 | States' rights bills surge in GOP states
President Barack Obama may have won re-election, but conservative Republicans still control many states, and legislative leaders in some of them have established special states' rights committees to handle a surge of bills rejecting federal authority.
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 | Lawyer: Accusations against US senator are false
A Dominican lawyer says a prostitute who once alleged she had sex with a New Jersey senator is now admitting the allegations are false.
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 | AR Ex-Con Says He's Evaluating His Political Future
A man convicted of smuggling drugs to prisoners says he's more than qualified to oversee elections in Crittenden County, AR, never mind the law says felons are not allowed.  Watch Video
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 | Olive Branch Municipal Election Expected to be Competitive
It's the first time in almost two decades Mayor Sam Rikard's name won't be on the ballot. Two candidates have already filed for the mayoral race and half a dozen to run for aldermen. Watch Video
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 | Politics Heat Up on Social Media Sites
Politics and social media are creating strange bedfellows.
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 | Miss. Lawmakers Kick Off 2013 Session
Mississippi lawmakers gavel into session with a broad range of issues to debate during the next three months.
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 | House Won't Vote Before Midnight on 'Fiscal Cliff' Deal
The House will miss the midnight Monday deadline lawmakers set for voting to avoid the "fiscal cliff."
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 | Candidates File for Southaven Mayor's Race
Candidates are already filing paperwork to try to take the place of Southaven Mayor Greg Davis. Wednesday was the first day of filing for municipal elections in Desoto County.
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 | West Memphis Voters Want Councilman Out of Office after Election Fraud
The woman who lost the Arkansas State House primary because of a fraudulent election spoke exclusively to ABC24 News. Watch Video
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| Absent Since Voting Scandal, West Memphis Council Member Still Getting Paid
How would you like to get paid without even showing up for work? That's what's happening with a West Memphis Councilman who hasn't been seen at City Hall in months.
Watch Video
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 | Convicted Felon Joe Cooper Considers Return to Politics
Former Shelby County Commissioner and twice convicted felon Joe Cooper is thinking about returning to politics. Watch Video
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 | Memphis Pastors Participating in Pulpit Freedom Sunday
Hundreds of pastors will break federal law this Sunday when they endorse a candidate for president. Watch Video
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 | Only on ABC24: Whistle Blower in Election Fraud Case Speaks
For the first time, the woman who lost a shot at a seat in the Arkansas State House because of a fraudulent election is speaking out.
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 | Flowers, of Southaven, Resigning from Miss. Senate
Republican Merle Flowers of Southaven says he's resigning from the Mississippi Senate to spend more time with his wife and their four children.
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 | Ark. State Senator Survives Democratic Primary
longtime Little Rock legislator has fended off a challenge in the Democratic primary for a central Arkansas Senate seat.
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| Atheists Will Soon Wield More Political Power
Their numbers are growing in Tennessee and soon, so will their political clout. Watch Video
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 | Mid-South Weighs In on End of Santorum Campaign
It’s over for Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum. Faced with a race impossible to win, Santorum suspended his campaign. Watch Video
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 | Marion Arkansas State Rep Pleads Guilty to Voter Fraud
They were willing to buy your vote for $20 or a pack of cigarettes. Watch Video
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 | John Ford Released from Prison, Arrives at Memphis Halfway House
Former State Senator John Ford, sentenced in the FBI undercover corruption investigation Operation: Tennessee Waltz, arrived at a halfway house in Memphis Monday afternoon after serving in a federal prison since 2008. Watch Video
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 | TN Bill to Bring Big PAC Money Back into Campaigns
Big money is making a big comeback in the Tennessee Legislature. There is a bill working its way though both houses that would let Political Action Committees spend all they want for candidates. Watch Video
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 | Ford's Release the Last of Operation Tennessee Waltz
Former Tennessee state senator John Ford is expected to walk out of a Mississippi prison after serving four years for extortion. Ford was just one of long list of politicians indicted in the Tennessee Waltz corruption investigation. Watch Video
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 | Tennessee Lawmakers Criticized for 'Social Legislation'
Republican leaders coordinated in the recent legislative session to pass new laws spotlighting Tennessee's business friendly reputation, while a spurt of social issue measures from lawmakers have critics arguing the state looks so backward it will hurt economic development.
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| Event: James Carville, Mary Matalin to Speak at University of Memphis
James Carville and Mary Matalin, one of America’s best loved political couples, will be the featured speakers at the “Political Perspectives” Centennial luncheon at 11:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 14, at the University of Memphis.
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 | Griffin, Womack Advance Unopposed In Ark. Races
Incumbent Republicans in two U.S. House districts had no primary opposition and are advancing to the November general election, where they'll face Democratic opponents.
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 | Ingram Beats Crumbly for Disputed Ark. Senate Post
State Rep. Keith Ingram has defeated state Sen. Jack Crumbly in the Democratic primary for an east Arkansas seat that is the focus of a federal redistricting lawsuit.
