Social Issues
Top State Stories 3/8
MO: Federal judge tosses Missouri gun law, calling it unconstitutional kansascity.com A federal judge has overturned a Missouri law that declared certain federal gun laws “invalid” if they don’t have a state-level equivalent, after the U.S. Department of Justice sued to overturn the measure. OK: Oklahoma voters reject legalization of recreational marijuana oklahoman.com Oklahomans gave a […]
Top State Stories 3/7
US: Three more GOP-led states withdraw from partnership to protect voter access cnn.com Florida, Missouri and West Virginia withdrew from the Electronic Registration Information Center, the bipartisan multi-state partnership aimed at helping states maintain accurate voter rolls to fight voter fraud. Alabama and Louisiana had previously retreated from the partnership. CA: California to cut ties […]
Top State Stories 2/21
TX: Texas Republicans take battle against blue cities to a new level houstonchronicle.com This could be the most productive legislative session yet for Texas Republican lawmakers looking to rein in the state’s largest cities and counties, most of which are run by Democrats. Their ideas include enhancing state oversight of county-run elections, taking aim at progressive judges and prosecutors, slashing […]
New Gun Restrictions Are Coming in States Where Democrats Reign
Editor’s note: This story was updated to correct the date of the mass shooting in Oxford, Michigan. Illinois lawmakers wasted no time in the new legislative session, taking just five days to pass major gun safety measures that include a ban on semi-automatic rifles, high-capacity magazines and gun attachments that simulate automatic fire. In signing the […]
Top State Stories 1/13
MA: Massachusetts lawmakers plan biggest gun control push in years with Democratic governor bostonglobe.com Massachusetts legislators say they will file at least two dozen gun safety bills amid rising concern about gun violence and loopholes in existing state laws, setting the stage for what could be the biggest push for sweeping gun reform that the state […]
Top State Stories 1/6
SC: South Carolina Supreme Court tosses out 6-week abortion ban, leaving it legal through 22 weeks postandcourier.com The state Supreme Court has thrown out South Carolina’s law banning abortion at roughly six weeks into pregnancy, stunning GOP leaders just days ahead of the 2023 legislative session. While the legislature has the authority to set limitations on “that […]
GOP Lawmakers Aim to Criminalize Drag Shows Where Children Could Be Present
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It was trivia night at Tribe, an LGBTQ club in Nashville, and drag queen Tracey Ottomey was quizzing the crowd on pop music, Christmas movies and Queen Victoria. At the same time, pop music videos — widely available on YouTube and other platforms — played on screens around the bar. One audience […]
Supreme Court Admissions Case Could Upend Environmental Justice Laws
In recent years, more states have crafted environmental justice policies to help communities of color plagued by polluted air and water, poor health outcomes and limited access to green space. But now they fear that work could be upended by a pair of pending U.S. Supreme Court cases examining affirmative action admissions policies at universities. If the court […]
Top State Stories 12/1
FL: Florida may tweak resign-to-run law to aid governor’s potential 2024 presidential run tampabay.com Just four years after Florida’s legislature made sure politicians would have to resign before running for federal office, they seem poised to change the rules again. The impetus is Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is widely speculated to be eyeing a […]
Health Harms of Mass Shootings Ripple Across Communities
A grim and familiar pattern has followed the parade of mass shootings across America. In their aftermath, the nation’s attention focuses on the direct victims of the attacks, the dead and injured, their families and friends, and the witnesses. But a growing body of research reveals that the negative effects of mass shootings spread much […]
Democrats Hold Governorships, Make State Legislative Gains
Note: This story was updated to reflect the latest election results from Minnesota. Dispelling predictions of a red wave, Democrats seized complete control of the legislatures in Michigan and Minnesota, and held on to governorships in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, maintaining a bulwark against Republican-dominated legislatures in the latter two states. Democrats also won historic […]
Minnesota Has Become an Island of Abortion Access
Read more Stateline coverage on how states are either protecting or curbing access to abortions. MOORHEAD, Minn. — The move, as the crow flies, was about two miles — just across the Red River into Minnesota. But for North Dakota’s last abortion provider, it was a world apart. “We were very sad to leave Fargo,” said Tammi […]