California State

(TNS) — In an admittedly unusual move, a group of Democratic members of Congress dipped their toes into state politics Thursday, urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto what has become the marquee piece of artificial intelligence regulation in California, and perhaps the country. Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara; Zoe...

Members of U.S. Congress Urge Veto of California AI Bill

Utah State

The Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) No official decisions have been made, but there’s a chance the Utah Legislature could hold a special session as soon as next week as GOP legislative leaders face calls to tackle two key Utah Supreme Court rulings that rankled Republicans.

Utah legislators eye special session, maybe next week. Will it deal with abortion, redistricting?

POLITICO

The governor will sign bills establishing new penalties for retail theft. Democrats hope they will stanch support for Prop 36.

Newsom's latest effort to derail crime-fighting ballot initiative

Note: This article is intended for information purposes only. Because state and municipal laws vary greatly, as do the circumstances of individual cases, readers are advised to contact an attorney for specific legal advice. Views and opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and contributor(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher and editors of WholeFoods Magazine.

The Supreme Court Finally Tells the Alphabet Agencies That They Are Not Legislators

Kansas State

Kansas delegates represent their state July 17, 2024, at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) He wouldn’t say the name. Surrounded by delegates waving “Mass Deportation Now” signs during the Republican National Convention, NBC reporter Jacob Soboroff — winner of several awards for his reporting,...

‘Mass Deportation Now’ plans fall apart under scrutiny, for Kansas and U.S. That’s not the point.

Louisiana State

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry offered some advice to parents unhappy about the Ten Commandments being displayed in their child’s school - “Tell the child not to look at it.”. During a press conference on Monday, Landry dismissed any potential criticisms about the state requiring public schools to display...

Louisiana Governor advises parents upset about Ten Commandments display in schools to ‘tell the child not to look’

Washington State

The Independent

 Standing at a transit center near four new wireless bus charging stations in a small community west of Seattle, Gov. Jay Inslee told transit and city leaders where money to pay for them — more than $1 million — came from.“It’s possible only because of the Climate Commitment Act," Inslee said, citing a program that works to cut pollution while raising money for investments that address climate change. “That was the source. It’s the only way we’re able to do this.”Inslee made similar remarks as he visited a salmon habitat restoration project and then test-drove a car from an...

In Washington state, Inslee's final months aimed at staving off repeal of landmark climate law

New Jersey State

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) exits Manhattan federal court on July 16, 2024, in New York City. Menendez and his wife Nadine are accused of taking bribes of gold bars, a luxury car, and cash in exchange for using Menendez's position to help the government of Egypt and other corrupt acts according to an indictment from the Southern District of New York. The jury found Menendez guilty on all counts. (Adam Gray | Getty Images)

Sen. Menendez pulls independent bid for Senate, ending Congressional career

Until the moment President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign crashed to an end last month, no one remained a more committed cheerleader than Gov. Gavin Newsom, who forcefully defended Biden in television interviews and on the campaign trail against calls to drop out. But in the weeks since Biden did...

Gavin Newsom, once Biden’s biggest cheerleader, inches into the Kamala Harris campaign

Nebraska State

The Nebraska Legislature moved toward advancing a series of budget cuts Wednesday, despite arguments they could hurt services and were not necessary. One day after they advanced LB34, to expand a property tax credit program, senators wrestled Wednesday with how to pay for it, and whether those decisions needed to be made in this legislative special session.

Legislature moves toward budget cuts

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

Idaho State

Florina Ruvio, an early childhood development specialist and board member of Idahoans United for Women and Families, signs the petition to submit four ballot initiative proposals to restore abortion access in Idaho. (Courtesy of Melanie Folwell) Editor’s note: This story was updated at 10: 27 a.m. with a statement from...

Idaho group files four initiative proposals to restore abortion access to state with ban

Montana State

Wyoming State

WyoFile

To increase the genetic diversity of an island population of grizzly bears , Wyoming and Montana wildlife managers recently worked together to import fresh bloodlines into the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Two Montana grizzly bears trucked to Wyoming to bolster genetic diversity, help states’ delisting case

Alabama State

An immigration activist participates in a rally near the U.S. Supreme Court as they demonstrate to highlight immigrant essential worker rights, on May 12, 2021 in Washington, DC. Immigrant activists have criticized two bills filed in the Alabama Legislature that would enhance penalties for undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes and allow local law enforcement to enter into agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to enforce federal immigration laws. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Two prefiled Alabama immigration bills draw criticism

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

Then state Rep. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, presents a bill on the Louisiana House floor on May 23, 2023. (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator) A Louisiana state lawmaker plans to introduce legislation that would enshrine a controversial definition of antisemitism in law in response to increased tension on college campuses. Sen. Valarie...

Louisiana senator wants controversial definition of antisemitism in state law

Florida State

Uncovering Florida

With hurricane season posing a consistent threat six months out of the year, who would not like a little help getting their home ready for the harsh weather to come? Senate Bill 7028: My Safe Florida Home Program, approved by Governor DeSantis on April 24, 2024, and effective as of July 1, appropriates a one-time total of $200 million from 2024 to 2025 for the purpose of funding hurricane mitigation grants and inspections, as well as outreach and administration costs, to support homeowners in Florida.

DeSantis Signs New Bill Giving $200 Million To Homeowners

South Carolina State

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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

North Carolina State

The Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Republican-led House quickly overrode three of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes on Wednesday. The House votes, largely along party lines, sent the overrides to the Senate, which does not meet this week. Veto overrides require supermajorities from both legislative chambers to become law. Since gaining supermajorities last year, GOP lawmakers have blocked all of Cooper’s vetoes.  The first bill allows the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles to issue title certificates for all-terrain and utility vehicles, and expands the types of roads accessible for modified utility vehicles to include all roads with speed limits of 55 mph or less. Cooper said in his veto statement that the law would endanger people on state highways because off-road vehicles don’t have as many safety features. The second piece of legislation changes several laws involving tenancy, notaries and small claims court. What mostly prompted Cooper’s veto was a prohibition against local ordinances that aim to stop landlords from denying tenancy to people whose rent money comes mostly from federal housing assistance programs.

North Carolina's GOP-controlled House overrides Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's vetoes

NewsBreak

Do outgoing legislators ‘shop’ for lobbying jobs in final weeks of the session?

With some of the year’s biggest decisions still pending, nearly a quarter of California’s 120 lawmakers may soon be unemployed. Many of them are thinking about...

Do outgoing legislators ‘shop’ for lobbying jobs in final weeks of the session?

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