As states adjourn their legislative sessions, new laws concerning lobbying and campaign finance take effect. Check out which states have made changes in this weeks video digest!

Campaign Finance

National: “Congress Unlikely to Stop Super PACs from Hiding Donors” by Maggie Severns for Politico

National: “Potential 2020 Candidates Confront the Need for Campaign Cash, and Fewer Sources of It” by Matt Viser for Washington Post

National: “Trump Effect: How out-of-state money fueled Democratic House wins in 2018” by Maureen Groppe and Christopher Schnarrs for USA Today

South Dakota: “Undisclosed Donors Gave $95K in SD Governor Race” by Seth Tupper for Rapid City Journal

Ethics

Connecticut: “Former Access Health CEO, State Contractor Pay to Settle Ethics Violation” by Clarice Silber for Connecticut Mirror

Delaware: “Former Delaware Lawmaker Melanie George Smith’s New Career Draws Complaints of Self-Dealing” by Scott Goss for Wilmington News Journal

Missouri: “Committee Investigating Eric Greitens Releases 2,100 Pages of Documents on New Year’s Eve” by Jack Suntrup and Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lobbying

Florida: “Lauren Book Proposes ‘Swearing In’ Legislative Speakers” by Jim Rosica for Florida Politics

Redistricting

New Jersey: “New Jersey Is the Latest Battleground in National Redistricting Fight” by Matt Freidman for Politico

National:

‘My Comrades Will Kill You’: Pipe bombs sent in year of many death threats against politicians
Governing – Alan Greenblatt | Published: 10/25/2018

Political violence has dominated the news recently, with pipe bombs mailed to CNN’s New York office and prominent Democrats, as well as liberal donor George Soros and actor Robert De Niro. Threats of violence have become commonplace in American politics. New Jersey Rep. Jay Webber, a Republican candidate for Congress, received a note calling him a liar and a “scumbag” and threatening him and his children. “You BETTER hope that you don’t win! Or else,” the note read. “How many kids do you have…7? Unlucky 7. This is what we think of you. Time to get out of politics!” In a year when record numbers of women are running for office, many have been harassed or become targets of sexist or threatening remarks.

Voters Could Clamp Down on Ethics, Campaign Finance at The Ballot Box
National Public Radio – Peter Overby | Published: 10/30/2018

Voters in more than a dozen states will consider ballot measures on November 6 that would affect ethics and campaign finance reform. Some of the initiatives would exceed federal standards, which have been steadily relaxed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Congress last passed a major campaign finance bill in 2001. “It’s telling that we have so many challengers for Congress that are running on this issue,” said Larry Norden of New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice. “But to get real change now, the only way to do that is at the local and the state level.”

Federal:

How ActBlue Is Trying to Turn Small Donations into a Blue Wave
Center for Public Integrity – Carrie Levine and Chris Zubak-Skees | Published: 10/25/2018

ActBlue, a nonprofit whose online fundraising tools have been used to varying degrees by nearly every Democrat running for Congress, says it has raised more than $2.9 billion for Democrats and progressive organizations since its founding in 2004. September 2018 was the biggest month in its history. Donors are using the platform to reshape the map of competitive races this year, becoming a powerful force that could sway Democratic politics beyond November’s election.

Mueller Refers Sex Misconduct Scheme Targeting Him to FBI for Investigation
NBC News – Brandy Zadrozny, Ben Collins, and Tom Winter | Published: 10/30/2018

Special counsel Robert Mueller has asked the FBI to investigate an alleged scheme to manufacture sexual assault stories about him. At issue is an email widely circulated among journalists from someone who claimed she had been approached with an offer to pay her tens of thousands of dollars if she would answer questions about Mueller and then sign a sworn affidavit accusing him of sexual misconduct and workplace harassment. The plot appeared to be the latest, and one of the more bizarre, in a string of attempts by supporters of President Trump to discredit Mueller’s investigation as a hoax and a witch hunt.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alaska: Begich Spent Four Years as a Consultant. As Governor, He Could Sign Bills Affecting Former Clients.
KTOO – Nathaniel Herz | Published: 10/30/2018

