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OK: Oklahoma Supreme Court blocks 2015 abortion law
The Oklahoma Supreme Court granted an injunction barring enforcement of a law that bans a method of abortion in the second trimester. The law was approved by the state legislature in 2015 but has not gone into effect because of court challenges.
AK: Alaska Division of Elections rejects petition to recall governor
The Alaska Division of Elections declined to certify a petition to recall GOP Gov. Mike Dunleavy from office, citing a legal opinion by the state attorney. The opinion says petitioners gathered enough signatures, but that the four allegations against the governor “fail to meet any of the listed grounds for recall.”
MO: Missouri tourism chief out amid probe into hotel stays, baseball tickets
The director of the Missouri Division of Tourism resigned amid an investigation into allegations of excessive taxpayer-funded travel and improper acceptance of gifts from a state vendor.
CT: Connecticut task force recommends testing public water systems
Connecticut needs statewide testing for hazardous chemicals at public water systems, many private wells, landfills, airports and industrial sites, according to a state task force report. Local officials fear the widespread testing could result in millions in additional costs.
US: Farm country feeds America, but grocery stores there are leaving
An exodus of grocery stores is turning rural towns into food deserts. Some towns are fighting back by opening their own community markets.
CA: California officials seize 1M illegal marijuana plants
California has stepped up its enforcement against unlicensed marijuana growing operations. Local, state and federal law enforcement have arrested 148 people and eradicated nearly 1 million unlicensed marijuana plants at grow sites across the state.
GA: Georgia purge list scrutinized for voter registration removals
As Georgia election officials prepare to erase 313,243 registrations, several groups say they’re concerned that legitimate voters will be swept up in the purge. The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia identified 70 people who it says voted in November 2018 but are targeted for cancellation.
RI: Advocates say Rhode Island judges must order more gun surrenders
Two years after lawmakers passed a new law to disarm domestic violence abusers, gun-safety advocates say Rhode Island Family Court judges aren’t ordering enough offenders to surrender their guns.
HI: Airbnb agrees to provide host records to Hawaii
Airbnb Inc. has agreed to provide Hawaii with records of many of its island hosts as the state tries to track down vacation rental operators who haven’t been paying their taxes. Airbnb and the state Department of Taxation reached the agreement after negotiating the scope of a subpoena sought by the state.
NV: Nevada ballot question filed to create independent redistricting commission
Nevada could become the latest state to combat partisan gerrymandering through creation of a bipartisan, independent redistricting commission under a proposed constitutional amendment backed by the League of Women Voters.
ID: Idaho’s K-12 task force recommends teacher raises, all-day kindergarten
Idaho Republican Gov. Brad Little’s K-12 education task force voted to approve five recommendations, including increasing teacher pay and implementing all-day kindergarten. But the group’s Republican legislators opposed the proposals or abstained, raising questions about their fate in the legislature.
WY: Wyoming lawmakers to consider Medicaid expansion again
Medicaid expansion could be back up for debate in the Wyoming legislature’s 2020 session. Projections show the expansion could eventually cover about 27,000 residents, according to a 2018 report from the state Department of Health.
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