Consensus elusive on changes to Arkansas’ FOIA; lengthy Senate hearing ends without a vote
The struggle continues in the Arkansas Senate to come up with proposed Freedom of Information Act changes that will placate Gov. Sarah Sanders on one side and FOIA advocates on the other. That struggle included a more than five-hour Senate committee hearing Tuesday (Sept. 12) on a new bill that had minor changes compared with […]
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California legislature passes bills removing roadblocks for new housing
FILE – California Sen. Scott Wiener speaks about student housing during a news conference at San Francisco State University in San Francisco, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. On Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, the state Assembly voted to fast-track low-income housing on surplus land owned by nonprofit colleges and religious institutions. If the bill becomes law, it […]
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City council members oppose Hutton as Parks and Recs interim director | #citycouncil
Jackson City Council members are blasting the mayor’s decision to hire an ex-convict to oversee the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. They said they were disappointed and absolutely opposed to Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba’s appointment of Steve Hutton, who spent time in prison after pleading guilty in 2021 to promoting prostitution.“Hell to the naw, naw,” […]
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Mayor McEachern, incumbents vs. Becksted 5
PORTSMOUTH — Seventeen candidates have filed to run for City Council, including all nine incumbents, five former city councilors and three first-time candidates. Mayor Deaglan McEachern waited until late Tuesday afternoon to file for reelection in 2023, joining the eight other incumbent city councilors who previously filed. The incumbents will face another matchup with former […]
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Why a former Republican is backing Democrats’ run for legislature | #republicans | #Alabama | #GOP
For 20 years, Mike Ball served in the Alabama Legislature as a Republican. On Tuesday afternoon, he applauded as a Democrat announced her candidacy for the seat he once held. “It’s because, quite frankly, I joined the party of Reagan and I left the party of Trump,” said Ball, who described himself Tuesday as an […]
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Skittles spared from California chemical additive ban
A bill that would outlaw certain additives used in processed food passed the California legislature Tuesday, clearing the way for Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign it into law. Known for its unwanted headline-grabbing “Skittles ban” moniker, the latest version of the bill actually spares the beloved rainbow-themed candy from having to make changes to its […]
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Staff about to get union rights- CalMatters
In summary Legislators appear ready to finally give their staff the right to unionize. But a final change would allow new lawmakers to dismiss their predecessor’s staffers. The effort to allow California’s legislative staff to unionize — at least 23 years in the works — is nearly across the finish line. But to win enough […]
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What is the Freedom of Information Act? Learn more about the Arkansas law being debated in the special session
Caitrin Assaf and Ryan Turbeville 6 mins ago LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Freedom of Information Act is a big issue for the Arkansas legislature during the special session this week. If anyone requests information from the government like records or data, they ask for it through the Freedom of Information Act. Proposed changes to […]
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Baltimore City Council condemns loss of $10M in federal funds, flags ongoing issues with program meant to help homeless residents | #citycouncil
The Baltimore City Council took city employees with the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services to task Tuesday over $10 million in federal funds that the city forfeited and decadeslong problems with a program that is supposed to house the city’s homeless population. The money, which is made available to the city by the U.S. Department […]
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Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain worried dam removal may hurt water supply
Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain thinks removing the Kimball Street dam along the Fox River is a good idea, but only if it’s feasible and only if it doesn’t negatively affect the city’s water supply. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last week released a draft copy of its Fox River Connectivity and Habitat Study in […]
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