Senators nix casual clothing as bipartisan resolution sets new dress code for Senate floor

WASHINGTON (AP) — No shorts on the Senate floor. The Senate voted Wednesday evening to reverse an informal guidance issued by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer last week that senators could wear what they want when voting or speaking in the chamber. The resolution, passed by...

New Mexico trial begins over allegations that Democrats tried to dilute votes with redistricting map

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Accusations that New Mexico's Democratic-led Legislature unfairly diluted the vote of a politically conservative oil-producing region with its redistricting map went to trial on Wednesday. The trial’s outcome is likely to have a big influence on which party...

Slaves' descendants seek a referendum to veto zoning changes they say threaten their Georgia island

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Two weeks after local officials weakened restrictions that for decades protected a tiny Georgia island community populated by slaves' descendants, its Black residents hope to force a referendum that would give them the chance to override the zoning changes. ...

Bipartisan Ohio commission unanimously approves new maps that favor Republican state legislators

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s political map-making commission unanimously approved new Statehouse maps Tuesday night, moving a step closer to resolving a long-running redistricting battle. The state's lengthy saga over the new political boundaries required to be drawn after every...

Correction: Connecticut Court-Russia Probe story

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — In a story published Sept. 26, 2023, about the confirmation of Nora Dannehy to a seat on Connecticut’s Supreme Court, The Associated Press erroneously reported the vote total in the state’s House of Representatives. It was 120-18 in favor of confirmation.

Leader of Spain's conservatives loses his first bid to become prime minister and will try again

MADRID (AP) — The leader of Spain’s conservatives failed Wednesday in his long-shot first bid to become the country’s next prime minister when he fell short of the votes he needed in the Spanish parliament to form a government. As expected, Popular Party leader Alberto Núñez...

Connecticut lawmakers OK election monitor for Bridgeport after mayor race tainted by possible fraud

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut lawmakers voted Tuesday to approve $150,000 in funding for a special election monitor for Bridgeport, as the state's largest city is enveloped in controversy after surveillance cameras recorded a woman stuffing pieces of paper into an absentee ballot drop box a...

Absentee ballots are late in 1 Mississippi county after a candidate is replaced because of illness

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Voters in one Mississippi county are waiting extra days for access to absentee ballots because a candidate dropped out of a race last week and his party named someone to take his place. A longtime Jones County Justice Court judge, David Lyons, had a stroke...

Oklahoma City Council sets vote on $900M arena to keep NBA's Thunder through 2050

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Council voted Tuesday to set a Dec. 12 citywide vote on a proposed 1% sales tax for six years that would fund a new $900 million downtown arena and keep the NBA's Thunder in the city through at least 2050. The council also voted 7-2 to approve...

Leader of Spain's conservative tries to form government and slams alleged amnesty talks for Catalans

MADRID (AP) — The leader of Spain’s conservatives tried to convince lawmakers on Tuesday to let him form the country’s new government, a green light he wasn't expected to get during two rounds of voting in the Spanish parliament later this week. Alberto Núñez Feijóo spent a...