Campaign Finance

California: County Won’t Name Everyone Who Broke Campaign Money Laws by Nick Gerda for Voice of OC

Illinois: Rauner Blasts Chicago Mayoral Candidate Willie Wilson’s Cash Giveaway, State Says He Didn’t Violate Campaign Rules by John Byrne and Rick Pearson for Chicago Tribune

Montana: Gov. Bullock Sues IRS Over Decision to Stop Requiring Some Tax-Exempt Groups to Identify Donors by Amy Beth Hansson (Associated Press) for Helena Independent Record

New York: Sugarman Cracks Down on Former-IDC Campaign Accounts by David Lombardo for Albany Times Union

Elections

National: There Is a Revolution on the Left. Democrats Are Bracing. by Alexander Burns (New York Times) for MSN

Ethics

National: Federal Judge Allows Emoluments Case Against Trump to Proceed by Ann Marimow, Jonathan O’Connell, and David Fahrenthold (Washington Post) for MSN

National: Wilbur Ross Actively Pushed to Add Citizenship Question to 2020 Census, Documents Show by Tara Bahrampour (Washington Post) for San Francisco Chronicle

Illinois: Lawmakers Question Possible Conflicts of Interest in Tollway Contracts by Mary Wisniewski for Chicago Tribune

Lobbying

National: Two Trump Allies, Seeing Unlimited Opportunity, Instead Drew Scrutiny by Kenneth Vogel, Mark Mazzetti, Maggie Haberman, and David Kirkpatrick (New York Times) for MSN

Pennsylvania: Board of Ethics Says Pro-Soda Tax Coalition Violated Lobbying Law by Alison Burdo for Philadelphia Business Journal

Redistricting

National: Drive Against Gerrymandering Finds New Life in Ballot Initiatives by Michael Wines (New York Times) for MSN

Campaign Finance

National: “Donations to Nunes Improperly Used to Charter a Private Jet, Says Complaint to FEC” by Kate Irby for McClatchy DC

California: “Ref Rodriguez Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Resigns from L.A. School Board” by Howard Blume and Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times

Colorado: “Colorado Campaign Finance Loophole Allows Dark Money Flyers” by Sandra Fish for Colorado Independent

New York: “Who Needs Small Donors When You Have Friends? Ask Gov. Cuomo.” by Shane Goldmacher (New York Times) for WRAL

Elections

Hawaii: “Candidates Say ‘Pay To Play’ Is Unfair For Newspaper Voter’s Guide” by Andrew Perala for Honolulu Civil Beat

Ethics

National: “Russian Billionaire with U.S. Investments Backed Alleged Agent Maria Butina, According to a Person Familiar with Her Senate Testimony” by Rosalind Helderman (Washington Post) for MSN

Georgia: “Georgia Leaders Condemn Jason Spencer, Lawmaker Who Used Slurs on Sacha Baron Cohen Show” by Sopan Deb (New York Times) for MSN

Indiana: “Secret Donations to Fuel Hill’s Defense Against Groping Allegations” by Tony Cook, Kaitlin Lange, and Ryan Martin for Indianapolis Star Tribune

North Dakota: “Anti-Corruption Measure Headed for North Dakota Ballot” by John Hageman for West Fargo Pioneer

West Virginia: “Ethics Complaints Closed Against W.Va. Supreme Court Justices” by Wendy Holdren for Beckley Register-Herald

Campaign Finance

National: “Tabloid Company, Aiding Trump Campaign, May Have Crossed Line into Politics” by Jim Rutenberg and Ben Protess (New York Times) for MSN

Elections

Georgia: “She’s Mexican-Born and a New U.S. Citizen. But Can She Run for the Georgia House?” by Richard Fausett (New York Times) for WRAL

Ethics

California: “New Head of California Political Watchdog Agency Says It Is Moving on After Period of Tumult” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

