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States Rights December 20, 2015

Federal judge rules Wisconsin union changes legal

A federal judge has ruled Republican Gov. Scott Walker's controversial law stripping most public workers of nearly all their union rights is constitutional.

Financial Crises December 20, 2015

Disability double-dipping drains millions from NJ pensions

Meet New Jersey's "disabled" double-dippers. They get two sets of checks from the state -- one for working and another because they cannot work.

Financial Crises December 20, 2015

Feds say sequester won't impact effort to control Calif. wildfire

The efforts to control the massive California wildfire that has spread into Yosemite National Park -- and has already cost $81 million to fight -- will not be impacted by the austere federal budget cuts known as sequester, according to the Interior Department.

Financial Crises December 20, 2015

Hundreds of private lobbyists earning public pensions in 20 states

As a lobbyist in New York's statehouse, Stephen Acquario is doing pretty well. He pulls down $204,000 a year, more than the governor makes, gets a Ford Explorer as his company car and is afforded another special perk:  Even though he's not a government employee, he is entitled to a full state pension.

STATE AND LOCAL December 20, 2015

Write-in candidate advances to runoff in Detroit mayoral race

A former medical center chief who was kicked off Detroit's mayoral ballot and a popular county sheriff have received the most votes in a primary race and will move on to the general election, even as a state-appointed manager holds the city's thin checkbook and a bankruptcy judge considers its future path.

Tennessee December 20, 2015

Money meant for undercover drug ops goes to ladies’ golf instead

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Department in Tennessee gave confidential sums of money earmarked for undercover drug buys to the Ladies Golf Association and the American Legion Youth Program.

Financial Crises December 20, 2015

Hawaii will go bust by 2016, Senate minority leader says

Hawaii Senate Minority Leader Sam Slom is warning fellow lawmakers he has serious concerns about the state’s economic future.

Kansas December 20, 2015

Kansas government approves sex toy auction to settle scofflaw's tax debt

Thousands of sex toys seized by the Kansas Department of Revenue are about to hit the auction block.  

New York December 20, 2015

More NY companies announce layoffs, two leave for other states

Although New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D.) has touted recent economic successes in his state, records reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon show that dozens of companies are laying off workers, relocating out of the state, or closing up shop altogether.

Financial Crises December 20, 2015

Senate to vote on highway money as deadline looms

The Senate is set to take up legislation to keep federal highway money flowing to states, with just three days left before the government plans to start slowing down payments.

Financial Crises December 20, 2015

Detroit city workers, retirees vote in favor of pension cuts in bankruptcy plan

Workers and retirees approved pension cuts in Detroit's bankruptcy by a landslide, the city reported Monday, a crucial step to emerging from the largest municipal insolvency in U.S. history.