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Monday, March 18, 2024

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SD public defense duties shift from counties to state; SCOTUS appears skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies; Trump lawyers say he can't make bond; new scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

Campaign Finance Reform/Money in Pol

A bill limiting campaign contributions to candidates is expected to head to Gov. Tina Kotek's desk soon. (Joaquin Corbalan/Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 18, 2024

New campaign finance law limits OR donor influence

Oregon lawmakers took a step toward limiting the impact of money on elections during the legislative session. Lawmakers passed House Bill 2024…

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Many New Mexico lawmakers travel hundreds of miles for annual legislative sessions and must rent lodging for 30 to 60 days.  (JohnMcGrawPhotog/Adobe Stock)
Women in NM Legislature make the case for an annual salary

New Mexico's Legislature is becoming more diverse but its lawmakers are still the only ones unpaid in the nation, limiting who can afford to serve…

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If Senate Bill 131 is enacted, violators could be charged up to a felony and fined more than $1,000.(Adobe Stock)
Proposed UT bill targets AI in political ads

One Utah lawmaker wants to regulate artificial intelligence in political ads. Sen. Wayne Harper, R-Taylorsville, is behind Senate Bill 131, which …

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More than 60% of candidates for Maine's legislative offices participated in the state's Clean Election program in 2022, up from 30% of candidates in 2000, when it began. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />
Maine considers expanding 'clean elections' law to county candidates

Maine could become the first state in the nation to provide public funding to candidates seeking the office of district attorney. Lawmakers are …

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If a Republican wins the White House in the future, the Heritage Foundation has a plan to overhaul such federal agencies as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to operate under conservative regulation. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)
Conservative groups write 'game plan' for U.S. government takeover

By Carrie Baker for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service Collaboration Wealthy right-…

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Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va (far left), and other lawmakers join President Joe Biden as he signs the Inflation Reduction Act into law on Aug. 16, 2022. (Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm/Wikimedia Commons)
Super PAC spending in WV Senate race ramps up as Manchin bows out

By Harshawn Ratanpal for OpenSecrets.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the OpenSecrets-Public News Serv…

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Despite concern over the influence of foreign money on statewide elections, Montana has just increased its campaign contribution limits for PACs and individuals to $1,120 from $1,000. (Adobe Stock)
Montana political candidates receive among highest foreign donations

New research from a campaign finance-tracking group shows foreign corporations are investing heavily in statewide elections. Montana is one of a …

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The U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision held that the freedom of speech clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent expenditures for political campaigns by corporations. (Adobe Stock)
Tracking foreign interests in Colorado political campaigns

Despite federal laws that prohibit campaign contributions by people who are not United States citizens, foreign-influenced corporations and their …

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Seattle is the largest city in the U.S. to ban political contributions from foreign-influenced companies. (JHVEPhoto/Adobe Stock)
Report: Foreign-influenced companies give big in WA elections

A report analyzed the impact of money from foreign-influenced corporations on elections in six states. Washington topped the list for most donations…

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The Jan. 6 Committee's final report revealed members of the Oath Keepers and other Trump allies stockpiled weapons near Washington, D.C., as they waited for the former president to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy the military for domestic law enforcement. (Adobe Stock)<br />
Social media's 'networked incitement' the latest challenge to democracy

The use of social media to organize the Jan. 6 insurrection marked a turning point in American political protest, according to a leading media and …

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Most candidate elections in Arizona are determined in the Primary Election, where only about 23% of registered adults voted in August 2020. (Adobe Stock)
Bipartisan AZ group pushes for open primaries on 2024 ballot

This week, a bipartisan group in Arizona officially launched its campaign to do away with the state's current system of primary elections - which are …

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Gov. Andy Beshear speaks at an economic development event in Henderson in 2022. (Tkayne/Wikimedia Commons)<br />
Kentucky’s gubernatorial race breaks records, exceeds $44 million

By Anna Massoglia and Jimmy Cloutier for OpenSecrets.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the OpenSecrets-Pu…

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