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US: Some Republican governors call for delay on Kavanaugh
Four Republican governors — Larry Hogan of Maryland, Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, Phil Scott of Vermont, and John Kasich of Ohio — joined in calling on the U.S. Senate to delay a vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh until sexual misconduct allegations against the judge are fully investigated.
NY, NJ: Top minimum wage in U.S., $19, OK’d at New York, New Jersey airports
As many as 40,000 airport workers are now on a path to earning at least $19 an hour, the highest minimum wage target set by any public agency in the country. The pay increase, which was approved unanimously by the commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, will raise the wages over the next five years.
PA: Pennsylvania must say who granted permits to sell pot, court rules
The names of the panelists who awarded the first round of Pennsylvania medical marijuana permits must be released by the state Department of Health, the Commonwealth Court ruled. An unknown number of panelists awarded 12 permits to grow and 27 permits to dispense the drug. Each has been valued at several million dollars.
CO: Colorado lawmakers float new tax for short-term rentals
Colorado lawmakers are considering legislation that would convert the tax status of short-term rentals from residential to commercial, a spike that would more than quadruple property-tax bills. Money raised by the tax would go to support education.
NV: Nevada city destroys nine dockless bikes a week
Reno, Nevada, destroys dockless bikes at twice the rate of other cities, according to dockless bike and scooter share company Lime. Nine Lime bikes, on average, get destroyed every week, the company’s director of strategic development told city council members.
DC: D.C. council to vote on repeal of minimum wage for tipped workers
The District of Columbia Council is set to vote on a bill repealing a June ballot measure that would raise the minimum wage paid to tipped workers. The initiative gradually phases out the tipped wage system by increasing the minimum wage for tipped workers to $15 by 2025.
NJ: Strongest plastics ban in U.S. advances in New Jersey
A bill that would impose the strongest statewide ban on everyday plastic products in the nation was approved by a New Jersey Senate committee. The measure would ban plastic grocery store bags, Styrofoam food containers and plastic straws. It would also mean charging 10 cents for paper bags at grocery stores.
CA: NRA gives to California high school shooting clubs
The revelation that a Northern California high school shooting team has received at least $124,559 in grants from the National Rifle Association has ignited a debate about whether public schools should accept money from an organization that many in California view as politically toxic, if not dangerous.
WA: Washington city to close tiny houses for homeless
The city of Seattle plans to shut down the Licton Springs tiny-house village next spring, ending the city effort to help house homeless people. Residents there can use alcohol and drugs, something not permitted at the other city-sanctioned encampments.
ND: Group asks judge to strike North Dakota from suit vs. Affordable Care Act
A group of North Dakota physicians and patients are asking a judge to order the Attorney General’s Office to withdraw from Texas-led litigation that aims to invalidate the Affordable Care Act.
TX: Texas legal immigrants might drop benefits for fear of deportation
Federal officials say a proposal that would make it harder for some noncitizens who use most forms of public assistance to receive visas or permanent residency would save money. But critics say it will cause “chilling effects” — especially in Texas — that could also keep legal U.S. citizens from using benefits they are entitled to.
CT: Connecticut agency creating duplicate health exchange
Members of the council charged with creating a health information exchange for Connecticut seemed stunned at a meeting as they realized the state Department of Social Services is continuing to create its own products for exchanging this information. Connecticut has been trying to build an exchange since 2007 with no success. Such exchanges, experts agree, reduce errors, improve data and lower costs.
OH: Ohio is winning some drug fights, governor says
Fatal overdoses in Ohio rose to a record 4,854 in 2017, up one-fifth in a year. Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, said there were encouraging signs among the grim statistics — for instance, fewer Ohioans are dying from prescription opioids. However, he said there may be little state officials can do to combat the use of the deadly drug fentanyl.
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