California State

The Center Square

(The Center Square) - California State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, R-Jackson, became the first Democratic State Senator to join the Republican Party mid-term in 80 years.
                The rural State Senate Fourth District has a noticeable Republican leaning and hasn’t voted for a Democrat for president since 1992. Alvarado-Gil came second in the primary for her first term in 2022 behind another Democrat, guaranteeing a Democrat would gain the seat due to the state’s so-called “jungle primary” that allows the top two vote-getting candidates — regardless of...

California Democratic State Senator switches to GOP caucus, first in 80 years

TheDailyBeast

A California state senator, fed up with the Democratic Party’s supermajority in the Golden State’s legislature, announced she is defecting to the Republican Party. Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil was elected in 2022 to represent California’s fourth senate district, which includes parts of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the agrarian Central Valley. Alvarado-Gil made the party switch announcement on Thursday, after serving two years of her four year term. “I was elected to serve the public, not a political ideology,” Alvarado-Gil said in a statement. “The status quo under a supermajority Democratic rule in the legislature is simply not working for this state.” In an interview with Sacramento Bee opinion columnist Marcos Bretón, Alvarado-Gil said the “last straw” was the attempt to pass reforms to Proposition 47—a decade-old ballot initiative that downgraded some property crimes like shoplifting, forgery, and writing bad checks to misdemeanors. Read it at Sacramento BeeRead more at The Daily Beast.

California State Senator Defects From Democratic Party

Texas State

Indiana State

WASHINGTON (CN) — In a rare unanimous move, the Senate on Thursday passed a bipartisan bill aimed at expanding the federal judiciary and easing the caseloads currently faced by federal courts and judges. That bill, known as the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved or JUDGES Act, was sponsored...

Senate unanimously approves bill adding dozens of new federal judgeships

Las Vegas, NV

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Bellingham Metro News

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck areas near Las Vegas on Tuesday night, according to the United States Geological Service (USGS). The quake, which occurred at 8:06 p.m., was centered approximately 45 minutes from Las Vegas, near Indian Springs.

Magnitude 4.4 Earthquake Shakes Areas Near Las Vegas

New Jersey State

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Los Angeles, CA

Herbie J Pilato

It's been 40 years since actor Jon-Erik Hexum died of an accidental self-inflicted gun shot on October 18, 1984 in Los Angeles. He was only 26 years old, and this is his story.

In Memory of Actor Jon-Erik Hexum:  40 Years After His Accidental, Self-Inflicted Tragic Death

Georgia State

Douglas, GA

Daily Coffee Press

Last week, a 32-year-old was arrested on trafficking charges after allegedly fleeing from a traffic stop and abandoning the vehicle with a child in the passenger seat. The chase resulted in the discovery of 230 grams of methamphetamine, which the suspect allegedly threw out while fleeing on foot. According to local detectives, the vehicle the suspect was driving was registered to NFL football player Tyreek Hill.

Man Driving Vehicle Registered to Tyreek Hill Arrested on Drug Trafficking Charges in Douglas

Ohio State

The Lantern

On Tuesday, licensed Ohio dispensaries began legally selling non-medical marijuana to consumers; however, the drug’s possession, growth and/or usage are still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus. Credit: Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS [Original caption: Four citizen-led petitions with proposals to update Dallas’ charter hit the 20,000 valid signature threshold to make it on the Nov. 5 election ballot, including one that would ban police officers from arresting or citing people carrying less than four ounces of marijuana.] As of Tuesday, students 21 and older can now legally purchase marijuana in Ohio.

Dispensary sales of recreational marijuana began Tuesday; possession and usage still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus

Colorado State

David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Today

A historic marker could be erected to honor the victims of the racist mass shooting at the Dollar General store in Jacksonville’s New Town neighborhood nearly a year ago. If approved by the Jacksonville City Council, a marker would be installed at Kings Road and Canal Street on Aug. 25, a day before the first anniversary of the shooting, when a white gunman took the lives of three Black people.