Florida: “Secret Tapes Reveal Undercover FBI Agents Trying to Take Down Hallandale Mayor” by Susannah Bryan for South Florida Sun Sentinel

Maryland: “Howard County Studies Loosening Some Ethics Law Reporting Rules” by Kate Magill for Baltimore Sun

Lobbying

National: “Busy Trump, Congress Keep K Street Booming” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Ohio: “Cincinnati Firm Lobbies for Taxpayers – and Companies That Want Their Money” by Dan Horn for Cincinnati Enquirer

Pennsylvania: “PPA Lobbyist Paid $3,000 a Month. For What?” by William Bender for Philadelphia Inquirer

Campaign Finance

National: How Members of Congress Cultivate Wealthy Donors Through a Little-Known PAC by Michelle Ye Hee Lee for Washington Post

Arizona: APS Spends Big to Keep Clean-Energy Measure Off Ballot – but What Was Paid for Isn’t Clear by Rachel Leingang for Arizona Republic

Elections

National: New Tactic by Politicians: Set up fake news websites as a campaign gambit by Tim Johnson for McClatchy DC

National: ‘A Difficult Situation’: Republican women run in the Trump era by Rachel Bade for Politico

National: States Slow to Prepare for Hacking Threats by Eric Geller for Politico

Ethics

Alabama: ‘Beach House Sheriff’ Under Federal, State Investigation Over Jail Food Money by Connor Sheets for AL.com

Florida: South Miami’s Mayor Shut Down an Opponent at Meetings. Now he faces an investigation. by Aaron Liebowitz for Miami Herald

New York: New York Is Said to Open Tax Inquiry into Trump Foundation by Vivian Wang (New York Times) for WRAL

Campaign Finance

National: “The Biggest Spender of Political Ads on Facebook? President Trump” by Sheera Frenkel (New York Times) for CNBC

Idaho: “Lawmakers Work on Campaign Finance Reform Proposals, Want More Disclosure” by Betsy Russell for Idaho Press

North Carolina: “Report Ties NRA Money to Tillis Campaign Consultants Via Third Group” by Travis Fain for WRAL

Elections

California: “State Supreme Court Removes Measure to Split California into Three States from November Ballot” by Maura Dolan for Los Angeles Times

Ethics

National: “Commerce Secretary Ross to Sell All Stocks After Ethics Office Warning” by Bill Allison for Bloomberg.com

Arizona: “Mistrial Declared in Bribery Case Involving Arizona Corporation Commission” by Michael Kiefer and Ryan Randazzo for Arizona Republic

Arizona: “Arizona Rep. Paul Mosley Accused of Inappropriate Comments Involving Women, Religion” by Rachel Leingang and Yvonne Winget Sanchez for Arizona Republic

California: “Supervisor Leticia Perez Criminally Charged in Connection with Conflict of Interest with the Marijuana Industry” by Jason Kotowski for Baskersfield Californian

Florida: “‘Look Right into My Soul,’ Michael Grieco Said. But He Was Lying, Ethics Board Alleges” by Nicholas Nehamas for Miami Herald

New York: “State Resources Went to Cuomo Campaign Effort, Records Show” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Rhode Island: “Ethics Commission to Put All State, Municipal Officials’ Financial Disclosures Online” by Katie Mulvaney for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

Montana: “Report: Rosendale uses accounting to skirt contribution limits” by Holly Michels for Helena Independent Record

Elections

National: “4,500 Tech Workers, 1 Mission: Get Democrats elected” by Kevin Roose and Sheera Frenkel (New York Times) for CNBC

Ethics

National: “In Trump’s U.K. Visit, Some See ‘Infomercial’ for Money-Losing Golf Resort” by Katie Rogers for New York Times

National: “Maria Butina, Russian Gun Rights Advocate, Charged in U.S. with Acting as Russian Federation Agent” by Tom Jackman and Rosalind Helderman (Washington Post) for MSN

