ME: Three Maine tribes consider growing marijuana
The Maliseet, Passamaquoddy and Micmacs are considering the economic benefits of marijuana, after a federal ruling cleared the way for production on tribal lands. Tribal leaders around the country are considering whether to get involved in the rapidly growing marijuana industry, which is seen as offering potential for badly needed economic development.
WI: Learn to drive online? Wisconsin bill would allow it
A measure filed in the Wisconsin Senate would allow driving schools to offer classes to teenage students on the Internet, not just in classrooms.
US: Many rural hospitals struggle to survive
The Kansas-based National Rural Health Association, which represents about 2,000 small hospitals across the country and other rural care providers, says that 48 rural hospitals have closed since 2010, the majority in Southern states, and 283 others are in trouble. In Texas alone, 10 have closed.
CA: California lawmakers consider measures to boost voter turnout
Alarmed by the dismal voter turnout in this month’s Los Angeles city election, California lawmakers are considering a massive expansion of vote-by-mail balloting and the legalization of pop-up polling stations at shopping malls to help increase the convenience and appeal of voting.
FL: Florida bill would drastically alter alimony
Florida lawmakers are considering a bill that would end permanent alimony in most future divorces, establishing formulas that would set time limits and amounts based on the length of a marriage and the income difference between spouses.
NH: Medicaid expansion could end in New Hampshire next year
A House committee voted along party lines Sunday to allow the state’s Medicaid expansion to expire on Dec. 31, 2016, a move a spokesman for Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan called “misguided.” Hassan had called for the expansion to be extended as part of her proposed budget.
WV: W.Va. lawmakers finish first GOP-led session in 8 decades
West Virginia lawmakers wrapped up a 60-day session under Republican leadership after years of Democratic control during a frenzied weekend in which last-hour efforts to legalize fireworks, raise the cigarette tax, allow smoking in casinos, introduce charter schools and repeal the Common Core educational standards fizzled.
AZ: Arizona legislators take up measures to restrict information
The Legislature has taken up several measures to restrict the public’s access to the workings of government, including a proposal to let police agencies withhold for 90 days the identities of officers who are involved in incidents that resulted in serious injuries or death. Other bills would create new rules that stipulate the images from police body cameras are not a public record.
MS: High fees thwart Mississippi’s sunshine law
Despite a recent law intended to drive down the cost of staff time for public records requests in Mississippi, big fees can still be a barrier to access.
TX: State Medicaid investigations produce paltry results
Three years ago, the Texas office responsible for rooting out Medicaid fraud and abuse set a goal of finding $1 billion a year in misspent funds. But it’s collecting about $995 million less than that, and the program’s performance is under scrutiny amid investigations into contracting irregularities.
NM: New Mexico Senate OKs reducing pot penalties
The Senate has voted to lessen penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana, while the House voted to clamp down on medical marijuana providers.
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