Online conferencing was a lifeline for school lessons and business meetings during the pandemic. However, there is concern about the effects of virtual court hearings on Illinois juvenile offenders. The "Justice For Children Policy Brief" said minors reported feeling frustrated and anxious during their hearings because they could not understand court procedures. .
Colorado lawmakers are considering ways to address a projected $24 million funding shortfall in the Healthy School Meals for All program, and grants to help districts purchase food from local farmers and ranchers could be at risk. Dan Sharp, nutrition services director for Mesa County School District 51, said serving fresh, locally-sourced foods as opposed to highly processed foods shipped cross-country gives kids the fuel they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. "There s evidence-based research that the more locally sourced our food supply is whether we get it at the grocery store or through our school meal programs a higher quality and better nutritious product for our students," Sharp explained. " .
Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed new congressional maps into law. The move comes a few days after Democrats in the legislature rejected maps drawn by the state s Independent Redistricting Commission. .
South Dakota is once again at the center of a debate about the future of direct democracy. A legislative plan would shake up signature rules for citizen-led ballot initiatives. Now making its way through the state Senate, the plan would create a process for people who want their signature removed from a petition for a statewide ballot question. .
Rep. Ben Toma, R-Peoria, Speaker of the Arizona House, has introduced legislation with hopes to curtail illegal immigration and save Arizonans big in welfare benefits but a coalition of business leaders and Democratic lawmakers are speaking out, saying it will hurt the state economy. Businesses in the state already use the federal E-Verify program to check the immigration status of potential and current employees. .