Tag Archives: local

Oklahoma AG sues natural gas companies over winter storm price hikes

Oklahoma’s Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed lawsuits on Wednesday against two Texas-based natural gas companies over their role in soaring gas prices during Winter Storm Uri in 2021. The lawsuits, the first by the state against natural gas operators over profits reaped during the storm, were filed in Osage County, Oklahoma, against Dallas-based ET Gathering & Processing, which acquired …

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NJ Transit board approves 15% fare hike, effective July 1

New Jersey Transit’s board of directors has unanimously approved a 15% fare increase for bus and train riders, the first time its rates will rise in nearly 10 years. COMPANY BEHIND NEW JERSEY’S 3 NUCLEAR PLANTS TO SEEK 20-YEAR APPROVAL TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS HOBOKEN, NJ – OCTOBER 10: A New Jersey Transit train arrives at Hoboken Terminal during morning rush …

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Governor kills Maine proposal to end 'three strikes' law for petty theft

Maine’s Democratic governor has vetoed a proposal to end the state’s “three strikes” law for people convicted of petty thefts. The proposal, from Democratic Rep. David Sinclair, sought to set a threshold for theft by a repeat offender. Sinclair’s proposal stated that a person with two or more prior convictions would not be charged with a felony if they committed …

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Six Democrats in Louisiana buck party line by supporting universal school choice: 'Political ramifications'

Six Louisiana Democrats bucked their party line by supporting universal school choice after a bill passed the state’s House chamber on Monday. “I know the political ramifications for me for voting for this bill,” Louisiana Democratic State Rep. Jason Hughes said on the House chamber floor before the bill passed by a supermajority 71-32 vote. Democrats have historically voted against …

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Tennessee Senate clears bill making it illegal to assist minors seeking abortions

Republican lawmakers in Tennessee on Wednesday advanced legislation making it illegal for adults to help minors get an abortion without parental consent, sparking objections from Democrats who counter that doing so could result in young victims needing approval from their parents who may have raped them in order to terminate the pregnancies. The GOP-controlled Senate signed off on the proposal …

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Ohio Gov. DeWine delivers child-focused State of the State address

Improving access to child care and kids’ health care form the core elements of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s agenda in 2024, as the second-term Republican rolled out a slate of policy priorities focusing on children to state lawmakers Wednesday. DeWine, speaking in the House of Representatives’ chamber in the Statehouse, delivered his State of the State address to a joint …

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Committee discourages impeachment of Vermont sheriff accused of kicking suspect

A special legislative committee recommended against impeachment Tuesday of a Vermont sheriff charged with assault for kicking a shackled prisoner but said the sheriff is doing a disservice by remaining in office. A resolution to be introduced in the House by committee members on Wednesday urges Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore to resign “for the good of the people of …

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Biden could be left off Alabama's general election ballot if key deadline is missed, election official warns

President Biden’s name may not appear on another state’s general election ballot in November after Alabama’s chief election official warned Democrats about missing a key deadline in the state’s election process. In a letter sent Tuesday to officials of both the Alabama Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, a Republican, said the …

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Georgia holds special election to replace lawmaker who died from the flu

Three Georgia Republicans and an independent are running in a Tuesday special election to replace state Rep. Richard Smith of Columbus, who died Jan. 30 while ill with the flu. JUDGE DENIES DONALD TRUMP’S MOTION TO DISMISS CHARGES IN GEORGIA ELECTION CASE Republicans running for the House District 139 seat include Sean Knox, who owns a pest control company and …

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California struggling to gauge efficacy of homeless crisis spending

California spent $24 billion to tackle homelessness over the past five years but didn’t consistently track whether the huge outlay of public money actually improved the situation, according to state audit released Tuesday. With makeshift tents lining the streets and disrupting businesses in cities and towns throughout California, homelessness has become one of the most frustrating and seemingly intractable issues …

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