LEXINGTON, Kentucky, Feb. 7 -- The Council of State Governments issued the following news: * * * Capital Closeup: A regionwide review of the requirements for a legislative quorum Sixty-seven members of the 134-seat House present. Sixty-six members not present. That was the head count during the scheduled start of the 2025 legislative session in Minnesota, and this unusual situation brought attention to a common, but often little-noticed, part of state constitutions: the requirement that a ce  more

MADISON, Wisconsin, Feb. 6 [Category: Sociological] -- FFRF Action Fund, an organization that says it develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, posted the following news: * * * Idaho 'Theocrat' wants Supreme Court to overturn marriage equality FFRF Action Fund's "Theocrat of the Week" is Idaho state Rep. Heather Scott for her shameful resolution asking the U.S. Supreme Court to r  more

MADISON, Wisconsin, Feb. 6 -- The University of Wisconsin Madison campus issued the following news: * * * Marissa Bode brings 'Wicked' star power and a platform of authentic representation to Memorial Union Marissa Bode, Wisconsin native and actor in the 2024 movie Wicked, answers questions from the audience. Photo: Bryce Richter As she adjusts to life as a star of the highest-grossing film adaptation of a Broadway musical ever, "Wicked" actress Marissa Bode told a campus crowd Wednesday ni  more

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, Feb. 6 -- Marquette University issued the following news release: The Marquette Law School Poll will release the results of its national survey of public opinion, over two days, Feb. 12-13, via written releases. On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the Marquette Law School Poll will release results of a national survey on the new President Donald Trump administration and other political topics. The poll asks how respondents feel about Trump and his early initiatives and executive order  more

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, Feb. 6 -- Marquette University issued the following news release: Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded Marquette University a $2.4 million grant to develop an exhibition and educational program that will provide fair, accurate and balanced portrayals of the role religion has played and continues to play in the U.S. and around the world. Marquette's grant was one of 33 given through the latest round of Lilly Endowment's Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative. The nation  more

MADISON, Wisconsin, Feb. 6 [Category: Religion] -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation posted the following news release: * * * Trump targets Dept. of Education in hostile takeover As the Freedom From Religion Foundation warned in November, President Trump and his Christian nationalist allies are coming after public education. This week, the anticipated assault on the Department of Education has become reality. Trump is preparing an imminent executive order to drastically curtail the depar  more

MADISON, Wisconsin, Feb. 6 [Category: Religion] -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation posted the following news release: * * * Trump weaponizing Justice Department to enforce Christian privilege The Freedom From Religion Foundation is sounding the alarm about President Trump's newly announced "Anti-Christian Bias Task Force" to fight the so-called "persecution of Christians." Trump announced earlier today during the National Prayer Breakfast that he will be launching a presidential commis  more