Following more than an hour of riveting and personal floor speeches -- during which one state senator publicly announced for the first time he is gay -- the Nevada Senate voted 12-9 to begin the process of repealing the gay marriage ban from the state constitution.
Gov. Rick Scott signed a sweeping education bill that will revamp the state's high school graduation requirements and place new emphasis on coursework that prepares students for high-tech careers.
The California Air Resources Board has linked its program for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and curbing climate change with one in the Canadian province of Quebec.
In a move that’s expected to stir up staunch resistance from public pension managers, some Capitol Hill lawmakers have proposed new pension transparency regulations for local and state governments.
The soft drink giant will pay for 50,000 blue recycling carts for Chicago homes and in return gets to put images of Coke products on the lids of the familiar bins. The city will save $2.59 million thanks to the partnership.
Source: Seattle Times | Washington state |
April 23, 2013
After years of talk, Congress is moving toward possibly ending a loophole that has prevented states from collecting sales taxes on many Internet purchases.
Source: AP/Denver Post | Colorado |
April 23, 2013
A marijuana blood limit for drivers was rejected for a fourth time in the Colorado Senate, where bipartisan skepticism on the pot analogy to blood-alcohol limits helped sink the measure even in a weaker form.
Source: New York Times | New York City |
April 23, 2013
The proposal would make the age for buying cigarettes and other tobacco products the same as for purchasing liquor, but it would not prohibit people under 21 from possessing or even smoking cigarettes.
There are stirrings of a renewed effort by a handful of GOP candidates and activists to edge the party into being more competitive in America’s cities.
Source: Raleigh News & Observer | North Carolina |
April 23, 2013
A bill would require people convicted of felony crimes to wait five years upon the completion of their sentence, probation or parole before they could attempt to re-register to vote. First, though, they would have to get affidavits from two registered voters attesting to their “upstanding moral character” and get the unanimous approval of their local board of elections.
Source: Arizona Republic | Arizona |
April 23, 2013
Three months after she stunned political observers and made her case for expanding Medicaid coverage in Arizona, Gov. Jan Brewer is no closer to reaching agreement with Republican legislative leaders on the issue.
An engineering feat more than a century ago created a host of problems for communities that depend on Lake Michigan for their water. But those problems also present opportunities.