Lobbying

“Trump-Tied Lobbyists Cash in on Their Connections” by Tami Abdolah (Associated Press) for Detroit News

Oklahoma: “Speakers Criticize Plan to Put Restrictions on Lawmakers, State Employees Who Want to Go into Lobbying” by Barbara Hoberock for Tulsa World

Campaign Finance

“Lawmakers Weigh Pushing Facebook, Twitter to Share Who Buys Political Ads” by Elana Schor, Kyle Cheney, and Ashley Gold for Politico

Florida: “St. Petersburg Council Acts to Limit Big Money in City Elections” by Charlie Frago for Tampa Bay Times

Ethics

“Judge Lets Former Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson Out of Prison” by Rachel Weiner for Washington Post

Alabama: “2 State Officials Removed by Robert Bentley Receive Apology from Gov. Kay Ivey” by Paul Gattis for AL.com

Texas: “Texas AG Ken Paxton Faces New Investigation Under Bribery Statute over $100K Gift” by Lauren McGaughy for Dallas News

Campaign Finance

“Steve King Employs Family as Year-Round Campaign Staff, an Unusual Approach in Congress” by Jason Noble for Des Moines Register

California: “California Bill Takes Aim at Dark Money in Politics – Will Jerry Brown Sign It?” by Katy Murphy for San Jose Mercury News

Ethics

“Exclusive: Jared Kushner’s personal email re-routed to Trump Organization computers amid public scrutiny” by Brad Heath for USA Today

California: “Years After Suing Insomniac, L.A. Coliseum Panel to Get $3.5 Million in Corruption Scandal Settlement” by Rong-Gong Lin II for Los Angeles Times

Oregon: “County Safety Net Money Paid for Commissioners’ Lobbying Trips” by Rob Davis for Portland Oregonian

Lobbying

Canada: “B.C. Bill Proposes Two-Year Ban on Lobbying After Public Service” by Justine Hunter for The Globe and Mail

Minnesota: “Report Finds No Conflict of Interest for MAC Members” by Janet Moore for Minneapolis Star Tribune

Missouri: “GOP Mega Donor Should Face $320,000 Ethics Fine, Missouri Democrat Says” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

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

“Monsanto Banned from European Parliament” by Arthur Nelson for The Guardian

“‘Little Lobbyists’ Help Save the Health Care Law, for Now” by Robert Pear for New York Times

Arizona: “ASU, AU Shield Lobbying Expenses Via Foundations” by Jim Small for Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting

Campaign Finance

“FEC Fines Contractor That Gave Pro-Clinton Super PACs Illegal Cash” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity

Connecticut: “Connecticut’s Public Campaign Financing Spared – For Now” by Neil Vigdor for New Haven Register

Miami: “Miami Realtor Is Suspected of Funneling Foreign Money to Grieco Campaign” by Nicholas Nehamas and Joey Flechas for Miami Herald

Maryland: “Loosened Fundraising Rules Unleashing Big Cash for 2018 Maryland Elections” by Erin Cox for Baltimore Sun

Ethics

“Overturned Convictions Loom Over Menendez’s Corruption Trial” by Nick Corasaniti for New York Times

Elections

Alabama: “How an Alabama Senator Got His Job May Have Led to His Losing It” by Alan Blinder for New York Times

Lobbying

Illinois: “Lobbying Is All in the Zalewski Family” by W.J. Kennedy for Chicago City Wire

Missouri: “Ethics Panel Fines Adviser to Missouri Mega Donor at Center of Pay-to-Play Allegations” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Campaign Finance

“Your Favorite Companies May Be Political Black Boxes” by Lateshia Beachum for Center for Public Integrity

Alabama: “Former House Majority Leader Micky Hammon Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser

Maryland: “Rawlings-Blake to Repay More Than $5K in Expenses to Campaign” by Luke Broadwater for Baltimore Sun

New York: “NY Senator Wants to Make It Illegal for Powerful Interests to Hide Behind LLCs” by Emma Whitford for Gothamist

