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Abortion opponents push state lawmakers to promote unproven ‘abortion reversal’
Read more Stateline coverage on how states are either protecting or curbing access to abortions. Anti-abortion organizations are pushing state lawmakers to promote a controversial and unproven “abortion reversal” treatment — flouting the objections of medical professionals who point out it is not supported by science. In...
In face of threats, election workers vow: ‘You are not disrupting the democratic process’
Hundreds of election workers in Washington state’s second-largest county were busy opening mail-in ballots earlier this month when one of them came across a plain white envelope. As she cut it open, white powder leaked out. She carefully took off her gloves, put them down, backed away and called her supervisor. Workers evacuated the building […] The post In face of threats, election workers vow: ‘You are not disrupting the democratic process’ appeared first on Stateline.
High fees, long waits cast shadow over new criminal expungement laws
More states are making it easier for residents to clear or seal their criminal records. The effort has drawn bipartisan support, as lawmakers across the political spectrum say it will help people find jobs and housing, in turn boosting local economies and reducing reliance on social services. “Folks that get out of jail or prison […] The post High fees, long waits cast shadow over new criminal expungement laws appeared first on Stateline.
Climate change, drought, wildfires reduce value of private forestland in the West by billions
This story first appeared in the Oregon Capital Chronicle. Investing in private timberland in the West has become increasingly risky, according to a new study from Oregon State University researchers, with values declining by billions of dollars in the last two decades. The economic value of private timberland in California, Oregon and Washington has declined […] The post Climate change, drought, wildfires reduce value of private forestland in the West by billions appeared first on Stateline.
Some states act to protect residents from extreme heat — with a new focus on young people
After two years of record-breaking heat that brought a surge of deaths and health emergencies, several states have enacted or are considering measures designed to protect residents — with a new focus on younger people whose vulnerability is rising with the temperatures. Nationally, heat-related deaths rose from about 1,000 in 2018 to 1,722 in 2022 […] The post Some states act to protect residents from extreme heat — with a new focus on young people appeared first on Stateline.
Most states ban shackling pregnant women in custody, yet many report being restrained
This story was produced by KFF Health News. Ashley Denney was about seven months pregnant in 2022 when police handcuffed her during an arrest in Carroll County, Georgia. Officers shackled her even though the state bans the use of restraints on pregnant women in custody beginning at the second trimester.
A year after devastating winter storm, power plant problems ‘still likely’ in extreme weather
Nearly a year ago, a Christmas weekend storm blasted across the country, forcing utilities to cut electricity to hundreds of thousands of people in parts of the Southeastern U.S. after temperatures plunged, demand spiked, large numbers of power plants failed and natural gas supply was strained. As the anniversary of...
When foster care kids are sex trafficked, some states fail to figure it out
For help, call 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733 for the 24/7 National Human Trafficking Hotline, a national, toll-free hotline. When she was a 10-year-old foster child, T Ortiz often rode a public bus around the San Francisco Bay area, alone. She’d frequent a bus stop by a barber shop. Little by little, the barber, who was […] The post When foster care kids are sex trafficked, some states fail to figure it out appeared first on Stateline.
Federal appeals court dismisses Arkansas redistricting lawsuit
This story first appeared in the Arkansas Advocate. A federal appeals panel on Monday affirmed a lower court’s ruling and dismissed a case challenging Arkansas’ state redistricting map, asserting that only the United States attorney general can enforce the Voting Rights Act. A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that private […] The post Federal appeals court dismisses Arkansas redistricting lawsuit appeared first on Stateline.
Despite setbacks, states are still counting on offshore wind
In recent months, East Coast states’ plans to install massive new offshore wind farms have been battered by bad economic news, canceled contracts and newfound uncertainty about the projects officials are counting on to reach their clean energy goals. Despite the setbacks, state leaders say they don’t intend to dial back their offshore wind ambitions. […] The post Despite setbacks, states are still counting on offshore wind appeared first on Stateline.