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 | Woods to Retire from Legislature after 25 Years
State Rep. Tommy Woods, a Republican from Byhalia, has announced he is retiring from the Mississippi House after 25 years.
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 | Flowers Wins Dem. Primary for Ark. Senate Seat
State Sen. Stephanie Flowers has defeated Rep. Efrem Elliott in the Democratic primary for the Arkansas Senate District 25 seat.
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 | CEO: Pricey Pizza at Papa John's Because of Obamacare
Papa John’s CEO says "Obamacare" will raise his pizza prices. Watch Video
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 | Shelby County Commissioners Fight On
Shelby County Commissioners have put a vote to censure Commissioners Terry Roland and Mike Ritz on hold. Watch Video
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 | Haslam to give second State of the State Address
Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is preparing to give his second State of the State address.
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 | Herenton: Local Politics have Hit 'All Time Low'
One of the most controversial politicians in Memphis history said we've hit a new low in politics. Watch Video
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 | Haslam Expects Passage of Parking Lot Guns Bill
Republican Gov. Bill Haslam says he expects lawmakers to pass a bill this year to force businesses to allow workers to store firearms in vehicles parked on company lots, though he doesn't expect the measure to be as broad as originally introduced in the Legislature.
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| Rick Santorum Will Stay on Ark. Ballot after Ending Campaign
The Arkansas Republican Party says presidential candidate Rick Santorum will remain on the party's primary ballot in May even though he has quit the campaign.
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 | TN House Panel Kills Bill to Create Stripper Tax
A House panel has killed a bill seeking to tax strippers to pay for a reduction in the state tax on gold coins, bullion and investment income.
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 | Voters Don't Know their Shelby County Commissioners
It should be a simple question, at least that's what a member of the Shelby County Commission thinks. Justin Ford told a former member of the board he disagreed with her comments that most in Shelby County couldn't name their commissioner or any member of the commission. Watch Video
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 | Commission Accused of 'Hissy Fits' Amid Voting District Struggle
The Shelby County Commission is still trying to come up with new voting districts and the fighting among commissioners is still happening. One former member accused the group of spending most of their time just throwing "hissy fits." Watch Video
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 | Drug Testing Proposed for TN Elected Officials & Judges
First a bill was introduced to mandate drug testing for people on welfare, now similar legislation is aimed at state lawmakers. Watch Video
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 | House Bill Challenging Haslam on Judges Delayed
State Rep. Glen Casada has agreed to delay consideration of his bill calling for the popular election of state Supreme Court judges.
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 | Workers Oppose Anti-Living Wage Legislation
Workers from across the state are speaking out against legislation that would prevent Tennessee cities and counties from establishing a living wage.
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 | High Salaried Officials Eyed for Cuts Amid City Budget Crunch
The head of the Memphis City Council Budget Committee is sharpening his scalpel. Jim Strickland says there is some cutting to do. Watch Video
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 | Citizen Input Changed at Southaven Board Meetings
Southaven residents are upset about new policy changes at board meetings. Before, if they wanted to speak at a meeting all they had to do was call ahead; even an e-mail to the city was fine. Now they have to sign up the day of the meeting. Watch Video
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 | Suburban Schools Bill Delayed in Nashville
There are big troubles for Shelby County suburbs wanting to start their own school systems. After Tuesday's legislative session in Nashville, it looks like all kids will be going to class in the unified city-county school system. Watch Video
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 | 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Stalls Again in Legislature
The House sponsor of a proposal to ban the teaching of gay issues to elementary and middle school students has delayed the measure to allow lawmakers to consider a more comprehensive bill.
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| GOP Puts Off 'Don't Say Gay' Measure in TN House
Supporters of a measure to ban the teaching of gay issues to elementary and middle school students have put off consideration of the bill after being told of fellow Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's opposition to the measure.
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 | State Annexation Bill to Be Withdrawn
Tennessee State Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville) announced that he would withdraw two bills regarding annexation, specifically aimed at Memphis and an annex reserve in Shelby County, due to constitutional problems.
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| House Sponsor Stands by 'Don't Say Gay' Ban
The Republican sponsor of a proposal to ban the teaching of gay issues to elementary and middle school students says he's not backing off the legislation despite concerns from GOP leaders.
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| Memphis Fights State Lawmakers In Legislative Power War
Mayor A C Wharton and some Memphis City Council members say Republican state lawmakers from Shelby County are trying to ruin the city. Watch Video
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 | Annexation Bill on Hold amid City, County Outcry
Earlier this week in Nashville, legislation was introduced specifically aimed at not letting the city annex an area of east Shelby County . Now, city council members are saying the whole process is bordering on being out of control. Watch Video
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 | Alexander, Corker Question IRS over Tea Party
Tennessee senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker are among 12 Republican senators who are questioning whether the Obama administration is using the Internal Revenue Service to target Tea-party related nonprofit organizations.
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 | Showdown Averted at Shelby County Commission
The big showdown expected at the Shelby County Commission Monday afternoon didn't happen. Commissioners voted not to censure two of their own, and not to change rules which would allow them to replace the chairman. Watch Video
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