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☆ Texas’ controversial immigration law has become a blueprint for other states
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

It’s likely to face legal challenges, which means its implementation could be delayed or even blocked in court, like the Texas law that inspired it has been so far. In addition to Iowa’s new law, Cid says several recent immigration proposals in the state failed to clear the legislature. This bill gives Iowa law enforcement the power to do what he is unwilling to do: enforce immigration laws already on the books. A similar trend unfolded after Arizona passed a controversial immigration law in 2010, says Anand Balakrishnan, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrant Rights Project. Estefania Mondragon, executive director of PODER of Idaho, hopes a proposed immigration law won't pass there.

Persons: CNN — Maria, “, Acosta, ”, ” Acosta, they’ve, Maria Acosta, It’s, Erica Johnson, Enya Cid doesn’t, Cid, she’s, wouldn’t, they’ve “, Enya Cid, Todd Bailey, who's, ” Cid, “ I’ve, “ We’re, ‘ Let’s, ’, Kim Reynolds, who’s, Joe, Biden, ” Reynolds, Iowa's, Donald Trump, Greg Abbott, Sergio Flores, Anand Balakrishnan, ” Balakrishnan, ‘, Estefania Mondragón, who’ve, PODER, Estefania Mondragon, Mondragón, ” Mondragón, what’s, Fabiola Schirrmeister, that’s, Charlie Neibergall, Johnson, I’m, CNN’s Devan Cole, Alisha Ebrahiji, Alexandra Ross Organizations: CNN, ”, Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, National Conference of State Legislatures, Iowa Migrant Movement, Grand View University, Iowa, View University, University of Iowa, Republican, Democratic, Iowa Gov, Republicans, GOP, Texas Gov, Bloomberg, Getty, American Civil Liberties, state’s Senate, The Associated Press Locations: Iowa, ” Iowa, Texas, Des Moines, Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho , Kansas , Louisiana , Missouri, South Carolina, Mississippi, West Virginia, Mission , Texas, United States, ’ In Idaho, PODER of Idaho, Idaho, state’s

☆ GOP leaders pursue new lawsuits over 2024 election rules – including attacking methods of voting they want supporters to use
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“What he has said is that we would like ultimately there to only be voting on Election Day. Republican attorneys have filed an assortment of lawsuits across the county that vary in both what types of election rules they target and how seriously election law experts believe the case should be taken. The legal fight against mail voting has taken GOP lawyers to states beyond the typical presidential battlegrounds. In addition to the case targeting Mississippi’s post-election day mail ballot receipt deadline, Republicans filed a lawsuit challenging the major expansion of mail voting enacted by New York lawmakers last year. To arrive at the claim that the states’ voter rolls are bloated, Republicans are using a formula that has previously been rebuked in federal court.

Persons: Donald Trump, baselessly, Trump, Mike Johnson, “, ” Michael Whatley, that’s, ” Whatley, Whatley –, –, Rick Hasen, don’t, ” Hasen, Derek Muller, ” Muller, litigators don’t, ”, Justin Levitt, Muller, CNN’s Ariel Edwards, Levy, David Wright Organizations: CNN, Republican, Republican National Committee, Mississippi Republican Party, Magnolia, GOP, Republicans, Democrats, Trump, Trump’s, Fox News, Republican Party, RNC, University of Notre Dame, Fox, New, National Conference of State Legislatures, Pew Research Center, Democratic, Pew, The New, The New York City Council, Vermont, Loyola Law School, Biden White Locations: Magnolia State, Pennsylvania, Ohio , Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Wisconsin, “, California, Colorado, Hawaii , Nevada , Oregon , Utah , Vermont, Washington, Mississippi, New York, Michigan , Wisconsin , Ohio, Arizona, New York City, United States, The New York, – Nevada, Michigan, Nevada

☆ Voting rule changes: Republicans push ballot measures in key battleground states
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Republican lawmakers and activists in several presidential battlegrounds are pushing ballot measures to change how elections are run in their states. And in Arizona, a so-called ballot referral moving through the Republican-controlled Legislature would upend the state’s widely used, no-excuse vote-by-mail system. Constitutional amendments in Wisconsin and ballot referenda in Arizona are not subject to the approval of governors in those states. “Wisconsin’s status as a swing state makes election integrity measures important locally, nationally and internationally.”If approved, the Wisconsin measures would be in effect for this year’s elections. Katie Hobbs has vetoed a raft of legislation – ranging from efforts to get rid of red-light cameras to prohibiting ranked-choice voting in the state’s elections.