Arizona: “Video: Arizona lawmaker caught speeding says he drives as fast as 140 mph, claims immunity” by Rachel Leingang and Kimberly Rapanut for Arizona Republic

Maryland: “As Governor, Larry Hogan’s Real Estate Business Continues to Thrive – Prompting Questions” by Luke Broadwater for Baltimore Sun

Michigan: “Michigan Lawmakers Go Public with Their Finances in Effort to Boost State Integrity” by Kristian Hernandez for Center for Public Integrity

New York: “Ex-New York Pension Director Gets 21 Months for Pay-to-Play” by Chris Dolmetsch and Bob Van Voris for Bloomberg.com

Campaign Finance

National: “Investment Firm EnCap to Pay $500,000 to Settle Pay-to-Play Claims” by Liz Hampton for Reuters

National: “Exclusive: Secret money funds more than 40% of outside congressional ads” by Frereka Schouten for USA Today

Elections

National: “Mueller Indicts 12 Russians for DNC Hacking Days Before Trump-Putin Summit” by Darren Samuelsohn, Cory Bennet, and Josh Gerstein for Politico

Ethics

National: “The Quest to Get a Pardon in the Trump Era: ‘It’s who you know’” by Campbell Robertson (New York Times) for MSN

Alabama: “Ivey Takes Small Step on Sheriff Jail Food Funds but Can’t End the Practice on Her Own” by Connor Sheets for AL.com

New Jersey: “How Ex-Horizon Exec Kept Ties to Company” by Brent Johnson and Susan Livio (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star Ledger

New York: “Architect of Cuomo’s Buffalo Billion Project Is Convicted in Bid-Rigging Scheme” by Benjamin Weiser and Jesse McKinley (New York Times) for WRAL

Lobbying

Massachusetts: “Walsh Vetoes City Lobbying Rules, Calling Proposal ‘Inadequate’” by Milton Valencia for Boston Globe

Missouri: “KC Council Members Slam Gift Ethics Plan as Jason Kander Drops Casual Campaign Video” by Bill Turque for Kansas City Star

Virginia: “New Virginia Business Aims to Be Kickstarter for Political Influence” by Katherine Hafner for The Virginian-Pilot

Campaign Finance

Ohio: “At Last, Some Answers About Cincinnati Councilman Jeff Pastor’s Campaign Finances” by Sharon Coolidge for Cincinnati Enquirer

Elections

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Treasurer Candidate Says He Was Fired from Banking Job After Mounting Campaign” by Molly Beck and Max Bayer for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ethics

National: “Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s Supreme Court Pick, Has Sided with Broad Views of Presidential Powers” by Ann Marimow for Washington Post

Colorado: “Denver Council Approves Ethics Exemption After Debate Over City-Provided Air Travel, Freebies” by Jon Murray for Denver Post

Delaware: “Connections Severs Ties with Politicians” by Christine Jedra for Wilmington News Journal

Oklahoma: “Scott Pruitt, Fallen E.P.A. Chief, May Rise Again in Oklahoma” by Richard Fausset (New York Times) for MSN

Washington D.C.: “Federal Prosecutors Abruptly Dismiss All 39 Remaining Inauguration Day Rioting Cases” by Keith Alexander (Washington Post) for Los Angeles Times

Lobbying

National: “Giuliani Works for Foreign Clients While Serving as Trump’s Attorney” by Josh Dawsey, Tom Hamburger, and Ashley Parker (Washington Post) for The News-Times

National: “Atypical Lobbying Shop Targets Lawmakers from Poorest Districts” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Campaign Finance

New York: “Cuomo Campaign Amends ‘All-You-Can-Drink’ Fundraiser Invite” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union

Oregon: “Portland Campaign Spending Measure Petitions Submitted” by Jim Redden for Portland Tribune

Rhode Island: “Bristol Lawmaker Discloses Thousands in Previously Unreported Campaign Contributions” by Katherine Gregg for Providence Journal

