Campaign Finance

California: “Peskin Wants Big Political Donors to Disclose Investments” by Joshua Sabatini for San Francisco Examiner

District of Columbia: “D.C. Council Approves Fair Elections Act” by Julia Airey for Washington Times

Elections

National: “Hero or Hired Gun? How a British Former Spy Became a Flash Point in the Russia Investigation.” by Tom Hamburger and Rosalind Helderman for Washington Post

Ethics

Nebraska: “Is the Time Right for an Ethics Board in the Nebraska Legislature?” by Jo Anne Young for Lincoln Journal Star

New York: “State Senate’s New Sexual Harassment Policy Draws Criticism” by Rachel Silberstein for Gotham Gazette

Oregon: “Report Finds Kruse Groped Women at Oregon Capitol, Misbehavior Escalated after Warnings” by Gordon Friedman for Portland Oregonian

South Carolina: “S.C. House Ethics Committee Warns Legislators Don’t Use Campaign Cash to Defend Misconduct Allegations” by Seanna Adcox for Charleston Post and Courier

Tennessee: “Mayor Barry Recommended City Job for Daughter of Officer with Whom She Had Affair” by Anita Wadhwani for The Tennessean

Lobbying

California: “California Lobbyists Could Receive a Four-Year Ban for Sexual Harassment Under New Legislation” by John Myers for Los Angeles Times

Missouri: “Senators Propose Limiting Gifts from Lobbyists to $40 a Day” by Marshall Griffin for St. Louis Public Radio

Canada: “Democracy Watch Asks Court to Force Lobbying Commissioner to Investigate Aga Khan” by Elizabeth Thompson for CBC

Redistricting

North Carolina: “Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Stanford Professor’s Election Districts for Wake and Mecklenburg” by Anne Blythe for Raleigh News and Observer

Campaign Finance

Washington: “Seattle Says Facebook Is Violating City Campaign Finance Law” by David Ingram for Reuters

West Virginia: “Trial of Morgantown Coal Boss Ends in Mistrial After Jury Deadlocks” by Matt Harvey for WV News

Ethics

Federal: “House Prohibits Sexual Relationships Between Lawmakers and Their Staffers” by Elise Viebeck and Jenna Portnoy for Washington Post

Federal: “Document Shows GSA Employees Spending at the Trump Hotel in DC” by Cristina Alesci and Curt Devine for CNN

National: “Trump’s Lawyers Want Him to Refuse an Interview in Russia Inquiry” by Michael Schmidt and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) for MSN

Alabama: “Alabama Legislature Could Consider Ethics Law Changes” by Mike Cason for AL.com

Arizona: “Lawmaker Wants ‘Explicit’ Photos from Sexual Harassment Investigation Kept Secret” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez for Arizona Republic

Florida: “This Casino Town Has a Dark Side – Conspiracies, ‘Corruption’ and Calls for a Takeover” by Martin Vasollo and Carli Teproff (Miami Herald) for Tampa Bay Times

Lobbying

Florida: “FBI Lays Out Case for Bribery, Mail Fraud in Search Warrant” by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat

Campaign Finance

Virginia: “Dozens of Virginia Churches Have Been Donating Cash to Campaigns for Years, Despite Law” by Bill Bartell for The Virginian-Pilot

Elections

Florida: “Judge Strikes Down Florida’s System for Denying Felons’ Voting Rights” by Steve Bousquet for Tampa Bay Times

Ethics

Florida: “Tallahassee Commission Adopts Broad New Ethics Rules” by Jeffrey Schweers for Tallahassee Democrat

Massachusetts: “Hefner Had Access to Rosenberg’s E-mails” by Yvonne Abraham for Boston Globe

South Carolina: “SC Special Prosecutor Wants to Toss Out Quinn’s Guilty Plea If He Won’t Admit Crime” by John Monk for The State