Persons: ”, Jay Heck, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Sen, Eric Wimberger, Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, Zuckerberg, Tony Evers, Will Flanders, –, who’s, Debra Cronmiller, Katie Hobbs, Hobbs ’, Alex Gulotta, “, Wendy Rogers, Rogers, Wisconsin’s, noncitizens Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, Silver State, Tuesday ., White House, Center for Tech, Republicans, Democratic, National Conference of State Legislatures, Wisconsin Institute of Law and Liberty, Badger State, League of Women Voters of, Phoenix New Times, Phoenix, Clark County Republican Party, Wisconsin, New, New York City Locations: Wisconsin, Nevada, Silver, Arizona, Tuesday . Arizona, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Maricopa County, ” Arizona, Clark, New York City, York, New York

☆ Treasury chief Yellen defends Biden budget against Republican senators' fears of tax increases
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Provisions of the TCJA — a landmark tax law proposed by the Trump administration and passed by Congress in 2017 — that are set to expire in 2025 include the child tax credit. An additional "other dependent credit" offers a tax credit of $500 to people with less than $400,000 in income who have qualified dependents who are ineligible for the child tax credit. Biden's budget will restore the expanded child tax credit, the White House has said. "Would you agree that if the TCJA child tax credit provisions are not extended, this would also result in a tax hike for Americans making under $400,000?" The budget would impose a minimum 25% tax rate on the unrealized income of the very wealthiest households and raise the IRA's corporate alternative minimum tax for billion-dollar companies from 15% to 21%, while increasing the larger corporate tax rate to 28%.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Joe Biden's, Biden, Sen, Steve Daines, Yellen, Daines, Trump, Mike Crapo, pare Organizations: Treasury, Capitol, WASHINGTON —, Congress, White, Child Tax, Rescue, National Conference of State Legislatures, . Census, House Republicans, Lawmakers, Department of Homeland Security Locations: Washington , U.S, Idaho

☆ Almost every single US state has considered laws to abolish daylight-saving time
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Almost every state has considering ending daylight-saving time. States cannot switch to a permanent daylight-saving time until federal law changes. A federal law to end daylight-savings has already passed in the Senate, but is waiting on a House vote. AdvertisementAmericans are tired of losing an hour of sleep every year to daylight-saving time. Lawmakers in nearly every state have considered laws that would do away with daylight-saving time since 2019, according to a National Conference of State Legislatures report.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Lawmakers, National Conference of State Legislatures, American Medical Association, Business

Johnson isn't buying arguments from the bill's Republican backers that she didn't inspire the proposed change to a longstanding law. Republican state lawmakers who favor the ban have argued that winning twice often means abandoning the lower office, creating a costly special election. Johnson narrowly escaped expulsion last year for her role in a pro-gun control protest inside the Tennessee House chamber. Republican lawmakers are considering changes that target Jones and Pearson, too. In California, a judge ruled Republican state Assemblymember Vince Fong could run for Congress and reelection to his state seat at the same time.

Persons: Johnson, David Hawk, Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, “ That’s, Ron DeSantis, Rand Paul, Paul, Sen, Cory Booker, Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney's, Joe Lieberman, Al Gore's, Blackburn, Gloria Johnson, ”, Abigail Sigler, Blackburn's, she’s, Randy McNally, Justin Pearson, Justin Jones, Pearson, Jones, Vince Fong, State Shirley Weber, Marc Levy, Adam Beam, Sean Murphy, Amy Beth Hanson, John Hanna Organizations: Republican, National Conference of State Legislatures, Republican Gov, Republican U.S, Sen, Kentucky GOP, Democratic, Former U.S . Rep, statehouse, Covenant, Tennessee, Congress, State, Democrats, Associated Press Locations: Tennessee, Knoxville, Kentucky, Montana , Kansas, Oklahoma, Arizona , Florida, Hawaii, Georgia, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Wisconsin, U.S, Connecticut, Washington, California, Pennsylvania, Harrisburg , Pennsylvania, Sacramento , California, Oklahoma City, Helena , Montana, Topeka , Kansas

The pay increase appeared to have bipartisan support, though lawmakers never voted directly on it. Supporters of the pay increase say it is likely to make the Legislature more diverse when it's in danger of becoming mostly retirees and wealthy people. Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, saw opposition to the pay raise as political grandstanding. Olson said he doubts lawmakers' constituents support such a big pay raise and said they should have the courage to debate it and vote on it. And his boss — the taxpayers — haven't told him a pay raise is OK with them, he said.

