In a crucial move toward stopping a prohibition on abortion that dates back to the time of the Civil War, Arizona lawmakers made a step forward on Wednesday by repealing the measure that the Arizona Supreme Court had stated might be upheld the previous month. Due to the fact that two Republican state senators, Sen. Shawnna Bolick and Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope, separated themselves from the majority of Republicans in the chamber in order to support abolishing the nearly comprehensive ban, the vote was heavily influenced by party lines. While the law of the nineteenth century prohibits abortions...

The ACLU is taking the state of Arkansas to court over a recent policy change that makes it more difficult to change gender identities on driver’s licenses. The ACLU lawyers filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the Department of Finance and Administration in Pulaski County Circuit Court. The DFA made a ruling in March that prevents people from using “X” as a gender identity option on an Arkansas driver’s license. They can only choose between “M” or “F”. The ruling stated that the license holder’s gender identity must be the same as their birth certificate. The lawsuit claims that a...

A member of the Pennsylvania Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee is advocating for allowing cameras in the state’s courtrooms. State Representative Jamie Flick, a Republican from Lycoming, is looking for other lawmakers to support a bill that may change Rule 1910 of the Pennsylvania Code. According to state law, judges are required to prevent broadcasting, televising, recording, or taking photographs in the courtroom and nearby areas while court is in session or during breaks. Flick mentioned that his own personal experience, along with the well-known “Cash for Kids” scandal in Luzerne County in the early 2000s, inspired him to consider proposing...

Transportation leaders in Washington are using drones to help address the state’s graffiti problem. Oregon is also considering doing the same. The Washington State Department of Transportation started a drone pilot program on Monday. The program aims to address graffiti in Tacoma and Olympia. The agency said that the state has six trucks specifically designed to remove graffiti in difficult-to-reach places. However, these trucks are primarily used for important bridge maintenance and inspections. WSDOT focuses on removing graffiti that has profanity or offensive images because they can distract drivers. However, officials find it frustrating to take workers away from maintenance...

Here’s a heartwarming story from Oregon: Cheng “Charlie” Saephan from Portland has just won the $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot. He is still trying to understand the significance of this life-changing moment, and he is expressing how much it means to him. Saephan was born in Laos and then moved to Thailand in 1987. Later, in 1994, Saephan immigrated to the U.S. He used to work as a machinist in the aerospace industry. He has been living in Portland for the last thirty years and proudly represents his Lu Mien heritage. Saephan is a dedicated father to two children. He has...

Insurance rates for home and business owners are increasing due to recent storms. Sometimes, their insurance policies are not being renewed. An insurance expert says that it’s a problem that can be solved using basic math. Insurance companies are paying out more money for weather disasters than they are collecting from premiums. And that is not good for business. “In 2020, we experienced the most severe weather event in Iowa, resulting in a loss of nearly $300 million,” stated Jeff Menary. Menary is the Chief Executive Officer of Grinnell Mutual Insurance. He explains that insurance companies are facing significant challenges...

The campaign of former President Trump criticized the Commission on Presidential Debates on Tuesday for refusing to change the schedule of the debates. They called this refusal “unacceptable” and hinted that the 45th president might find a way to bypass the commission, which has organized all general election presidential debates for many years. The schedule of the Presidential Debate Commission starts after millions of Americans have already voted. The Trump campaign spokespeople, Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, said in a statement that it is unacceptable for the debates to not be moved up. They believe that the American public deserves...

Sarah Matthews, a former employee of former President Trump, announced on Monday that she will not vote for her former boss in November. Instead, she indicated that she might vote for President Biden. “During an interview on MSNBC’s ‘Inside with Jen Psaki,’ Matthews stated that if there is a candidate on the ballot who will not support the Constitution, he believes it is necessary to prioritize that concern over policy.” “And I want to support the person who is most capable of defeating Donald Trump,” she said in the video, as reported by Mediaite. Her comments are different from what...

On Tuesday, United Methodist delegates made significant changes to their policies on sexuality. They voted to reverse a series of policies that were against LGBTQ individuals, without any debate. The delegates decided to remove the requirement for strict punishments for performing same-sex marriages and to eliminate the rules that prohibited LGBTQ individuals from becoming ministers and prevented funding for ministries that support the LGBTQ community. The vote, which took place during the United Methodist Church’s legislative General Conference, removes some of the restrictions on LGBTQ-affirming policies related to ordination, marriage, and funding. Later this week, there will be votes on...

Representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York, submitted an ethics complaint against special counsel Jack Smith on Tuesday. She accused Smith, who is in charge of the federal investigations into former President Trump, of attempting to unlawfully interfere with the 2024 presidential election. Stefanik, who is the House GOP conference chair and a close ally of Trump, submitted a complaint to the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility. She argues that Smith is attempting to expedite Trump’s case of subverting the federal election. “According to Stefanik, it is clear to anyone who is reasonable that Jack Smith is attempting...