As Gas Tax Revenue Shrinks, More States Consider Mileage Tax on EVs
Infrastructure
As Gas Tax Revenue Shrinks, More States Consider Mileage Tax on EVs
2022-10-10 18:17:11
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON — As revenue from gas taxes declines with the growing popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles, more states are considering charging fees based on miles driven to cover maintenance costs for roads and bridges, according to a new Stateline... Read More

States Try to Overturn New Federal Fuel Efficiency Standards
Litigation
States Try to Overturn New Federal Fuel Efficiency Standards
2022-07-05 17:15:11
by Tom Ramstack

WASHINGTON — A lawsuit filed last week by predominantly Republican states says the U.S. Department of Transportation exceeded its authority with new stricter fuel efficiency standards for automobiles. Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, Texas and Utah are among states asking a federal... Read More

Governors Turn to Budgets to Guard Against Climate Change
In The States
Governors Turn to Budgets to Guard Against Climate Change

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Their state budgets flush with cash, Democratic and Republican governors alike want to spend some of the windfall on projects aimed at slowing climate change and guarding against its consequences, from floods and wildfires to dirty... Read More

Republican States Defy Biden’s Vaccine Mandate
Political News
Republican States Defy Biden’s Vaccine Mandate
2021-11-05 23:01:41
by Tom Ramstack

ST. LOUIS — Traditional Republican states showed their opposition to the Biden administration’s announcement Thursday of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate by filing lawsuits to oppose it only a day later. The mandate orders companies with at least 100 employees to... Read More

States Learning How Many Afghan Evacuees Coming Their Way
In The News
States Learning How Many Afghan Evacuees Coming Their Way

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration began notifying governors and state refugee coordinators across the country about how many Afghan evacuees from among the first group of nearly 37,000 arrivals are slated to be resettled in their states. California is... Read More

AP-NORC poll: COVID Anxiety Up, Vaccine Requirements Favored
Opinion Polls
AP-NORC poll: COVID Anxiety Up, Vaccine Requirements Favored

DENVER (AP) — Anxiety in the United States over COVID-19 is at its highest level since winter, a new poll shows, as the delta variant rages, more states and school districts adopt mask and vaccination requirements and the nation's hospitals... Read More

GOP Lawmakers Target Authority of County and State Election Officials
In The States
GOP Lawmakers Target Authority of County and State Election Officials
2021-08-03 19:58:58
by Reece Nations

Secretaries of state and county election officials nationwide resisted calls by former President Donald Trump and his allies to decertify the results of the 2020 presidential election. Now, Republican legislators in at least 14 states have enacted 23 new laws... Read More

More States Agree to Settlement Plan for Opioid-maker Purdue
Prescription Drugs
More States Agree to Settlement Plan for Opioid-maker Purdue

More than a dozen states have dropped their longstanding objections to OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma's reorganization plan, edging the company closer to resolving its bankruptcy case and transforming itself into a new entity that helps combat the U.S. opioid epidemic... Read More

White House, States Ramp Up Vaccine Incentives as Numbers Slow
In The States
White House, States Ramp Up Vaccine Incentives as Numbers Slow
2021-06-02 19:39:20
by Alexa Hornbeck

Vaccination rates, which reached a peak of 3.38 million shots per day in April slowed to fewer than 2 million doses per day in May. In response on Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced a “month of action” to urge more... Read More

States Push Jobless From Virus Recession to Return to Work
In The States
States Push Jobless From Virus Recession to Return to Work

STOWE, Vt. (AP) — Eduardo Rovetto is hoping the state of Vermont's reinstated requirement that people who are collecting unemployment benefits must seek work to qualify will help him hire enough staff for his restaurant in the resort town of... Read More

Some States Plan Big Spending With Biden’s Aid, Others Wait
In The States
Some States Plan Big Spending With Biden's Aid, Others Wait

Though still awaiting money from the latest federal coronavirus relief act, some governors and state lawmakers already are making plans to add the multibillion-dollar boon to their budgets. Among their priorities: bailing out depleted unemployment accounts, expanding high-speed internet and... Read More

Second Shot in Different State Could Be Skewing Total Vaccination Numbers
Health
Second Shot in Different State Could Be Skewing Total Vaccination Numbers
2021-04-28 19:22:04
by Alexa Hornbeck

Stefani Jahjahrova, a 30-year-old Costco employee, received her first vaccine shot in Denver only five days before transferring to a new work location in Virginia.  “I was told I need to reach out to arrange an appointment, and it’s up... Read More

35 States at Extreme Risk of Partisan Gerrymandering
In The States
35 States at Extreme Risk of Partisan Gerrymandering
2021-04-16 18:58:52
by TWN Staff

Thirty-five states are at extreme or high risk of partisan gerrymandering, according to an in-depth report by the nonpartisan RepresentUs organization. The Gerrymandering Threat Index rates all 50 states, and its authors argue their findings underscore the urgent need to... Read More

White House Issuing Reports on States’ Infrastructure Needs
Infrastructure
White House Issuing Reports on States' Infrastructure Needs

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden White House is amplifying the push for its $2.3 trillion infrastructure package with the release of state-by-state breakdowns that show the dire shape of roads, bridges, the power grid and housing affordability.The figures in the... Read More

Medicaid Incentive So Far Not Enough to Sway Holdout States
In The States
Medicaid Incentive So Far Not Enough to Sway Holdout States

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

Election Officials Say Combating Lies Will be Big Challenge
State News
Election Officials Say Combating Lies Will be Big Challenge