Persons: Sen, Cindy Holscher, ”, Dan Hawkins, “, Rob Olson, Ty Masterson, Nicholas Reinecker, it's, Olson, Ken Corbet, —, — haven't, Becky Bohrer Organizations: Legislative, Wednesday, Alaska, New, National Conference of, Legislatures, Wichita Republican, Kansas City, Republican, ” Legislature, Topeka Republican, Associated Press Locations: TOPEKA, Kan, Kansas, Georgia, Texas, Kansas City, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Wichita, Topeka, Juneau , Alaska

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A group of conservative state lawmakers in Pennsylvania filed a federal lawsuit Thursday challenging three voting-related executive branch actions designed to boost voter registration, including a 2021 executive order by President Joe Biden. One is last fall's introduction of automatic voter registration in Pennsylvania by Democratic Gov. Shapiro's administration said in a statement that it is “frivolous” to suggest that it lacks the authority to implement automatic voter registration. Twenty-three other states and Washington, D.C., already have varying models of what is called “ automatic voter registration,” according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Still, former President Donald Trump has already accused Democrats of " trying to steal " Pennsylvania in 2024's election through automatic voter registration.

Persons: Joe Biden, ’, Biden, Josh Shapiro, Tom Wolf, Shapiro, Donald Trump, Trump, Marc Levy Organizations: Democratic Party, Trump, Republican, Democratic Gov, Democratic, Brennan Center, Justice, U.S . Justice, D.C, National Conference of State Legislatures Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Pennsylvania, Washington

☆ A quirky primary rule propelled Trump to victory in 2016, but it could come back to bite him in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rather, it's about how Cruz and his allies complained in 2016 about how non-Republican voters helped hand the nomination to Trump. Trump ran away with the 2016 Republican presidential nomination in part due to his sheer dominance in these so-called "open primaries." Trump's advantage in open primaries in 2016 was unmistakable. Despite holding a polling advantage in the weeks leading up to the 2016 Iowa caucuses, Trump narrowly lost the state to Cruz. But his apparent reversal on open primaries is quite simply yet another sign of his hostile takeover of the GOP.

Persons: Donald Trump, Sen, Ted Cruz, Trump, Cruz, Nikki Haley, detest, It's, Nikki, Haley, AnnMarie Graham, Barnes, Joe Biden's, There's Organizations: Service, Republican, Democratic, Business, White, Republican Party, National Conference of State Legislatures, CNBC, Trump, Cruz, Republican National Convention, GOP Locations: New Hampshire, Florida, Iowa, Cruz . Iowa

☆ A tide of election worker resignations raises alarms ahead of 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —A wave of departures by election officials in key states risks adding new stress to the nation’s election system ahead of next year’s presidential contest, voting rights groups and several state election chiefs warn. The growing alarm over the resignations and retirements comes as officials say election workers continue to face a barrage of threats and harassment and partisan interference in their duties, first ignited by false claims of a stolen White House election in 2020. In King County, Washington – which includes Seattle – Julie Wise, the county election director, recalled receiving a letter over the summer with a rant about elections. Election watchdogs say more action is needed – including boosting federal funding and extending a federal law that criminalizes the release of restricted personal information about federal workers to cover election officials. Brinson Bell began tracking the departures when she became the state’s election chief that year.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Adrian Fontes, Pennsylvania –, Republican Al Schmidt, “, Nick Penniman, Schmidt, Donald Trump’s, ” Schmidt, Seattle – Julie Wise, Wise, ’, ” Penniman, Meagan Wolfe, Trump, Wolfe, there’s, Roy Cooper, Critics, Karen Brinson Bell, Brinson Bell, Kathy Holland, Holland, –, Brinson, ” Adam Byrnes, he’s, ” Byrnes, Fontes, ” Fontes, that’s Organizations: CNN, Democrat, Republican, US Justice Department, National Conference of State Legislatures, Committee, ” Workers, GOP, supermajorities, Gov, North Carolina State Board, Emory University, “ Locations: Arizona, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, King County , Washington, Seattle, In Wisconsin, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Alamance County, Swain County, Georgia

☆ US daylight saving time: When is it and why was it created?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Josie Kao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Daylight saving time is the practice of moving clocks forward by one hour during summer months so daylight lasts longer into the evening. WHY WAS DAYLIGHT SAVING CREATED IN THE US AND HOW DID IT START? No, Hawaii and Arizona, with the exception of Navajo Nation, do not observe daylight saving time. While daylight saving time is widespread across the United States, 19 states have passed legislation to permanently use daylight saving time if Congress were to allow it, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The U.S. is not ending daylight saving any time soon, though there is an effort in the federal government to pass the so-called Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent.

