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FL: Florida opioid suit targets Walgreens, CVS
Florida Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi has named the nation’s two largest pharmacy chains in its massive opioid lawsuit, accusing Walgreens and CVS of racketeering in their “relentless campaign” to supply Floridians with opioids.
ME: Trump AG pick unlawful, Maine says
Maine Democrat Attorney General and Gov.-elect Janet Mills has joined a group supporting a federal lawsuit in Maryland that seeks to block President Donald Trump’s appointment of Matt Whitaker to serve as the acting U.S. attorney general.
MI: GOP in Michigan seeks new powers as Democrats take power
With a Democratic governor and attorney general set to take office, Michigan Republicans are considering a bill that attempts to guarantee the GOP-led legislature could intervene in state legal battles. The legislation appears to give the House and Senate a voice in court cases regardless of the stance of the incoming Democratic governor, secretary of state and attorney general.
WI: Lame-duck Wisconsin GOP bill could limit new governor
Republicans plan to pass a measure to protect coverage for pre-existing as part of a lame-duck session that could also curb the powers of the incoming Democratic governor. The measure is part of a broader plan that could limit incoming Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ say over administrative rules.
CA: California lawmakers eye flavored tobacco ban
California legislators have proposed a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products — including those used in electronic cigarettes — in retail stores and vending machines in the state, citing concern over a steep increase in nicotine use among youths.
AK: Alaska credit union to offer accounts to marijuana businesses
Alaska’s marijuana retailers, cultivators and other pot-related businesses have largely operated in cash since the state’s voters legalized marijuana in 2014. Until now, financial institutions have hesitated to serve them because marijuana is still illegal under federal law.
OR: Oregon moves toward legal psychedelic mushrooms
Oregon’s attorney general approved language for a ballot measure to make psychedelic mushrooms legal. The measure could go on the 2020 ballot if proponents can gather 140,000 signatures. A similar effort in California failed.
PA: Pennsylvania commits to new voting machines, election audit
Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration is settling a vote-counting lawsuit, affirming a commitment to push Pennsylvania’s counties to buy voting systems that leave a verifiable paper trail by 2020.
NJ: New Jersey curtails police cooperation with ICE
New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal unveiled a new directive that restricts local law enforcement from participating in federal immigration operations. Three county jails now have cooperation agreements.
NY: Republican concedes in New York House race
Republican U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney formally conceded to Democrat Anthony Brindisi to end an upstate New York congressional race settled by absentee ballots three weeks after Election Day.
AZ: Arizona expects 100,000 more residents
Most of Arizona’s population and economic growth will remain concentrated in metropolitan Phoenix, which has accounted for 88 percent of all jobs created this year, according to an Arizona State University forecast.
NM: New Mexico archdiocese bankrupt over sex abuse claims
The Catholic church in New Mexico has settled numerous claims of sexual abuse by clergy and is close to depleting its reserves. About 20 dioceses and other religious orders around the U.S. have also filed for bankruptcy.
ID: Idaho prison population rising despite reforms
Idaho’s reforms have resulted in more timely release of prisoners without any increase in recidivism, according to a new report. Nevertheless, prison population is on the rise again.
TX: Texas has most uninsured kids in America, report finds
Texas had about 835,000 uninsured children in 2017, an increase of 83,000 kids from the previous year. The state also has the highest uninsured rate among adults in the country.
CT: Parents sue over access to Connecticut magnet schools
A Connecticut network of high-performing magnet schools was designed to lure white, middle-class children to voluntarily enroll with minority city youth. But some parents say their children are unfairly excluded in the process.
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