Lobbying

Canada: “Ethics, Lobbying Commissioners Can Work More Closely Together: Nominee” by Beatrice Britneff for iPolitics.ca

Kentucky: “Law Which Prohibits Legislators Accepting ‘Anything of Value’ from Lobbyists Has Been Ruled Unconstitutional by U.S. District Court Judge” by Don Weber for Spectrum News

Campaign Finance

“State Lawmakers Blur Line Between Public, Personal Interests” by Ryan Foley (Associated Press) and Liz Essley Whyte for Center for Public Integrity

“Aide to U.S. Rep. Bob Brady Pleads Guilty in Probe of Payoff to 2012 Campaign Rival” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania: “Sands Shareholder Challenging Pennsylvania’s Ban on Casino Industry Political Giving” by Peter Hall and Steve Esack for Allentown Morning Call

Ethics

Alabama: “Birmingham Water Works Chair, Others Charged on Corruption Probe” by John Archibald for AL.com

California: “Matt Dababneh Will Resign from California Assembly After Sex Assault Allegation” by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee

Florida: “Flagler Prevails in Fight over ‘Malicious’ Ethics Complaints” by Matt Bruce for Daytona Beach News-Journal

Michigan: “Chuck Rizzo Sr. Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud Conspiracy in Macomb Trash-Hauling Probe” by Tresa Baldas and Ann Zaniewski for Detroit Free Press

Wisconsin: “John Doe Judge to Step Down Because of Tweets He Posted About the Case” by Patrick Marley and Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Elections

“For Trump Adviser at Center of Russia Probe, a Rapid Rise and Dramatic Fall in His Ancestral Land” by Griff White for Washington Post

Redistricting

“Supreme Court Will Take Up a Second Gerrymandering Case This Term” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Lobbying

“Lobbyists Use of Capitol Meeting Space Raises Questions” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Campaign Finance

Missouri: “In Missouri, New Campaign Limits Spur Growth of PACs” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Pennsylvania: “Former Judge Admits Concealing Payments He Got from Brady Campaign” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

Texas: “Amid Legal Challenge, Austin May Craft New Campaign Fundraising Limits” by Elizabeth Findell for Austin American-Statesman

Ethics

“Trump’s Company Had More Contact with Russia During Campaign, According to Documents Turned Over to Investigators” by Tom Hamburger, Rosalind Helderman, and Adam Entous for Washington Post

“Russians Took a Page from Corporate America by Using Facebook Tool to ID and Influence Voters” by Elizabeth Dwoskin, Craig Timberg, and Adam Entous for Washington Post

Florida: “Report: Review shows Florida’s utility watchdog has become a lapdog” by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald

Legislative Issues

Michigan: “Mass Turnover Fuels Push for Mich. Term Limit Reform” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News

Redistricting

“Kennedy’s Vote Is in Play on Voting Maps Warped by Politics” by Adam Liptak and Michael Shear for New York Times

Lobbying

“How Anna Nicole Smith’s Billionaire In Laws Secretly Lobbied the Courts” by Zachary Mider for Bloomberg.com

“Russian Network RT Must Register as Foreign Agent in US” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Campaign Finance

“Trump FEC Pick’s Twitter Goes Dark After Users Spot Anti-Protestant Links” by Tierny Sneed for TPM

New York: “Loophole Allows Public Officials to Shield Legal Expenses” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Ethics

Michigan: “Engineer Pleads Guilty to Bribery in Macomb County Public Corruption Probe” by Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press

Minnesota: “Scott County Attorney Declines Charges in Dai Thao Bribery-Solicitation Case” by Frederick Melo for St. Paul Pioneer Press

Mississippi: “Court: Governments can’t evade open meetings in small groups” by Jeff Amy (Associated Press) for Biloxi Sun Herald

Washington: “Seattle Mayor Ed Murray Resigns After Fifth Child Sex-Abuse Allegation” by Jim Brunner, Daniel Beekman, and Lewis Kamb for Seattle Times

Redistricting

Texas: “Supreme Court Puts Redrawing of Texas Political Maps on Hold” by Alexa Ura and Jim Malewitz for Texas Tribune

Lobbying

“Exclusive: Bloomberg charity scrutinized by India for anti-tobacco funding, lobbying – documents” by Aditya Kalra for Reuters

Campaign Finance

Michigan: “Attorney: Michigan super PACs face ‘firestorm’ of fines” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News

Montana: “Discounted Sale of US Interior Secretary’s Motor Home Raises Questions” by Bobcaina Calvin (Associated Press) for ABC News

Ethics

California: “3 of 4 Colonies Corruption Defendants Found Not Guilty on All Charges” by Joe Nelson and Richard Deatley for San Bernardino Sun

Colorado: “Emails Raise Ethical Questions About Colorado Lawmaker. But He Says There’s Nothing to See.” by Jesse Paul for Denver Post