Persons: Mike Segar, George Hudson, Frank Pallone, Joe Biden, Josie Kao, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: REUTERS, North, Daylight, European Union, New, Congressional Research Service, Virgin, National Conference of State Legislatures, Protection, U.S . House, Commerce, Science, Transportation, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York, U.S, United States, Canada, Cuba, North America, Europe, Egypt, Japan, New Zealand, Germany, Hawaii, Arizona, Navajo, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands , Puerto Rico

(AP) — The Democrat who's trying to unseat Mississippi's Republican governor said Tuesday that the state should set a minimum wage higher than the federal standard of $7.25 an hour. Political Cartoons View All 1218 ImagesA campaign spokesperson for Reeves did not immediately respond to questions Tuesday about whether Mississippi should set a minimum wage higher than $7.25. No legislation to set a Mississippi minimum wage higher than $7.25 advanced during those 12 years. The nonpartisan organization says Mississippi is one of five states that have not set their own minimum wage. Two states have a minimum wage that's lower than the federal standard.

Persons: JACKSON, who's, Mississippi's, Brandon Presley, Presley, Tate Reeves, “, ” Presley, Reeves, he's, we’ve, ” Reeves, Barack Obama Organizations: —, Mississippi's Republican, Republican, Tougaloo College, District of Columbia, National Conference of State Legislatures Locations: Miss, U.S, Mississippi, Columbus

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Large businesses in California will have to disclose a wide range of planet-warming emissions under a new law Gov. The law requires more than 5,300 companies that operate in California and make more than $1 billion in annual revenues to report both their direct and indirect emissions. This was Democratic State Sen. Scott Wiener's third attempt to get the sweeping emissions disclosure rules passed in California. But the new California mandates will be go beyond that to make companies report a wide range of direct and indirect emissions. Under the California law, the state's Air Resources Board has to approve rules by 2025 to implement the legislation.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Democratic State Sen, Scott Wiener's, Wiener, ” Wiener, “, Christiana Figueres, Amanda Urquiza, ___ Sophie Austin, @sophieadanna Organizations: California Chamber of Commerce, Democratic State, Apple, United Nations, National Conference of State Legislatures, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, state's Air Resources Board, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, State, Patagonia, Christiana, Paris

Josh Shapiro to bypass the Legislature and start automatic voter registration. “THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO STEAL PENNSYLVANIA AGAIN BY DOING THE ‘AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION’ SCAM,” Trump wrote on his social media platform. Democrats contended that Shapiro was well within his legal authority to authorize automatic voter registration. A survey of several states with automatic voter registration revealed similar experiences. Republicans in some states that have switched to automatic registration say it will lead to fraud or illegal voting, and conservatives in Alaska have attempted to repeal that state’s automatic registration.

Persons: — Donald Trump, Josh Shapiro, Trump, Shapiro, ” Trump, Ronna McDaniel, “, ” McDaniel, ” Shapiro, Adam Bonin, ”, Tammy Patrick, Charles Stewart III, ” Stewart, Democrat Joe Biden, Sam DeMarco, ” DeMarco, Christina A, Cassidy, Marc Levy Organizations: Republican, Democratic Gov, Democratic, Republicans, Trump, “, MSNBC, District of Columbia, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Association of Election, Massachusetts Institute, Science, Pennsylvania Project, Public, Institute of California, University of Southern, University of California, Democrat, Democratic Party, Associated Press Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Alaska, Georgia, West Virginia . Georgia, Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, Berkeley, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Atlanta

☆ Pennsylvania Will Start Automatic Voter Registration
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Neil Vigdor | More About Neil Vigdor | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Pennsylvania, a battleground state that could play an outsize role in the 2024 presidential election, will begin to automatically register new voters as part of its driver’s license and state ID approval process, officials said on Tuesday. Voters must meet certain eligibility requirements, which include being a U.S. citizen and a Pennsylvania resident for at least 30 days before an election. They also must be at least 18 years old on the date of the next election. “Automatic voter registration is a common-sense step to ensure election security and save Pennsylvanians time and tax dollars,” Mr. Shapiro said in a statement. — all the information required to register to vote — so it makes good sense to streamline that process with voter registration.”

