• FBI Investigating Relationship Between Virginia Gov. McDonnell, Donors
• Source: Washington Post   |   Virginia   |   April 30, 2013
• FBI agents are conducting interviews about the relationship between Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, his wife, Maureen, and a major campaign donor who paid for the food at the wedding of the governor’s daughter, according to four people familiar with the questioning.

• New York May be 1st State to Raise Cigarette Age to 21
• Source: Albany Times-Union   |   New York   |   April 30, 2013
• Following New York City's lead, state lawmakers have taken up the cause to raise the minimum age for cigarette purchases from 18 to 21 statewide.

• Georgia Law Concealing Child-Deaths Info Questioned
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Georgia   |   April 29, 2013
• Lawmakers passed a law in 2009 that limits public scrutiny of the child-welfare system. With an increased number of children dying while under the care of the state, many are questioning whether the law is good policy.

• Montana Abortion Bill Becomes Law Without Governor's Signature
• Source: AP/Missoulian   |   Montana   |   April 29, 2013
• Gov. Bullock and women’s health advocates said they believe the measure, which would require girls younger than 18 to obtain parental consent before getting access to abortions, violates the privacy and protection rights of young women, and they’re confident the law will be struck down in courts.

• Gun Background Checks May be up to Voters
• Source: AP/Politico   |   Washington state   |   April 29, 2013
• After struggling to sway both state and federal lawmakers, proponents of expanding background checks for gun sales are now exploring whether they will have more success by taking the issue directly to voters.
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• Black Voter Turnout Passed Whites for 1st Time in 2012
• Source: AP/Politico   |   Nation   |   April 29, 2013
• America’s blacks voted at a higher rate than other minority groups in 2012 and by most measures surpassed the white turnout for the first time, reflecting a deeply polarized presidential election in which blacks strongly supported Barack Obama while many whites stayed home.

• Tennessee's Welfare Drug Testing Program Faces Hurdles
• Source: Tennessean   |   Tennessee   |   April 29, 2013
• Tennessee is plunging ahead with a plan to drug test some welfare applicants even though a Florida judge stopped a similar program over constitutional issues and Arizona authorities caught only one welfare-receiving drug abuser in three years.

• Will the Detroit Mayor Run for Re-Election?
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Detroit   |   April 26, 2013
• Detroit's Dave Bing has taken the first steps towards exploring a bid for reelection. An already crowded field will mean an uphill battle for the unpopular mayor, who has taken blame for the city's financial meltdown that led to a state-takeover.

• Georgia Quietly OKs Immigration Crackdown
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Georgia   |   April 26, 2013
• As Congress considers immigration reform, Gov. Nathan Deal signed sweeping legislation that bars undocumented immigrants from obtaining state driver's licenses, grants, public housing and retirement benefits.

• Feds' Medicaid Announcement Could be Game-Changer in Arizona
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   April 26, 2013
• Federal health officials dealt a blow to opponents of Medicaid expansion, saying they’re unlikely to fund a slimmed-down version of the state’s indigent-health-care program as the political battle over the issue intensified.

• Gun-Control Package in New Jersey Senate May Not Get Consideration
• Source: Newark Star-Ledger   |   New Jersey   |   April 26, 2013
• Senate President Stephen Sweeney’s push to stiffen the state’s gun laws got off to a rocky start as the Assembly majority leader warned the package of measures was dead on arrival because it wasn’t tough enough, and a national group of mayors abruptly put off its endorsement.

• The 5 States Facing Gay Marriage Battles Next
• Source: USA Today   |   Nation   |   April 26, 2013
• As Rhode Island is set to become the 10th state to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry, gay marriage supporters are shifting their focus to other states.

• Christie Vetoes Bill to Create Oversight of Sandy Aid
• Source: Newark Star-Ledger   |   New Jersey   |   April 26, 2013
• Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill requiring oversight of billions of dollars in federal aid for Hurricane Sandy, despite Democratic objections, calling the measure redundant and wasteful.

• Indiana Gov. Pence Wins 5% Income Tax Cut
• Source: Indianapolis Star   |   Indiana   |   April 26, 2013
• After months of arm-twisting and campaigning, Gov. Mike Pence will get half the tax cut he wanted from the Indiana General Assembly — a 5 percent reduction in the individual income tax that he’s calling a great victory.

• Washington's Marijuana Law Impairs All Pot Prosecutions
• Source: AP/Seattle Times   |   Washington state   |   April 25, 2013
• Prosecutors and crime-lab scientists say a little-noticed provision in Washington’s new law legalizing recreational marijuana has jeopardized their ability to go after any pot crimes at all, and they’re calling for an immediate fix in the Legislature.

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