Idaho: “Lawmakers: Idaho ‘uniquely poised’ to stiffen campaign, lobbying disclosure requirements” by Betsy Russell for Spokane Spoesman-Review

Elections

“Top Trump Organization Executive Asked Putin Aide for Help on Business Deal” by Rosalind Helderman, Carol Leonnig, and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

North Carolina: “Court Weighs Legislature’s Stripping of Cooper’s Powers” by Emery Dalesio (Associated Press) for Ashville Citizen-Times

Redistricting

“The New Front in the Gerrymandering Wars: Democracy vs. math” by Emily Bazelon for New York Times

Lobbying

Alabama: “Alabama Ethics Commission Punts on Lobbyist Opinion” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser

Maine: “State Employees Union Could Drop ‘Fair Share’ Fees in Exchange For 6 Percent Raise” by Mal Leary for Maine Public Radio

Campaign Finance

Montana: “Former State Legislator Jailed After Refusing to Pay Fine in Political Corruption Case” by Tom Lutey for Billings Gazette

Oregon: “Oregon Judge to Decide If Political Spending Limits Are Legal” by Gordon Friedman for Portland Oregonian

Ethics

“Revocation of Grants to Help Fight Hate Under New Scrutiny After Charlottesville” by Ron Nixon and Eileen Sullivan for New York Times

California: “Hundreds of Dollars in ‘Gifts’ from Contractors to Supervisor Nelson Raise Legal Questions” by Nick Gerda for Voice of OC

Pennsylvania: “State Rep. Marc Gergely Pleads Guilty to Corruption Charges” by Kate Giammarise and Liz Navratil for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Elections

“In Ukraine, a Malware Expert Who Could Blow the Whistle on Russian Hacking” by Andrew Kramer and Andrew Higgins for New York Times

“Roy Moore and Luther Strange Head for G.O.P. Runoff in Alabama Senate Race” by Jonathan Martin and Alan Blinder for New York Times

Redistricting

Texas: “Federal Court Invalidates Part of Texas Congressional Map” by Alexa Ura and Jim Malewitz for Texas Tribune

Campaign Finance

California: “John Chiang Helped Award Millions in Tax Breaks to His Developer Donors” by Christopher Cadelago for Sacramento Bee

Ethics

“Trump Defends Initial Remarks on Charlottesville; Again Blames ‘Both Sides’” by Michael Shear and Maggie Haberman for New York Times

“After Charlottesville, Trump Retweets – Then Deletes – Image of Train Running Over CNN Reporter” by David Nakamura and Aaron Davis for Washington Post

“New on This Fall’s Law School Syllabus: Trump” by Adam Liptak for New York Times

“Tech Firm Is Fighting a Federal Order for Data on Visitors to an Anti-Trump Website” by Ellen Nakashima for Washington Post

“FBI Agents Went Undercover in Florida’s Capital for the ‘Biggest Investigation in Years’” by Sean Rossman for USA Today

Oregon: “Campaign to Taint Courtroom Foe Costs Saxton Post at OHA” by Jeff Manning for Portland Oregonian

Elections

“Trump Campaign Emails Show Aide’s Repeated Efforts to Set Up Russia Meetings” by Tom Hamburger, Carol Leonnig, and Rosalind Helderman for Washington Post

Redistricting

North Carolina: “Redistricting Criteria Call for Partisan Maps, No Consideration of Race” by Travis Fain and Laura Leslie for WRAL

Lobbying

“Book Explores How Lobbyists Fill a Void in Congress” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Hawaii: “What Honolulu Lobbyists Don’t Tell You” by Anita Hofschneider for Honolulu Civil Beat

Campaign Finance

Missouri: “Steve Stenger’s Campaign Did Not Disclose That Donors Held County Contracts” by Stephen Deere for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Ethics

Connecticut: “Lobbyists, Corporate PACs Help Legislator Pay for His Travels as RNC Member” by Jon Lender for Hartford Courant

New York: “Ex-Assemblyman Who Crusaded Against Opioid Addiction Indicted in Connection with Pill Mills, Medicaid Fraud” by Nathan Tempey for Gothamist

North Carolina: “NC Has No Elections Board Until Cooper Makes Appointments – But He’s Suing” by Colin Campbell for Raleigh News & Observer

Pennsylvania: “Seth Williams’ Corruption Trial: The case against the Philly DA explained” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

Rhode Island: “Political Scene: Some legislators could use the expungement bill themselves” by Katherine Gregg for Providence Journal

Redistricting

“Supreme Court to Hear Potentially Landmark Case on Partisan Gerrymandering” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Lobbying

“Lobbyists’ Foreign Agent Filing Raises Questions” by John Hudson for BuzzFeed.com

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “What Happens When One of Your Financial Backers Is Indicted?” by Ronald Hansen and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez for Arizona Republic

