A closed-door House panel in Austin will weigh whether to make roughly $9,300 fines stick against Democrats who staged a walkout last summer.

A state labor report shows Florida’s unemployment climbed to 4.5% in January, about 499,000 people out of work and uneven gains across industries. Regions and sectors are diverging.

Former Austin police chief Joseph Chacon was sworn in as Taylor’s police chief after a city search; he began leading the department and says he’ll focus on safety as Taylor grows.

House Bill 626 would expand how long police must keep unreported sexual‑assault kits — from months to 30 years — so DNA evidence remains available if survivors later come forward.

A bill moving through the Colorado Legislature would eliminate the small share of retail marijuana sales tax paid to counties and towns, potentially cutting about $6 million from local coffers annually.

The FEC asked Truth and Courage PAC to explain large reporting gaps tied to iHeart podcast payments; the PAC amended its filings the next day.

At a UNF town hall, James Fishback defended a viral exchange in which he told a man he 'should be lynched', saying he won't apologize and pledging to protect free speech.

Three Howard County measures would let Preservation Maryland rehab the Ellicott City jail, create a standing interfaith commission and greenlight a 76‑unit Columbia development.

House Bill 4948 would let some repeat or extreme speeders avoid license suspensions by enrolling in a state program that fits certified speed‑limiting devices and sets fees and penalties.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright toured Long Beach oil operations and said lower gas prices are on the way, but legal fights and refinery limits could delay relief. Officials point to thin refining capacity and recent federal orders to restart offshore flows.

Jefferson Parish hired a PR firm and posted a flyer saying many firefighters earn six figures as unions press for higher starting pay.

A 615‑page Harm Report from Fulton County’s Reparations Task Force quantifies slavery, Jim Crow and policy harms and assigns sweeping dollar figures. The study will be presented to the public next Thursday.

Ohio lawmakers unveiled the Save Ohio Sports Act to cap wagers, ban proposition bets and limit mobile play, citing addiction and game‑integrity concerns. The bill faces an uphill legislative path.