EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series of profiles of the candidates running for Indiana governor.  JASPER, Ind. — Mike Braun was a former two-term state representative in 2018 when he compared himself to the ultimate “outsider”: President Donald J. Trump.  Braun used that label to defeat two sitting congressmen in a Republican U.S. Senate primary race he had begun with about 1% of support in an internal poll. Then he used five Trump Make America Great Again rallies and $11 million of his own money (and another $20 million from an undisclosed donor) to upset Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe ..read more

Indianapolis City-County Councilor La Keisha Jackson was victorious in a Democratic caucus to replace the late state Sen. Jean Breaux. Jackson, who has been a council member since 2014, won Thursday night’s caucus in a 30-15 vote over Chunia Graves, according to the state Democratic Party. Jackson will complete Breaux’s current Senate term that runs until the November election for District 34, which is heavily Democratic and covers much of northeastern Indianapolis. Breaux was running for reelection to the seat ... The post Indianapolis Councilor Jackson wins caucus to replace Senator Breaux a ..read more

The Gist Spotted sea trout flourished, sea turtles and shorebirds struggled, and blue crabs crawled their way out of trouble in ever-warming coastal waters last year. Those are a few of the findings in the Coastal Resources Division’s annual Coastal Georgia Ecosystem Report Card, released today.  What's Happening Every year since 2014, the Department of Natural Resources collects data on 12 indicators of coastal ecosystem health that impact humans, fisheries and wildlife and issues a report card.  Based on data collected in 2023, Georgia’s coastal ecosystem this year earned a B, whic ..read more

Welcome to the Kansas Daily News Wire, your daily roundup of top state and political stories from newsrooms across Kansas. — Hawver’s Capitol Report/State Affairs STATE LaTurner won’t run for third term in US House: U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner announced Thursday he won’t run for a third term, citing a desire to pursue other opportunities and spend more time with his family.  (Richardson, State Affairs) Leavenworth prosecutor, state lawmaker weighing runs for Congress: U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner’s sudden announcement Thursday ... The post Kansas Daily News Wire April 19, 2024 appeared first on St ..read more

Happy Friday! In today’s Daily Wire, Pro service subscribers will find a link to the full results of the State Affairs/Howey Politics Indiana poll of likely Republican primary voters. Also, Brian Howey reports on GOP spending in the gubernatorial contest, while Rory Appleton writes about the GOP’s Jamie Reitenour in the latest of our series detailing candidates seeking to replace Gov. Eric Holcomb. More news below. — Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs Pro subscribers: Full results of ‘State Affairs/Howey Politics Indiana’ ... The post Howey Daily Wire April 19, 2024 appeared first on State A ..read more

INDIANAPOLIS — Most of the Republican candidates for Indiana governor have met for televised debates. They’ve offered “plans” for this and for that. Gov. Eric Holcomb demands they provide more details. The Indiana Capital Chronicle declares, “Time for gubernatorial candidates to get real on the real issues.” The Indianapolis Business Journal asks a specific question, “What does the state need to do to boost Indiana’s per capita income?” It’s the wrong question, but five candidates responded. Only Brad Chambers answered that question. The ... The post The carnival of candidates f ..read more

You Don’t Say “The real reason these things flourish is because people play them.” Rep. Harry Warren, R-Rowan, on video gambling machines. (The News & Observer, 4/18/24) Budget Surplus Gary D. Robertson, The Associated Press, 4/18/24 North Carolina’s government should collect higher revenues during this fiscal year and next than what is projected in the current two-year state budget, according to a new forecast released Wednesday. Economists for the General Assembly and Gov. Roy Cooper’s state budget office now predict collections ... The post Insider for April 19, 2024 appeared first ..read more

U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner announced Thursday he won’t run for a third term, citing a desire to pursue other opportunities and spend more time with his family. LaTurner, 36, a Republican representing Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District, also said he wouldn’t run for any state elections in 2026, which would take him out of the running for governor. The congressman posted on X that he made the decision “after much prayer and consideration.” LaTurner has a wife, Suzanne, and four children. ... The post LaTurner won’t run for third term in US House appeared first on State Affairs ..read more

By Daniel Erspamer, CEO, Pelican Institute for Public Policy While we may boast a vibrant culture and economic assets, Louisiana is below the national average when it comes to economic growth, workforce participation, and people living in poverty. It doesn’t have to be this way, and Governor Jeff Landry took a first step to change this reality with his executive order to establish a safety net and workforce task force aimed at creating a truly people-centric and work-first system.  Now, the federal government has to act, and the U.S. House of Representatives took the first steps ..read more

Multiple state legislators expressed frustration that 65 counties in the state did not commit funding to the Completing Access to Broadband program.  Rep. David Willis, R-Union, said it “baffles the mind” that with the amount of federal money coming from the American Rescue Plan that so many counties declined to make that investment.  “Those counties and the reasoning behind that needs to be scrutinized before we just agree to go ahead and cover those costs,” Willis said at the Joint ... The post County neglect of broadband funding concerns legislators  appeared first on State A ..read more