Ethics

National: “From Kellyanne Conway to Stephen Miller, Trump’s Advisers Face Taunts from Hecklers Around D.C.” by Paul Schwartzman and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for San Jose Mercury News

National: “Some Contractors Housing Migrant Children Are Familiar to Trump’s Inner Circle” by Ben Protess, Manny Fernandez, and Kitty Bennet (New York Times) for MSN

Michigan: “Feds Charge Ousted Troy City Manager with Bribery” by Robert Snell for Detroit News

Lobbying

National: “Government Work Done, Tax Policy Writers Decamp to Lobbying Jobs” by Alan Rappaport (New York Times) for MSN

Florida: “Mayors Push to Strengthen Lobbying Laws in Broward” by Meryl Kornfield for South Florida Sun Sentinel

Missouri: “KC Mayoral Candidate Proposes Limiting Gifts to $5: Ethical Move or Political Ploy?” by Bill Turque for Kansas City Star

Ethics

National: “As Tariffs Near, President Trump’s Business Keeps Profiting from Chinese Ties” by Jonathan O’Connell and David Fahrenthold for San Jose Mercury News

Arizona: “Corporation Commission Director Resigns Amid Concerns of Conflict with APS” by Ryan Randazzo for Arizona Republic

Illinois: “Federal Judge Orders Illinois to Adopt Ethics Rules for Environmental Regulators” by Michael Hawthorne for Chicago Tribune

Indiana: “Attorney General Curtis Hill Under Investigation Following Calls by Top Indiana Republicans” by Tony Cook and Ryan Martin for Indianapolis Star

South Dakota: “Critics Concerned About Power of Initiative’s Ethics Panel” by the Associated Press for Mitchell Republic

Lobbying

National: “Countries Hosting Trump Businesses Have Added Lobbyists at Rapid Pace Since Inauguration” by Frank Bass for MapLight.org

National: “EPA’s Acting Administrator Has Long Lobbying Record on Issues Before the Agency” by Steven Mufson (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

Procurement

Canada: “Construction Magnate Antonio Accurso Sentenced to 4 Years for Fraud, Corruption” by Paul Cherry for Montreal Gazette

Campaign Finance

National: Five Years Ago, the FEC’s Top Lawyer Resigned. No Permanent Replacement Has Yet Been Named. By Dave Levinthal and Suhauna Hussein for Center for Public Integrity

Missouri: Email Appears to Show Coordination by Greitens Campaign, Office, Dark-Money Nonprofit by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Elections

Oregon: Black Oregon Legislator Says Campaigning in Own District Triggered 911 Call by Everton Bailey Jr. for Portland Oregonian

Ethics

National: Rep. Jim Jordan Accused of Ignoring Allegations of Sexual Abuse While a Coach at Ohio State by Deirdre Shesgreen and Jessie Balmert for USA Today

National: Pruitt Ally Decides Which of His Records See the Light of Day by Anthony Adragna and Emily Holden for Politico

National: Associated Press May Have Led FBI to Manafort Storage Locker by Josh Gerstein for Politico

New Jersey: New Jersey to Spend $5 Million on Reviving Local Journalism by Michael Symons for WPG Talk Radio

Lobbying

National: K Street Staffs Up for a Democratic Takeover by Theodoric Meyer for Politico

Campaign Finance

National: “Campaign Contributions to Top Candidates Raise Questions” by Associated Press for Washington Times

Pennsylvania: “Ed Pawlowski Co-Defendant Scott Allinson Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison Sentence” by Peter Hall and Emily Opilo for Allentown Morning Call

Texas: “Ethics Commission Backs Use of Campaign Money to Pay for Candidates’ Child Care” by Mrk Lisheron for Texas Monitor

Elections

National: “Russian Charged with Manafort Is Key Figure” by Jeff Horwitz and Maria Danilova for Detroit News