For nearly four years, Mark Begich has owned a public affairs and consulting firm, Northern Compass Group, which has worked with clients that intersect with both state and federal government. If Begich is elected as Alaska’s governor on November 6, he will likely be faced with decisions that will directly affect the businesses, unions, and Native organizations that have been paying his business for advice. Alaska politicians often emerge from the worlds of public policy and business, and Begich is far from the first with potential for conflicts. Begich’s work is significant, though, because of the number of clients he has had, as well as the recentness of his work, said state Rep. Jason Grenn, who helped lead a successful push for legislative ethics reforms this year.

Arizona: Arizona Commissioner Andy Tobin Texted APS Lobbyists Frequently, Including About Open Rate Case
Energy Policy Institute – David Pomerantz | Published: 10/29/2018

Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) member Andy Tobin exchanged text messages throughout 2018 with lobbyists from Arizona Public Service (APS), often to complain about negative media coverage of APS’ rate increase requests before the commission. On one occasion, Tobin asked an APS lobbyist whether the utility had a “public information strategy planned” to combat negative media coverage of a rate increase request while the case was still pending before Tobin and the commission. The ACC, which is supposed to regulate APS in the public’s interest, has been embattled by scandals for the past four years, ever since two non-profit “dark money” organizations spent $3 million on the ACC elections in 2014. APS never confirmed nor denied being the source of that money.

Maine: Pro-Offshore Oil Group Chaired by LePage Is Run by Energy Lobbyists
Biddeford Journal Tribune – Colin Woodward (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 10/28/2018

A coalition of governors headed by Maine Gov. Paul LePage that seeks to open most federal waters to oil and gas exploration is staffed by employees of an oil industry lobbying firm. The Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition, which LePage joined in 2015 and has chaired for the past two years, outsources its day-to-day staffing, research, and communications tasks to an advocacy group purporting to represent energy consumers. But a closer look at the group, the Consumer Energy Alliance, reveals it is funded by energy producers and staffed and run by senior officials of HBW Resources, an energy-focused lobbying and consulting firm.

Maryland: Question G Would Undercut Independence of Baltimore Ethics Board, Chairwoman Says
Baltimore Brew – Mark Ruettner | Published: 10/31/2018

Question G on the November ballot in Baltimore would tether the director of Legislative Reference to the mayor and city council president. The director of Legislative Reference is also the chief advisor to the city Board of Ethics. By making the director an “at will” employee of Mayor Catherine Pugh and Council President Bernard Young, as Question G does, that same employee is placed in a very awkward position on the ethics board. “Our director may be faced with having to handle an ethics complaint against one of the two people who appointed him,” said board Chairperson Linda Pierson.

Montana: How Big Sky Country Became the Front Line in a Long Battle Over Dark Money
Yahoo! News – Christa Case Bryant | Published: 10/29/2018

Two women are central figures in a fight in Montana over money in politics, one that may well set the tone for the rest of the nation. Jamie MacNaughton is the sole lawyer at the office of the Commissioner of Political Practices, which is tasked with enforcing Montana’s strict campaign finance laws. She is helping to prepare two cases under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court. Anita Milanovich serves as the Montana outpost for the Bopp Law Firm, which is led by the preeminent lawyer fighting campaign finance regulations across the country. Now the firm is pursuing the legal cases against MacNaughton’s office.

Oklahoma: Legislators Act As ‘Super Donors,’ Sending Their Own Donors’ Cash to Other Candidates
KGOU – Trevor Brown (Oklahoma Watch) | Published: 10/30/2018

A review of contributions in Oklahoma found sitting lawmakers and legislative candidates’ campaigns have given more than $746,000 to other legislative candidates since January 1, 2016. About 75 percent of the money came from about a dozen Republican and Democratic legislators, almost all of whom hold or have held leadership positions. The sharing of contributions means these lawmakers act as de facto “super donors,” or at least bundlers, who dole out thousands of dollars to candidates running in a wide range of races. The large amounts of circulating cash have raised concerns at the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, which is examining a possible rule change, still being drafted, that would block candidates from transferring campaign funds to other candidates.

