Fight Between States Could Determine Fate of Abortion Pills
A tangle of lawsuits has prohibited, protected and limited access to a common medication for abortion. While long-term decisions have yet to be made, some states are planning ahead. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.
Voting to Raise Their Own Pay Puts State Lawmakers in a Bind
Persistently low salaries discourage everyday citizens from serving in state legislatures. Unless salaries are raised, “we’ll have a legislature of only wealthy or retired people.”
Black History Is Everyone’s History
COMMENTARY | How does an incomplete, inaccurate education omitting Black contributions serve society?
‘We Needed a Maestro:’ After Months Long Search, New York City Has Found Its Rat Czar
Kathleen Corradi has been going after rodents since she was 10. Her work is about to get even bigger.
Do Zoning Reforms Benefit Renters?
A new study suggests updated land-use regulations are slow to help low-income households.
Biden Administration Moves to Lower Toxins Released by Coal Plants
The new standards would limit the amount of mercury and other toxins that plants could release.
Special Medicaid Funds Prompt Oversight Concerns
More than 35 states use an under-the-radar federal funding mechanism to boost payments for hospitals and other providers under Medicaid. But watchdogs say sparse oversight makes it hard to tell if the “directed payments” program is meeting its goals.
How Florida Became the Center of the Republican Universe
Gov. Ron DeSantis has racked up solidly conservative policy wins. But will his record resonate with voters in the middle?
State & Local Roundup: Massachusetts Fights 'Hunger Cliff' with SNAP Boost
Plus: Tennessee expels Black lawmakers; Liberal Democrats score wins in the Midwest; Connecticut governor insults Houston; and more news to use from around the country.
How Do Benefits Enrollment Sites Stack Up?
Civic tech organization Code for America analyzed state social services websites for customer experience. A few states stood out.
North Carolina Republicans Seize Supermajority
Party switches are rare, but this one by a sitting lawmaker in North Carolina is particularly "shocking" and weakens the hand of Gov. Roy Cooper.
Warming Temperatures Trigger Earliest Spring on Record in Parts of Eastern US
Unseasonably early blooms can wreak havoc on allergies, disease vectors and agriculture.
Idaho Governor Vetoes Bill to Restrict Library Materials
The bill allows parents to sue libraries for giving out materials “harmful to minors." Of his veto, Gov. Brad Little said the state doesn't need a "library bounty" and that he’s more concerned about what kids can find on the internet.
Norfolk Southern Has Spent Millions on Lobbying and Political Donations. Will It Pay Off?
Lawmakers in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. are pushing reforms to railroad laws as Norfolk Southern faces scrutiny over recent train derailments.
Tennessee’s Rightward Shift
Long-brewing tensions at the Tennessee Capitol burst into public view Monday, as Republican House members began the process of ousting three of their Democratic colleagues for participating in an anti-gun protest in the chamber last week.
More States Allow Residents With Felony Convictions to Vote
Nearly half the states in the U.S. now allow people previously convicted of felonies to vote.
Milwaukee County Set to Install Harm-Reduction Vending Machines
The initiative aims to reduce drug overdose deaths.
New Jersey Bill Would Track Deadly Car Crashes Involving Marijuana
The bill would require the state to publish information annually on how many car crashes involve drivers under the influence of cannabis.
California Takes the Lead on Curbing Big Oil Price Gouging
The state's pioneering law could set limits on the industry's profits, and impose fines on those that exceed it.
States Grapple with the Death Penalty
As it becomes harder and harder to obtain the drugs involved in lethal injections, most states are pausing executions and others are turning to older methods, such as firing squads.
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