LGBT rights ballot drive sues to cut signature requirement

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A group organizing a ballot drive to add LGBT anti-discrimination protections to Michigan’s civil rights law sued the state Tuesday, saying coronavirus restrictions made it impossible to collect the required 340,000 valid voter signatures. Fair and Equal Michigan and two...

Anti-transgender bill advances as lawmakers return to work

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee lawmakers marked their return to legislative offices Tuesday by advancing an anti-transgender proposal after abruptly recessing three months ago because of the coronavirus outbreak. In March, lawmakers scrambled to approve a newly designed 2020-21 fiscal year budget back...

Bars could serve outdoors again in bill clearing N.C. Senate

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina bars — their doors still shuttered by executive order — could serve patrons outdoors during the pandemic in legislation that cleared a Senate committee on Tuesday. One approved measure attempts to increase the customer base for restaurants and breweries...

$30B-plus Louisiana operating budget receives House support

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The Louisiana House on Tuesday backed a $30 billion-plus spending plan for next year that uses federal coronavirus aid to keep programs and services on an even keel despite the pandemic. The package of budget bills — approved in a quick afternoon of House votes rather than...

Kansas governor vetoes bill limiting her emergency powers

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ Democratic governor on Tuesday vetoed a sweeping coronavirus measure passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, ratcheting up a partisan dispute over her response to the pandemic and possibly setting up a court fight over her power to direct it. Gov. Laura Kelly not...

Kansas’ Democratic governor vetoes GOP bill that would have limited her emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ Democratic governor vetoes GOP bill that would have limited her emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Arizona Senate adjourns without taking up coronavirus bills

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Senate's plan to pass a series of House bills and possibly consider two pieces of coronavirus-related legislation were upended Tuesday when a majority of members abruptly voted to adjourn for the year. The 16-14 vote officially ended a 2020 legislative session that was...

Recent Missouri editorials

The Kansas City, May 21 In roughly 90 days, nearly 20 million students will begin classes on college campuses across the nation, including dozens of schools in Kansas and Missouri. Will it be safe? That isn’t clear. Will coronavirus tests be given? How often? Can students be quarantined? Can professors and...

Analysis: Amid virus worry, public skips legislative session

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — In a typical Louisiana legislative session, people with disabilities and their families pack budget hearing rooms seeking dollars for health assistance programs, all wearing yellow T-shirts that have become ubiquitous with their cause. Their heartbreaking stories of mental and...

Bill would press companies to refund costs of school trips

BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts bill that would pressure companies to refund the cost of school trips cancelled because of the coronavirus emergency will be the subject of a virtual public hearing. The bill is set to come before the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure on Wednesday at...