en-us GOVERNING magazine provides leading intelligence articles on management, policy and politics to help guide and inspire innovative leaders across state and local government. Thu, 9 Feb 15:14:41 PST http://www.governing.com/news/local/ap-san-francisco-expands-plastic-bag-ban.html Wed, 8 Feb 10:17:00 PST Shoppers in San Francisco will have to pay 10 cents per bag and more retailers are now banned from handing out plastic bags under a proposal approved Tuesday by the city's Board of Supervisors. http://www.governing.com/news/state/AP-pennsylvania-gas-drilling-fee-bill-debate-ends-without-vote.html Wed, 8 Feb 9:5:00 PST Pennsylvania, the only major gas-producing state that does not tax the taking of natural gas from its soil, moved closer Tuesday to imposing a fee on the drilling in the vast Marcellus Shale reserves that have transformed the state in recent years. http://www.governing.com/news/state/AP-indiana-joins-right-to-work-ranks-as-governor-signs-bill.html Wed, 1 Feb 15:30:00 PST Indiana is the first Rust Belt state to enact the contentious right-to-work labor law prohibiting labor contracts that require workers to pay union representation fees, after Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels signed the bill Wednesday afternoon. http://www.governing.com/news/state/gov-Mich-Grassroots-Group-to-Push-Marijuana-Legalization-Amendment.html Fri, 20 Jan 12:0:00 PST The Committee for a Safer Michigan, a grassroots organization that supports the repeal of marijuana prohibition, announced Friday that it plans to push an amendment to the Michigan state constitution that would legalize cannabis use for residents 21 years and older. http://www.governing.com/news/state/gov-Missouri-Lawmaker-Introduces-New-Immigration-Legislation.html Thu, 12 Jan 16:30:00 PST As the nationwide debate over immigration continues, Missouri could be the next nexus after legislation introduced in the state Senate would require schools to check the immigration status of their students and require law enforcement officers to check a person's immigration status when they have reasonable cause, the Kansas City Star reported Thursday. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Gov-States-Consider-Following-Califs-Suit-and-Banning-Tanning.html Tue, 10 Jan 10:30:00 PST Several states may soon join California, which at the start of this year became the first state to make it illegal for teenagers to use cancer-causing tanning beds. http://www.governing.com/news/state/ap-Ind-Dems-Ending-Boycott-Wont-Promise-Labor-Vote.html Mon, 9 Jan 14:30:00 PST INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana House Democrats on Monday ended a three-day boycott of the Legislature over a contentious labor bill but are not promising to stay long enough to allow a final vote on the divisive measure. http://www.governing.com/news/federal/gov-state-school-officers-urge-congress-to-reauthorize-ESEA.html Fri, 6 Jan 10:30:00 PST The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) sent a letter Thursday to President Barack Obama and top congressional members of both parties, urging Congress to pass and the president to sign a bill reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act before the 2012-2013 school year begins. http://www.governing.com/news/state/gov-utah-to-consider-charging-Medicaid-users-for-smoking.html Thu, 5 Jan 14:30:00 PST A Utah state lawmaker wants to make Medicaid users who smoke pay higher co-payments. If enacted, it might be the first law of its kind. http://www.governing.com/news/state/AP-indiana-house-democratic-leader-hints-at-possible-walkout.html Wed, 4 Jan 15:15:00 PST Most Indiana House Democrats were no-shows on the floor Wednesday when the Republican speaker tried to start the new session, a possible sign that lawmakers were walking out for the second straight year to oppose a "right-to-work" bill.