Author: Ballotpedia staff

  • Dartmouth study evaluates tone of Ballotpedia's COVID-19 coverage

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    Earlier this year, a team of researchers at Dartmouth developed a method to evaluate the tone of news articles written about Covid-19. Using standard sentiment indicators, the Dartmouth team assessed the text of 42,000 articles from dozens of U.S. and international news sources. The study found that U.S.-based news sources used significantly more negative language than the international…

  • Documenting America's Path to Recovery #284: July 20, 2021

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    Welcome to Documenting America’s Path to Recovery. Today we look at: The latest decision in an ongoing legal battle over cruise ships in Florida  A court ruling upholding a COVID-19 vaccine requirement at a university in Indiana Vaccine distribution Lawsuits about state actions and policies  State-level mask requirements COVID-19 emergency health orders COVID-19 policy changes…

  • Utilities’ ESG ratings tracked

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    ESG Developments This Week In Washington, D.C., and around the world Saudi sovereign wealth fund reportedly seeking ESG framework  In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the nation’s sovereign wealth fund reportedly has begun the process of developing ESG reporting standards that will, presumably, allow it to raise greater funds in the global debt market. According to Reuters:…

  • Checks and Balances - Federal Housing Finance Agency structure ruled unconstitutional

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    The Checks and Balances Letter delivers news and information from Ballotpedia’s Administrative State Project, including pivotal actions at the federal and state levels related to the separation of powers, due process and the rule of law. This edition:  In this month’s edition of Checks and Balances, we review the latest administrative law activity from the…

  • The State and Local Tap: California judge rules Gov. Newsom's party affiliation will not appear on recall ballot

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    Our weekly summary of state & local news highlights a state judge’s ruling that Gov. Gavin Newsom's party affiliation will not appear on California’s Sept. 14 recall ballot and members of Texas’ legislature travel to Washington, D.C. ahead of an expected vote on election-related legislation. Read all about it in this week’s edition of the…

  • The Federal Tap: Early voting begins in runoff in Texas' 6th Congressional District

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    Our weekly summary of federal news highlights the start of early voting in the special runoff election between two Republicans in Texas’ 6th Congressional District and the Supreme Court's announcement of the list of cases it will hear at the start of the October 2021-2022 term. Read all about it in this week’s edition of…

  • Documenting America's Path to Recovery #283: July 15, 2021

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    Welcome to Documenting America’s Path to Recovery. Today we look at: An extended coronavirus emergency in Connecticut Rhode Island announces a higher education vaccine requirement Vaccine distribution School closures and reopenings Travel restrictions State proof-of-vaccination requirements and policies Federal responses COVID-19 policy changes from this time last year  We are committed to keeping you updated…

  • Economy and Society: SEC Commissioner advocates board’s role in ESG oversight

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    ESG Developments This Week In Washington, D.C. SEC Commissioner Lee delivers speech about board’s role in ESG oversight On June 28, SEC Commissioner (and former acting director) Allison Herren Lee delivered the keynote address at the 2021 Society for Corporate Governance National Conference. In her speech Lee encouraged corporations to make wise decisions when choosing,…

  • Candidate filing deadline passed July 9 for two New Hampshire state legislative special elections

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    Candidates interested in running in the special elections to fill two vacant seats in the New Hampshire House of Representatives had until July 9 to file. The special elections are being held in the Hillsborough 7 District and Cheshire 9 District. The winners of the special elections will serve until December 2022. In the Hillsborough…

  • Documenting America's Path to Recovery #282: July 13, 2021

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    Welcome to Documenting America’s Path to Recovery. Today we look at: Court rulings in Maryland and Indiana requiring those states to resume participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs  In-person education at K-12 schools in Illinois  Vaccine distribution Lawsuits about state actions and policies  State-level mask requirements COVID-19 emergency health orders COVID-19 policy changes from this…