On Monday, Montana became the first to reinstate some of the rules the FCC repealed. The question of whether states have the right to do that, however, will likely end up in court.

Four decades after the law spurred an anti-tax movement across the country, rival efforts to weaken or strengthen it have emerged.

Some are increasing the amount of stolen goods that make theft a felony. But it can be a hard sell politically.

But renters may not want to celebrate just yet.

More than a dozen alternative weeklies have shut down in the past 20 years, increasing the likelihood that local scandals will go unnoticed.