Memorial considered to honor Dollar General victims

Atlanta, GA

A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to over 28 years in prison for distributing significant amounts of fentanyl and other controlled substances to dealers in the Middle Georgia region. Authorities revealed that investigators uncovered evidence linking the drugs provided by the defendant, 40-year-old Lagary Williams, also known as "Frog," from Atlanta, to a fatal overdose.

Atlanta Man Sentenced to 28 Years for Supplying Deadly Fentanyl Linked to Fatal Overdose

Ocilla, GA

Last Thursday, agents from the South Central Drug Task Force (SCDTF) made an arrest following a successful execution of a search warrant at a residence in Ocilla. According to officials, the search yielded a significant quantity of drugs, including tablets suspected to contain fentanyl, associated with a criminal street gang.

Successful Drug Bust in Ocilla Leads to Arrest Linked to 'Local Criminal Street Gang'

Denver, CO

In addition to collecting more than 8,000 used needles in the past year from Denver drug users, the Harm Reduction Action Center passed out 10,000 meth pipes and “snort kits,” according to a newsletter sent to its supporters Thursday. They also connected about 1,700 people to medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Denver group hands out 10K meth pipes, ‘snort kits,’ connects 1,700 to treatment annually

A former Jacksonville police officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Josue Garriga III, 34, faces a mandatory penalty of 10 years to life in federal prison and must register as a sex offender. A sentencing date has not been set.

Former cop pleads guilty to enticing 17-year-old girl

South Carolina State

Colleton County, SC

Explore Beaufort SC

Some beachgoers were in for a surprise this week when a bizarre looking prehistoric fish washed ashore in Colleton County along Edisto Beach at Edisto Beach State Park. It turned out to be an atlantic sturgeon.

Rare Atlantic sturgeon washes ashore on South Carolina beach

Los Angeles County, CA

It's been 33 years since the handsome actor and Emmy award-winning TV game show host Bert Convy died of a brain tumor at 57 in 1991. This is his story. Bert Convy was born July 23, 1933, in St. Louis, Missouri. His father was in the shoe business, while his parents separated when he was just seven years old. His mother moved the family to California in the San Fernando Valley, where Convy attended North Hollywood High and was named the "class clown."

In Memory of Actor/Game Show Host Bert Convy: 33 Years After His Tragic Death From Brain Cancer

Montana State

The Hill

Sen. Jon Tester’s (D-Mont.) campaign announced Tuesday that it’s launching a “Republicans for Tester” group as the Montana Democrat braces for a competitive reelection bid this fall. The campaign noted that the group has more than 100 GOP members, which include former Montana Gov. Marc Racicot...

Tester campaign launches ‘Republicans for Tester’ group in Montana Senate race

Winder, GA

A 50-year-old former jailer has been charged by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) with cruelty to inmates and violation of oath of office. On Sunday, July 21, the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI to investigate an incident involving one of their jailers, Lolita Lightner of Winder, Georgia.

Former Jailer at Georgia County Jail Arrested

Appling County, GA

A 40-year-old man from Appling County, Christopher Eric Stone, with a significant criminal history, was recently sentenced to over five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, according to officials from the Department of Justice.

Georgia Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years for in Federal Prison for Meth Distribution

The Lens

This year’s area of low oxygen in the Gulf of Mexico is larger than average, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on Thursday. The “dead zone” is approximately 6,705 square miles , as measured last week. Within NOAA’s 38 years of measuring the dead zone, this year’s assessment marks the 12th-largest area of low to no oxygen, which can kill fish and marine life.

Gulf ‘dead zone’ larger than average, larger than expected for 2024, scientists announce

Arizona State

WashingtonExaminer

(The Center Square) – Increased gun regulation is something that Arizona Democrats have long been fighting for, only to be shut down by Republican legislators. With a chance of winning the majority in November, policymakers are brainstorming gun control bills they would like to see on Gov. Katie Hobbs’ desk. Only two seats away from […]

What Democratic majorities would look like in the Arizona legislature: Gun control

NewsBreak

Mother Lode Senator’s Rape Bill Clears Hurdle

Sacramento, CA – A rape bill authored by Mother Lode State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil to protect victims has cleared a major hurdle. Today, the California State...

Mother Lode Senator’s Rape Bill Clears Hurdle

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