State Senate | featured news

The Illinois state Senate approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage on Thursday in a Valentine's Day vote spearheaded by Democrats, as gay couples around the country used the romantic day to dramatize their quest for the right to marry.

The New Jersey Senate is set to vote on a bill that would prevent employers from seeking access to an employee's or job applicant's social media accounts.

Texas prison officials say they’re stopping the practice of special last meals for inmates facing execution, after a state senator complained about an extensive request from a man involved in a notorious dragging death. Sen. John Whitmire said Thursday he wanted the “ridiculous” and “inappropriate” practice ended or he’d seek a state statute banning it. Prisons director Brad Livingston agreed and said the practice was ending immediately. He said condemned inmates will get the same meal as other offenders.

A federal appeals panel reversed itself and decided today that former Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis will not be on the ballot for state Senate after all, nj.com reports.

A Chinese delicacy may soon disappear from California restaurants if a bill to ban the sale of shark fins makes it through the state Senate.

Maryland state Sen. Paul Pinsky (D-Prince George’s) made good Friday on plans to be arrested in front of the White House where he was among an estimated 166 people locked up as part of a demonstration of civil disobedience against a planned oil pipeline.

Republicans held onto control of the Wisconsin Senate on Tuesday night, beating four Democratic challengers in a recall election viewed as a referendum on Republican policies in that state and beyond. The Associated Press declared Republican Sens. Alberta Darling of River Hills, Robert Cowles of Allouez, Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls and Luther Olsen of Ripon winners. The AP also declared Democratic challengers Jennifer Shilling of LaCrosse and Jessica King of Oshkosh victors.

Two fake Democrats were defeated and four others trailed in early election results Tuesday against Democrats supported by the party in the first recall elections targeting nine Wisconsin state senators.

Russell Pearce, the president of the Arizona Senate, has sought to solidify his state’s reputation for hard-edged conservative policies, but now he must defend himself in a special election.

The Assembly is set to pass the bill limiting collective bargaining rights for government workers in Wisconsin after a Senate procedural move ended the standoff on Wednesday.