Michigan GOP OKs shielding donors; 'power grab' bill stalls

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Republicans voted Tuesday to make it a crime for government agencies to require the disclosure of nonprofits' donors and other information, a move decried by critics as shielding political "dark money" but defended by supporters as protecting people's right to freedom of...

Michigan Legislature narrowly OKs A-to-F grades for schools

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's Republican-led Legislature backed letter grades for public schools on Tuesday night, narrowly endorsing a statewide accountability structure that would begin in 2019. The bill will soon go to Gov. Rick Snyder for his expected signature, capping a yearslong GOP effort to...

The Latest: Michigan bill to strip Dem's power in trouble

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Latest on developments during the Michigan Legislature's lame-duck session (all times local): 10:10 p.m. Legislation that would strip campaign finance oversight from the incoming Democratic secretary of state and shift it to a new bipartisan commission is in trouble in Michigan's...

Kentucky legislature adjourns without passing pension bill

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Called back into session after a stinging loss at the Supreme Court, Kentucky's Republican-dominated legislature decided to go home on Tuesday without passing a replacement pension law despite warnings of financial ruin by the state's GOP governor. Kentucky has one of the worst-funded...

Nevada becomes 1st US state with female-majority Legislature

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada became the first state in the U.S. with an overall female majority in the Legislature on Tuesday when county officials in Las Vegas appointed two women to fill vacancies in the state Assembly. The appointments of Democrats Rochelle Thuy Nguyen and Beatrice "Bea" Angela Duran to two...

N. Carolina gov. vetoing bill with congressional race redo

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's governor said Tuesday he's vetoing legislation that directs fully rerun elections if fraud is found in a disputed U.S. House race, saying the hastily approved bill also adds new cover for lobbyists and people who violate campaign finance laws. Democratic Gov. Roy...

The Latest: Kentucky House adjourns without passing pension

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Latest on a special legislative session called to vote on changes to the state's pension systems (all times local): 8 p.m. Kentucky's House of Representatives has adjourned a special session called by the governor without passing a pension bill. Republican Gov. Matt Bevin called...

Kentucky House of Representatives called into session by governor adjourns without passing pension bill

Report: Texas senator denies sexting, but won't say who did

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas state senator accused of sending sexually explicit texts to a graduate student won't identify the person he says is actually responsible for the messages, which were sent through an app called Hushed, according to findings released by the university Tuesday. The report...

Wetlands, lakes would lose protections under Michigan bill

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan legislators were poised Tuesday to remove legal protections from many of the state's wetlands and other inland waterways, which provide wildlife habitat and perform vital tasks such as preventing floods. A bill approved by a House committee would eliminate a requirement to...