Tougher retail theft laws face opposition

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With help from Shawn Ness Boosting penalties for people who assault retail workers is running into the state budget buzzsaw. Legislative Democrats have formally rejected Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to make it a felony for assaulting a retail worker, a reflection of how the party remains split over criminal justice issues and how to address

45 states are now covered by a climate action plan. These 5 opted out.

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It’s been a year since the EPA began the first phase of a plan to help states, major metropolitan areas, U.S. territories and over 200 tribes and tribal groups develop climate action strategies to address their greenhouse gas emissions — and all but five states have joined in. Called the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program, it provides