State Politics & News
Coverage of state politics, elections, and conservative policy battles across all 50 states shaping America’s future.
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- News
Bill Protecting Faith-Based Adoption Agencies in Texas on Way to Governor’s Desk
The Texas Senate early Monday passed a bill to allow faith-based adoption and foster care providers to operate based on their religious beliefs. By a final vote of 21-10, state senators agreed with their counterparts in the Texas House of Representatives that society should continue to make room for adoption and foster care services associated…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Kentucky Court Ruling Protects Artist’s Free Speech, Religious Liberty
When should a business owner’s decisions be condemned as illegal discrimination? Imagine a print shop owned by a devout atheist. A Muslim woman, wearing a hijab, walks into the shop and orders a sign saying, “Allahu Akbar! Allah is greater than all!” Scenario A: The shop owner sees the woman’s hijab when she walks through…Samuel Green -
- Opinion
What’s at Stake in the Left’s Effort to Redefine ‘Sex’ in Pennsylvania Law
State capitals across the country are proving they are not immune to the malady that has afflicted the policy process in Washington. The latest case in point: Pennsylvania. In a quietly released statement issued late on a Friday afternoon, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, an agency of the state government, announced a proposal to effectively…Michael Geer -
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- News
2 Republicans Battle in Razor-Tight Runoff Primary Ahead of South Carolina June Special Election
In South Carolina’s hotly-contested primary runoff for Mick Mulvaney’s old seat, it looks like the Republican candidates are headed for a recount. Two GOP candidates, Ralph Norman and Tommy Pope, were running to fill a seat vacated by Mulvaney, who now serves as director of Office of Management and Budget. Norman received 50.3 percent of…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Why North Korea’s Latest Missile Launch Should Worry Washington
Saturday marked another breakthrough in North Korea’s broad array of missile programs. Pyongyang successfully launched a new system that could target U.S. bases in Guam. It is now one step closer to an intercontinental ballistic missile that could eventually threaten the continental United States. Pyongyang announced that the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile flew 490 miles,…Bruce Klingner -
- News
How This Maryland Police Department Is Combating the MS-13 Gang
Two years ago, a suburban Maryland county began to see a dramatic rise in killings attributed to MS-13, an international gang with ties to Central America. In response, the Montgomery County Police Department assigned Capt. Paul Liquorie, a 23-year veteran of the police force, to lead a centralized street gang unit dedicated to stomping out…Josh Siegel -
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Paris and Washington Send a Message to Moscow: No Sanctions Relief Until Russian Troops Leave Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine—The Kremlin’s gambit to secure sanctions relief by redrawing the political landscapes in Europe and the United States has, so far, been a failure. In 2014, the U.S. and the European Union levied punitive economic sanctions on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and subsequent proxy war in eastern Ukraine. New presidential…Paul Runko -
- News
Texas Takes Steps to Protect Religious Convictions of Adoption, Foster Care Providers
Texas lawmakers are debating a bill that shows how states can protect faith-based adoption and foster care providers from religious discrimination, proponents of the legislation say. The Texas House of Representatives voted 93-49 Wednesday to pass a bill that would make room in a changing society for adoption and foster care providers associated with a…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
New Jersey Man’s Confessed Bombing Plan Is 95th Terror Plot in US Since 9/11
While the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, is on the retreat in some parts of the Middle East, its reach in the Western world remains a serious threat. A recent arrest in New Jersey shows just how vigilant the U.S. must remain. In February, police charged Gregory Lepsky, 20, with attempting to provide material support to…Riley Walters -
- News
Texas Files Lawsuit Against Potential Opponents of New Anti-Sanctuary Law
Texas lodged a preemptive lawsuit Monday against local officials considered hostile to the state’s new anti-sanctuary cities law, the first salvo in an expected legal fight over the controversial measure. State Attorney General Ken Paxton said the federal lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, is necessary to protect…Will Racke -
- Opinion
Texas Takes Strong and Needed Action on Sanctuary Cities
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott acted to protect the citizens of Texas on Sunday when he signed into law SB 4, a bill to punish (and deter) local cities and counties like Austin from implementing sanctuary policies. Abbott and the legislators who sponsored this bill are trying to stop the Lone Star State from being a…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
Oregon Man Fined $500 for Challenging Timing on Red-Light Cameras
Mats Jarlstrom’s trouble all began with a red-light camera. In April 2013, Jarlstrom’s wife, Laurie, received a ticket after driving her Volkswagen through an intersection in Beaverton, Oregon, that was equipped with a traffic camera. His wife paid the fine, but the timing of the traffic lights at the intersection piqued Jarlstrom’s interest, so he…Paul Runko -
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Texas Concealed Carry Holder Thwarts Potential Mass Shooting
Police in Texas say a concealed carry holder is a hero for shooting a crazed attacker Wednesday and preventing what could have been a slaughter inside a crowded sports bar. The man, who was dining with his wife at Zona Caliente in Arlington, Texas, sprang into action when he saw a gunman shoot and kill the bar…Will Racke -
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Texas House Passes Sanctuary City Ban With Stiff Penalty for Public Officials
The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that places a statewide ban on sanctuary cities and allows state officials to jail police chiefs and sheriffs who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The measure also lets police officers inquire about the immigration status of anyone they detain or arrest, including the subjects…Will Racke -
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How Trump’s Tax Plan Would Affect High-Tax States Like California, New York
High-income earners in high-tax states would see a federal tax rate cut, but may pay more in the end if they’re unable to deduct state and local taxes under President Donald Trump’s tax reform proposal announced Wednesday. “We’ll be attacked from the left. We’ll be attacked from the right,” @GaryDCohn says. The White House released…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
How to Improve Airline Travel: Cut Out Washington Meddling
While grumbling about inconveniences at U.S. airports is a national pastime among travelers, the criticism has been especially shrill this year. President Donald Trump has made it clear that he is not pleased with the state of U.S. airports, calling them “obsolete” and even “third world.” Although these claims are hyperbolic (American airports move far…Michael Sargent -
- News
Anti-Trump Democrat Falls Short in Georgia Election. Here’s What Comes Next.
Two candidates, Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff, will compete in a runoff election in June after failing to garner 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s special election in Georgia’s 6th District. The contenders in Tuesday’s jungle primary included 11 Republicans, five Democrats, and two independents. Voters will head back to the polls on June…Rachel del Guidice -
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Scott Walker Deals Another Blow to Big Labor in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed legislation that prevents local governments from requiring contractors to hire union labor for publicly funded construction projects. Walker signed the legislation, which passed along party lines in February, at a local distributor of construction materials in De Pere, Wisconsin, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The governor and Wisconsin Republicans…Ted Goodman -
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The University of Virginia’s Fight to Protect Free Speech
According to some observers, college campuses are facing a “free speech crisis.” From author Charles Murray, who faced violent protests at Middlebury College, to Manhattan Institute scholar Heather Mac Donald, who was shouted down by students at Claremont McKenna College, controversial free speech cases arise on college campuses almost weekly. But amid the chaos, some college and university…Kelsey Bolar