December 20, 2015 Texas legislature looks to expand gun rights, roll back ban on open carry Known as the capital of the American gun culture, lawmakers in Texas are preparing to push a handful of bills through the state legislature that expands the rights of gun owners. Lawmakers say some of the bills being considered include lifting a ban on open carry of handguns. If Texas, which currently allows concealed handguns, rolls back its century-old ban, it would be the largest state in the country to do so.
December 20, 2015 One Pennsylvania ecosystem enters the court fray over fracking waste In a sparsely populated township in western Pennsylvania, one ecosystem is attempting to enter a court battle in its own name.
December 20, 2015 Land protection credits come under fire in Virginia Conservation easements that supposedly protect Virginia lands from development are coming under increasing fire for abusive practices.
December 20, 2015 Cities ending free parking for drivers with handicapped tags, critics cry foul Portland, Ore., is the latest city to make drivers pay to park, even if they have a handicapped tag.
December 20, 2015 Dress code for Montana lawmakers mocked Some Montana lawmakers are critical and social-media posters are having a field day ridiculing a strict new dress code for the floor of the 2015 Montana Legislature.
December 20, 2015 Lawmakers squabble over probe of lane closures Republican lawmakers on Monday accused Democrats of unlawfully leaking documents during the legislative probe into the 2013 New Jersey lane closures at the George Washington Bridge and cast the committee's work as overtly political.
December 20, 2015 De Blasio's bill to ban NYC horse carriages heads to council New York Mayor Bill de Blasio's long-delayed plans to ban the city's horse carriages are moving forward with a bill that phases out the industry by 2016 and dangles a carrot for the soon-to-be unemployed drivers: a career driving a taxi.
December 20, 2015 Federal judge rules Indiana abortion clinic law unconstitutional The law violated equal protection rights by treating the Lafayette clinic differently than physician offices that provide the same medications, U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson said in a ruling released Wednesday.
December 20, 2015 Bang: Deer kill set for DC park, commuters warned to stay away Government sharpshooters are heading into the nighttime woods of Washington’s fabled Rock Creek Park to kill over 100 white-tail deer accused of nibbling too many tree seedlings.
December 20, 2015 Florida challenged for cracking down on craft breweries’ growlers In Florida, if you want to buy beer 64-ounce in a reusable container known by beer connoisseurs as a “growler,” you would be breaking the state law.