Pennsylvania: State Rep. Vanessa Brown Guilty on All Counts; Took $4,000 Bribe in Sting
Philadelphia Inquirer – Craig McCoy | Published: 10/31/2018

A jury convicted Pennsylvania Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown of charges she accepted $4,000 in cash from an undercover informant. Brown was the last defendant in an ambitious and controversial sting investigation launched by state prosecutors nearly a decade ago but secretly ended by then-state Attorney General Kathleen Kane. The guilty verdict represented the most dramatic repudiation yet of Kane’s criticism of the sting, which she had contended could not produce winnable cases in court. Under the law, Brown, who is running unopposed in the November 6 election, will also be barred from her House post upon her sentencing.

South Carolina: SC Rep. Harrison Found Guilty in Public Corruption Case, Gets Prison Sentence
Greenville News – John Monk (The State) | Published: 10/27/2018

A jury found former South Carolina Rep. Jim Harrison guilty of perjury and misconduct in office, marking the fifth conviction of a legislator in the past four years and capping off the first trial to come out of the high-profile probe into corruption in the statehouse. Prosecutors accused Harrison of secretly profiting from an influential consulting firm that pleaded guilty to illegal lobbying earlier this year. That firm, Richard Quinn & Associates, has been at the center of the five-year corruption investigation because of its once sprawling network of lawmakers, lobbying interests, and corporate clients. Harrison, the former chairperson of the House Judiciary Committee, was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

West Virginia: For a Groundbreaking Candidate in West Virginia, Big Money and Attention Come with Downsides
Washington Post – Greg Jaffe | Published: 11/1/2018

Back when his campaign had raised just $7,000, when just about anyone who knew anything about politics gave him zero chance of winning, West Virginia Sen. Richard Ojeda decided to make a campaign video for his run for Congress. The pivotal moment for Ojeda came near the end of the shoot when he gave out his personal cell phone number. Ten months later, Ojeda was driving past burned-out houses and abandoned storefronts in the coal town where he had spent his childhood and still lived. The polls had him neck and neck with his Republican opponent. It was 21 days until the election and his cellphone was now ringing 100 times a day with calls from all over the United States and the world. At a moment in American politics when authenticity is everything, Ojeda is being hailed as an unpolished, authentic voice.

Wisconsin: Last-Minute Surprises and Secretive Moves Hide Wisconsin Lawmakers’ Actions from Public View
Wisconsin Public Radio – CV Vitolo-Haddad and Dee Hall (Wisconsin Center For Investigative Journalism) | Published: 10/29/2018

Since voters swept Republicans into power in 2010, Wisconsin lawmakers have increasingly used secretive maneuvers to keep the public in the dark about major spending and policy changes. An investigation found the Legislature systematically diminishes the voices of the public by Introducing budget amendments at the end of the approval process with no public notice or debate; approving anonymous, last-minute budget motions containing changes, including major policy items that have nothing to do with state spending; and altering the scope and impact of a bill after its public hearing has been held, which excludes citizens from having influence on legislation before it is enacted. When Democrats controlled the Legislature and governor’s office they played that game, too, notably with their own end-of-the-session wrap-up budget bills of anonymously authored items.

Campaign Finance

Kentucky: “Kentucky Officials Seek Changes in Campaign-Finance Laws” by Adam Beam (Associated Press) for Huntington Herald-Dispatch

Montana: “How Big Sky Country Became the Front Line in a Long Battle Over Dark Money” by Christa Case Bryant for Yahoo!News

New Jersey: “Baraka, Ex-Campaign Treasurer Still Face Campaign Finance Accusations” by Rebecca Panico for TAPinto.net

Elections

National: “‘Staying on the Sidelines Is No Longer an Option’: How Silicon Valley is trying to help Democrats capture Congress in 2018” by Tony Romm for Washington Post

Ethics

Florida: “Former City Manager Rick Fernandez Agrees to Settlement with Ethics Commission” by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat

