By: - October 25, 2018 12:00 am

GA: Federal judge to order Georgia counties to stop absentee ballot rejections

ajc.com

A federal judge intends to issue an injunction barring Georgia election officials from tossing absentee ballots and absentee ballot applications without giving would-be voters advance notice and a chance to rectify any issues. The order also would give rejected absentee voters the chance to appeal. 

NC: If you’re still displaced by Hurricane Florence, you’ll get extra help voting in North Carolina

newsobserver.com

Voters in 28 North Carolina counties impacted by Hurricane Florence will have more flexibility to vote using absentee ballots.

DC: D.C. failed to include ‘postage required’ on 10,000 absentee ballot envelopes

washingtonpost.com

An oversight by the District of Columbia Board of Elections meant more than 10,000 absentee ballot envelopes sent to voters did not include a reminder to include stamps, creating confusion two weeks before Election Day.

NY: New York sues Exxon over climate-change disclosures

wsj.com

The state of New York sued Exxon Mobil Corp., accusing the oil giant of misleading investors about the risks that climate-change regulations pose to its business.

IA: Changes to early voting window mean fewer early voters in Iowa

desmoinesregister.com

Early voting numbers are down in Iowa for both parties in 2018 because the early voting period was shortened from 40 days to 29 days beginning this year.

MT: Medical marijuana on the rise in Montana

kbzk.com

The number of medical marijuana patients in Montana grew by 2,500 or about 9 percent between July and October, the state reported. Many of the patients are less than 40 years old and being treated for severe pain.

LA: Louisiana medical marijuana delayed over product testing

theadvocate.com

The first batch of legal medical marijuana in Louisiana won’t be on the shelves until January at the earliest, two months later than hoped, with the state agriculture department having to take on product testing after an unsuccessful effort to find an independent lab to do the work. 

PA: Pennsylvania governor signs law to help child victims of human trafficking

apnews.com

Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation that prevents authorities from filing criminal charges against child victims of human trafficking.

CA: California ballot measures would fund billions for housing, water and hospitals

latimes.com

California could issue a total of $16.4 billion in bonds to help build housing for low-income and homeless residents, improve the state’s watersheds, natural habitats and water treatment facilities and expand a network of children’s hospitals.

MI: Michigan court clears path for perjury case against ex-lawmaker

apnews.com

The Michigan Court of Appeals says there’s no legal protection for a former state lawmaker who is charged with perjury related to a sex scandal that forced him to quit in 2015.

KY: Kentucky AG to announce 8th opioid lawsuit

kentucky.com

Kentucky Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear says he will announce an eighth lawsuit related to the opioid epidemic.

TX: Texas values collide in fight over Houston-Dallas high-speed rail

texastribune.org

The political debate over eminent domain in the path of Texas’ high-speed rail is an outgrowth of a larger question confronting a state where most people now live in urban areas: How much should rural residents have to sacrifice to solve problems born in the cities they intentionally avoided or outright fled?

CO: Colorado policymakers speak out against property rights ballot initiative

denverpost.com

City and state leaders in Colorado are speaking out against a ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to require that property owners be compensated for devaluation of their property because of government action. Opponents say the measure will lead to a flood of litigation.

NJ: New Jersey lawmakers named to panel probing handling of assault charge

apnews.com

New Jersey’s assembly speaker has announced the nine members of that chamber who will serve on a state legislative committee probing Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s handling of sexual assault allegations against a former staffer. Eight women and one man were named to the panel.

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Stateline staff
Stateline staff

Stateline’s team of veteran journalists combines original reporting with a roundup of the latest news from sources around the country.

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