When the U.S. Supreme Court hears an Alabama challenge to a federal voting-rights law Wednesday, Arizona officials and civil rights activists will be keeping a close eye on the case.

In California, a new law makes it a crime for a dog to pursue a bear or bobcat at any time.

In Illinois, it’s now illegal to sell, trade or distribute shark fins.

The National Conference of State Legislatures has compiled a list of laws around the country that went into effect Jan. 1. Here are others, as described by the NCSL.

Three U.S. cigarette makers say they have reached a settlement with 17 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico to resolve a dispute over payments required under a 1998 anti-smoking agreement.

PELHAM, Ala. ai??i?? Moments after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the "show me your papers" provision of Arizona's immigration law, the switchboard lit up at one of Alabama's largest Spanish-language radio stations as worried listeners called in.

Gov. Jan Brewer said she sees no need for Arizona to make the kinds of revisions that Alabama is considering to its SB1070-style law.

The Obama administration is waging a furious legal fight against a patchwork of state laws targeting illegal immigrants, and on Monday the Supreme Court has its first chance to jump into the fray.

Attorneys for 20 states fighting the new federal health care law told a judge Thursday it will expand the government's powers in dangerous and unintended ways.

A coalition of 13 states has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold an Arizona law penalizing businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.