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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Voter ID Proposal Protested Today

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Monday, February 28, 2011   

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Legislature is considering a voter ID proposal that may be the toughest in the nation. A state driver's license, passport, military ID or photo-based citizenship document would be the only acceptable proofs for eligibility to cast a ballot. The bill is promoted as a way to assure voter confidence, but several statewide organizations are gathering in Austin today to point out the downsides.

Luis Figueroa, legislative staff attorney with the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, says resident minorities, people with disabilities, college students, and elders would be at risk of being turned away at the polls.

"Even more troubling is the amount of money and resources that are going to go into this law to address a problem that doesn't seem to be manifesting itself in Texas."

Figueroa says voter impersonation is a rare instance in Texas, or any state, and ID is already required before voting, although not a photo ID.

Anita Privett, vice president of the League of Women Voters of Texas, claims the proposal will discourage legitimate voters by making them jump through another hoop, and it comes at a time Texas voters are already reluctant to go to the polls.

"In this past general election, Texas had the lowest voter turnout of voter-eligible people of any state in the country."

The proposal outlines using Help America Vote Act money to cover some of the costs. The bill contains provisions to help those without one of the four forms of identification get them at no cost, with exceptions in the ID requirement for some of those over the age of 70.


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Health and Wellness

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Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

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Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

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Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


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Social Issues

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Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

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New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

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Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

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Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

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