Florida: “It’s the End for the Miami Beach Mystery PAC – a Political Whodunit” by Nicholas Nehamas and Joey Flechas for Miami Herald

Michigan: “How Bingo Games Led to $500K Fine for Mich. Democratic Party” by Kathleen Gray (Detroit Free Press) for USA Today

New Mexico: “Audit Reveals Questionable Campaign Spending” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Ethics

“Role of Trump’s Personal Lawyer Blurs Public and Private Lines” by Rebecca Ruiz and Sharon LaFraniere for New York Times

“D.C. and Maryland Sue President Trump, Alleging Breach of Constitutional Oath” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post

Idaho: “Idaho Legislature to Re-Examine Ethics, Campaign Finance Laws” by Betsy Russell for Spokane Spokesman-Review

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Ethics Commission Hikes Fee $50 on All Filers” by William Savage III for NonDoc.com

Redistricting

“Supreme Court Could Tackle Partisan Gerrymandering in Watershed Case” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Lobbying

Texas: “City Officials Question Oversight of Visit Austin” by Shonda Novak for Austin American-Statesman

Utah: “Utah Bars Fighting the State’s Strict New DUI Law with Fundraising and Petition Drive” by Kathy Stephenson for Salt Lake Tribune

Campaign Finance

“Amid Trump’s Unpopularity, Democrats Face Criticism for Not Investing More in Special Elections” by Mike DeBonis and David Weigel for Washington Post

Florida: “Someone Raised $200K from Miami Beach Bigwigs, But No One Will Say Why” by Nicholas Nehamas and Joey Flechas for Miami Herald

South Carolina: “South Carolina Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant’s New Campaign Account Under State Ethics Review” by Andy Shain for The State

Ethics

“Top Intelligence Official Told Associates Trump Asked Him If He Could Intervene with Comey on FBI Russia Probe” by Adam Entous for Washington Post

“Comey Told Sessions: Don’t leave me alone with Trump” by Michael Schmidt and Matt Apuzzo for New York Times

“Trump Organization to Go Budget Friendly With ‘American Idea’ Hotel Chain” by Steve Eder and Ben Protess for New York Times

“Intelligence Contractor Is Charged in First Leak Case Under Trump” by Charlie Savage for New York Times

Florida: “City Councilman Tried to Sell His Vote to Fill Council Seat for $15,000, Witnesses Testify” by Brett Kelman, Jesse Marx, ands Rosalie Murphy (Palm Beach Desert Sun) for USA Today

Redistricting

“US Supreme Court Affirms NC Legislative Districts as Racial Gerrymanders” by Anne Blythe for Raleigh News and Observer

Lobbying

“White House Moves to Block Ethics Inquiry into Ex-Lobbyists on Payroll” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

California: “California Is About to Go Nuts Thanks to Some Fourth-Graders from Merced” by Robert Rodriguez for Fresno Bee

Campaign Finance

“Michael Flynn Invokes 5th Amendment, Citing ‘Public Frenzy’” by The Associated Press for Portland Oregonian

“Supreme Court Affirms Ban on ‘Soft Money’ in Campaigns” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

“Bullock Vetoes Bill to Raise Allowable Campaign Contributions” by Holly Michels for Billings Gazette

Ethics

Arkansas: “Panel: Dallas Cowboys owner violated Arkansas ethics law” by John Lyon (Arkansas News Bureau) for Arkansas Online

New Jersey: “Frelinghuysen Hit with Ethics Complaint Over Outing of Activist to Her Employer” by Justin Zaremba (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger

South Carolina: “How South Carolina Lawmakers Are Re-examining Their Rule Book after Statehouse Probe Indictments” by Andy Shain for Charleston Post and Courier

Redistricting

North Carolina: “Supreme Court Ruling Wipes Out Republican-Drawn House Districts in N.C.” by Richard Wolff for USA Today

Campaign Finance

“Crowdpac Helps Candidates Test the Waters” by Eric Garcia for Roll Call

Ethics

“F.B.I. Director James Comey Is Fired by Trump” by Michael Shear and Matt Apuzzo for New York Times

“Sally Yates Tells Senators She Warned Trump About Michael Flynn” by Matt Apuzzo and Emmarie Huetteman for New York Times

Michigan: “4th Macomb County Official Cuts Deal in Rizzo Corruption Scandal” by Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press

New York: “Rikers Tumult Rises: Prison official accused of spying on investigator” by William Rashbaum and Michael Schwirtz for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “Court Voids Ex-House Speaker Bill DeWeese’s $116K Restitution for Corruption Convictions” by Matt Miller for PennLive.com

Elections

“Who Has Trump’s Ear? Often Rich, White, Republican Men.” by Andrew Restuccia and Aiden Quigley for Politico

