poisons on public lands. The vote was 35-34. The measure, Senate Bill 32, passed the New Mexico... Read More

WASHINGTON -- The tumultuous legacy left by rioters during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol carried through into a congressional hearing Monday on statehood for the District of Columbia. The mayor wanted to call in the National Guard... Read More

Saturday was special election day in Louisiana, where 15 candidates were in the running to represent the state's 5th Congressional District and 12 were vying for a seat in Congress in the state's 2nd Congressional District. The election in Louisiana's... Read More

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Democrats' nearly $2 trillion coronavirus relief package includes a big financial incentive for the states that have opted against expanding Medicaid to provide health coverage for more low-income Americans. It's proving to be a tough sell.... Read More

CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — President Joe Biden turned up at a minority-owned flooring business in suburban Philadelphia to highlight how his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package can help small businesses and to put a face on those who have struggled... Read More

For many people, the image of climate change is a coastal event. It’s the more frequent and larger hurricanes being followed by The Weather Channel. And whole tropical nations disappearing into the sea. But what of the plains, the vast... Read More

PORTLAND, Ore. -  A mayor-led press conference that prominently featured law enforcement on Monday afternoon condemned the "violence and intimidation tactics" of groups operating in Portland which they described as lawless, prone to property damage, and bad for the community.... Read More

DALLAS — Texas’ Fifth District Court of Appeals ruled Thursday in favor of a former Tarrant County College District employee who claimed she was fired from her job after disclosing her sexual orientation to a supervisor. Amanda Sims alleged in... Read More

WASHINGTON - A bipartisan bill to extend the Paycheck Protection Program to May 31 is gaining support in the House and the Senate and will likely be voted on before lawmakers head back to their districts at the end of... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Biden-Harris administration announced a plan Friday to ramp up novel coronavirus vaccine manufacturing capacity in India alongside leaders of the Indo-Pacific alliance called “the Quad.”  President Biden announced the plan during a virtual summit with Prime Minister... Read More

When Steven Reed was elected the first Black mayor of Montgomery, Ala., he came with an ambitious plan to develop the city and to move towards equity.  He viewed his election as a mandate for equity that could outline a... Read More

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, who is currently overseeing a criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump will not seek re-election to a fourth term, he announced Friday morning. “Representing the people of New York during this pivotal era for... Read More

With COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations continuing their downward spiral, New York State will begin allowing weddings and catered events to take place starting March 15, subject to strict health and safety protocols. "From day one, we have said that... Read More

WASHINGTON – Is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell working behind the scenes with allies in the Kentucky legislature to assure he’s replaced by a Republican should he decide to retire?  That’s been the speculation since the filling of Senate Bill... Read More

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday signed into law a Republican-backed bill that makes it harder to vote early, potentially eroding a key aspect of Democratic campaigns. The  Bill was approved in a party-line vote in... Read More

PHOENIX - Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order last week requiring public schools to offer in-person, teacher-led instruction by Monday, March 15. According to the Republican governor, 12 of Arizona’s 15 counties are in phases where all schools... Read More

BISMARCK, N.D. - The North Dakota House of Representatives expelled Republican Rep. Luke Simons on Thursday on charges he “exhibited a history of hostile, threatening, and inappropriate behavior, most frequently toward women.” The vote to remove him was 69-25. According to the resolution, Simons... Read More

Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Dan McKee was sworn in las week as the state’s new governor following former Gov. Gina Raimondo’s confirmation as the nation's next secretary of commerce. McKee was first elected as lieutenant governor in 2014, prior to which he... Read More

Rhode Island voters authorized $400 million in borrowing last week, funding projects across the states ranging from improving state beaches to renovating affordable housing projects to bosltering arts and state preservation progams. The seven bond measures were on the ballot... Read More