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IL: Illinois lawmakers overturn veto of heroin abuse bill
Illinois legislators voted to reject Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s rewrite of a bill aimed at reducing heroin abuse, which would have eliminated a requirement that the state’s Medicaid program to pay for medication and therapy programs to treat addiction.
AR: Arkansas governor sets eight execution dates after 10-year gap
Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson says Arkansas will resume executions after a 10-year gap starting next month with a double execution. Arkansas hasn’t executed an inmate since 2005, largely because of court challenges to its lethal injection law and a shortage of execution drugs.
WA: Washington state court finds charter schools unconstitutional
Washington state’s Supreme Court has become the first in the nation to decide that taxpayer-funded charter schools are unconstitutional, reasoning that charters are not truly public schools because they aren’t governed by elected boards and therefore not accountable to voters.
CA: Right-to-die legislation moves forward in California
The California Assembly approved a measure that would allow physician-assisted suicide. It now goes to the state Senate, which has previously passed a similar bill.
IA: Former Iowa lottery official gets prison for trying to rig $14 million win
A former Iowa lottery security official was sentenced to 10 years in prison for rigging a computerized Hot Lotto game in 2010 in an attempt to win a $14 million jackpot.
TX: Private Texas insurer pays government lawyers to pursue fraud charges
The Texas Mutual Insurance Company has authorized payments of $4.7 million to the Travis County (Austin) District Attorney’s Office since 2001 to prosecute alleged crimes against the company, according to a media investigation. Similar deals have blossomed around the nation as lawmakers look for ways to help cash-strapped prosecutors pursue complex crimes that ultimately cause premiums to rise for everyone.
KY: Kentucky legislative committee advances proposal to expand digital billboards
Regulations advanced in Kentucky that would allow more digital LED billboards. Opponents claim the expansion would clutter the state, distract drivers and lower property values. The billboard industry contends the proposed regulations would decrease the number of billboards in the state.
NY: New York City board approves sodium warnings on menus
The New York City Board of Health will require many chain restaurants to post a saltshaker symbol on menu items containing more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium, the daily limit recommended by many nutritionists.
MT: Montana court gets creative to handle judge shortage
Montana is short 15 judges, including five in Yellowstone County, where court officials established a standing master position at the end of August. The position, filled by a lawyer, gives the court someone to handle cases nearly to completion, when one of the district’s six judges will step in and sign off.
KS: Kansas fair-goers can search for millions in unclaimed property
Visitors to the Kansas State Fair this weekend can stop by Republican State Treasurer Ron Estes’ booth and see whether they’re owners of $300 million in forgotten bank accounts, stocks, refunds and other unclaimed property. Last year, fair-goers claimed more than $750,000 in unclaimed property.
ID: Idaho fireworks vendor sues cities over drought-related sales bans
A fireworks vendor in northern Idaho has filed suit against seven Idaho cities for banning the sale of fireworks over the drought-plagued summer. The vendor said she lost about $42,000 in business from the bans.
LA: Louisiana agency overestimates number of family planning providers
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals had argued in federal court last week that there were more than 2,000 healthcare providers that could step in to treat patients if Planned Parenthood loses funding, but it acknowledged Wednesday that it erroneously included dentists and nursing facilities.
DC: DC mayor proposes restrictions for access to body camera footage
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, wants to keep some footage recorded on police body cameras, including video of all assaults, from public view.
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