December 20, 2015 Kansas first state to ban second-trimester abortion procedure critics call 'dismemberment' Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has signed a bill making his state the first in the nation to ban a controversial second-trimester abortion procedure that critics describe as dismembering a fetus.
December 20, 2015 Arizona first in nation to require patients be informed of abortion-reversal option Arizona will become the first state in the nation to require doctors to tell patients that abortions may be reversible, under a controversial bill that deals with an equally controversial method. Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed the bill earlier this week.
December 20, 2015 Unions gave $575G to Wisconsin Democratic senators voting against right-to-work bill Labor unions have contributed about $575,000 to the 14 Democratic senators who voted Wednesday against right-to-work legislation being fast-tracked through the state Legislature, according to a Wisconsin Reporter review of campaign finance records.
December 20, 2015 California Dems push to repeal 'welfare queen' law California Democrats are trying to reverse a decades-old state law that bars families from getting extra welfare money for having an additional child, describing the law as "sexist" and "classist" -- despite concerns that repealing it could compound the state's money woes.
December 20, 2015 Obama says immigrants should be 'gathering up their papers' in town hall appearance President Obama said illegal immigrants who would be eligible for protection from deportation under his recent, disputed executive orders should plan for them to be upheld in court.
December 20, 2015 Alaska becomes third state to legalize recreational marijuana as ballot measure takes effect Alaska on Tuesday became the third U.S. state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, but organizers don't expect any public celebrations since it remains illegal to smoke marijuana in public.
December 20, 2015 Judge defies Texas law to wed same-sex couple under one-time order Defying Texas' longstanding ban on gay marriage, a lesbian couple wed in Austin on Thursday immediately after being granted a marriage license under a one-time court order because one of the women has cancer.
December 20, 2015 In close vote, Utah House OKs firing-squad proposal A hotly contested proposal that resurrects Utah's use of firing squads to carry out executions narrowly passed a key vote Friday in the state's Legislature after three missing lawmakers were summoned to break a tie vote.
December 20, 2015 Montana lawmaker: Yoga pants, Speedos should be illegal in public A Montana lawmaker is seeking to strengthen the state’s indecent exposure law, stopping just short of his wish to outlaw yoga pants.
December 20, 2015 Alabama begins issuing marriage licenses to gay couples Alabama began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples Monday, despite an 11th-hour attempt from the state's chief justice -- an outspoken opponent -- to block the weddings.