Legislative Issues

Wisconsin: “Last-Minute Surprises and Secretive Moves Hide Wisconsin Lawmakers’ Actions from Public View” by CV Vitolo-Haddad and Dee Hall (Wisconsin Center For Investigative Journalism) for Wisconsin Public Radio

Lobbying

Arizona: “Arizona Commissioner Andy Tobin Texted APS Lobbyists Frequently, Including About Open Rate Case” by David Pomerantz for Energy Policy Institute

Redistricting

Michigan: “Volunteer Movement Helped Carry Redistricting Proposal to the Ballot” by Lauren Gibbons for MLive.com

Campaign Finance

Florida: Undercover FBI Agent May Have Helped Pay for Gillum Fundraising Dinner Gary Fineout (Associated Press) Orlando Sentinel

Ethics

National: ‘My Comrades Will Kill You’: Pipe bombs sent in year of many death threats against politicians by Alan Greenblatt for Governing

National: 9 Hours of ‘Executive Time’: Trump’s unstructured days define his presidency by Eliana Johnson and Daniel Lippman for Politico

California: Newsom’s Business Holdings Could Pose Ethics Bind by The Associated Press for KPIX

South Carolina: SC Rep. Harrison Found Guilty in Public Corruption Case, Gets Prison Sentence by John Monk (The State) for Greenville News

Lobbying

National: Campbell Soup Jettisons Exec Who Peddled Soros Conspiracy Theory About Caravan by Mary Papenfuss for The Huffington Post

Maine: Pro-Offshore Oil Group Chaired by LePage Is Run by Energy Lobbyists by Colin Woodward (Portland Press Herald) for Biddeford Journal Tribune

Pennsylvania: A Powerful Lobby Blocked Changes in Pa. Child Sex Abuse Laws. Here’s Who and Here’s Why. By Candy Woodall for York Daily Record

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “Former Democratic Legislator Ernie Newton Wins New Trial in Campaign Finance Case” by Christopher Keating for Hartford Courant

Massachusetts: “Mass. Fiscal Alliance Sues State Over Its Campaign Finance Law” by Bob Katzen for Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise

Elections

National: “Now for Rent: Email addresses and phone numbers for millions of Trump supporters” by Kenneth Vogel and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) for MSN

National: “In Senate Battleground, Native American Voting Rights Activists Fight Back Against Voter ID Restrictions” by Gabriel Pogrund and Felicia Sonmez for Washington Post

Ethics

National: “First Came a Flood of Ballot Measures from Voters. Then Politicians Pushed Back.” by Timothy Mitchell for New York Times

National: “Watchdog: Issues with IRS processing of improper political activity complaints” by Naomi Jagoda for The Hill

National: “Wilbur Ross Changes Story on Discussions of Citizenship Question for Census” by Glernn Thrush and Adam Liptak for New York Times

Colorado: “Gov. Hickenlooper Jet-Sets Across the Globe on Private Planes Paid for By Others, New Ethics Complaint Alleges” by David Migoya for Denver Post

New Mexico: “Long Road Brings NM Ethics Commission Proposal to Ballot” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Campaign Finance

National: “Twitter Will Begin Labeling Political Ads About Issues Such as Immigration” by Tony Romm (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

Elections

National: “Ex-CIA Officer’s Full Personnel File Released in ‘Human Error,’ Postal Service Admits” by Laura Vozzella (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

Texas: “Beto O’Rourke Dreams of One Texas. Ted Cruz Sees Another Clearly.” by Matt Flegenheimer (New York Times) for WRAL

Ethics

Georgia: “Auditor: Ex-Atlanta mayor wasn’t authorized to give bonuses” by Associated Press for WSB

Pennsylvania: “Ex-Reading Mayor Vaughn Spencer Guilty on All Counts” by Peter Hall for Allentown Morning Call

Lobbying

National: “Washington Consultant for Ukraine Party Pleads Guilty to Violating Lobbyist Disclosure Law” by Spencer Hsu and Rosalind Helderman (Washington Post) for The News Times

California: “AT&T’s Top California Lobbyist Dodges Gift Ban and Ethics Requirements” by Donald Shaw for Sludge

