What We're Reading: Top State Stories 9/15
MO: Missouri Legislature overrides vetoes of gun, photo ID bills
Both houses voted to override Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon’s vetoes of bills eliminating the need for permits to carry concealed weapons in Missouri and requiring voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot starting next year.
CA: California moves to allow unauthorized immigrants to buy health insurance
California officials are asking the Obama administration this week to approve a plan that would allow undocumented immigrants to buy health insurance on the state’s public exchange. The Affordable Care Act limits coverage for people who are in the country illegally.
NC: ACC to move its championships out of North Carolina
The Atlantic Coast Conference announced it would move its neutral site championships out of North Carolina for the 2016-17 season because of the state's law that prevents cities from passing protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The NCAA already has said it would remove its championship games from the state.
US: It’s hard to alter elections by hacking, top administration official says
President Barack Obama's homeland security adviser said it would be very hard for someone to hack into America's voting systems to alter an election outcome because voting systems largely aren’t hooked up to the internet, and are diffusely operated by state and local governments.
UT: Utah develops crosswalk “key” to make the walk to school safer
The Utah Department of Transportation has devised a first-in-the-nation, inexpensive way to improve safety during peak times at busy crosswalks near schools. It’s a newly engineered key on signal boxes that allows crossing guards to add 10 to 15 seconds of extra "walk time."
WV: West Virginia governor calls special legislative session for flood relief
Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said he will call the Legislature in next week to address the state’s share of funding for more than $300 million of recovery costs from the June 23 floods in central and southern West Virginia. The state needs to come up with $30 million to $75 million.
NM: New Mexico judicial officials plead to avoid cuts to budget
Top state court officials urged legislators to spare New Mexico’s judicial system from the chopping block, saying even modest budget cuts could lead to employee furloughs, reduced court hours and pared-back drug court programs.
NJ: New Jersey legalizes marijuana for PTSD treatment
People in New Jersey suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorders can now be legally treated with marijuana under a law signed by Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
OK: Oklahoma puts off considering execution procedures, ensuring delays
Oklahoma, which has had one of the busiest death chambers in the country over the last three decades, will have at least a two-year delay in lethal injections after the governing board of its prison system declined to consider new execution procedures.
GA: Georgia’s state universities request $265 million for construction, repair
Kennesaw State, Georgia Tech, Georgia Gwinnett College and the University of Georgia would all get big money for construction projects under a budget request endorsed by the University System Board of Regents.
LA: Louisiana loses another round in effort to defund Planned Parenthood
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction blocking Louisiana’s move to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood.
