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December 20, 2015

Illinois governor signs law expanding background checks for potential gun owners

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a new gun-control measure into law Sunday that requires all gun owners, including private citizens, to check the background of the person buying the gun. 

December 20, 2015

Capitol Hill Republicans disagree on future of NSA spying, King attacks Paul

Two of congressional Republicans most outspoken members on the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs on Sunday highlighted the sharp divide within the party on the issue.

December 20, 2015

Minnesota, Rhode Island same-sex marriage laws take effect

Minnesota and Rhode Island officially became the 12th and 13th U.S. states to recognize same-sex marriage as recently passed laws permitted weddings to begin just after midnight Thursday. 

December 20, 2015

Do minimum wage hikes help low-income workers? Not always

Minimum-wage workers, many of whom spent Thursday striking, should look at Illinois before convincing themselves that a higher minimum wage will solve their problems. 

December 20, 2015

The Chicago way? Illinois officials under fire for ObamaCare contracts

Making ObamaCare a reality will require massive computing power to track, store and process the millions of individual cases. But in Illinois, contracts to compute that state’s cases – valued as high as $190 million – are being awarded without competitive bidding.

December 20, 2015

Oregon panel OKs bill requiring daily Pledge of Allegiance in schools

A legislative committee voted unanimously Friday for a bill requiring the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited daily in Oregon public classrooms.

December 20, 2015

Support for gun control down dramatically since 2012

Support for stricter gun laws has declined since a dramatic spike in late 2012.

December 20, 2015

Will all bets be off? Massachusetts voters to decide casino gambling's fate

Looking to rake in some much-needed cash, the Massachusetts legislature approved casino gambling in 2011. Bids were taken. Several licenses for slots and resort-casinos were awarded. Now all bets may be off. 

December 20, 2015

CNN anchor apologizes for making light of fight involving Bristol Palin

Following widespread criticism, CNN anchor Carol Costello apologized in a written statement on Thursday for joking on-air about an alleged altercation involving Bristol Palin and a man at a party accused of pushing her younger sister.

December 20, 2015

Government agency fights $23,000 city tax bill

Dozens of property and business owners seethed when the city of St. Paul handed out $2.3 million in assessments for street improvements on the Green Line light rail construction project.