http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=149681785 http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-calif-uses-hix-for-voter-registration.html In a move that other states are expected to follow, California is giving people who contact the state's new health exchange to buy insurance the opportunity to register to vote at the same time. http://www.governing.com/news/federal/mct-new-fracking-rules-issued-by-interior-department.html The Interior Department proposed new rules to regulate hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas drilling on federal lands, drawing criticism from environmentalists and the industry. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-illinois-to-allow-17-year-olds-to-vote-in-primaries.html The Illinois legislature has passed a bill allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they are going to turn 18 by the November general election. In doing so they become the 13th state to allow this group of teens to vote in primaries. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-ntsb-advocates-stricter-standards-for-drunk-driving.html The National Transportation Safety Board recommended Tuesday that states lower their threshold for drunken driving from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent or less. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-minnesota-becomes-12th-state-to-allow-ssm.html Minnesota becomes the 12th state to allow same-sex marriage with Gov. Mark Dayton's signature, which was celebrated with a large festival. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-fl-lawmakers-insurance-premiums-contrast-with-votes-on-medicaid.html Florida House Republicans last month rejected billions of dollars in federal money that would have provided health insurance to 1 million poor Floridians while keeping their own health insurance premiums staggeringly low. http://www.governing.com/news/local/mct-la-discovers-millions-lost-through-accounting-error.html The money was found in a Transportation Department special fund, making officials wonder whether other misplaced money can be found. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-gop-controlled-wisconsin-legislature-targets-milwaukee.html Recent moves by the republican-controlled legislature that could hurt the city's finances has raised speculation that it being targeted as part of a political vendetta. http://www.governing.com/news/local/mct-counties-worried-about-potential-costs-of-immigration-reform.html Local and state officials believe the immigration overhaul bill will encourage those in the country illegally to come out of the shadows and turn to local services during the proposed 13-year-long pathway to citizenship. http://www.governing.com/news/local/mct-chicago-mayor-proposes-changes-bike-ordinances.html Mayor Rahm Emanuel has proposed making city streets more accommodating to bike riders while toughening penalties for drivers as well as cyclists who violate the rules of the road. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-former-calif-lt-gov-criticizes-states-prison-policies.html In a speech where he hinted at a possible run for governor, former Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado called out Gov. Jerry Brown for his handling of prison crowding in the state, calling the policies being pursued an "early release" program. http://www.governing.com/news/local/mct-new-railyard-wins-approval-of-la-city-council.html The project would improve freight rail connections to the nation's largest port complex, but it could spur court challenges alleging violations of environmental and civil rights laws. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-wis-passes-legislation-requiring-healthy-purchases-food-stamps.html The Wisconsin legislature has passed a bill requiring recipients of food stamps to spend at least two-thirds of their assistance money on state-defined healthy foods. A separate bill re-addressing food stamp fraud was also passed. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-ca-supreme-court-cities-decide-on-pot-dispensary-bans.html The California Supreme Court gave local governments the power Monday to zone medical marijuana dispensaries out of existence, a decision that upholds bans in about 200 cities but does little to solve Los Angeles' struggle to regulate hundreds of storefront pot outlets. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-illinois-gop-chair-resign-over-gay-marriage-support.html Pat Brady, the chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, announced his resignation Tuesday amid a simmering controversy over his support for gay marriage legislation.