Category: State
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Harris retires from Kentucky State Senate after 25 years
Longtime Republican Sen. Ernie Harris retired from the Kentucky State Senate on April 15, the final day of the Kentucky General Assembly’s legislative session. Harris represented District 26 in the chamber for 25 years. He first assumed office in 1995. At the time of his retirement, Harris served as the chair of the state senate’s…
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New York sues U.S. Department of Labor
On April 14, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) arguing that it violated the terms of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) with a new temporary rule. James asked the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to block that…
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Florida closes schools for the year
On Saturday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) closed schools for the remainder of the academic year. Prior to the announcement, schools were closed through May 1. Florida became the 32nd state to close schools for the remainder of the academic year. Thirty-two states have closed schools for the remainder of the academic year: Alabama, Alaska,…
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Texas closes school for the year
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) closed schools for the remainder of the year. Prior to the announcement, schools were closed through May 4. Abbott said he made the decision with the consultation of doctors and health officials. Twenty-eight states have closed schools for the remainder of the academic year: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia,…
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Mississippi extends shelter in place order through April 27
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) announced that the state’s shelter in place order was extended by one week to combat the coronavirus. The order, which went into effect April 3, will expire April 27. The order relaxes some restrictions put in place in the original order. According to Reeves, people will be allowed to visit…
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Iowa Governor appoints fourth supreme court justice
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R) appointed attorney Matthew McDermott to the Iowa Supreme Court on April 3, 2020. McDermott succeeded Acting Chief Justice David Wiggins, who retired on March 13, 2020. McDermott was the governor's fourth nominee to the seven-member supreme court. At the time of his appointment to the state supreme court, McDermott practiced…
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Wisconsin extends stay-at-home order through May 26
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced that the state’s stay-at-home order was extended through May 26. Executive Order #12 was put into place on March 24 with an expiration date of April 24. Forty-three states issued statewide stay-at-home orders. Seven of those orders are set to last until modified or rescinded by the governor, while…
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New York extends stay-at-home order through May 15
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced that the state’s stay-at-home order was extended through May 15. Cuomo said that the order was helping to reduce the state’s hospitalization and intubation rates, but not enough to lift the order. According to Cuomo, New York's rate of infections caused by sick individuals was down to 0.9…
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Virginia lawmaker tests positive for coronavirus
On April 15, 2020, Delores McQuinn (D), a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, announced she had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. McQuinn represents District 70. McQuinn said her daughter, with whom she shares a house, first tested positive for the virus. Later, McQuinn and her husband came…
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Washington Gov. Inslee selects third appointment to state supreme court
Washington Governor Jay Inslee (D) appointed Judge G. Helen Whitener to the Washington Supreme Court on April 13, 2020. Whitener succeeded Justice Charles Wiggins, who retired in March. Whitener is Gov. Inslee's third nominee to the nine-member supreme court. Whitener has been a judge on the Pierce County Superior Court in Washington since 2015. From…