• Oklahoma Senate passes bill making illegal immigration a state crime

    (The Center Square) - The Oklahoma Senate passed a bill that would make illegal immigration a state crime. House Bill 4156 makes “impermissible occupation” a criminal act, defined as a person willfully and without permission entering and remaining in Oklahoma without first obtaining legal authorization to enter the United States, according to the bill. If signed into law, those living in Oklahoma as illegal immigrants would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by...

    • NPR

    Senate passes reauthorization of key surveillance program despite privacy concerns

    The legislation would extend for two years the program known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. It now goes to President Biden's desk to become law.

    • CNN

    Senate passes surveillance bill despite contentious debate over privacy concerns

    The Senate voted late Friday to reauthorize a key surveillance authority, avoiding a lapse in the controversial program. Lawmakers voted 60-34 to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, after the House passed the measure late last week. The House passed the bill after a new version was put forward for a two-year reauthorization instead of five years, a change that helped appease conservatives who had initially revolted against the legislation. A two-year...

  • Measure requiring 120-day notice of local media sales passes Illinois Senate

    (The Center Square) – A measure prohibiting local news organizations from selling to out-of-state buyers without 120 days written notice of the sale to the state and their employees has passed the Illinois Senate. State Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, said in an effort to address what he said is a shrinking local media landscape, Illinois should pass the "Strengthening Community Media Act" found in Senate Bill 3592. One element of the bill requires 120-day written notice to the...

  • Senators want changes to House-passed aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan but bill on fast track

    The Senate is expected to easily pass the House’s $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan this week but not before several senators who oppose the bundle have their say.

  • Illinois quick hits: Food additives ban passes Senate; legislator seeks to criminalize blocking roads

    Food additives ban passes Senate The Illinois Senate has passed a measure that would supersede the federal government when it comes to banning food additives. The legislation would ban several additives, including brominated vegetable oil and red dye number 3. California recently passed a similar ban, but if enacted, Illinois would have one of the strictest food bans in the country. The National Confectioners Association has gone on record saying that states...

  • State Budget Passed in NY

    Legislative leaders pass a record 237-Billion-dollar state budget. Along with record spending for education and initiative to build new housing, the budget deal also gives the Governor the go-ahead to close up to 5 more State Prisons, which is a major concern for North Country Assemblyman Billy Jones and State Senator Dan Stec.

  • Senate passes bill that could ban TikTok

    A bill that could ban TikTok is now all but certain to become law. The Senate approved a measure that requires ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban, in a vote of 79 - 18. The “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” will next head to President Joe Biden, who has said he would sign the bill into law. While it’s far from the first effort to force a ban or divestment of the social media app, the bill managed to draw far more support than previous attempts. The...

  • Our North Star – pass the Press Act

    On April 11, award-winning investigative journalist for CBS News and Fox News prior to that, gave strong and compelling testimony on Capitol Hill regarding the Press Act, and the importance – no, the necessity – in journalists protecting the name and identity of sources.

  • Minnesota senator: Why the state needs a wolf hunt

    Nathan Wesenberg, who's researched wolves for the DNR, says the population has grown to where it threatens not only cattle and deer, but potentially people. "Wolves are losing fear of humans," he said.

  • The Morning After: Senate passes the bill that could ban TikTok

    The Senate approved a measure that will require ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban, in a vote of 79 to 18. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act next goes to President Biden. The president has already said he’ll sign the bill into law. (Yes, as predicted, I'm writing about this again.) TikTok has faced the ire of US politicians for a few years now, but this bill has picked up support across both political parties. It sailed through the House of...

  • Is TikTok Being Banned? Senate Bill Passed to President

    What, they didn’t like ‘Who TF Did I Marry?’