A black Arkansas lawmaker made national headlines after she made impassioned remarks to her white colleagues about a proposed “stand your ground” law. During a debate Wednesday about Senate Bill 484, which sought to eliminate the “duty to retreat” from self-defense laws in Arkansas, state Rep. Stephanie Flowers (D) is seen raising her voice as she pleaded against efforts […]
The Texas Senate voted unanimously to pass legislation that would provide full-time classroom teachers and librarians with $5,000 annual pay raises. The measure, known as Senate Bill 3, has been a priority since Gov. Greg Abbott (R) declared teacher pay to be an emergency item during his State of the State speech in February, according […]
Washington state lawmakers are considering a bill that would give the state’s homeless population a free ID card. The bill would require the state’s Department of Commerce and the Department of Licensing to develop a program that would provide homeless individuals with a so-called identicard. The ID cards would be free to homeless people who do not already have an ID. […]
Police said a karate instructor fended off a would-be kidnapper after he chased a woman into a North Carolina karate studio this week. WSOC-TV reported that police arrested 46-year-old August Williams, who is accused of chasing a woman into the Bushiken Karate Charlotte Dojo in an attempt to kidnap her. Williams was reportedly intercepted by Randall Ephraim, the studio’s sensei, […]
The new head of Arizona’s public schools, Kathy Hoffman (D), took her oath of office on a children’s book Monday. Hoffman, the new Arizona superintendent of public instruction, explained that she took the oath on a copy of “Too Many Moose” because of her personal connection to the book. “This has a lot of sentimental […]
Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) called on the state’s Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax (D) to resign after a second woman came forward to accuse him of sexual assault. “The allegations against Justin Fairfax are serious and credible. It is clear to me that he can no longer effectively serve the people of Virginia as Lieutenant Governor. […]
Former Rep. Ruben Kihuen (D-Nev.), who was sanctioned last year by the House Ethics Committee over sexual harassment allegations, announced Tuesday that he is seeking a seat on the Las Vegas city council. Kihuen wrote on Twitter that he is “ready to continue serving the people of Nevada.” “I will work hard to earn your vote on April 2nd […]
Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D), the only African-American official elected to a statewide position, was the lone protester on Friday during a tribute in the state Senate honoring Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s birthday. Fairfax delegated his typical duties of presiding over the state Senate chamber in Richmond and let Republican state Sen. Richard […]
A bill that would make abusing a family pet a felony, regardless of whether the animal lives or dies, is advancing through the Virginia General Assembly. Under the legislation, also known as SB-1604, the state could charge with a Class 6 felony anyone who “cruelly and unnecessarily beating, maiming, mutilating, or killing a dog or cat.” “Current […]
New York, California and Washington are threatening to sue the Trump administration over new rules it implemented Friday on family planning. State officials slammed the rules, which would cut off certain federal funds from family planning clinics that either provide abortions or refer patients for abortions, as dangerous for women’s health. “The Trump Administration just […]