(The Center Square) – Residents of southeast Texas are still grappling with flooding that has brought devastation to communities, forced schools to close, and led to mandatory and voluntary evacuations. Gov. Greg Abbott expanded the state’s disaster declaration on Friday to now include 88 counties covering at-risk areas for severe weather and flooding. “As flooding conditions and severe weather continue in multiple regions across Texas, I expanded the disaster declaration to add 59 counties to ensure Texans and their communities receive the assistance and support they need to stay safe,” Abbo ..read more

(The Center Square) – Loop Alliance President Michael Edwards is boldly shouting from the rooftops after a new “State of the Loop” quarterly report outlines how pedestrian activity on State Street during workweek hours is now back at pre-pandemic levels while weekend foot traffic is far outpacing 2019 numbers. “People are coming back,” Edwards told The Center Square. “We’ve been recording key data points since the beginning of the pandemic to try to give our stakeholders, property owners, businesses and City Hall hard data on how The Loop is performing. They’re coming down into the evening an ..read more

(The Center Square) – Over the last few days, city and county officials are responding to what appears to be “the largest opioid overdose outbreak” in Austin and Travis County, Travis County Judge Andy Brown said at a news conference. Austin Police Department Assistant Chief Eric Fitzgerald said police officers and emergency personnel reduced an untold number of deaths, saying, “there is a deadly batch of illicit narcotics in our community. Our intent … is to find those persons responsible and hold them accountable.” Lt. Patrick Eastlick with the APD’s narcotics unit said two persons of inter ..read more

(The Center Square) – When a jury convicted four former Commonwealth Edison leaders and lobbyists in a corruption case centered around a top state lawmaker, they hoped to send a message to Springfield that corruption wouldn’t be tolerated. “We’re tired of political corruption,” juror Amanda Schnitker Sayers said after weeks of testimony and days of deliberations ended with convictions on all counts. A year later, the four convicted defendants remain free with no sentencing date on the books. On May 2, 2023, a jury convicted former state lawmaker and lobbyist Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO ..read more

(The Center Square) – Spokane County announced a volley of funding on Friday morning that had been secured from the state for several key priorities and infrastructure projects. The announcement comes right before the official start this weekend of the City of Spokane’s 50th anniversary celebration of its hosting the World’s Fair in 1974. STATE FUNDING SECURED FOR REGIONAL PRIORITIES “Spokane County appreciates the State Legislature and the Governor’s partnership in supporting several regional priorities that will help us achieve shared goals, from supporting wildfire survivors to important c ..read more

(The Center Square) — The Pennsylvania Game Commission looks ahead with a new executive director, but recent turmoil has legislators even more skeptical of the agency’s competence. The commission has its sights set on tightening up policies and working more with the legislature, but critics want deeper changes. “Priority No. 1 for me is to enhance and build upon the relationship that the Game Commission has with both legislators as well as those in the hunting community,” Commission Executive Director Steve Smith said. “The primary way to do that — especially with legislators — is by making s ..read more

(The Center Square) – The acting director of the Illinois Department of Corrections took a grilling from legislators looking for information on prison closures, safety and more. Latoya Hughes was nominated by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to take over at the IDOC for $200,000 a year. She was appointed nearly a year ago. During a confirmation hearing Thursday, state Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, asked questions about the trend he sees in moving around prisons and prison populations. “With this administration, there’s been a noticeable trend to empty out facilities in central and southern Illinois a ..read more

(The Center Square) – Candidates eying ballot access say they feel cheated after Illinois Democrats in less than two days approved and enacted legislation to end the slating of candidates for the November election if they didn’t run in the March primary. They’re eyeing a potential lawsuit. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2412 Friday morning, less than two days after it was approved by the House and concurred by the Senate. The measure brings about three non-binding ballot referendums for Illinois voters about In vitro fertilization, poll worker safety and property taxes. Another provisi ..read more

(The Center Square) – A bill headed to the Illinois House that aims to provide financial lending protections for businesses is being criticized as being bad for business. Senate Bill 2234 from state Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Swansea, would provide protections for small businesses when taking out a loan by requiring financial terms such as the amount financed, fees and the annual percentage rate be clearly disclosed at the time an online or non-bank provider makes an offer for a loan. “There are small businesses around the state, especially in my community, that have faced challenges in accessi ..read more

(The Center Square) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has signed measures to make a new criminal offense for burning police cars and another to help first responders who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. House Bill 451 extends supplemental insurance coverage to first responders diagnosed with occupational PTSD. “I am grateful to see House Bill 451 become law as this legislation demonstrates our commitment to prioritizing the health and well-being of our first responders, ensuring they can serve our communities without jeopardizing their mental health or facing financial hardships for treatm ..read more