After an election season dominated by conspiracy theories and false claims about voting, top election officials across the country say they already are bracing for what comes next. They are grappling with ways they can counter waves of misinformation in... Read More

State Health Officials Ask Congress to Help in COVID-19 Vaccinations
Health
State Health Officials Ask Congress to Help in COVID-19 Vaccinations
2021-02-03 16:54:09
by Tom Ramstack

WASHINGTON -- Signs of hope are emerging to end the COVID-19 pandemic but they will continue only if the United States speeds up its rate of vaccinations, state health officials told a congressional subcommittee Tuesday. The number of vaccinations administered... Read More

GOP Lawmakers Seek Tougher Voting Rules after Record Turnout
State News
GOP Lawmakers Seek Tougher Voting Rules after Record Turnout

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republican lawmakers in statehouses across the country are moving swiftly to attack some of the voting methods that fueled the highest turnout for a presidential election in 50 years. Although most legislative sessions are just getting underway, the Brennan... Read More

Confusion, Lack of Planning and Delayed Funding Trouble States’ Vaccine Rollouts
State News
Confusion, Lack of Planning and Delayed Funding Trouble States’ Vaccine Rollouts
2021-01-08 21:39:34
by Sara Wilkerson

As the first week of the new year comes to an end, the vaccine distribution system across the country continues to face numerous challenges in producing an effective rollout as the public remains confused on who is supposed to get... Read More

Shelves Bare of Toilet Paper, New State Restrictions as COVID Remains Stubborn Adversary
State News
Shelves Bare of Toilet Paper, New State Restrictions as COVID Remains Stubborn Adversary
2020-11-17 22:09:00
by Dan McCue

It's the time of year when many of us start to think "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas," but for residents of an ever-growing number of states, this November is starting to look an awful lot like March... Read More

COVID-19 Surge Quickens Across Entire US, Leaving No State Safe
State News
COVID-19 Surge Quickens Across Entire US, Leaving No State Safe

Eight months into the pandemic, the coronavirus is infecting Americans at an increasing pace no matter where they live. The seven-day average of new cases was climbing in every state in the U.S. on Sunday, a shift from earlier waves of the... Read More

States Expanded Voting Access for the Pandemic. The Changes Might Stick
Elections
States Expanded Voting Access for the Pandemic. The Changes Might Stick

ANCASTER, Pa. — With one envelope slicer, three ballot scanners and around 175 people, it took election officials roughly 37 consecutive hours to process 91,000 mail-in ballots in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. "It's taking a little longer to scan than we had hoped,"... Read More

What If a State Can’t Agree Which Presidential Candidate Won?
Political News
What If a State Can't Agree Which Presidential Candidate Won?

Imagine this scenario: It's been weeks since Election Day, and in one state, it's not clear which presidential candidate won. In an initial count, the Democrat won by roughly 100 votes. Then an audit found a counting error that put the... Read More

Pandemic Tightens Grip on US, Setting Reopened States Reeling
Health
Pandemic Tightens Grip on US, Setting Reopened States Reeling

The COVID-19 pandemic, which set records for infections and hospitalizations across the U.S. on Wednesday, is now predicted to kill 180,000 Americans by October, adding to dire signs that prompted a stock-market selloff and drastic measures from government leaders. The... Read More

The US Reopening Is Coming, But ‘Normal’ Is Still a Ways Off
Economy
The US Reopening Is Coming, But 'Normal' Is Still a Ways Off

Everyone wants to know: When, oh when, will it go back to normal? As some governors across the United States begin to ease restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus, hopes are soaring that life as Americans knew... Read More

Barr to Prosecutors: Look for Unconstitutional Virus Rules
Justice
Barr to Prosecutors: Look for Unconstitutional Virus Rules

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr on Monday ordered federal prosecutors across the U.S. to identify coronavirus-related restrictions from state and local governments “that could be violating the constitutional rights and civil liberties of individual citizens.” The memo to... Read More

House Members Join Together to Help State, Local Governments Secure Networks
Cybersecurity
House Members Join Together to Help State, Local Governments Secure Networks
2020-02-11 18:42:23
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON - Seven House members have come together in a bipartisan effort to help state and local governments address cybersecurity weaknesses in their networks. The lawmakers engaged in the effort are Reps. Cedric Richmond, D-La., John Katko, R-N.Y., Derek Kilmer,... Read More

States Sue Federal Government Over Impending Food Stamp Losses
Litigation
States Sue Federal Government Over Impending Food Stamp Losses
2020-01-30 21:06:42
by Tom Ramstack

WASHINGTON -- Fourteen states have joined a lawsuit that seeks to block the Trump administration from reducing food benefits for about 700,000 people nationwide. The cuts represent a rule change the U.S. Department of Agriculture finalized shortly before Christmas for... Read More

Trump Administration to Allow Medicaid Block Grants
Medicaid
Trump Administration to Allow Medicaid Block Grants
2020-01-30 16:46:35
by Dan McCue

WASHINGTON - States will now have the ability to convert part of their Medicaid funding into a block grant under a new program announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Thursday. According to Seema Verma, administrator of... Read More

Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s Executive Order That Lets State Leaders Ban Refugees
Immigration
Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s Executive Order That Lets State Leaders Ban Refugees

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Trump administration executive order that gives state and local officials discretion on whether or not refugees would be allowed to resettle in their jurisdictions. Wednesday’s preliminary injunction, issued by U.S. District Judge Peter... Read More

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