Nebraska State

LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen pushed back Thursday against recent legislative criticism of his approach and process for pursuing his favored property tax relief proposals. In a statement, the governor thanked state senators he said have worked hard to find ways to deliver the “transformative property tax relief”...

Gov. Pillen pushes back against legislative criticism of his property tax approach

LINCOLN — Education organizations have joined opposition to the Nebraska Legislature’s current draft plan to reform a school funding model in pursuit of property tax relief. The Education Collaboration — representing teachers, administrators, school boards, rural schools and more — said a draft amendment to Legislative Bill 9...

Education organizations, Sen. Linehan at odds over NE school funding, property tax proposals

Florida State

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Akeena

Red Lobster, the popular seafood chain, has confirmed additional closures in Florida, adding to its recent wave of shutdowns following the company’s bankruptcy filing in May. The latest round of closures includes two more Florida locations, highlighting the ongoing struggles of the iconic restaurant chain.

Popular seafood chain announces more closures in Florida

Tennessee State

Gov. Bill Lee says he will continue to support former President Donald Trump after Trump referred to him as a RINO -- Republican in Name Only -- last week. (Photo: John Partipilo) Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is bowing the knee — unnecessarily — to former President Donald Trump despite getting...

Stockard on the Stump: Governor letting Trump run over him like a RINO

North Carolina State

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Town Talks

A recent social media update from Cherokee, the site of North Carolina's first and only cannabis dispensary, announced that adult-use recreational marijuana is coming soon. The Aug. 1 post is a landmark occasion. The Great Smoky Cannabis Co., run by Qualla Enterprises backed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee, will become the first N.C. recreational marijuana dispensary to fully open to adults over the age of 21.

Will recreational marijuana be legal in NC? What to know after Cherokee approved sales

Lake Mary, FL

If you're a fan of hearty breakfasts and brunches in Florida, you might have had Keke’s Cafe on your radar. Known for its generous portions and friendly service, Keke’s has been a go-to spot for many. However, the Lake Mary location recently hit a bump in the road, resulting in a temporary shutdown following a state inspection that uncovered 15 violations.

Breakfast Eatery Closed in Florida for Roaches, Dirty Hands, and Cold Foods Over 41 Degrees

Texas State

Scripps News

A Texas judge is considering a lawsuit that alleges temperatures inside state prisons can push above 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Federal lawsuit aims to force Texas prisons to have mandatory air conditioning

Chicago, IL

Foodie in Chicago

Shortly before 3 AM, people in the Chicago area may have felt their houses shake as a 3.4-magnitude earthquake occurred about 60 miles west of the city. (CHICAGO) The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 3.4-magnitude earthquake around Somonauk, IL. Somonauk is in DeKalb and LaSalle Counties, 64 miles west of Chicago.

Did You Feel the Earthquake?

West Virginia State

The Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review rulings that found the state’s refusal to cover certain health care for transgender people with government-sponsored insurance is discriminatory, Republican Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said Thursday.  In April, the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 8-6 in the case involving coverage of gender-affirming surgery by West Virginia Medicaid, finding that the “coverage exclusions facially discriminate based on sex and gender identity,” according to a majority opinion penned by Judge Roger Gregory. The state of West Virginia had argued that officials in states with limited resources should have discretion to utilize those resources as they see fit to meet the needs of the population. West Virginia is one of the U.S. states with the most people living under the poverty line and the worst health outcomes.  “We’re not a rich state — we can’t afford to do everything,” Morrisey said Thursday during a live-streamed briefing with press. “And that’s one of the challenges that we have with this mandate. There’s only so much money to go around, and spending money on some treatments necessarily takes it away from others.”

West Virginia is asking the US Supreme Court to consider transgender surgery Medicaid coverage case

Valrico, FL

Hey there, Floridians! If you're a fan of fresh produce and a farmer's market vibe, you might have some mixed feelings about the news from Valrico. The Fresh Market, known for its focus on organic options and quality meats and cheeses, is set to close its doors in the Lithia Crossings shopping center.

Grocery chain known for Organic options and quality meats is set to close its doors in Florida

New Jersey State

The bill signed by acting Gov. Tahesha Way Thursday bars employers from using a worker's immigration status to prevent the worker from complaining about unfair or illegal labor practices. (Courtesy of the state of New Jersey) Employers who try to cover up labor violations by threatening their workers based on...

Acting governor signs law strengthening job protections for immigrant workers

Ohio State

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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

Savannah, GA

Daily Coffee Press

Newly returned indictments in the Southern District of Georgia include felony charges for illegal firearms possession and drug distribution, while additional defendants have been sentenced to federal prison or await further proceedings after pleading guilty to federal gun charges.

Federal Charges in Southern GA: Indictments and Sentences for Firearms and Drug Offenses

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A federal control board overseeing Puerto Rico’s finances filed a lawsuit Friday challenging amendments to the island’s net metering law, which compensates solar-equipped households for their contributions to the grid, triggering a backlash. The lawsuit filed against Gov. Pedro Pierluisi aims...

Federal control board sues Puerto Rico’s governor over net metering law

For smokers, February 25, 1990, marked the beginning of the end. Up until then, it was a tobacco-fueled, carefree time for nicotine-chasers. You could not only light up in restaurants, chain-smoke at work, and stub out in malls, sports arenas and movie theaters, but you could blow smoke rings while hurtling through the sky (on flights over two hours at least).

When Was the Last Cigarette Smoked on a Plane?

Missouri State

Jersey City, NJ

A Jersey City mayoral aide lost his job after helping his sister's hate-filled campaign to be Missouri's secretary of state. Boo-hoo. (Edwin J. Torres/ Governor’s Office) Praise gay Jesus, Valentina Gomez has fallen. Gomez, whose quest to become Missouri’s new secretary of state centered around saying nasty things about...

A bigot lost her election and her brother lost his job. I’m not shedding any tears.

Illinois State

WashingtonExaminer

(The Center Square) – Migrants who get deported from the country may be able to keep their professional license from Illinois under a new law.  Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the measure into law last week. House Bill 5457 provides that the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may not revoke, suspend, or take any other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action […]

Illegal immigrants can keep professional licenses despite deportation with new law

Jacksonville Today

Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency in Northeast Florida and across much of the state as a tropical system appears almost certain to develop. The National Hurricane Center said Friday morning that a tropical wave has a 90% chance of developing into at least a tropical depression over the next seven days. Most models show it moving into the Gulf of Mexico and then coming ashore and crossing the state, possibly moving over Northeast Florida.

Tropical system is nearly certain to develop

Sussex County, DE

Georgetown, DE

The Springboard Village is composed of 40 cabins that provide people experiencing homelessness with transitional housing and resources. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JOSE IGNACIO CASTANEDA PEREZ. Georgetown’s transitional housing pallet village is facing a funding shortfall, jeopardizing the project that houses 40 people experiencing homelessness in Sussex County.

Future of Georgetown pallet village jeopardized amid funding woes

NewsBreak

Oral tobacco tax, residential electricity exemption to be considered at Wednesday hearing

LINCOLN — The Legislature’s Revenue Committee will host two final hearings Wednesday morning, to consider adding a new tax on flavored nicotine pouches and to exempt...

Oral tobacco tax, residential electricity exemption to be considered at Wednesday hearing

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