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MN: Minnesota state agency commits millions without approval, records show
The Minnesota Department of Human Services violated state law more than 200 times over the past year with $52 million in contracts and grant commitments to vendors, Indian bands and other state government agencies without proper documentation, according to records obtained by the Star Tribune.
CO: Colorado voters narrowly approve sports betting
Legalized sports betting can start May 1 in Colorado thanks to a voter-approved ballot initiative. It will allow the state’s 17 casino operators to apply for licenses for their 33 casinos for physical or online sportsbooks. They’ll have to pay a 10% tax on net proceeds, and the money goes toward Colorado’s water plan.
KY: Kentucky governor asks for recanvass
Kentucky Republican Gov. Matt Bevin requested a recanvass in the race for governor, which Democrat Andy Beshear won by 5,189 votes, according to unofficial vote results from the State Board of Elections. Bevin has refused to concede the election.
WI: Wisconsin bill seeks to stop under 21s from vaping, smoking
Wisconsin lawmakers are moving ahead with a bipartisan proposal to limit the sale of vaping and other tobacco products to people over age 21, holding a public hearing on a measure designed to address what advocates called a public health crisis facing young people.
WY: Softball becomes sanctioned high school sport in Wyoming
High school softball is officially coming to Wyoming after a unanimous vote by the Wyoming High School Activities Association. The first sanctioned softball season will be played in the spring of 2021. Wyoming had been one of just two states (along with South Dakota) to not have a sanctioned high school softball season.
NC: North Carolina governor vetoes bill to purge voting rolls
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, vetoed a bill that would enhance removal of foreign citizens from voting rolls and signed into law a bill that restores early voting on the last Saturday before elections.
KS: GOP complaint spurs probe of Kansas court selection process
A top Republican legislator’s complaint has launched an investigation into whether a commission that screens Kansas Supreme Court applicants violated the state’s open meetings law.
NJ: The blue wave skips New Jersey as Democrats lose legislative seats
Democrats won’t lose their control of the New Jersey Assembly, having held a 54-26 majority going into election night. But experts predict — with several races still too close to call — that Republicans will add two to four seats when the new legislative session begins next year.
GA: Georgia farm troubles lead to spike in bankruptcies
The number of Georgia farm bankruptcies has surged in recent months to among the highest in the nation, as growers grappled with poor prices, burdensome tariffs and lingering effects from brutal weather.
VA: Virginia governor vows to move forward on gun control, Democratic agenda
After Virginia Democrats won the House and the Senate, Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam vowed to move ahead on liberal issues, such as gun control, that he said have long been stalled by Republican control of the statehouse.
TN: After 52 deaths, Tennessee Medicaid wants to extend postpartum coverage
Tennessee officials want to dramatically expand postpartum health insurance for thousands of low-income women in response to a slew of “preventable” deaths of new mothers who timed out of existing coverage.
MD: Maryland Democrats to push for school construction money
Democratic leaders of Maryland’s General Assembly want to send an extra $2.2 billion to local governments to help pay for renovating and building schools. The money would come from bonds issued by the Maryland Stadium Authority and would be paid back over 30 years using $125 million a year in casino revenue.
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