Editor’s Picks From Around the Web

AR: Arkansas Supreme Court upholds state’s lethal-injection law

arkansasonline.com

Arkansas’ highest court upheld the state’s lethal-injection law as constitutional, removing a major roadblock to resuming executions that have been on hold in the state for nearly a decade. Arkansas has 32 inmates on death row, but hasn’t executed an inmate since 2005.

CO: Colorado’s rebounding economy triggers rebates for taxpayers

denverpost.com

The latest economic forecasts indicate the state will exceed its constitutional limit on tax collections by up to $220 million this fiscal year, triggering refunds under Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights for the first time in 15 years.

VA: Violent arrest of black student sparks scrutiny of Virginia’s ABC

washingtonpost.com

The violent arrest of a University of Virginia student sparked new scrutiny of Virginia’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, as university officials and Richmond lawmakers questioned the tactics and approach of the agency’s law enforcement officers.

WI: Wisconsin judge declines to block new right-to-work law

jsonline.com

A Wisconsin judge has declined to block Wisconsin’s new right-to-work law, which allows it to stay in effect during a lawsuit challenge from three unions. The law prohibits businesses and unions from reaching agreements that require all workers, not just union members, to pay union dues.

MS: Bye-bye, Mississippi vehicle inspection stickers

clarionledger.com

Mississippi legislators have voted to eliminate the state’s $5 vehicle inspections and stickers, arguing modern autos are of high quality and the fees don’t cover inspection costs.

NC: North Carolina bill would make childhood vaccinations mandatory

newsobserver.com

North Carolina parents could no longer claim a religious exemption to having their children vaccinated against disease under a bill introduced in the Senate.

NV: Gov. Sandoval, 3 former governors advocate tax hike for Nevada education

lasvegassun.com

In a rare bipartisan gathering, Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval and three former Nevada governors called upon a panel of state lawmakers earlier this week to pass a tax bill on more than 300,000 businesses in the state to raise $438 million for education in the next two years.

AL: Executions are on hold in Alabama

montgomeryadvertiser.com

A federal judge has ordered a stay on legal proceedings for all pending executions in Alabama until the U.S. Supreme Court rules later this year whether the state’s lethal-injection method constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.

OH: More Ohio cities sue state to void traffic-camera restrictions

dispatch.com

Dayton and Springfield are suing the state over a law they say restricts cities’ use of traffic cameras because it requires a police officer’s presence to issue tickets. Akron and Toledo filed similar suits, saying the new Ohio law violates their right to set policies.

FL: Scott official avoids ‘climate change’ in Florida Senate hearing

orlandosentinel.com

Republican Gov. Rick Scott has denied reports that he unofficially banned the terms “climate change” and “global warming” from state reports and in official documents, but Florida Division of Emergency Management director Bryan Koon isn’t taking any chances.

KS: Kansas Senate passes ‘religious freedom’ bill for campus groups

ljworld.com

Kansas’ colleges and universities would have to give the same recognition to religious student organizations with exclusive membership that they give any other organization, under a bill passed by the Senate. Proponents said groups have been forced off campuses in other states if they don’t allow all students to join.

MN: Minnesota Senate shelves transgender bill

blogs.mprnews.org

A Minnesota lawmaker tried unsuccessfully to revive a bill that tells transgender students which sports teams they can join and which locker rooms they can use.