Persons: Josh Shapiro, Mr, Shapiro, ” Organizations: Gov, Democrat, District of Columbia, National Conference of State Legislatures, “, Commonwealth Locations: U.S, Pennsylvania

☆ Pay secrecy norms have ‘simply lost their teeth,’ say experts. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty ImagesNew York just adopted a pay transparency ruleNew York on Sunday became the latest state to adopt a pay transparency law. The pay transparency movement is relatively new. Fifty-six percent are more likely to apply for a company — even if they don't recognize the company name — if the salary range is listed, Indeed found. For one, pay transparency may lower overall wages of the broader population of employees, even while raising them for the "inequitably underpaid," Obloj and Zenger said. 'There's still plenty to negotiate' beyond salaryOf course, applicants aren't necessarily beholden to the salary or the pay range posted on a job ad, Woodruff-Santos said.

Persons: NCSL, Salary.com, Zenger, Mandi Woodruff, Santos, Woodruff, you've, they've, there's Organizations: Westend61, Getty, Sunday, Employers, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Women's Law Locations: York, California , Colorado, Washington, New York City, Colorado, Ithaca, Albany, Westchester, New York, Jersey, New Jersey, Cincinnati, Toledo, Ohio ; Maryland ; Connecticut, Rhode, Nevada

Lawmakers backing the bill say a large number of companies in the state already disclose some of their own emissions. California’s climate disclosure bill would be different because of all the indirect emissions companies would have to report. But the California bill would go beyond that, by mandating that both public and private companies report their direct and indirect emissions. Companies would have to report indirect emissions including those released by transporting products and disposing waste. Companies would have to begin publicly disclosing their direct emissions annually in 2026 and start annually reporting their indirect emissions starting in 2027.

Persons: Chris Ward, Christiana Figueres, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, Sen, Scott Wiener, “, ”, Brady Van Engelen, Danny Cullenward, Cullenward, it’s, Mary Creasman, ___ Sophie Austin, Austin @sophieadanna Organizations: —, Democratic, Apple, United Nations, Democratic Gov, Lawmakers, administration’s Department of Finance, San, San Francisco Democrat, National Conference of State Legislatures, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Companies, California Chamber of Commerce, Western States Petroleum Association, California Hospital Association, University of Pennsylvania’s, Center for Energy Policy, California Environmental Voters, California Air Resources Board, Wiener, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Patagonia, Christiana, Paris, San Francisco, Ceres, ”

☆ How Florida law could trip up Trump if he’s convicted before the 2024 election
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Ronald Brownstein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Meade is executive director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, which works to restore voting rights in the state to former felons. Amendment 4 automatically restored voting rights to former felons, except those convicted of murder or sexual offenses, who have completed their sentences. Initially, organizers projected that Amendment 4 would restore voting rights to about 1.4 million Floridians, but as a result of these new hurdles only a little over 600,000 have actually regained their voting rights, Meade said. Even after Amendment 4, felons are required to have completed their sentence before recovering their voting rights in Florida, as in virtually all other states. Intervening to restore those rights to Trump, if he’s convicted of a felony before the election, would represent a stark departure from the clemency board’s typical procedures.

Persons: Desmond Meade, Meade, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Donald Trump, he’s, ” Meade, Trump, ”, Insha Rahman, Neil Volz, DeSantis –, Mark Schlakman, Lawton Chiles, Republican Sen, Rick Scott, Schlakman, hasn’t, there’s, “, Vera Institute’s Rahman, Ian Bassin Organizations: CNN, Restoration Coalition, Florida, Republican, GOP, Trump, Vera Institute of Justice, Florida State University, Florida Gov, District of Columbia, National Conference of State Legislatures, State, Florida State University Center, Advancement of Human, DeSantis, Republicans, Protect Democracy Locations: Florida, Maine, Vermont, ”

CNN —A University of South Carolina student was fatally shot early Saturday after he tried to enter the wrong home on his own street, the Columbia Police Department said – the latest case in which someone in the US was shot after apparently approaching the wrong home. “Preliminary information indicates that Donofrio who resided on South Holly Street attempted to enter the wrong home when he was fatally shot,” the release said. Police have not released any information about who shot Donofrio, adding they would consult prosecutors in the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office as they investigate. The case is the latest in which the victim appears to have gone to the wrong place at the wrong time in a nation with more guns than people. South Carolina is one of at least 28 states, plus Puerto Rico, with a so-called “stand your ground” law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Persons: Nicholas Anthony Donofrio, Donofrio Organizations: CNN, University of South, Columbia Police Department, Coroner’s Office, Police, South Holly Street, South Holly, Circuit, Office, Puerto Rico, National Conference of State Legislatures Locations: University of South Carolina, Connecticut, Richland, South Holly, Columbia, South, Missouri, New York, South Carolina, Puerto

