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Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox, announcing a state of emergency in response to flooding, avalanches, landslides, rockslides, mudslides and other dangerous conditions caused by large levels of melting snowpack. In some areas, snowpack is at 200 percent of normal, according to the executive order. The emergency order will remain in effect for the next 30 days, or longer if the Legislature extends it. (Utah Governor’s Office — April 18, 2023)
Ya Fav Trashman wants to clean up Philadelphia. But even with an army of Instagram followers who volunteer to help, his personal war on illegal trash dumping hasn't been easy.
Many in the state argue that the state’s lax gun control laws have contributed to an environment in which residents are too comfortable pulling the trigger. The Republican-majority state Legislature has not signaled they will change the laws.
The persistently low salaries of state legislators often discourage citizens from serving in public office, especially as lawmakers face heavier workloads and greater demands on their time than in the past.
Some parts of Fort Lauderdale saw 2 feet of rainfall in a single day, which is more than any city is built to withstand. It’s likely extreme weather cases will become more frequent with climate change.
Lancaster County election officials reported that thousands of mail-in ballots sent to voters last week were printed with an error, requiring them to be voided and replaced. Already, 15,000 ballots have been recovered.
The nation’s second largest school district and the teacher’s union have reached a tentative agreement that would avert the possibility of a second strike this year. The agreement includes raises for several position types and reduced classroom size.
Bishop William Barber II, regarding the reinstatement of Tennessee state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson after being ousted for their roles in a pro-gun control demonstration on the House floor. Barber and other protesters demand that lawmakers pass gun safety legislation and stop using their authority to trample democracy. Protesters carried several caskets symbolizing those lost to gun violence on Monday, April 17. (Associated Press — April 18, 2023)
When bus service was eliminated for five years in Clayton County, in the Atlanta metro area, residents endured substantial increases in poverty and unemployment rates.
There are lots of ideas out there for bringing the numbers down. But so far nothing seems to work better than simply getting a roof over their heads, even if it’s only a dilapidated motel room.
None of the 17 candidates on the April 4 ballot received more than 50 percent of the vote, triggering a runoff election on June 6. Advocates argue that ranked-choice voting would make the process quicker and more streamlined.
The Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen is one of 33 groups that submitted final applications in a bid to win up to $1.25 billion in federal funding to develop hydrogen hubs across the nation.
The nation’s first biometric smart gun will use both fingerprint and facial recognition technology to ensure that only authorized users can fire the weapon. The creator hopes it will help reduce accidental deaths and gun suicides.
The Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office predicts that labor market conditions will remain tight through 2025, prompting some employers to turn to foreign workers through federal immigration programs for help.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, regarding the shooting by a homeowner of Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager who was shot after he rang the doorbell to the wrong house as he was attempting to pick up his younger brothers. Yarl was shot twice, then ran to seek help for his injuries. Yarl’s family has retained Crump’s Florida-based law firm. (Associated Press — April 17, 2023)
The winning combination these days is Black and Hispanic voters aligned with white progressives with college degrees.
State law gives Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson the right to work directly with private partners. For years, he’s been using this freedom to make the most of city resources.
The current detention of a young Wall Street Journal correspondent echoes a high-stakes game played by governments that dates back to the American Revolution.
More than 10 percent of statehouse reporters are university students, and in some states they are a significant presence in the statehouse media corps. They have stepped up coverage at a time when newspapers are pulling back.
More than 100 million people, or nearly one-third of the nation, have trouble accessing primary care. The problem is more acute in rural areas, which have long struggled to recruit and retain doctors and other medical professionals.
A four-bill package will renew the Alabama Jobs Act and Growing Alabama Act and will increase the caps on benefits that can go to companies. The package will also require the state to publicize the benefits paid to companies.
The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the state $3 million, and the Portland metro area $1 million, to develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop clean energy economies.
The two former Pinellas County educators have challenged seven books, including The Bible and “Danny and the Dinosaur,” in an effort to “highlight the slippery slope” of removing books in response to parental complaints.
Attorney General Austin Knudsen, urging state lawmakers to pass a bill that would ban TikTok from operating in the state, a move that’s bound to face legal challenges. The state House endorsed the bill 60-39 on Thursday; the Senate passed the bill 30-20 in March. If it becomes law, the ban would go into effect in January 2024. (Associated Press — April 14, 2023)
Black Americans are still being incarcerated at nearly five times the rate of whites. There’s much that state lawmakers can do to reduce inequities and make legal processes fairer.
Voter turnout is lower in rural places, something researchers say is a symptom of unequal amounts of civic infrastructure.
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