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Former Michigan House Speaker Craig DeRoche. He is now the president of the conservative Family Policy Alliance and was summarizing a message Republican legislators and governors are sending to members of the incoming Trump administration — namely, that they are not waiting for Donald Trump to take office to advance more conservative agendas on issues such as gun owners’ rights, abortion, illegal immigration and requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public schools. (Washington Post - Dec. 13, 2024)
The contest was decided by 48 votes, but about 60 residents were given ballots for the wrong district. A judge may order a new election.
A bill would allow more public employees to shift out of 401(k)-style plans into more traditional pensions, which could help with recruitment. But critics say costs are a reason the state has moved away from such plans for decades.
State and local governments will be forced to return pandemic relief funds if they aren’t properly obligated by the end of December.
In a pivotal year, governments enacted AI laws, strengthened defenses, bridged the broadband gap, and prioritized accessible, user-friendly digital services. As 2025 nears, most jurisdictions still lack fully mature AI frameworks.
A measure that provided some hurricane relief was a vehicle for taking power away from executive offices that will be controlled by Democrats next year. The GOP’s legislative supermajority overrode a veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
Prosecutors allege that Mike Madigan, the former Democratic speaker, and associates directed companies to provide campaign contributions and no-show jobs to allies. The defense will begin its presentation at trial next week.
President-elect Donald Trump’s approval rating, according to a survey by Morning Consult. His unfavorability rating is 47 percent, giving him a net approval of 3. While that may not sound high, it’s the best number Trump has registered in this particular poll since April 2017, near the start of his first term.
American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan. He’s one of the military history buffs waging a legal fight to protect Civil War battlefield sites in Northern Virginia from data center development. One of the world's largest is planned to cover 2,000 acres next to Manassas National Battlefield Park. Preservationists say a report to Virginia lawmakers that found data center projects don't pose any more of a risk to historic sites than other types of large-scale development minimizes their threat. (Axios – Dec. 12, 2024)
When a sports team loses, its fans don't hang around for the postgame show.
Federal law prohibits companies from charging vets for help in filling out disability claims, but there’s no penalty. Maine, New Jersey and New York have passed laws to close this loophole, with more expected to follow.
School vouchers, border enforcement and energy infrastructure are on the GOP agenda in Texas. A fight for speaker of the House could determine its prospects.
Incoming GOP Gov. Mike Kehoe campaigned on a pledge to eliminate personal income taxes. Several bills would cut the income tax to 4 percent while imposing sales taxes on services.
If legislators approve the request, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission would also get $100 million from Washington to address huge Medicaid and food stamp application delays.
Tom Homan, who will lead Trump’s deportation effort, said that sanctuary policies can shield dangerous criminals. Harboring or concealing undocumented immigrants, he said, is a federal crime.
St. Louis voters rejected a $60 million proposal for a new soccer stadium, but the city got one anyway. Here’s how it did that with minimal public funding.
Seven states rely on water from the Colorado River. They’ve split into two camps and have made “zero progress” ahead of current apportionment rules expiring in 2026.
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom was referring to a proposed $4.5 billion reservoir in Northern California, which would be the first in decades. Newsom says the reservoir is needed to maintain the state’s water supply and is part of California’s adaptation strategy in response to climate change. The plan will require numerous federal permits. (Sacramento Bee – Dec. 10, 2024)
The model, which has been gaining popularity throughout the U.S., presents an opportunity for direct state investment in affordable housing without relying on uncertain federal funds.
Eight states and the U.S. Justice Department have sued over the practice. The company whose software is used by many landlords says it helps renters as well.
Beset by funding issues and questionable program duplication from predominantly white institutions, too many historically black colleges and universities are struggling. We must ensure that these valuable institutions thrive.
Mayors, state legislators, members of Congress – much of New Jersey’s political class hopes to succeed term-limited Democrat Phil Murphy next year.
The states have trigger laws to end coverage if the feds end funding for expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Other states may make cuts if funding gets rolled back.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Frey vetoed a resolution approved by the City Council that called on the University of Minnesota to drop all disciplinary actions against students who participated in a pro-Palestinian protest in October. A 7-6 council majority expressed support for “nonviolent campus activism opposing war and supporting Palestinian human rights,” but the university says the protest was in fact violent. (Minneapolis Star Tribune – Dec. 9, 2024)
Bird flu is affecting more and more dairy cattle. There’s no sign yet of human-to-human spread, but new dimensions of the outbreak continue to emerge.
A 1998 ban on dual-language courses was repealed in 2016, but they still have not fully bounced back or hired enough teachers. Texas enrolls 40 percent of its English learners in such programs compared to 10 percent in California.
As a new administration takes power in Washington, the work of state and local public officials who champion free and fair elections will become even more critical.
Eleven states belong to the 20-year-old Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which created the nation’s first regional cap-and-invest system for reducing carbon emissions. With the change in administration, RGGI may set more aggressive emissions reductions goals.
