NY: New York governor faces impeachment inquiry led by other Democrats
nytimes.com
New York state lawmakers opened an impeachment investigation against Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo, the surest sign that the governor was watching his party turn against him amid growing scrutiny over a recent series of sexual harassment charges. . After a three-hour emergency meeting, the State Assembly announced that it would give its judiciary committee broad jurisdiction to investigate allegations of misconduct against Cuomo, including allegations of sexual harassment and the treatment of its administration for deaths related to HIV viruses. nursing home patients.
MD: Maryland spent millions on vaccine contracts – with little public disclosure
baltimoresun.com
Maryland health officials signed at least two emergency contracts to improve the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in the state, committing taxpayers to spend tens of millions of dollars without detailing how the money would be spent. Emergency contracts do not go through the normal process of requesting and analyzing proposals from various suppliers.
MO: Missouri House passes bill that would limit the power of local health departments
kansascity.com
The Missouri City Council approved a measure that would allow local public health officials to order the closure to prevent the disease from spreading for just 15 days. Thereafter, extensions of the order would require the approval of two-thirds of elected legislators, such as city or district councils. After 45 days, another extension would need unanimous approval.
AZ: Effort to Block Clean Energy Rules Stumbles Over Arizona Legislature
apnews.com
Efforts by Republican lawmakers to deprive elected regulators of their powers to demand that utilities increase the use of clean energy sources have met a major hurdle, with Arizona’s largest utility opposing the measure.
AL: Alabama House votes to lift ban on yoga in public schools
al.com
The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill to end the nearly 30-year ban on teaching yoga in state public schools. The State Board of Education banned yoga at K-12 schools in 1993 because of its connection to Eastern religions.
OR: Oregon governor will consider reducing prison sentences for inmates who have fought forest fires
oregonlive.com
Oregon Governor Kate Brown, a Democrat, has signaled that she will consider reducing the sentences of inmates who helped fight historic forest fires last year, including some violent criminals. The Corrections Department identified 164 people who are eligible.
VA: Virginia’s coffers are suddenly full of money
richmond.com
Virginia’s revenue has increased by more than $ 1 billion, as nearly $ 7 billion in new federal aid funds is likely to be programmed for state and local governments. The state raised nearly $ 1.1 billion more in the first eight months of the fiscal year than it did in the same period last year.
PA: Pennsylvania seniors are “losing their minds” trying to get coronavirus vaccines
inquirer.com
Two months after the coronavirus vaccine was launched, many of Pennsylvania’s 2.2 million elderly people said they failed to get an injection appointment, according to an AARP survey across the state. Their frustration with the process increased amid news of a second dose shortage and controversy over the supply of vaccines in the southeastern region.
NJ: Despite the eviction freeze, New Jersey tenants are still being blocked by homeowners
northjersey.com
Eviction cases are occurring across New Jersey, despite the protections the governor has put in place. Housing experts urged state leaders to condemn homeowners who disrespect the executive order and the law requiring an eviction warrant.
WI: Wisconsin residents with certain health conditions will be eligible for vaccines on March 29
jsonline.com
Millions of people with certain high-risk health conditions will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccines in the next phase of the Wisconsin launch, state health officials announced. In May, all 16-year-olds in Wisconsin will be eligible to receive vaccines.
OK: Oklahoma Governor will lift restrictions on coronavirus despite warnings from CDC
oklahoman.com
Oklahoma Republican Governor Kevin Stitt has announced that he will reverse the few remaining restrictions on COVID-19, including limits on public meetings and a mandate for wearing masks in state buildings.
CA: Most of California’s indoor cafeterias and gyms may reopen next week
latimes.com
Most California counties could find themselves outside the state’s strictest coronavirus closing range next week, setting the stage for a broader economic reopening than seen in recent months.
NC: North Carolina raises people with health problems on the list of vaccines COVID-19
newsobserver.com
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, said that some members of Group 4 – including those with health problems that put them at risk because of COVID-19 – will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccines one week before. Group 4 includes anyone from 16 to 64 years of age with one or more high-risk medical conditions for severe COVID-19 disease, as well as people living in closed group settings.
UT: The Utah project would make it more difficult to put a voter initiative on the ballot
sltrib.com
Proponents of a bill that would tighten the rules for electoral initiatives argued that the measure would protect Utah from the influence of outside interests. But the project was promoted by an obscure out-of-state group called the Foundation for Government Accountability.
SC: South Carolina lawmakers remove LGBTQ protections from hate crime bill
thestate.com
A panel of South Carolina lawmakers removed explicit protection for members of the LGBTQ community from a hate crime bill introduced by members of the state chamber. If the project is approved, the protected characteristics mentioned in the project would be only real or perceived race, color, religion, sex, nationality and physical or mental disability.
MS: Mississippi Governor signs bill that prohibits trans competition in women’s sports
mississippitoday.org
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, a Republican, signed a bill designed to prevent transsexual girls and women from competing against female athletes in public schools and colleges, although he could not cite any examples of this occurring in the state.
SD: South Dakota Senate blows away medical marijuana governor’s plan
apnews.com
Pressure from South Dakota’s Republican governor Kristi Noem to reduce a voter-approved measure to legalize medical marijuana failed after senators from her own party challenged it. Noem argued that his government needed more time to implement the program, but senators argued that they owed voters an end to marijuana prohibition in some way.
TX: Texas lawmakers seek reversal of storm costs
dallasnews.com
Dozens of Texas lawmakers support an impulse to reverse $ 16 billion in costs incurred by market participants during the power outages in last month’s winter storm. But the state’s top regulator of public services rejected the idea, saying it could disrupt the free market, inhibit new investment and trigger lawsuits.
ID: Idaho bill would allow hidden transportation for school staff
idahostatesman.com
A bill that would allow Idaho school officials to carry a concealed weapon is one step closer to becoming law. Members of the House approved the bill, which would allow school staff with an enhanced concealed weapon license to carry a firearm on school grounds.
NH: New Hampshire considers banning life without parole for children
apnews.com
New Hampshire youths convicted of murder would no longer be sentenced to life in prison without parole according to a bill submitted to a House committee. Twenty-three states and Washington, DC, have already enacted similar legislation.
MA: Massachusetts vaccination rates lag behind for Latino residents
bostonglobe.com
New data reveals striking disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates in the 20 Massachusetts cities and villages hardest hit by the pandemic, especially among Latino residents, whose vaccination rates fall short of those of other racial and ethnic groups.
KY: Kentucky House defines which orders the COVID-19 will maintain. Masks are not one of them.
kentucky.com
As a legal case on Democratic Governor Andy Beshear’s executive powers passing through the Kentucky court system, the Kentucky General Assembly is considering legislation that specifies which of its executive orders and regulations dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic would be – and they would not be -large.