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OK: Oklahoma executions are on hold until early next year
No executions will be scheduled in Oklahoma until at least next year, as the attorney general’s office investigates why the state used the wrong drug during a lethal injection in January and nearly did so again last month.
AL: Alabama will reopen 31 driver’s license offices on a limited basis
In a change of course, Republican Gov. Robert Bentley said that the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency would return driver’s license examiners to 31 rural counties. The closings, which Bentley said were needed to help keep the state’s budget in balance, stirred controversy over whether access to voter registration was being cut off.
US: States go after unclaimed property to patch budgets
When Americans lose track of money in neglected bank accounts or paychecks they forgot to cash, state governments are increasingly aggressive in taking control of the cash. And it’s setting off skirmishes with and companies who have their own interest in holding onto the unclaimed property.
HI: Hawaii governor declares state of emergency over homelessness
Democratic Gov. David Ige issued an emergency proclamation to address Hawaii’s homelessness crisis, a move that allows him to tap state disaster funds and waive some rules and regulations to increase services, such as building more shelters.
IL: Illinois Gaming Board to seek ruling on fantasy sports sites
The board will seek an attorney general’s opinion on whether daily fantasy sports websites that were ordered shut down in Nevada violate state law. The board suspects that sites such as DraftKings and FanDuel are illegal in Illinois, too.
MT: Montana attorney general says proposed Missoula gun ordinance would violate state law
Republican Attorney General Tim Fox said a proposed ordinance requiring background checks for firearms sold or transferred within the city would violate Montana state law.
IN: Indiana move would save employers $327 million
Indiana plans to pay off a $250 million federal unemployment loan to relieve businesses from shouldering another year of penalties that are projected to reach $327 million next year.
OH: Rate of Ohioans without health insurance falls
Ohio’s uninsured rate has plunged by half in recent years to 8.7 percent, but it could be even lower. Although the state was among 30 that expanded Medicaid coverage, its rate of eligible residents not enrolled in the program was among the highest in the nation last year.
NE: Nebraska death penalty supporters have signatures to put repeal on hold
A pro-death penalty group has submitted enough valid signatures to postpone the repeal of capital punishment and place a referendum on the issue on the November 2016 ballot. The group, backed by Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, launched the signature drive after the Nebraska Legislature overrode a veto by Ricketts to abolish the death penalty.
GA: Smaller, aging workforce troubling finances of Georgia state pension plan
Although Georgia’s two major state pension systems have largely been well funded and managed, their investment income dropped 76 percent in fiscal 2015, while benefits paid to retirees increased 5.9 percent. Meanwhile, the number of retirees receiving benefits is increasing at a time when the state payroll in most agencies is expanding little, if at all.
KY: Two candidates seek Kentucky office that some say should be abolished
Though calls have been made to abolish the office of state treasurer, two Eastern Kentuckians are running hard this fall not only to win the ,329-a-year job, but add to its duties.
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