☆ Lawyers successfully argued that a Jim Crow-era law banning felons from voting is cruel and unusual punishment
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Mississippi lawyers successfully argued against a lifetime voting ban for felons. These Jim Crow-era laws included a lifetime voting ban on any Mississippi resident convicted of certain felonies. Previous challenges to the law have argued it violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, the Post reports. While the law is still in effect, if this latest ruling sticks, it could restore voting rights to 30,000 people in the state, according to the Post. Additional requirements in these states include indefinite bans for some crimes or additional waiting periods after someone completes their sentence.

Persons: Jim Crow, Lynn Fitch, — Organizations: Service, Circuit, Washington Post, Post, National Conference of State Legislatures Locations: Mississippi, Wall, Silicon

☆ Ohio voters appear primed to back abortion rights measure, the latest sign of the post-Roe fury
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ohio voters appear primed to pass an abortion rights constitutional amendment. According to a new poll, 58% of likely Ohio voters would vote in favor of the amendment. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose must declare by tomorrow whether the abortion rights measure has enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. As Insider previously reported, abortion rights measures could prove to deliver major political benefits to Democrats. During the 2022 midterms, abortion rights groups passed every state measure they sought and also beat back efforts to restrict abortion access.

Persons: Roe, Frank LaRose, Mike DeWine, Ohioans, Wade Organizations: Service, USA, Suffolk University, GOP, Republican Gov, Republican, National Conference of State Legislatures, The, The Mississippi Supreme, Voters Locations: Ohio, Wall, Silicon, The Mississippi

☆ Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers thwarted Republicans with a creative veto that increases school funding for the next 400 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tony Evers used a creative veto to secure more funding for public education. The Democrat's move will increase funding for the next 400 years. Tony Evers has his way, a record-increase in state funding for education will almost last until then. Evers veto regarding per-pupil school funding," Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in a statement. "My vetoes reflect my belief system,"Evers told Wisconsin Public Radio.

Persons: Tony Evers, —, Evers, Robin Vos Organizations: Wisconsin Gov, Republicans, Service, The Capital Times, Capital Times, National Conference of State Legislatures, Wisconsin Public Locations: Wisconsin, Madison, United States

☆ Body Cameras Can Be a Powerful Tool. But Not All Police Forces Wear Them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Sean Keenan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Still, the use of body cameras continues to vary widely, and only seven states have enacted requirements for them, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In Georgia, the police chiefs association reported that nearly 90 percent of the 254 local agencies it surveyed in 2021 were using body cameras in some fashion. But the Georgia State Patrol, with nearly 800 troopers, does not routinely equip its officers with them, relying instead on dashboard cameras. Nor does the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which was part of the forest-clearing task force and led the investigation of Terán’s death. Some other state police forces share that policy, said John Bagnardi, executive director of the American Association of State Troopers.

☆ In victory for labor unions, Michigan governor repeals 'right-to-work' law
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Dan Whitcomb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer makes a campaign stop at the IBEW Local 58 union hall in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. November 5, 2022. REUTERS/Rebecca CookMarch 24 (Reuters) - Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Friday signed a package of bills repealing the state's so-called "right to work" law that allowed workers to opt out of unions, a long-sought victory for labor organizers facing an era of diminished power. "Michigan workers are the most talented and hard-working in the world and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect," Whitmer, a two-term Democrat, said in a statement. House Bill 4007 requires that contractors hired by the state pay a so-called prevailing wage, the amount used when hiring union workers. The Michigan state legislature, controlled at the time by Republicans, in 2012 passed a right-to-work law over the objections of union activists.

☆ Daylight-saving time is one of the most controversial and impossible issues of our age
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Shayanne Gal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

No policy — permanent daylight-saving time, permanent standard time, keep switching back and forth — is near a majority. Interestingly, respondents in the West are 14 percentage points more likely to prefer permanent standard time compared to respondents from the Northeast. When asked by the poll to rank those benefits, the ones favoring permanent standard time won out, big. The three most important values for respondents – keeping the time in line with circadian rhythms, promoting morning safety, and better sleep – are all specifically benefits of permanent Standard Time over permanent daylight-saving time. On a federal level, there have been political moves towards ending the status quo and pushing for permanent daylight-saving time.

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