By: - October 31, 2014 12:00 am

MI: Michigan’s ghost towns are shadowy symbols of boom, bust

freep.com

Some of the abandoned towns that dot Michigan’s landscape from the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula to the Ohio and Indiana state lines are no more than outlines of foundations or a few weathered cemetery headstones. All speak to boom-and-bust cycles in Michigan’s history.

WA: Washington Supreme Court shifts burden in rape cases

seattletimes.com

The Washington Supreme Court says the state cannot require rape defendants to prove that an alleged victim consented — a decision critics said will make it harder to punish dangerous sex offenders.

NY: New York offers job protections for medical workers joining Ebola fight

nytimes.com

Under the new protections, modeled after rights granted military reservists, New York officials said health care workers joining the fight against the Ebola outbreak in West Africa would have their pay, health care and employment statuses continue seamlessly when they get back.

TX: San Antonio approves historic water project

texastribune.org

The city council approved a controversial pipeline that would bring in groundwater from 142 miles away. The .4 billion project would pipe in 16 billion gallons of water each year from Central Texas’ Burleson County. 

ID: Panel endorses land-based casinos, live dealers at horse tracks

indystar.com

Riverboat gambling operations would be allowed to rebuild on land, and horse track casinos could use live dealers for table games under a recommendation approved by a legislative study committee.

US: Campaigning to extend, or end, one-party rule in states

nytimes.com

The trend toward one-party control of statehouses has made states a testing ground for party policies in an era of gridlock in Washington.

NM: New Mexico Supreme Court denies request in water fight

abqjournal.com

The New Mexico Supreme Court has cleared the way for the state’s top water manager to continue considering an application by a commercial venture that calls for piping drinking water from western New Mexico to more populated areas.

NH: Youth deer hunting week popular in state

wmur.com

The state began to offer a youth hunt to children 16 and younger in 1999 and it has grown steadily, despite the fact that participation in hunting is declining in general nationally.

FL: Marijuana vote is kryptonite for politicians

heraldtribune.com

Their silence on medical marijuana and the constitutional amendment up for a vote on Nov. 4 stands out as one of the few commonalities between candidates for governor Rick Scott, the incumbent Republican, and Democratic challenger Charlie Crist. But they aren’t alone.

KY: Kentucky bars more felons from voting than most states

cincinnati.com

Kentucky is one of four states that require felons get a pardon from the governor to vote. As a result, the state is third highest in the nation with 7.4 percent of adults being unable to vote because of a felony.

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Stateline staff
Stateline staff

Stateline’s team of veteran journalists combines original reporting with a roundup of the latest news from sources around the country.

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