Simon says he won’t give voter data to Trump panel

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon on Friday rejected a request for voter registration data by a White House panel studying voter fraud, joining fellow Democratic officials in several other states in refusing to comply. President Donald Trump, a Republican, established the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity in May. Vice chairman Kris Kobach wrote to states this week seeking voter names, addresses, dates of birth, recent voting history and details about military status and felony convictions.

Gov. Christie orders government shutdown amid budget impasse

TRENTON, N.J.>> New Jersey's state government has shut down for the first time under Republican Gov. Chris Christie after he and the Democrat-led Legislature failed to reach an agreement on a budget by the deadline at midnight today. Christie, a former GOP presidential candidate and adviser to President Donald Trump who is leading the White House's anti-opioid commission, announced the shutdown of the state's nonessential services in an executive order.

Washington Legislature passes paid family leave measure

Sen. Mark Mullet, from left, D-Issaquah, Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, and Sen. Marko Liias, D-Lynnwood, applaud on the Senate floor after the Senate approved a paid family leave program at the Capitol Friday, June 30, 2017, in Olympia, Wash.. The measure, passed on a 37-12 vote Friday and now heads to the House, offers workers paid time off for the birth or adoption of a child or the serious medical condition of the worker or the worker's family member.

U.S. wind industry tacks as Trump shifts the political climate

Three days after Energy Secretary Rick Perry directed his staff to find ways to give a boost to coal and nuclear power, the rival wind industry kicked its lobbying response into action. The American Wind Energy Association would tap allies in Congress willing to weigh in with Perry and buy advertisements on "news channels closely followed by the Trump administration," according to a memo its leader sent to board members.

No request yet from Trump vote fraud task force for South Carolina voter information

South Carolina officials said Friday they have not received a request from the White House task force investigating alleged voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election. The state Election Commission, however, received more than 50 calls and emails from the public asking the agency to keep voter information away from the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity .

Hackensack Meridian Health Vice President Named to Becker’s Hospital Review: Rising Stars in …

Jose Lozano honored for outstanding efforts in the merger of two major health networks and development of new medical school Edison, NJ- Hackensack Meridian Health, the state's most comprehensive and integrated health care network, announced that Jose Lozano, chief of staff, vice president, corporate services and governance for the network, was named to Becker's Hospital Review: Rising Stars in Healthcare 2017 - 60 under 40. Mr. Lozano played an instrumental role in the merger of Meridian Health and the Hackensack University Health Network last year, which has resulted in a dynamic partnership with 13 hospitals in seven counties and plans to open a new medical school with Seton Hall University next year.

Republicans consider a novel idea: What if Obamacare repeal…

After weeks of withering criticism over their plan to take health insurance from 22 million in order to finance tax cuts for rich people, some Senate Republicans have been kicking around an idea: Maybe don't give tax cuts to rich people. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Bob Corker of Tennessee have proposed the idea of retaining at least the 3.8% surtax on high earners' investment income - though the same political and policy logic would seem to also apply to another Obamacare tax, the 0.9% surtax on high-earners' labor income.

‘Actual malice’ and The New York Times

For Sarah Palin to prevail in her libel action against the New York Times , she must prove that the Times knew that the following statement in a June 15, 2017 editorial was false, or was published "with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not: "...Sarah Palin's political action committee circulated a map of targeted election districts that put [Congresswoman Gabrielle] Giffords and 19 other Democrats under stylized cross hairs." The editorial went on to suggest that there was direct incitement "in the Giffords attack".

Texas leads 11 states in urging Trump to end DACA

Tomas Martinez, with GLAHR, a grass roots organization from Atlanta, chants to excite the crowd in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Monday, April 18, 2016. Hundreds gathered in front of the U.S. Supreme Court to show their support for President Obama's immigration executive action as the Court hears oral arguments on the deferred action initiatives, DAPA and expanded DACA.

Michelle Rodriguez threatens to leave ‘Fast and the Furious’

14, 2016, file photo, actress Michelle Rodriguez attends the " Assignment" premiere on day 7 of the Toronto International Film Festival at the Ryerson Theatre in Toronto. Rodriguez wro... Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he's asked the new leader of New York City's troubled public transit system to do a series of urgent reviews of the agency's management and aging infrastructure.

Panels demand billions more for defense than Trump requested

Two House Democrats want to compel the Air Force to detail how much has been spent on trips that President Donald Tr... Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he's asked the new leader of New York City's troubled public transit system to do a series of urgent reviews of the agency's management and aging infrastructure. The endangered killer whales that frequent the inland waters of Washington state are having pregnancy problems because they can't find enough to eat.