Author: Center Square, Washington Examiner

(The Center Square) – Two significant events this month advanced Washington state on its path toward linking its carbon market with the established systems of California and Quebec, Canada. California extended its cap-and-trade program, which was set to expire in 2030, through 2045 as part of a six-bill climate and energy package passed by the Legislature…

(The Center Square) – Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown declared a “complete victory” on Thursday after the courts dismissed a First Amendment lawsuit, which the city authorized $200,000 in spending to fight. Conservative Christian activist Sean Feucht filed a lawsuit against the city of Spokane and current and former members of the Spokane City Council last year. Marshall…

(The Center Square) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom Friday morning promised up to $60 billion in tax rebates on electricity fees just before signing climate and energy bills. The legislation includes expansion of the state’s climate credit, which gives residents discounts each year on their electrical bills. Newsom made his remarks during a press conference in…

(The Center Square) – A northeast Ohio county fair board removed the county’s Democratic Party booth from its fair for what the board called offensive buttons. According to reports, the removal came after a fairgoer posted the display to social media. By Friday morning, the fair board’s response had nearly 2,000 views and more than 1,000…

(The Center Square) – Michigan’s unemployment is still the third highest nationally, according to the August data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. With Michigan’s unemployment rate coming in at 5.2%, California and Nevada are the only states with higher unemployment rates. At 5.2%, that is down 0.1% from 5.3% in the previous month. Michigan’s…

(The Center Square) – There would be some major changes to police training in Wisconsin if one Milwaukee state representative gets his way. State Rep. Darrin Madison, D-Milwaukee, introduced four pieces of legislation that he says would end “nonscientific and dangerous police training practices.” “Law enforcement budgets are going towards unlicensed, unregulated technology like facial recognition.…

(The Center Square) – The investigation into an ethics complaint filed against Washington State Executive Ethics Board Executive Director Kate Reynolds has raised further questions over conflicts of interest within the state employee disciplinary system. Reynolds investigated a separate ethics complaint filed against Solicitor General Noah Purcell for defending Attorney General Nick Brown, his supervisor, in a State Bar Association complaint. Although…

(The Center Square) – Texas has maintained its AAA/Aaa credit rating from the major credit rating agencies S&P Global Ratings, Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service and KBRA, the state comptroller’s office announced. The credit rating agencies cite “Texas’ diversified economy, steady population growth, strong fiscal reserves and disciplined financial practices in reaffirming the state’s credit…

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California is suing a health insurance plan for allegedly violating the public’s trust at taxpayers’ expense. The federal government filed the complaint Wednesday under the False Claims Act against Inland Empire Health Plan, which received nearly $3.5 billion under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act…

(The Center Square) – The Arizona Corporation Commission granted Attorney General Kris Mayes and others an intervention into the Arizona Public Service’s plan to raise electrical rates. According to Arizona law, a grant of intervention allows third parties to join a lawsuit if they have a legal interest in the affected outcome. In this particular case, Mayes…