Tennessee: “Mayor Megan Barry Potentially Violated Her Own Ethics Rules During Affair with Officer, Experts Say” by Adam Tamburin (USA Today) for The Tennessean

Lobbying

California: “Oakland Asks District Attorney to Investigate Alleged Bribes by Cannabis Lobbyist” by Darwin BondGraham for East Bay Times

Redistricting

National: “Opponents of Gerrymandering Keep Winning, But It Might Not Affect 2018” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

National: “In Blow to GOP, U.S. Supreme Court to Allow Pennsylvania Redistricting” by Jonathan Lai and Liz Navratil for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Campaign Finance

Alabama: “Attorney General’s Office Appears to Be Investigating Campaign Finance Documents” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser

Elections

Pennsylvania: “Bob Brady Is Not Running for Reelection” by Holly Otterbein, Chris Brennan, and Claudia Vargas for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

Federal: “Revolving Door Between Trump Pentagon, Contractors Spins Faster” by Sam Skolnik for Bloomberg Government

Arizona: “Arizona House Expels Yuma Rep. Don Shooter After Sexual-Harassment Findings” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star

District of Columbia: “D.C. Will Not Reappoint Open Government Watchdog Who Ruled Against City” by Peter Jamison for Washington Post

West Virginia: “Ethics Commission OKs Tourism Contract with Justice’s Greenbrier Resort” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette-Mail

Lobbying

Florida: “Lobbyist Accuses Legislator of Retaliation Over His Role in Sexual Harassment Case” by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald

Redistricting

Pennsylvania: “Sen. Scarnati Refuses Pa. Supreme Court Order to Turn Over Map Data in Gerrymander Case” by Jonathan Lai for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

Federal: “In Shocking Move, Feds Drop All Charges Against Bob Menendez” by Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star Ledger

Federal: “CDC Director Resigns Because of Conflicts Over Financial Interests” by Lena Sun for Washington Post

National: “Clinton Says She Regrets Not Firing Aide Accused of Sexual Harassment During 2008 Campaign” by John Wagner for Washington Post

Arizona: “Investigation Concludes Rep. Shooter Violated Sexual Harassment Rules Multiple Times” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Sun

North Dakota: “Proposed Ballot Measure Filed by North Dakotans for Public Integrity” by Staff for Bismarck Tribune

South Carolina: “Former Environmental Director Joins S.C. Water Utility Just Months After Leaving State Payroll” by Andrew Brown for Charleston Post and Courier

Virginia: “Facing New Scrutiny, Powerful Utility Turns to Old Friends” by Alan Suderman (Associated Press) for Fredericksburg.com

Lobbying

National: “Lobbying’s Top 50 Pour $540M Into Influence Campaigns” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Illinois: “IG Office: Sex harassment legislation needs teeth for lobbyists” by Maximilian Kwiatkowski for State Journal-Register

Redistricting

National: “Just How Bad is Partisan Gerrymandering? Ask the Mapmakers.” by Michael Wines for New York Times

Campaign Finance

National: “Republican Governors Association to Cut All Ties with Steve Wynn Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegation” by Amber Phillips for Washington Post

Ohio: “Tool Will Allow the Public to Follow the Money in Ohio Politics” by Laura Bischoff and Kyle Nagle (Dayton Daily News) for WHIO

Ethics

New York: “2 Donors Plead Guilty, but the Mayor Is Not Charged. Why?” by William Rashbaum and William Neuman for New York Times

South Dakota: “Government Ethics Measure Approved to Appear on 2018 Ballot” by Associated Press for Rapid City Journal

Lobbying

Alabama: “Patricia Todd Says Campaign Subpoena Was ‘Last Straw’ in Decision to Not Seek Re-election” by Roy Johnson for AL.com

Florida: “Proposed Change to Sexual Harassment Bill Adds Sex to Lobbying Gift Ban” by Ana Ceballos for Florida Politics

Hawaii: “Hawaii Lieutenant Governor to Resign, Join Lobbying Firm” by Audrey McAvoy (Associated Press) for Hawaii Tribune