Ethics

“Trump’s Health Secretary May Not Be Leaving Just Yet” by Jennifer Epstein, Justin Sink and Anna Edney for Bloomberg.com

“Bills to Protect Mueller Are Bipartisan, but the Path Forward Is Uncertain” by Nicholas Fandos for New York Times

Legislative Issues

California: “What a Difference Three Days Makes: How voters shook up California’s Legislature” by Laurel Rosenhall for CALmatters

Lobbying

California: “Anaheim’s Lobbyist Sunshine Ordinance Will Be Largely Self-Enforced” by Thy Vo for Voice of OC

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “UConn Researchers Find Business, Labor Unions Aren’t Driving Super PACs” by Jack Kramer for CTNewsJunkie.com

Maine: “Lawmakers Make Case That Maine’s Initiative Process Is Being Gamed” by Scott Thistle for Portland Press Herald

Ohio: “BlackRock Executive’s Kasich Donation May Cost $37 Million” by Miles Weiss for Bloomberg.com

Ethics

“Congressional Aides Risk Conflicts with Stock Trades” by Maggie Severns for Politico

“Exclusive: OGE crafting a new advisory on legal defense funds” by Cristina Alesci for CNN

Maryland: “State Prosecutor Investigating Former Baltimore County School Supt. Dallas Dance” by Liz Bowie, Doug Donovan and Alison Knezevich for Baltimore Sun

New Jersey: “Paterson Mayor Joey Torres Pleads Guilty to Corruption Charges” by Joe Malinconico (Paterson Times) for Bergen Record

New York: “Dean Skelos Has Conviction Overturned; Prosecutors Will Pursue Retrial” Staff Report for Albany Times Union

Elections

“GOP Governors Launch a ‘News’ Website with a Mission to Get Themselves Elected” by Bill Barrow (Associated Press) for Business Insider

Alabama: “Moore Wins Republican Senate Primary, Dealing Blow to GOP Establishment” by Michael Scherer for Washington Post

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Strict ID Law Discouraged Voters, Study Finds” by Michael Wines for New York Times

Lobbying

“Skadden, Big New York Law Firm, Faces Questions on Work with Manafort” by Kenneth Vogel and Andrew Kramer for New York Times

Arizona: “116 Arizona Lobbyists Could Face Attorney General Investigation” by Alia Beard Rau for Arizona Republic

Maryland: “Maryland Lobbyist Pleads Guilty to Bribing Lawmaker to Help with Prince George’s Liquor Licenses” by Drew Gerber for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

“Fate Is Uncertain for House GOP’s Campaign Finance Riders” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA

New Mexico: “Did Gov. Susana Martinez Break SEC Rules in New Mexico Pension Deals?” by David Sirota, Josh Keefe, and Andrew Perez for International Business Times

Ethics

“Kushner Used Private Email to Conduct White House Business” by Josh Dawsey for Politico

“Anthony Weiner Gets 21 Months in Prison for Sexting with Teenager” by Benjamin Weiser for New York Times

Georgia: “Atlanta Ethics Board: No free Falcons tickets, suites for city workers” by Jaclyn Schultz for WAGA

New York: “Ethics Watchdog Gives Thumbs-Up to Cuomo Plane Trip, Scrutinizes Others” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Senator Defends Drug Companies Against Lawsuit Filed by State” by Randy Ellis for The Oklahoman

Pennsylvania: “Corruption Case Against Pa. Lawmaker Delayed for Years” by Angela Couloumbis and Craig McCoy for Philadelphia Inquirer

Elections

“Facebook to Turn Over Thousands of Russian Ads to Congress, Reversing Decision” by Craig Timberg, Carol Leonnig, and Elizabeth Dwoskin for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: SEEC asks Malloy to keep campaign finance law out of future budget negotiations by Mike Savino for Record-Journal

Pennsylvania: Former candidate hopefuls face action from revamped Pittsburgh ethics board by Chris Potter for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Elections

Trump Pledges to Campaign for Moore if Strange Loses by Bridget Bowman for Roll Call

