"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will heal their land."

West Virginia Senate President Randy Smith after deciding to halt a controversial bill that would have required the West Virginia State Police to sell machine guns to certain residents. The Republican leader said he stopped the legislation because it was “poorly drafted” and likely unconstitutional, adding that the proposal sparked intense backlash that included threats and harassment directed at lawmakers. (West Virginia Watch)

Molly Englert, a cybersecurity worker in downtown Boston, after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested the federal government could scrutinize the safety of sugary coffee drinks sold by Dunkin' and Starbucks. The comments sparked a swift backlash in Massachusetts, where Dunkin’, which was founded in Quincy, Mass. in 1950, is a defining part of daily life. Gov. Maura Healey joined the pushback, posting a photo of a Dunkin’ cup on social media with the message “COME AND TAKE IT,” saying that federal officials should focus on bigger public health issues instead of Boston’s beloved iced coffee ritual. (Wall Street Journal)

California state Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks in an open letter urging some Democrats with little chance of winning to drop out of the crowded race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom. He warned that a splintered Democratic vote in California’s top-two primary system could allow two Republicans to advance to the general election, a scenario he argued could jeopardize the party’s chances of holding the governorship and influence downballot races nationwide. (Los Angeles Times)

Colorado state Sen. Lynda Zamora Wilson during a Colorado legislative hearing as she backed bipartisan efforts to limit law enforcement’s access to large troves of private data, including license plate reader databases. Zamora Wilson pointed to mounting public unease over the rapid expansion of monitoring technologies, including facial recognition software and artificial intelligence tools, as lawmakers from both parties advance bills aimed at tightening limits on how government agencies collect and purchase personal information. (The Denver Post)