Kansas: “Kansas Officials’ Path to Lobbying Would Be Slowed Under Transparency Bill” by Hunter Woodall for Kansas City Star

South Dakota: “Ex-SD Lawmaker Returns Lobbyist Credentials Amid Concerns” by Bob Mercer for Rapid City Journal

Campaign Finance

National: “How the Koch Network Learned to Thrive in the Trump Era” by James Hohmann and Michelle Ye Hee Lee for Washington Post

Illinois: “Cook County Cook County Assessor Berrios Sues Over Ordinance Limiting Campaign Contributions” by Ray Long for Chicago Tribune

Maine: “Maine GOP Director’s Links to Anonymous Website Add Fuel to Ethics Complaint” by Michael Shepherd for Bangor Daily News

Texas: “Does Business Group’s Use of ‘Dark Money’ for Its Political Action Committee Follow State Ethics Rules?” by Jay Root and Ryan Murphy for Texas Tribune

Ethics

National: “Andrew McCabe, FBI Deputy Director, Steps Down Amid Trump and Republican Criticism” by Kevin Johnson and David Jackson for USA Today

Kansas: “Kansas Intern Confidentiality Rule: What happens in a lawmaker’s office stays there” by Lindsay Wise (McClatchy) and Hunter Woodall for Kansas City Star

Legislative Issues

Maryland: “Ethics Panel Finds Baltimore Del. McCray Breached Legislature’s Conduct Standards” by Staff for Baltimore Sun

North Carolina: “In Power Struggle with GOP Lawmakers, Cooper Wins Election Board Revamp Lawsuit” by Annew Blythe for Raleigh News and Observer

Lobbying

United Kingdom: “New Lobbying Rules for Business to Come into Force” by Staff for Insider.co.uk

Ethics

Federal: “Arguments Begin in Emoluments Suit against Trump” by David Fahenthold and Jonathan O’Connell for Washington Post

Federal: “Patrick Meehan Won’t Seek Re-election in Pennsylvania” by Kenneth Vogel and Katie Rogers for New York Times

Federal: “Trump Groups Raised Millions, Then Paid It Out to Loyalists and a Trump Hotel” by Kenneth Vogel and Rachel Shorey (New York Times) for Las Vegas Sun

Federal: “Trump Ordered Mueller Fired, but Backed Off When White House Counsel Threatened to Quit” by Michael Schmidt and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) for MSN

Florida: “Hallandale Mayor Freed From Jail After Arrest in FBI Sting” by Susanna Bryan and Paula McMahon for South Florida Sun Sentinel

New York: “Campaign Donor Pleaded Guilty to Trying to Bribe Mayor de Blasio” by William Rashbaum and William Neuman for New York Times

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Ethics Commission Hits Pause Button after Senate Rejects Director” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Lobbying

Iowa: “Iowa GOP Activist Fined for Not Disclosing Saudi Arabia Work” by David Pitt (Associated Press) for WRAL

Oregon: “Oregon Ethics Watchdog Rejects Conservative Group’s Complaint about Kate Brown” by Hillary Borrud for Portland Oregonian

Campaign Finance

Canada: “Coalition of Unions Challenging Ontario’s Campaign Finance Law as Unconstitutional” by Robert Benzie for Toronto Star

Utah: “Special Interests Gave Utah Lawmakers $9 of Every $10 in Campaign Funds They Raised” by Lee Davidson for Salt Lake Tribune

Elections

National: “Inside Facebook’s Year of Reckoning” by Elizabeth Dwoskin for Washington Post

Ethics

Idaho: “High School Page Says 2 Idaho Lawmakers, Lobbyist Harassed Her Last Year” by Ruth Brown for Idaho Statesman

Maine: “A ‘Pro-White’ Town Manager Who Wants Races to Separate Refused to Quit. So Town Officials Fired Him.” by Marwa Eltagouri and Kristine Phillips for Washington Post

