(The Center Square) – A Republican-led congressional committee report found that states struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic are taking steps to use federal funds to supplant state obligations to service providers and local governments, but it may be the prudent move for taxpayers in some instances. In a report released in May, the GOP U.S. House Ways and Means Committee said Illinois is one of more than two dozen states that are trying to reduce their payouts due to federal funds being in...

(The Center Square) – Illinois’ county jails have been filling up with hundreds of inmates since late March because of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s executive order halting transfers to state prisons, but now sheriffs hope a judge will force the state to accept them and make room in jails. The Illinois Sheriffs' Association filed a lawsuit last week in Logan County Circuit Court, naming Pritzker, Illinois Department of Corrections Acting Director Rob Jeffreys, and wardens from four state prisons. It...

(The Center Square) – Arizona Republicans are calling for investigations into a complaint alleging the son of a state lawmaker had voted in Arizona's elections for years while living in New York. The complaint filed Friday with Attorney General Mark Brnovich's office alleged Daniel Jonathan Epstein, the 29-year-old son of Democratic state Rep. Denise "Mitzi" Epstein of Tempe, has been a resident of New York for several years but voted in several Arizona elections using vote-by-mail. The...

Arizona’s new unemployment claims continue to inch downward. Data from the state Department of Economic Security shows 22,290 applicants filed new claims in the week ending on May 30, that’s down 4,557 from the week prior and more than 100,000 fewer than the peak of 132,382 in the week that ended on April 4. The number of initial claims to the federally funded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, via the state office fell from last week. A little more than 59,000 people successfully...

(The Center Square) – Approaching the fifth night of his curfew, Gov. Doug Ducey addressed the ongoing curfew order, praised the peaceful protests, and pledged to bring looters to justice at a news conference Thursday. Ducey said officials would protect the rights of protesters but also keep residents and their properties safe from rioters. “Thousands upon thousands have come out to have their voices heard day-after-day, to exercise their First Amendment rights,” he said. “A much smaller...