Vance Boelter faces serious federal and state charges following a targeted shooting spree that left Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband dead and Sen. John Hoffman and his wife injured. Boelter appeared in federal court Monday, where chilling new details emerged, including messages sent to his family in the hours after the attacks.
Illinois legislators are set to receive yet another pay raise as part of the state’s massive $55.2 billion budget, the largest in Illinois history. The 3,300-page spending plan was filed late Friday, just a day before the vote deadline. The budget includes a $7,000 pay bump for lawmakers, pushing the total pay raise under Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration to more than $30,000 since he took office.
Illinois lawmakers gathered Tuesday to highlight the rise of antisemitism in the state, pointing to a 59% increase in incidents this year, with over 335 cases reported. The #StopTheHate campaign, championed by Democrat legislators like state Sen. Laura Fine and Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, urged citizens to "communicate with empathy" to combat hate. However, questions remain about the lack of specific action against antisemitic violence, particularly on college campuses.
Labor unions and Democrat lawmakers rallied in Harrisburg on Monday in support of a $15 minimum wage bill, reigniting a battle that’s raged for 15 consecutive years. Pennsylvania’s minimum wage remains at $7.25 an hour—the same as the federal rate—and lower than all surrounding states.
Pennsylvania lawmakers are working to expand a 2015 law that provides grants to county jails treating inmates with substance use disorders. Act 80 funds the use of naltrexone, or Vivitrol, an extended-release injection that blocks opioid effects. However, newer medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) have since emerged as more effective options for many patients.
A Georgia bill that ties property assessments to the rate of inflation is facing pushback from local government entities opting out of the measure. Approved by 63% of voters in November 2024, the bill aims to cap property tax increases, but some officials argue the restrictions could hinder their ability to fund essential services.
Less than 12 hours after TikTok was temporarily banned in the U.S., the app was restored, crediting former President Donald Trump for its return. However, in Indiana, proposed legislation could once again restrict access to popular social media platforms for thousands of children.
John Mizuno, appointed as Hawaii’s homelessness coordinator in January 2024, has taken significant steps to address the state’s homelessness crisis by helping out-of-state homeless individuals return to their mainland families.