Maryland: “Former Baltimore County Schools Superintendent Dallas Dance Indicted on 4 Counts of Perjury” by Liz Bowie and Doug Donovan for Baltimore Sun

Nevada: “Barlow to Plead Guilty to Fraud, Resigns from Las Vegas City Council” by Jamie Munks for Las Vegas Review-Journal

Legislative Issues

Kansas: “No More Secret Votes, ‘Gut-and-Go’ Maneuvers in Kansas Legislature, Democrats Propose” by Judy Thomas, Hunter Woodall, and Laura Bauer for Kansas City Star

Lobbying

National: “Tax Law Showers Cash on Lobby Firms” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Texas: “Austin Lobbyists Agree to Disclose How Much They’re Paid” by Elizabeth Findell for Austin American-Statesman

Campaign Finance

National: “Alleged Payment to Porn Star Was Illegal Donation to Trump Campaign, Watchdog Says” by Josh Gerstein for Politico

New York: “Vance Bans Donations from Lawyers with Pending Cases” by James McKinley Jr. for New York Times

Ethics

National: “Trump Business Ethics Pledges Left Plenty of Room for Profiting” by The Associated Press for Tampa Bay Times

Federal: “Justice Department Says It Will Retry Sen. Robert Menendez Following Mistrial on Bribery Charges” by Devlin Barrett and Ed O’Keefe for Washington Post

California: “Group That First Raised Sexual Harassment Issues in Sacramento Now Has an App to Report Misconduct” by Jazmine Ulloa for Los Angeles Times

Wyoming: “As Reports of Sexual Harassment Spike, Wyoming’s Legislature Looks to Rewrite Policy” by Arno Rosenfeld for Casper Star-Tribune

Legislative Issues

Wisconsin: “Senate Votes to Force Out State Ethics and Elections Leaders” by Mark Sommerhauser for Wisconsin State Journal

Lobbying

Canada: “Six-Fold Increase in Senate Lobbying Under Trudeau, with Independents Taking Most Meetings” by Marie-Danielle Smith for National Post

Redistricting

Pennsylvania: “Pa. Supreme Court Strikes Down Congressional Map as Unconstitutional, Orders Change Before May Primary” by Jonathan Lai, Liz Navratil, and Angela Couloumbis for Philadelphia Inquirer

Campaign Finance

Federal: “Fewer Than 16,000 Donors Accounted for Half the Federal Campaign Contributions in 2016” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee for Washington Post

Missouri: “Greitens Campaign Operation Is Sharing Space with Dark Money Group” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Elections

National: “Government Says It Is Dropping Most Remaining Inaugural Day Rioting Cases” by Keith Alexander for Washington Post

Ethics

National: “In the Crowd at Trump’s Inauguration, Members of Russia’s Elite Anticipated a Thaw Between Moscow and Washington” by Craig Timberg, Rosalind Helderman, Andrew Roth, and Carol Leonnig for Washington Post

Federal: “Congressman Combating Harassment Settled His Own Misconduct Case” by Katie Rogers and Kenneth Vogel for New York Times

Federal: “Supreme Court Opens Door to Sheldon Silver Corruption Retrial” by John Reilly for Newsday

Federal: “Watchdog Petitions Federal Court to Kill New Appointments for Lobbying, Ethics Commissioners” by Marco Vigliotti for Hill Times

Lobbying

Kansas: “Kansas Bill Aims at Anyone Trying to Sway Executive Branch Register ‘Like a Lobbyist’” by Hunter Woodall and Jonathan Shorman for Kansas City Star

Procurement

Georgia: “Former Atlanta City Official Gets 2 Years in Bribery Probe” by Kate Brumback (Associated Press) for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

National: “FBI Investigating Whether Russian Money Went to NRA to Help Trump” by Peter Stone and Greg Gordon for McClatchy DC

