Politics

EDMONTON — Alberta is predicting a $2.4-billion budget surplus for its petro-powered economy this year, with plans to take a big bite out of its debt and put up guardrails to prevent eye-popping deficits when oil booms go bust.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi residents might get back the ability to enact public policy through statewide ballot initiatives, but people would be banned from using the process to change abortion laws.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Republican state Senators voted Tuesday to advance a ban on all gender-affirming care for those under 18, the latest in this year's movement by conservative states aiming to limit the rights of transgender youth.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia bill described by supporters as a tool to protect religious freedom and labeled a “license to discriminate” by LGBTQ rights advocates is headed to the desk of Republican Gov. Jim Justice.

VICTORIA — Advocates are celebrating news British Columbia will become the first in Canada to make prescription contraception free to all residents starting April 1. The announcement first promised by the B.C.

WASHINGTON — House Republicans drafted the Canada-U.S.

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Trustees picked by Republican Gov.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service is buying 9,250 Ford Motor Co. electric vans and 14,000 charging stations as part of a move to switch its fleet to electric vehicles.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is defending his decision to give Fox News' Tucker Carlson “exclusive” access to Jan.

VICTORIA — Deficits are in the forecast for British Columbia’s budget, but that’s not stopping the New Democrat government from spending billions on health, housing and families.