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US: Broken system lets problem officers jump from job to job
Law enforcement officers accused of sexual misconduct have jumped from job to job—and at times faced fresh allegations that include raping women—because of a tattered network of laws and lax screening that allowed them to stay on the beat.
OH: Ohio voters reject legalizing marijuana
Ohioans rejected a marijuana-legalization proposal by a nearly 2-to-1 vote. But several state lawmakers who were staunchly opposed to legalization say it may now be time to move ahead with medical marijuana.
WI: Governor approves rule to require drug testing for public benefits in Wisconsin
Republican Gov. Scott Walker has approved an administrative rule that would set up a process requiring some Wisconsin applicants for food stamps, job training and unemployment insurance to undergo drug testing.
WA: ‘Democracy vouchers’ approved in Seattle
Seattle voters approved an initiative that makes the city the first place in the country to try taxpayer-funded “democracy vouchers,” which funnel property taxes to public funds to be used for campaign finance.
IL: No holiday lights on Illinois Capitol dome this year
The dome of the Illinois State Capitol won’t be adorned with the usual festive string lights this holiday season, a victim not of the Grinch but of the ongoing budget impasse between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic legislative leaders.
UT: Judge strikes down Utah law requiring parties to open primaries
A federal judge ruled that Utah cannot force political parties to open their primaries to unaffiliated voters, a move that will allow the Utah Republican Party to continue to close its primaries.
MI: Road funding bills pass Michigan House, Senate
Michigan motorists would typically pay about $20 more in vehicle registration fees and spend about .17 more for a 15-gallon fill-up under fee and tax increases passed by the Michigan Legislature as part of a .2-billion road-funding plan. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder is expected to sign the bills into law.
AR: Arkansas governor urges easing of Cuba credit restrictions
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is urging congressional leaders to ease credit restrictions with Cuba and says doing so would open millions of dollars in new markets for his state. The Republican called for legislation easing the requirement of cash-based sales up front for exports to the country.
NE: Nebraska prison officials tried to buy lethal injection drug from U.S. distributor
The unsuccessful effort shows that the administration of Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts is actively exploring other options to replenish Nebraska’s expired supplies of lethal drugs as attempts to obtain the substances from India have so far been thwarted.
CA: Industry spending big to repeal California’s plastic bag ban
Out-of-state plastic bag makers are spending millions on a 2016 ballot initiative to roll back California’s plastic bag ban. In a savvy political move, the industry recently filed a second initiative that would force grocers to charge bag fees and put the money toward environmental projects.
NH: New Hampshire governor calls special session on drugs
Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan wants lawmakers to approve $11.1 million in new programs to combat the New Hampshire’s heroin and opioid crisis at a special session beginning Nov. 18. Hassan will ask the Executive Council to approve the special session, not a sure thing with Republicans holding a 3-2 majority.
SD: Only 27 voters used South Dakota program to help military members vote
South Dakota officials are thinking of ending a voting system for military personnel paid for with a $668,000 federal grant, after only 27 people used it to cast ballots.
TX: On quakes, Texas regulator sides with energy companies
The Texas Railroad Commission has officially cleared two oilfield companies of responsibility for earthquakes that rattled two North Texas towns. Researchers said the operators’ withdrawal of brine and the high-pressure injection of huge volumes of wastewater from gas wells likely spurred the quakes.
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