Ethics

Colorado: “Denver Is Challenging Its Own Ethics Board Over ‘All in The Family’ Gift Disclosures” by Ben Markus for Colorado Public Radio

New Jersey: “Phil Murphy Executive Order Tightens Gift Rules for Governor” by Dustin Racioppi for Bergen Record

Lobbying

Federal: “The Mueller Effect: FARA filings soar in shadow of Manafort, Flynn probes” by Julia Ainsley, Andrew Lehren, and Anna Schecter for NBC News

Florida: “Andrew Gillum Opens Up About Cutting Ties with Lobbyist Friend Adam Corey and Mike Miller” by Jeffrey Schweers for Tallahasse Democrat

Georgia: “Lobbyists Beware: Georgia campaign finance commission levies largest ever fine for lobbying noncompliance in advance of 2018 legislative session” by Staff for Dentons

Wisconsin: “Should a former dairy lobbyist oversee dairy farms for Wisconsin Department of Justice’s environmental protection unit?” by Lee Bergquist for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Redistricting

Federal: “Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks North Carolina Gerrymandering Ruling” by Adam Liptak and Alan Blinder for New York Times

Campaign Finance

National: “Trump’s Inauguration Money Is Still Missing One Year After His Administration Took Control of the White House” by Linley Sanders for Newsweek

Minnesota: “Minnesota GOP Leader Seeks Cut of Big Donations” by Kyle Potter (Associated Press) for Federal News Radio

Ethics

National: “Trump Gives Out ‘Fake News Awards’ to CNN, N.Y. Times, Wash Post” by Jason Schwartz for Politico

National: “He Leaked a Photo of Rick Perry Hugging a Coal Executive. Then He Lost His Job.” by Ben Protess for New York Times

California: “Lavish Bash for California Politicians and Lobbyists Gets a #MeToo Makeover” by Laurel Rosenhall for CALmatters.org

Idaho: “Idaho Legislative Panel Rejects Lawmaker Disclosure Proposal” by Rebecca Boone (Associated Press) for Twin Falls Trimes-News

Illinois: “‘Independent’ Watchdog’s Secret Funder: Conservative small-government group” by Mick Dumke and Dan Mihalopoulos (Chicago Sun-Times) for ProPublica Illinois

Montana: “Montana Secretary of State Sends Email Criticizing Mainstream Media to 130,000 People” by Holly Michels for Helena Independent Record

Wisconsin: “As Senate Vote Nears, State Ethics Chief Blasts Former Government Accountability Board as Partisan, Inconsistent” by Mark Sommerhauser for Wisconsin State Journal

Lobbying

Federal: “House Judiciary Advances Foreign Lobby Overhaul” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Campaign Finance

Virginia: “Senate Committee Kills Bill to Ban Campaign Donations from Public-Service Corporations” by Patrick Wilson for Richmond Times-Dispatch

Elections

National: “A Case for Math, Not ‘Gobbledygook,’ in Judging Partisan Voting Maps” by Adam Liptak for New York Times

Michigan: “County Board Chair Uses Unlicensed Security at Public Meetings” by Malachi Barrett for MLive.com

Ethics

National: “Bannon Agrees to Cooperate with Mueller Inquiry” by Michael Schmidt for New York Times

New York: “Cuomo to Give New York’s Ethics Watchdog More Money to Probe Sexual Harassment Claims” by Madina Toure for The Observer

New York: “NY Corruption Trial of Ex-Cuomo Aide, Cor Execs: A preview from A to Ziti” by the Staff for Syracuse Post-Standard

Lobbying

Federal: “House Panel to Consider Stronger Foreign Lobbying Rules” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Mississippi: “Lobbyist Who Asked Harrison County Supervisor for Oral Sex Resigns from Gulfport, Airport” by Anita Lee for The Sun Herald

Missouri: “Lobbyist Gift Restriction Launched from Missouri House to Senate” by Jack Suntrup for St. Louis Post-Dispatch