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. Sun, 19 May 22:26:09 PDT http://www.governing.com/news/state/Kansas-Legislature-Seeks-Changes-to-Judicial-Nomination-Process.html Tue, 14 May 8:7:00 PDT Legislators who believe the Kansas Senate should have the power to confirm appellate court judges, including Supreme Court justices, have a new plan that they hope will get approved before lawmakers adjourn this year, an influential senator involved in drafting the measure said Monday. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-former-calif-lt-gov-criticizes-states-prison-policies.html Thu, 9 May 9:20:00 PDT 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/state/mct-ca-supreme-court-cities-decide-on-pot-dispensary-bans.html Tue, 7 May 9:32:00 PDT 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/gt-prisons-get-rated-on-yelp.html Wed, 1 May 9:40:00 PDT The business and restaurant rating site is now being used to rate an unconventional entity -- prisons. Inmates are reporting about the quality of the food, the friendliness of deputies, and more. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-texas-oklahoma-water-war-could-have-national-implications.html Thu, 25 Apr 9:30:00 PDT A decision in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court could unleash a flood of litigation asking courts to crack open some of the more than 30 compacts that determine how states share water. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-boston-bomber-case-must-balance-state-and-federal-roles.html Thu, 25 Apr 9:15:00 PDT The accused Boston bomber may face the death penalty as a result of federal charges filed against him, even though his crimes were committed in a state where the death penalty is outlawed. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-feds-face-tough-choices-in-states-with-legalized-marijuana.html Wed, 17 Apr 10:5:00 PDT A new report by the Congressional Research Service finds that the Federal government may face an uphill legal battle if it wishes to enforce Federal laws banning Marijuana in states that have legalized it. http://www.governing.com/news/state/tt-report-urges-texas-to-use-diversion-programs-for-prostitution.html Tue, 16 Apr 9:10:00 PDT A new report shows that reducing penalties for prostitution and sending more defendants to diversion programs would decrease the practice and save the state money. A bill that would follow that recommendation is under consideration by the legislature. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Courts-Refusal-to-Hear-New-York-Gun-Challenge-Could-Lead-to-Strict-Concealed-Carry-Limits-for-Illinois.html Tue, 16 Apr 8:8:00 PDT Gov. Pat Quinn and Attorney General Lisa Madigan both suggested that the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to turn down an appeal of New York's tough gun law could boost Illinois lawmakers' attempts to set strict limits on who gets to carry concealed weapons. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Judge-Blocks-Closure-of-Only-Abortion-Clinic-in-Mississippi.html Tue, 16 Apr 8:6:00 PDT The ruling prevents the state from closing the clinic while it has a federal lawsuit pending to challenge a 2012 law requiring the clinic’s physicians to have hospital privileges.