TX, US: Federal judge in Texas strikes down key Affordable Care Act provision regarding preventive care
A federal judge in Texas struck down a key provision in the Affordable Care Act that mandates that insurers provide preventive services, including cancer screenings, for free. The judge rules that preventive care recommendations issued by a volunteer panel of 16 medical professionals and scientists do not have to be followed because panel members are not appointed by the president nor confirmed to their posts by the Senate.
TN: More than a thousand people protest in Tennessee Capitol after school shooting
More than a thousand people crowded into its marble rotunda of the Tennessee Capitol and lined the chamber galleries to call for legislative action in the wake of the Covenant School shooting.
KY: Kentucky lawmakers pass sports betting, send bill to a willing governor
The bill to legalize, regulate and tax sports betting in Kentucky passed just hours before the legislature adjourned. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear is a supporter who has indicated he would sign the bill into law quickly.
IL: Illinois legislature advances bill to repatriate thousands of Native American remains
If signed into law, the Illinois legislation would create a protected cemetery for the reburial of repatriated Native American ancestors and establish a committee of tribal leaders to review state projects that may disturb culturally significant sites.
NC: North Carolina senators propose eliminating participation trophy for youth sports
The bill, filed by a handful of North Carolina Republican state senators, would ban awards for children “based solely on their participation in the sport or other activity.” Instead, awards could be provided “based on identified performance achievements.” The bill would be applicable to any youth recreation activities that are “operated under the authority of a local government.”
MN: Tentative agreement plots new future of Minneapolis policing
The Minneapolis City Council is preparing to vote on an agreement that would plot a new course for how the city’s police department investigates crimes, uses force against citizens and holds problem officers accountable. The tentative agreement emerged from almost a year of negotiations between city staff and state officials, since the Minnesota Department of Human Rights charged the Minneapolis Police Department with engaging in a pattern of illegal, racist behavior.
WY: Snowplow drivers hauling off wildlife carcasses all across Wyoming as animals continue to starve
Wildlife officials in Wyoming have predicted that as many as half of the antelope in the Rawlins-Red Desert area could die this winter, along with many mule deer and elk. And in the Baggs-Wamsutter-Dixon area, as many as 80% of the antelope could die, along with significant numbers of deer and elk. Because of the massive die-off, there has been some talk of limiting hunting seasons in the hardest-hit areas.
OK: Oklahoma Senate passes private school tax credits
The Oklahoma Senate approved tax credits for families of private-school and home-school students, a major goal of school choice supporters, but legislation the leader of the House said will require more negotiation. Senators also approved a public school funding increase and a teacher pay raise in a separate bill.
FL: Florida death penalty requirement could soon be 8 out of 12 jury votes
Florida’s threshold for the death penalty could soon be the lowest in the nation, with the Florida Senate passing a priority bill of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to require the vote of only eight jurors out of 12 to implement capital punishment. Unlike an earlier version of the bill, the current version does not allow a judge to override a jury’s recommendation for a life sentence and give death instead.
DE: Delaware’s bans on automatic rifles and large capacity magazines survive initial court challenge
A challenge to Delaware’s bans on automatic rifles and large capacity magazines suffered a loss in federal court. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Andrews denied a preliminary injunction sought by the Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association in its lawsuit.
WV: West Virginia governor says wage garnishment move is politically motivated
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, said a bank’s move to garnish his governor’s salary over a family-business lawsuit is politically motivated. Justice said that every year he’s been in office, he’s donated his ,000 salary to the Communities in Schools program.
MI: Michigan lawmakers seek new protections for guardian safety net
Lawmakers announced they want to overhaul Michigan’s guardianship system to prevent elder abuse in the wake of a Detroit News investigation that found mistreatment and lax oversight within the state’s safety net for vulnerable adults. A bipartisan group of senators is working on six bills that would require courts to obtain a physician or mental health professional’s assessment of an individual prior to appointing a guardian and would stipulate professional guardians be certified.
AZ: Legislation would require housing assistance programs to prioritize Arizonans
State legislators moved a bill forward that would require government agencies that administer housing assistance programs to give preference to Arizona residents.
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