Ethics

Ethics experts say Trump administration far from normal by Rachael Seeley Flores for The Center for Public Integrity

Georgia: Georgia ethics panel will audit candidates in governor’s, mayor’s races by James Salzer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lobbying

Corey Lewandowski appears to be working with another lobbying firm by Theodoric Meyer and Daniel Lippman for Politico

Sprint hired Trump-connected lobbyist amid deal talks by Ginger Gibson and Diane Bartz for Reuters

New York: Keith Wright might have to give up job at lobbying firm by  Carl Campanile for New York Post

Utah: Former Utah House speaker named chief lobbyist for Mormon church by Lee Davidson for The Salt Lake Tribune

Campaign Finance

“Trump Using Campaign, RNC Funds to Pay Legal Bills from Russia Probe: Sources” by Karen Freifeld and Ginger Gibson for Reuters

Connecticut: “Counterattack at GOP Effort to Repeal Public Financing” by Mark Pazniokas for Connecticut Mirror

Maryland: “Council Candidate Wants to Tie Disaster Relief to Campaign Contributions” by Andrew Metcalf for Bethesda Magazine

Michigan: “Snyder Approves Unlimited Super PAC Cash” by Michael Gerstein for Detroit News

Lobbying

Florida: “Lacking Support, Lobbying Ordinance Gets No Hearing in Hernando” by Barbara Behrendt for Tampa Bay Times

New York: “JCOPE Commissioners Again Rule Civil Liberties Group Must Disclose Donors” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Oregon: “Portland Lawmaker Cleared of Allegation He Ranked Female Lobbyists on Looks” by Gordon Friedman for Portland Oregonian

Ethics

“Mueller Seeks White House Documents Related to Trump’s Actions as President” by Michael Schmidt for New York Times

“Price’s Private-Jet Travel Breaks Precedent” by Dan Diamond and Rachana Pradhan for Politico

“For Trump Aides Caught in Russia Probe, Legal Bills and Paranoia” by Shannon Pettypiece for Bloomberg.com

Washington: “Seattle City Council Picks Tim Burgess to Replace Bruce Harrell as Temporary Mayor” by Daniel Beekman for Seattle Times

Lobbying

Maryland: “Maryland Lobbyist Charged in Bribery Scandal Linked to Prince George’s County Liquor Board” by Scott MacFarlane for WRC

Campaign Finance

Canada: “Taxpayers Would Give Millions to Political Parties in NDP Plan” by Lindsay Kines and Amy Smart for Times Colonist

California: “California Passes Bill to Track ‘Dark Money’ in Political Ads and Campaigns” by Jason Shueh for StateScoop

Kentucky: “Former Beshear Official Admits He Solicited Contributions from Fellow State Workers” by Sheldon Shafer for Louisville Courier-Journal

Ethics

“With a Picked Lock and a Threatened Indictment, Mueller’s Inquiry Sets a Tone” by Sharon LaFraniere, Matt Apuzzo, and Adam Goldman for New York Times

“Exclusive: US government wiretapped former Trump campaign chairman” by Evan Perez, Shimon Prokupecz, and Pamela Brown for CNN

Florida: “FPL Says Claim That Senator Used Lobbyist to Get Power Restored Is ‘Absurd’” by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald

Indiana: “Ethics Panel Forever Bans State Government Employee Who Hired Aunt, Sister, Stepdaughter” by Brian Slodysko (Associated Press) for Indianapolis Star

Kentucky: “Millions Go to Board Members of Lexington’s Farmland Conservation Program” by Beth Musgrave for Lexington Herald-Leader

Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Senator’s Medical Marijuana Moonlighting Role” by Steve Esack for Allentown Morning Call

Elections

“Democrats Mount Effort to Recruit Women as State Attorneys General” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times

“Facebook’s Openness on Russia Questioned by Congressional Investigators” by Carol Leonnig, Elizabeth Dwoskin, and Craig Timberg for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

California: “Why Didn’t School Board President Ref Rodriguez Just Write Himself a Big Check?” by David Zahniser, Anna Phillips, and Howard Blume for Los Angeles Times

