Issues - Page 61

State spends $2.7 million a year on membership fees, memo shows

April 28, 2016

State spends $2.7 million a year on membership fees, memo shows

Colorado departments and agencies are paying dues, fees, memberships and joining professional associations to the tune of $2.7 million during the 2014-15 fiscal year, a legislative memo obtained by Watchdog.org shows.

Utah governor signs bill requiring abortion anesthesia beginning at 20 weeks

April 28, 2016

Utah governor signs bill requiring abortion anesthesia beginning at 20 weeks

The governor signed a bill Monday that makes Utah the first state to require doctors to give anesthesia to women having an abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later.

North Carolina AG says he won't defend law overriding local anti-discrimination rules

April 28, 2016

North Carolina AG says he won't defend law overriding local anti-discrimination rules

North Carolina's attorney general said Tuesday that he won't defend in court a newly enacted state law preventing local governments from passing anti-discrimination rules meant to protect gay, lesbian and transgender people.

San Francisco raises legal age to buy tobacco to 21

April 28, 2016

San Francisco raises legal age to buy tobacco to 21

San Francisco supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to boost the legal age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21, despite arguments from opponents that cities and counties cannot trump California law.

Report: Justice Dept lawyer mishandled government records

April 28, 2016

Report: Justice Dept lawyer mishandled government records

An investigative report obtained by The Associated Press says a Justice Department lawyer admitted improperly sending sensitive work information to her personal email account.

Lawmakers strike political compromise to fix Florida’s death penalty law

April 28, 2016

Lawmakers strike political compromise to fix Florida’s death penalty law

In an effort to keep the state’s death penalty from a barrage of legal attacks after a Supreme Court decision halted executions, Florida lawmakers have reached a compromise that would allow the Sunshine State to continue executions.

Kentucky Senate approves bill creating separate marriage license forms

April 28, 2016

Kentucky Senate approves bill creating separate marriage license forms

Kentucky's state Senate approved a bill Thursday that creates different marriage license forms for gay and straight couples, with one Republican senator saying any form that does not include the words "bride" and "groom" is disrespectful to traditional families.

$100 fine for smoking in car carrying kid proposed in Virginia legislature

April 28, 2016

$100 fine for smoking in car carrying kid proposed in Virginia legislature

Drivers caught smoking in cars carrying children 7-years-old or younger could soon get slapped with a $100 fine in Virginia if they’re pulled over by authorities.

IRS resolves computer problems after outage

April 28, 2016

IRS resolves computer problems after outage

The IRS says it has resolved a computer system outage and is again accepting electronically filed tax returns

EPA, state officials point fingers over who's to blame for Flint water crisis

April 28, 2016

EPA, state officials point fingers over who's to blame for Flint water crisis

Michigan and federal officials traded charges Wednesday over who is to blame for the water crisis in Flint, Mich., at a heated House hearing where government agencies at all levels were accused of ignoring the city's plight.