Worries over secrecy grow as state officials shield records from the public
Just weeks after lawmakers in Little Rock passed legislation shielding certain state records from public disclosure, opponents launched an effort to amend the Arkansas Constitution to protect access to government documents. “The coalition that’s coming together on this is about as broadly bipartisan as you could get — from the extreme, extreme right to the […] The post Worries over secrecy grow as state officials shield records from the public appeared first on Stateline.
Cursive makes a comeback — by law — in public schools
In 2016, California Democratic state Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva sat with then-California Gov. Jerry Brown at an event where he signed baseball-type cards featuring the image of his dog, Colusa. But many of the recipients of the cards couldn’t read his cursive signature, Quirk-Silva recalled, much to the Democratic governor’s dismay. “The governor asked me what […] The post Cursive makes a comeback — by law — in public schools appeared first on Stateline.
States grapple with racist language in real estate deeds
Lisa Boccetti is horrified by the restrictive covenant that is in the deed to her 1950s ranch house in Raleigh, North Carolina: It states that the land cannot be sold or occupied by Black people. The property “shall not be sold to negroes or to any person or persons of negro blood, and said premises shall […] The post States grapple with racist language in real estate deeds appeared first on Stateline.
The ‘doctor of nursing practice’ will see you now
When Vernon Langford sees patients, he typically wears a white lab coat with his title — “Dr.” — and his credentials as a nurse practitioner stitched on the front. “My credentials are on any jackets I have, the shirts I wear. If I have a name tag, it’s on that,” said Langford, who works as […] The post The ‘doctor of nursing practice’ will see you now appeared first on Stateline.
How lawmakers in Texas and Florida undermine COVID vaccination efforts
This story was produced by KFF Health News. Katherine Wells wants to urge her Lubbock, Texas, community to get vaccinated against COVID-19. “That could really save people from severe illness,” said Wells, the city’s public health director. But she can’t. A rule added to Texas’ budget that went into effect Sept. 1 forbids health departments […] The post How lawmakers in Texas and Florida undermine COVID vaccination efforts appeared first on Stateline.
Courts, state officials hesitate to keep Trump off 2024 ballots
Some scholars say a little-known, Civil War-era provision in the U.S. Constitution should prohibit former President Donald Trump from appearing on state ballots in next year’s presidential election. But it seems increasingly unlikely that he will be disqualified. Courts in Colorado, Michigan, New Jersey and elsewhere are considering whether Trump engaged in insurrection on Jan. […] The post Courts, state officials hesitate to keep Trump off 2024 ballots appeared first on Stateline.
Ohio voted on abortion. Next year, 11 more states might too.
This story was produced by KFF Health News. UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. — As activists parse the results of last Tuesday’s vote to protect abortion rights in Ohio, Jamie Corley is already well on her way to putting a similar measure in front of Missouri voters next year. Corley, a former Republican congressional staffer, filed not […] The post Ohio voted on abortion. Next year, 11 more states might too. appeared first on Stateline.
Cash bail policies are under fresh scrutiny
States can’t figure out what to do about cash bail. The system — in which an arrested suspect pays cash to avoid sitting in jail until their court date and gets the money back when they appear — is deeply entrenched in the nation’s history as a way to ensure defendants return to face justice. […] The post Cash bail policies are under fresh scrutiny appeared first on Stateline.
Less driving but more deaths: Spike in traffic fatalities puzzles lawmakers
Traffic deaths are lingering near historic highs in most states despite less driving overall, prompting policymakers to consider deploying more police or installing automated monitoring such as speed cameras to curb speeding and reckless driving. People are driving fewer miles than they were in 2019, but more are dying on...
Virginia Republicans embraced a 15-week abortion ban — and then lost
This story was originally published by The 19th. Virginia voters handed Democrats control of the Senate. See the results here, and sign up for our daily newsletter. Virginia Republicans bet their fate on a strategy that they hoped would neutralize abortion rights and warnings from Democrats: Embrace a 15-week abortion ban with some exceptions and convince voters […] The post Virginia Republicans embraced a 15-week abortion ban — and then lost appeared first on Stateline.
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