Latest Legislation News
A few midwives seek to uphold Native Hawaiian birth traditions. Would a state law jeopardize them?
HONOLULU (AP) — Ki‘inaniokalani Kahoʻohanohano longed for a deeper connection to her Native Hawaiian ancestors and culture as she prepared to give birth to her first child at home on the north shore of Maui in 2003. But generations of colonialist suppression had eroded many...
Partisan gridlock prevents fixes to Pennsylvania’s voting laws as presidential election looms
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania is seeing lots of action targeting gaps in its vote-by-mail laws. The problem is that it’s in the courtroom and not the legislature. That could make the most populous presidential swing state a hotbed of challenges and conspiracy theories if...
NY governor's subway mask ban proposal sparks debate over right to anonymous protest
NEW YORK (AP) — A new proposal by Gov. Kathy Hochul to ban masks on the New York subway is drawing backlash from civil liberties groups and disability advocates, reviving a long-standing debate about the right to anonymous protest that has only grown more complex since the pandemic. ...
Court upholds law taking jurisdiction over mass transit crimes from Philly's district attorney
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The elected prosecutor in Philadelphia lost a court decision Friday in his lawsuit seeking to halt a law that directed a special prosecutor be appointed by the attorney general's office to handle crimes on the city's mass transit system. A divided...
Virginia city repeals ban on psychic readings as industry grows and gains more acceptance
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Ashley Branton has earned a living as a psychic medium for seven years, helping a growing number of people with heavy choices about toxic relationships, home purchases and cross-country moves. And while the tarot cards are never wrong, she said, they didn’t...
Couples ask judge to find Alabama law that provides legal immunity to IVF providers unconstitutional
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Couples whose lawsuits against fertility providers led an Alabama court to rule that frozen embryos could be considered children have asked a judge to toss out a new state law that provides legal immunity to in vitro fertilization providers. The couples...
Massachusetts on verge of becoming second-to-last state to outlaw 'revenge porn'
BOSTON (AP) — A bill aimed at outlawing “revenge porn” has been approved by lawmakers in the Massachusetts House and Senate and shipped to Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, a move advocates say was long overdue. If signed by Healey, the bill — which bars the sharing of explicit...
New Hampshire remains New England's lone holdout against legalizing recreational marijuana
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Legislation to legalize recreational marijuana in New Hampshire died on the House floor Thursday after advancing further than ever in New England’s only holdout state. The House has passed multiple legalization bills over the years only to have them blocked...
Duke Energy power equipment in Durham found damaged from gunfire after power outage, police say
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Damage to a utility's power equipment by gunfire found in Durham was associated with an outage that left hundreds of people without power earlier this week, the company said. About 730 people experienced a power outage for about two hours on Monday after...
Jittery markets rally after Argentina's Milei gets his first legislative triumph on sweeping reforms
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Wall Street rallied Thursday as Argentina's President Javier Milei traveled to Italy for the Group of Seven summit, buoyed by his first legislative victory after the Senate passed sweeping proposals to slash state spending and boost his powers. Having...