Ethics

National: “News Media Paid Melania Trump Thousands for Use of Photos in ‘Positive Stories Only’” by Andrew Lehren, Emily Siegel, and Merritt Enright for NBC News

Kentucky: “Kentucky Broke Law by blocking Poor People’s Campaign from Capitol, Beshear Says” by Jack Brammer for Lexington Herald-Leader

New York: “After Ethics Warning, MTA Chairman Gets O.K. for Outside Jobs in an Email” by Emma Fitzsimmons (New York Times) for WRAL

Lobbying

Ireland: “Watchdog Fears Public Servants Moving into Lobbying Roles Too Easily” by Conor Gallagher for Irish Times

Campaign Finance

National: “Kicking and Screaming Toward Senate 2.0” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Maine: “Maine Ethics Panel Sharply Cuts Payments to Publicly Financed Candidates” by Michael Shepherd for Bangor Daily News

Maine: “Major Political Donors Must Disclose Sources Under New Maine Law” by The Associated Press for Maine Public Radio

Minnesota: “Meet the Donors Who Give to Both DFL and GOP Candidates in Minnesota” by Peter Callaghan and Greta Kaul for Minnesota Post

Ohio: “Mike DeWine, Richard Cordray Donors Got Big Contracts from Ohio Attorney General’s Office” by James McNair (Ohio Center for Investigative Journalism) for Cincinnati Enquier

Ohio: “Appeals Court Says Ohio’s Rules on Judicial Campaigns Are Constitutional” by Eric Heisig for Cleveland Plain Dealer

Elections

National: “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: The Democrat who challenged her party’s establishment – and won” by David Weigel for Washington Post

Ethics

New Hampshire: “Hassan Intern Caught on Video Swearing at Trump Won’t Be Fired” by Paul Feely and David Solomon for Manchester Union Leader

Missouri: “Klahr Leaving Ethics for Veterans Commission” by Bob Watson for News Tribune

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Watchdog Agency Accuses Legislators of Starving It” by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman

Lobbying

National: “Who Should File as a Foreign Agent Is a Tough One to Figure Out” by Ken Doyle for Bloomberg Government

Redistricting

Virginia: “Court Rules Virginia Legislative Districts Unconstitutional” by Denise Lavoie and Alan Suderman (Associated Press) for Seattle Times

Campaign Finance

Maryland: “Baltimore City Council Backs Public Financing of Campaigns” by Luke Broadwater for Baltimore Sun

Elections

National: “Special Counsel Obtains Trump Ally Erik Prince’s Phones, Computer” by James Gordon Meek for ABC News

Ethics

National: “The Latest Sign of Political Divide: Shaming and shunning public officials” by Mary Jordan (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Trump Business Dealings Raise ‘Serious Concerns,’ Ethics Office Says” by Jonathan O’Connell (Washington Post) for Denton Chronicle

California: “California Lawmakers Approve Revamp of Sex Misconduct Policy” by Kathleen Ronayne (Associated Press) for Sacramento Bee

Florida: “Opa-locka Fixer Dante Starks Pleads Guilty, May Implicate Top Politicians” by Jay Weaver for Miami Herald

West Virginia: “House Votes to Consider Impeachment of Loughry, Possibly Other Supreme Court Justices” by Chris Dickerson for West Virginia Record

Lobbying

National: “Money-Laundering Charge Against Manafort Advances” by Britain Eakin for Courthouse News Service

National: “New Emails Suggest Scott Pruitt Discussed Hiring a Friend of Lobbyist Landlord” by Lisa Friedman and Hiroko Tabuchi (New York Times) for MSN

Kentucky: “Kentucky Reviewing State Contract after Bribery Trial” by Adam Beam (Associated Press) for Bowling Green Daily News

Redistricting

North Carolina: “Supreme Court Sends NC Partisan Gerrymander Case Back for More Arguments” by Anne Blythe for Raleigh News and Observer