Santa Fe: “Reform Laws Spurred by Treasurer Scandals Full of Loopholes” by Andrew Oxford for Santa Fe New Mexican

New York: “Board of Elections Probes Ties Between Senate Democrats, Union Super PAC” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Ethics

“Request Denied: States try to block access to public records” by Andrew DeMillo and Ryan Foley (Associated Press) for San Jose Mercury News

“Trump Declines to Release List of His Mar-a-Lago Visitors” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

“Congress Struggles to Figure Out Which Russia Investigation Trumps the Others” by Erin Kelly for USA Today

California: “OC Ethics Commission Can Now Meet After Third Member is Appointed” by Nick Gerda for Voice of OC

Oregon: “Nepotism Runs Rampant in Oregon Legislature. Here’s How” by Gordon Friedman for Portland Oregonian

Pennsylvania: “Streetlight Executive Sentenced in City Hall Pay-to-Play Case” by Emily Opilo for Allentown Morning Call

Campaign Finance

California: “L.A. School Board President Faces Felony Charges Over Campaign Contributions” by Anna Phillips, David Zahniser, and Howard Blume for Los Angeles Times

Michigan: “Campaign Finance Bills Pass Michigan Senate, Give More Power to Big Donors, Critics Say” by Emily Lawler for MLive.com

Pennsylvania: “Former Judge to Admit Payments from Brady Campaign, Lawyer Says” by Chris Brennan and Craig McCoy for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

“Government Ethics Office Says It Will Stick with Ban on Anonymous Gifts” by Darren Samuelsohn for Politico

“Trump Lawyers Clash Over How Much to Cooperate with Russia Inquiry” by Peter Baker and Kenneth Vogel for New York Times

“Trump’s Divisive Presidency Reshapes a Key Part of His Private Business” by David Fahrenthold, Amy Brittain, and Matea Gold for Washington Post

“Trump’s FEC Nominee Has Questioned the Value of Disclosing Political Donors” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

Lobbying

“Mike Flynn’s Son Is Subject of Federal Russia Probe” by Carol Lee, Julia Ainsley, and Ken Dilanian for NBC News

Arkansas: “Lobbyist Got Part of Fees Paid by Bondsmen” by Brian Fanney for Arkansas Online

Colorado: “Big Bucks Flow to Colorado Lobbyist Offices Steps from The Capitol” by Sandra Fish for KUNC

North Carolina: “Lobbyist Faces Investigation after WBTV Uncovered Unregistered Lobbying” by Nick Ochsner (WBTV) for Charlotte Observer

Elections

“How Party Bosses, Not Voters, Pick Politicians in New York” by Shane Goldmacher for New York Times

Legislative Issues

California: “In California’s Capitol, the Real Battles Are Often Between the Assembly and the Senate” by Chris Megerian and Melanie Mason for Los Angeles Times

Missouri: “Missouri Lawmaker Censured over Trump Assassination Post” by Associated Press for Wichita Eagle

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

California: “California May Slow Revolving Door of Legislators Becoming Lobbyists” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

Tennessee: “Lobbyists Courted Lawmakers with Free Food, Baseball Tickets at Conferences” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Campaign Finance

Colorado: “Denver City Council Approves New Rules Requiring Reports of Dark-Money Spending in Elections” by Jon Murray for Denver Post

Massachusetts: “Pro-Charter School Group Pays State’s Largest Campaign Finance Penalty” by Michael Levenson for Boston Globe

Ethics

“Trump Promised Not to Work with Foreign Entities. His Company Just Did” by Anita Kumar for McClatchy DC

“Interior Faulted for Subsidy to Firm Once Tied to David Bernhardt, Now the Deputy Secretary” by Juliet Eilperin and Jack Gillum for Washington Post

“Guam Delegate May Have Violated Emoluments Clause with Lease, Ethics Office Says” by Elise Viebeck for Washington Post

“Trump’s Legal Team Debated Whether Kushner Should Leave White House” by Carol Leonnig for Washington Post