Texas: “Amid Manafort Scandal, Texas Lawmakers Seek to Require Foreign Lobbying Disclosure” by Edgar Walters for Texas Tribune

Campaign Finance

National: “LePage Will Release Over $1 Million in Campaign Funds” by Marina Villeneuve (Associated Press) for Raleigh News and Observer

Montana: “Billings House Candidate Insists Loan from Public Service Commissioner Wasn’t Campaign Contribution” by Matt Hudson (Billings Gazette) for Montana Standard

Elections

National: “A ‘Rainbow Wave’? 2018 Has More L.G.B.T. Candidates Than Ever” by Liam Stack and Catie Edmonson (New York Times) for MSN

National: “Kris Kobach Used Flawed Research to Defend Trump’s Voter Fraud Panel, Experts Say” by Eli Rosenberg (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

Ethics

National: “Where Are Retiring Congress Members Going to Work? Loopholes Let Them Job Hunt in Secret” by Bill Theobald for USA Today

Michigan: “Thanedar Discloses Ties to Radio Hosts Who Promoted Him” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News

Missouri: “Lawsuit Seeks to Knock Gerrymandering Issue Off Missouri’s November Ballot” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Tennessee: “Ousted Tennessee Lawmaker Fights for Retirement Benefits” by Daniel Jackson for Courthouse News Service

Lobbying

National: “Former Trump Campaign Aides Set Up Foreign Lobbying Shop in Corey Lewandowski’s Townhouse” by Soo Rin Kim for ABC News

Missouri: “Slay’s Role as Lobbyist Raises Questions Over Conflict of Interest in Quest to Privatize Airport” by Melody Walker for St. Louis Public Radio

Campaign Finance

National: “Judge’s Ruling Invalidates FEC Regulation Allowing Anonymous Donations to ‘Dark Money’ Groups” by Brent Griffiths for Politico

Elections

National: “Accused of Harassment, and Seeking Redemption at the Ballot Box” by Julie Turkewitz and Alan Blinder (New York Times) for MSN

National: “Beyond the N.R.A.: Maria Butina’s peculiar bid for Russian influence” by Matthew Rosenberg, Mike McIntire, Michael LaForgia, Andrew Kramer, and Elizabeth Dias (New York Times) for MSN

National: “President Admits Trump Tower Meeting Was Meant to Get Dirt on Clinton” by Michael Shear and Michael Schmidt (New York Times) for MSN

Ethics

Missouri: “Missouri Voters Get to Decide Medical Marijuana, Minimum Wage, Ethics Reform in Fall” by Alison Kite for Kansas City Star

New York: “What Has JCOPE Actually Done?” by Kay Dervishi for City and State

Texas: “Texas Court Revives Lawsuit to Strip Ethics Regulators of Campaign, Elections Oversight” by Lauren McGaughey for Dallas News

Lobbying

Florida: “Panel Finds ‘Probable Cause’ That Five Municipal Officials, Five Lobbyists Violated State Ethics Laws” by John Haughey for Florida Watchdog

Campaign Finance

National: Corporate Donations Are New Test for Democratic Candidates by Lisa Lerer (Associated Press) for Lowell Sun

National: Trump Legal Fund Remains Mum on Donors, Payments by Ken Doyle for Bloomberg Government

Elections

North Carolina: Arrested, Jailed and Charged with a Felony. For Voting. by Jack Healy (New York Times) for WRAL

Ethics

National: These Lame Ducks Still Fly – On the Taxpayer’s Dime – Often to Faraway Countries by Bill Theobald for USA Today

Michigan: ‘I’m Ready’: Towing titan Fiore hauled off to prison for 21 months by Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press

Oregon: Oregon House Speaker, Senate President Accused of Sexual Harassment Cover-up by Fellow Democrat by Gordon Friedman for Portland Oregonian

Wisconsin: Ethics Commission Picks New Administrator by The Associated Press for Wisconsin Law Journal

Lobbying

Canada: B.C. Watchdog Warns of Legal Loophole Letting Ex-Staffers Lobby Leaders by David Ball for Toronto Star

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: 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