Oklahoma State

WashingtonExaminer

As marijuana use becomes more mainstream, Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) is sponsoring legislation that will prevent federal agencies from rejecting applicants if they have smoked a “doobie.” The Dismantling Outdated Obstacles and Barriers to Individual Employment Act, also known as the DOOBIE Act, was introduced to the Senate on July 11 and referred to the […]

Democratic senator leads legislation preventing federal agencies from barring applicants for marijuana use

Virginia State

The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved legislation that would allow Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to recommend medical marijuana. Under current law, VA doctors are prohibited from recommending medical marijuana to their patients, even if those patients reside in states where medical marijuana is legal. A provision that would end this prohibition is included in the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies 2025 budget, approved today by the Senate Appropriations Committee in a unanimous voice vote.

U.S. Senate Committee Approves Bill Allowing VA Doctors to Recommend Medical Marijuana

Kansas State

The Independent

 A federal judge in Kansas has refused to block the nationwide enforcement of a Biden administration rule requiring firearms dealers to do background checks of buyers at gun shows, leaving Texas as the only state so far where a legal challenge has succeeded.U.S. District Judge Toby Crouse's ruling this week came in a lawsuit brought by Kansas and 19 other states, three individual gun collectors and a Wichita, Kansas-based association for collectors. They sought an order preventing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from enforcing the rule that took effect in May through the trial of their...

Federal judge refuses to block Biden administration rule on gun sales in Kansas, 19 other states

Albuquerque, NM

Espanola, NM

City of Española police cited unhoused people for trespassing on Thursday, July 31, 2024, telling them they will be arrested if they are still around the next day. (Photo by Molly Montgomery for Source NM) In the wake of a court ruling giving local governments more leeway to force...

Valencia County and Española force unhoused people off public property

New Jersey State

Writers represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. Writers are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

writer

The LA Insider

As of 2024, several peculiar new laws have taken effect across the United States, showcasing the unique and often quirky nature of local legislation:. In Nebraska, bars are now required to cook a kettle of soup if they wish to sell beer. This law ensures that patrons have a hearty meal option alongside their drinks​ (World Population Review)​.

Odd New Laws in Effect Across the U.S. in 2024

Orange County, CA

Contributors represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. They have also demonstrated their experience writing hard news for other outlets. Contributors are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

contributor

Corcoran, CA

NewSantaAna

CORCORAN – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the July 28, 2024, death of an incarcerated person at California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility as a homicide.

Pimp arrested in Orange County killed by an inmate at a state prison

Colorado State

Oregon State

Health officials say people stay up to date with their COVID shots to have the best protection, especially the elderly who are vulnerable. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Another COVID outbreak is sweeping parts of the country, with infections increasing on the West Coast. The summer spread has become a yearly trend...

COVID infections spreading in Oregon, Washington and California

HIGH PRIORITY climate legislation fell by the wayside early Thursday morning when House and Senate negotiators refused to budge, a stalemate that could have far-reaching consequences for the state’s effort to reach its emission targets. There was little dispute among the two sides on the central focus of the...

Finger-pointing galore as climate legislation stalls

Federal legislation to deschedule marijuana and allow the expungement of past convictions has just gained its 94th sponsor in the US House of Representatives. Yesterday, Congressmember Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) joined as a cosponsor to the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, bringing the total to 94. Budzinski joined as a sponsor the day after Vice President Kamala Harris announced her intentions to run for president; Harris has been a longtime supporter of the MORE Act, including cosponsoring it while she was in the Senate.

Federal Legislation to Decriminalize and Deschedule Marijuana Now Has 94 Sponsors

If the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) ultimately decides not to move forward with marijuana rescheduling, many small and minority-owned cannabis business will have to close shop, “resulting in major economic losses and unemployment,” according to a new industry report. But enacting the reform, in contrast, would grow the sector, adding more than 50,000 jobs by 2030.

Marijuana Rescheduling Would Create Over 50,000 New Jobs, Industry Group Tells DEA On Last Day Of Public Comment Period

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?

Denver, CO

David Heitz

A dangerous drug that is being mixed into fentanyl is causing those who inject it to develop a rash of sores that resembles a case of flesh-eating bacteria. People experiencing homelessness around Denver can sometimes be seen with these bloody, weeping wounds. I recently mentioned this phenomenon to a fentanyl user who told me about the xylazine connection.

Denver homeless people suffer sores as xylazine enters fentanyl supply

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

Aurora, CO

Aurora’s pallet shelters for people experiencing homelessness, which only allow a maximum 30-day stay, have been cycling the same individuals in and out, city staff told council members Thursday. Many return to street encampments when their time in the pallet shelter runs out, Jessica Prosser, homeless services director for the city, said. Then, the city sweeps the encampment again, and they get to come back to the shelter for another 30 days, Prosser explained. This process can repeat multiple times.

Aurora pallet shelters a revolving door for homeless

California State

The HD Post

CALIFORNIA – Proposition 33, Justice for Renters Act, will be on the California ballot, November 5, for voters to decide on removing a rent control ban. According to Ballotpedia, a "yes" vote repeals the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (1995), which will allow cities and counties to limit rent on any housing.

Prop. 33 will allow California voters to decide on removing rent control ban

Arizona State

Law & Crime

Kari Lake on Friday asked the Arizona Supreme Court to invalidate enough votes from the 2022 election to make her governor or to hold a new election.
The post ‘She’s delusional’: Kari Lake asks AZ Supreme Court to declare her state governor despite election loss first appeared on Law & Crime.

'She's delusional': Kari Lake asks AZ Supreme Court to declare her state governor despite election loss

Alaska State

This story was originally published in the Alaska Beacon. Alaska firefighting departments will have to stop using fire-suppression foams containing contaminants known as “forever chemicals,” under a law that went into effect on Monday. The new law is the product of a bill, Senate Bill 67, that legislators...

Bill mandating end to use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams becomes law in Alaska

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

Iowa State

Too bad she doesn’t appear to care about the country’s biggest tax cheats. Over the past couple years, the Iowa senator has been fixated on the Internal Revenue Service. But rather than help the IRS try to recover the hundreds of billions of dollars in unpaid taxes each year, Ernst and her fellow Republicans are doing the opposite. They want to choke off the funding that is helping the IRS to rein in these abuses and give you better service.

Sen. Joni Ernst wants to hold the IRS accountable but not tax cheats

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) on Thursday is introducing a bill to fill a gap in Medicare coverage for patients with substance use disorders (SUD). While Medicare covers lower-level SUD care for older adults, and so-called high-intensity residential care, it doesn’t cover some of the in-between residential recovery care that is crucial for many patients.

Casey bill would expand Medicare coverage for patients with substance use disorders

NewsBreak

Details of new Oklahoma medical marijuana program kept top secret, even from Legislature

OKLAHOMA CITY – A new medical marijuana secret shopper program, which has the power to revoke dispensary licenses, is keeping details about its operations top secret....

Details of new Oklahoma medical marijuana program kept top secret, even from Legislature

Comments / 0