Washington: “Seattle Mayor Ed Murray Won’t Seek Second Term: ‘It tears me to pieces to step away’” by Daniel Beekman for Seattle Times

Lobbying

Arizona: “Months After It Was Exposed, Phoenix Hasn’t Fixed Toothless Lobbying Law” by Dustin Gardiner and Rob O’Dell for Arizona Republic

Maine: “Lobbyist for Proposed Maine Casino Says Client Was Not Who He Thought It Was” by Scott Thistle for Portland Press Herald

Redistricting

Maryland: “Hogan Vetoes Redistricting Bill, Calling Maryland Democrats’ Measure ‘Phony’” by Luke Broadwater for Baltimore Sun

Lobbying

“Would-Be Trump Appointees Say ‘No Thanks’ Due to Lobbying Ban” by Ben Brody, Shannon Pettypiece, and Bill Allison for Bloomberg.com

Oregon: “Gov. Brown Reverses Course, Says Former Lawmaker Will Not Lobby Legislators” by Saul Hubbard for The Register-Guard

Campaign Finance

“FEC Earning Congressional Attention – for the Wrong Reasons” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity

Ethics

Florida: “Corrupt Opa-locka Official Was a Prized Witness. He Was Rewarded with No Prison Time.” by Jay Weaver for Miami Herald

New Mexico: “Senate Yanks Real Estate Bill; Lawmaker Says Pay-to-Play Maneuver Exposed” by Andrew Oxford (Santa Fe New Mexican) for New Mexico Political Report

New York: “Preet Bharara Shunned Politics. His End Was Tinged by Them.” by Benjamin Weiser, Ben Protess, Matthew Goldstein, and William Rashbaum for New York Times

Utah: “Shurtleff Sues State for at Least $1.1M, Alleges Utah A.G. Sean Reyes Interfered in His Case” by Jennifer Dobner for Salt Lake Tribune

Elections

California: “Seeing Red: Membership triples for the Democratic Socialists of America” by Matt Pearce for Los Angeles Times

Legislative Issues

Minnesota: “Lawmakers Clash Over Ethics of Real ID Letter to the Editor” by Don Davis (Forum News Service) for St. Paul Pioneer Press

Redistricting

Texas: “Texas Congressional Maps Are Struck Down for Discrimination” by Manny Fernandez for New York Times

Lobbying

“Companies Lobbying Government Keep Spending Secret from Shareholders: Report” by David Sirota for International Business Times

South Dakota: “Legislature Expands Lobbying Ban to More Officials and Doubles Length” by Bob Mercer for Rapid City Journal

Washington: “Washington Commission Confirms What’s Upstream Stayed Within State Law” by Don Jenkins for Capital Press

Campaign Finance

Mississippi: “House Amends, Passes Senate Campaign Finance Bill” by Geoff Pender for Jackson Clarion-Ledger

Ethics

“White House Lawyer Twice Briefed Conway on Ethics Rules Following Ivanka Product Pitch” by Josh Gerstein for Politico

“White House Power Player Jared Kushner Is Keeping Parts of His Real Estate Empire” by Justin Elliot and Al Shaw for ProPublica

Connecticut: “Watchdog Agencies Worried About Budget Cuts” by Mike Savino for Meriden Record-Journal

Florida: “Rubio Is Asked to Leave Tampa Office Over Disruption from Weekly Protests” by Tony Marrero for Tampa Bay Times

Ohio: “In Selling Bill, Ohio Senator Describes Possibly Illegal Deal” by Jim Siegel for Columbus Dispatch

Redistricting

Virginia: “Supreme Court Says Virginia Redistricting Must Be Reexamined for Racial Bias” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Lobbying

“Is It Time for a Lobbyist Union? Juneau Representative Proposes 2.5 Percent Industry Tax” by Nathaniel Herz for Alaska Dispatch News

“Richard Corcoran: Rick Scott’s ethics proposals not personal” by Jim Rusica for Florida Politics

“Senate Committee Compares House and Senate Bills on Lobbyist Gift Restrictions” by Benjamin Peters for Missouri Times

Ethics

“Trump Fires Acting Attorney General Who Defied Him” by Michael Shear, Mark Landler, Matt Apuzzo, and Eric Lichtblau for New York Times

“Two Applicants Seek to Replace Jon Motl as Commissioner of Political Practices” by Troy Carter for Bozeman Daily Chronicle

“Voters to Decide If Crooked State Pols Lose Pensions” by Matthew Hamilton for Albany Times Union

“In Letter, Justice Again Tries to Address Conflicts of Interest” by Andrew Brown for Charleston Gazette

Legislative Issues

“Don’t Like the Ballot Measure Voters Approved? Just Ignore It, Some Lawmakers Say.” by Alan Greenblatt for Governing

Redistricting

“Court to Wisconsin Republicans: Redraw election maps” by Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel