The new fee is intended to encourage the oil and gas industry to lower emissions of methane and thereby avoid paying.

Some casinos continue to allow indoor smoking even as the share of Americans who smoke fell from about 21% in 2005 to 12% in 2021 and smoking is banned in at least some public spaces in 35 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

Advocates argue the current requirement for the governor to authorize rights restoration disproportionately impacts Black voters.

The issue became national news when families said they waited months for word about missing loved ones — only to learn their relative had been buried without notice.