TheRepublic.com - Government regulations News

Japan watchdog: Nuclear plant sits on active fault

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:20:09 -0400

TOKYO - Japan's nuclear watchdog on Wednesday endorsed a panel's conclusion that a seismic fault running underneath one of two reactors at an atomic plant in western Japan is active, making the reactor's restart virtually impossible.

Burn ban lifted in state land south of Bismarck

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:35:18 -0400

BISMARCK, North Dakota - The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has removed the open fire ban on the Oahe Wildlife Management Area south of Bismarck.

Congress measures Charlotte's Foxx for Cabinet job

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:32:23 -0400

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx has an interview for promotion to a national job.

NRC discussing safety assessment of SC nuke plant

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:05:49 -0400

HARTSVILLE, South Carolina - Federal nuclear regulators are visiting Hartsville to discuss safety at a power plant.

Ohio injection well operator fights state action

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:08:06 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A northeast Ohio injection well operator whose owner faces federal charges of violating the Clean Water Act is seeking permission to resume operations.

Drug testing for unemployment passes Texas House

Wed, 22 May 2013 01:45:17 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas House approved late Thursday night a bill allowing the state to drug test unemployment applicants. But Democrats successfully used a parade of stalling tactics to run out the clock on a similar measure mandating such screening for welfare applicants.

Senate panel approves immigration bill

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:07:39 -0400

WASHINGTON - Far-reaching legislation that grants a chance at citizenship to millions of immigrants living illegally in the United States cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a solid bipartisan vote Tuesday night after supporters somberly sidestepped a controversy over the rights of gay spouses.

Gov. Snyder, GOP lawmakers agree to budget targets

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:05:28 -0400

LANSING, Michigan - Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and leaders of the GOP majority in the Legislature reached a budget agreement Tuesday for next fiscal year that doesn't include an expansion of government health insurance for low income-adults and puts Michigan's unexpected surplus toward funding roads and K-12 education.

Boulder County drilling moratorium not extended

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:38:12 -0400

BOULDER, Colorado - A moratorium on processing new applications for oil and gas drilling in unincorporated Boulder County will end as scheduled June 10.

Prosecutors: Wis. farmer ignored licensing laws

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:52:59 -0400

BARABOO, Wisconsin - Prosecutors are trying to show a jury that a Wisconsin raw milk farmer showed blatant disregard for state licensing laws.

Mass. US Senate race focuses 9/11 resolutions, ads

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:52:50 -0400

BOSTON - In their contest for Massachusetts' open U.S. Senate seat, Republican Gabriel Gomez and Democrat Edward Markey continued to clash Tuesday over votes Markey cast against two resolutions honoring the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Legislation targets new Planned Parenthood clinic

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:17:19 -0400

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Lawmakers are looking for ways to create roadblocks for Planned Parenthood's construction of a new facility in New Orleans that would provide abortions in addition to other health care services for women.

Kan. lawmakers give final approval to gun bill

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:44:30 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Kansas legislators gave final approval Tuesday to restrictions on using state funds to promote or oppose gun-control policies, despite criticism that the new law would violate public officials' free speech rights.

Governor signs oil tax, budget bills, vetoes $2.5M

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:40:17 -0400

JUNEAU, Alaska - Gov. Sean Parnell on Tuesday signed into law an overhaul of Alaska's oil tax structure, hailing it as part of an historic legislative package aimed at moving the state forward.

Senate panel approves immigration bill

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:38:43 -0400

WASHINGTON - Far-reaching legislation to grant a chance at citizenship to millions of immigrants living illegally in the United States cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a solid bipartisan vote Tuesday night after supporters somberly sidestepped a controversy over the rights of gay spouses.

Senate defers gun bill ban on federal oversight

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:32:53 -0400

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Senators postponed a vote Tuesday on a controversial bill that would prohibit enforcement in Louisiana of any federal bans on assault weapons, after opponents called the measure unconstitutional.

Federal subsidy late; Ore. timber counties unhappy

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:19:08 -0400

GRANTS PASS, Oregon - Timber counties in western Oregon are unhappy that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is taking so long to send out $2 million in federal subsidies withheld under the mandatory budget cuts known as sequestration.

Feds take over Calif. high-risk insurance program

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:10:13 -0400

SACRAMENTO, California - About 17,000 Californians with serious medical problems will be moved from a state-run stopgap health insurance program to a federal plan starting in July, ensuring they will have no break in medical coverage until the national health care reforms kick in next year, state officials announced this week.

House overwhelmingly refuses to expand Medicaid

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:43:59 -0400

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - The Louisiana House overwhelmingly refused Tuesday to provide government-subsidized health insurance to thousands of people with the Medicaid dollars available under the federal Affordable Care Act, in a vote that appears to shelve the issue for the legislative session.

Proposal to block insurance coverage for abortions

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:42:28 -0400

LANSING, Michigan - Michigan's election board on Wednesday is expected to consider a petition form for a proposal that would prohibit Michigan health insurance plans for covering elective abortions unless individuals or businesses buy a supplemental policy.

Ohio lawmakers advance Internet cafe crackdown

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:38:22 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio state lawmakers moved boldly Tuesday against storefront sweepstakes parlors they have come to view as illegal gambling operations, advancing separate bills effectively banning the operations statewide and blocking startups until the ban takes hold.

Editorials from around Pennsylvania

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:29:52 -0400

CORBETT'S HIGHWAY FUNDING PACKAGE DESERVES STRONG LOOK

Oregon Editorial Rdp

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:24:14 -0400

Editorials from Oregon newspapers

La. drivers can't tweet or post to Facebook

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:57:49 -0400

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Motorists in Louisiana will have to add tweets and Facebook updates to the list of activities banned while driving, along with texting.

Illinois House panel approves fracking regulations

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:30:08 -0400

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois - A groundbreaking deal to regulate high-volume oil and gas drilling in Illinois cleared a top House committee Tuesday, setting up a floor vote on a measure that supporters say would bring tens of thousands of jobs to struggling areas in the southern part of the state.