Bills limiting LGBTQ instruction, trans athletes pass Senate

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's GOP-controlled Senate approved legislation Wednesday that Republicans say will restrict sexually explicit content and classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools, mirroring partisan fights playing out in statehouses...

House sets up committee to consider Philly DA's impeachment

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania lawmakers began a process Wednesday to study Philadelphia's growing gun violence plague, establishing a panel that could eventually recommend impeachment of the city's elected Democratic district attorney. The divided House of Representatives...

South Dakota Freedom Caucus to push policy further right

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A contingent of South Dakota Republican lawmakers on Wednesday formally announced they were forming a group billed the “South Dakota Freedom Caucus" as they try to drive politics further to the right in a Statehouse where the GOP holds every statewide office and 90% of...

Democrats energized by tight race in GOP-leaning Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A special election in Nebraska was supposed to be an easy win for House Republicans. It instead was the tightest race in decades in the GOP-dominated district, boosting confidence among Democrats hoping to energize voters by tapping into public outrage over the U.S. Supreme...

Republicans pitch taking gov's power from NC education board

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina House Republicans pushed Wednesday for a constitutional amendment that would have voters elect members of the State Board of Education from each congressional district, a move that would erode dramatically the governor’s appointment authority to the panel. ...

Abortion ruling prompts variety of reactions from states

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that had provided a constitutional right to abortion. The ruling is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states, although the timing of those laws taking effect varies. Some Republican-led...

Salmon backs Robson over Lake after dropping Arizona gov bid

PHOENIX (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon on Wednesday threw his support behind Republican Arizona governor candidate Karrin Taylor Robson over former TV news personality Kari Lake, a decision that came a day after Salmon dropped his own primary bid for governor. Salmon dropped...

Wisconsin court: Conservative holdover can stay on DNR board

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's conservative-controlled Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a conservative member of the Department of Natural Resources policy board may remain on the panel indefinitely in a far-reaching decision that leaves Democratic Gov. Tony Evers all but powerless to seat...

Some Colorado GOP hardliners fall short in primary elections

DENVER (AP) — Voters in Colorado's Republican primaries opted Tuesday for candidates widely considered stronger challengers to Democrats' stranglehold on the state's top offices, decisively rejecting right-wing candidates for U.S. Senate, governor and secretary of state. Voters...

Republican Josh Brecheen advances to primary runoff election in Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District.