From NPR: State officials in West Virginia say they can no longer detect any of the industrial chemical that spilled recently, called MCHM, in most areas. They say based on federal guidelines, the water is safe for people to drink and use; including most pregnant women. But other public health specialists say they don't trust those assurances.
Kentucky: A bill aimed at raising Kentucky’s minimum wage has cleared a state House committee. Five months after Lee Daniels’ “The Butler” made its debut in theaters, residents of Elizabethtown will have the opportunity to see the film on the big screen this weekend. A bill backed by AT&T that would deregulate telecommunications in Kentucky has passed the state Senate. The Kentucky Public Service Commission has approved agreements that Century Aluminum of Kentucky says are necessary to keep operating its smelter. The Kentucky House has passed a bill aimed at requiring government agencies to notify people when cyberthieves steal personal information from government computers. A Kentucky Senate committee has passed a bill that would require women seeking abortions to undergo a mandatory ultrasound procedure.
Illinois: The state of Illinois is now accepting and processing tax returns.