New Mexico halts some oil-field lease sales in standoff over royalty rates in Permian Basin
New Mexicoโs State Land Office will withhold lease sales indefinitely on its most promising tracts for oil and gas development in the Permian Basin as it seeks approval for the state Legislature to increase top-tier royalty rates.
South Dakota Republican lawmakers want clarity for the state's abortion laws. They propose a video
South Dakotaโs Republican-controlled Legislature has approved the creation of a video to outline the stateโs abortion laws and to clarify when health care providers are legally allowed to intervene.
Wisconsinโs Democratic governor signs his new legislative maps into law after Republicans pass them
Wisconsinโs Democratic governor, Tony Evers, has signed new legislative district maps into law that he proposed and that the Republicans who control the Legislature passed to avoid having the liberal-leaning state Supreme Court draw the lines.
Wisconsin's Democratic governor promises to veto last-ditch Republican redistricting effort
Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has promised to veto a redistricting proposal that the Republican-controlled Assembly passed and that largely mirror maps he proposed, but with changes that would reduce the number of GOP incumbents who would have to face one another in November.
Judge orders new North Dakota legislative district for 2 Native American tribes
A federal judge has ordered a new legislative district for two Native American tribes who successfully challenged North Dakotaโs 2021 redistricting map as violating the Voting Rights Act in diluting Native American votersโ strength.
Proposal would lower gun-buying age in Florida from 21 to 18
A House Republican from Northeast Florida on Thursday renewed an attempt to lower the minimum age from 21 to 18 for people to buy rifles and other long guns in Florida, potentially reversing part of a law that passed in the aftermath of the 2018 mass shooting at Parklandโs Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
How much gerrymandering is too much? In New York, the answer could make or break Dems' House hopes
New Yorkโs highest court just gave Democrats a chance to redraw the stateโs congressional districts, a major victory as the party tries to flip seats in the state to win control of the U.S. House next year.
Court ruling backs tribesโ effort to force lawmakers to redraw North Dakota legislative boundaries
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request from North Dakota's secretary of state to delay a federal judge's ruling that found the state's 2021 redistricting map violated the Voting Rights Act in diluting the voting strength of two Native American tribes.
Appeals court hears arguments after judge ruled North Florida Black congressional district was purposely dismantled
Lawyers representing Black voters told a three-judge federal panel that Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis violated the U.S. Constitution by deliberately dismantling a congressional district that favored Black candidates.
Florida abortion rights at stake as state Supreme Court takes up challenge to GOP-led restrictions
The Florida Supreme Court must decide whether to overrule broad abortion rights protections provided for decades under the state constitution and instead uphold a law signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that bans the procedure in most cases after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Wisconsin's new liberal Supreme Court justice hasn't heard a case but Republicans may impeach
Even before the newly elected justice who gave liberals a one-seat majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court has heard a case, Republican lawmakers are talking about taking the unprecedented step of impeaching and removing her from office.
North Dakota university leaders fear 'catastrophic implications' of new Minnesota free tuition plan
North Dakota higher education officials are deeply worried about losing students and revenue in 2024 when neighboring Minnesota makes tuition free for thousands of its residents at public colleges and universities.
Extended boycott disqualifies 2 GOP senators, 1 independent in Oregon Senate from being reelected
Two Republicans and an Independent in the Oregon Senate are now disqualified from reelection as a walkout has stalled hundreds of bills and triggered a constitutional amendment aimed at stopping the boycotts.
Kansas officials to consider legal settlement with business over COVID-19 restrictions
Kansasโ governor and top state lawmakers plan to consider a proposed legal settlement between the state and the owner of a Wichita fitness studio forced to shut down during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic and then operate under restrictions.
Opponents fear Florida bill targeting DEI programs will harm cultures on college campuses
As a bill that would dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at Floridaโs public colleges and universities winds its way through the legislature, opponents to the bill are speaking to News4JAX about what they fear the bill will do to the cultures on campus.
Violence looms over New Mexico Legislature as work begins
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is calling for new gun control laws and greater accountability for firearm manufacturers while denouncing recent drive-by shootings against politicians in Albuquerque and what she called a national scourge of violence.
New documents detail Sen. Ron Johnson asking about electors
Newly released documents from the House Jan. 6 committee show that the former Wisconsin Republican Party chairman testified that U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson spoke to him weeks before Joe Biden assumed the presidency about having the stateโs GOP-controlled Legislature, rather than voters, choose Wisconsinโs presidential electors.
Arizona county leaders end hand-count lawsuit, cite recount
Two Republicans who control the board in a rural southeastern Arizona county have decided to withdraw a lawsuit they filed early this week seeking to force their own elections director to hand-count all the ballots cast in-person on Election Day.