Who would have thought that comedian turned political commentator Jimmy Kimmel (previously, the Man Show guy) would become the arbiter of moral behavior.

According to FBI statistics released this week, marijuana arrests in the United States actually increased to 659,700 in 2017 over 2016's total of 653,249. That's despite the fact that in 2017, the number of states that legalized marijuana for medicinal or recreational use reached a total of 29 (plus Washington DC).

AUBURN, MAINE - The Hayes for Maine campaign announced Tuesday that independent state treasurer and gubernatorial candidate Terry Hayes has surpassed 6,800 donors, and has gained new endorsements in the 4-way race for Maine governor.

Hayes is the only candidate in the race running a clean elections campaign. Instead of fundraising the traditional way, she is asking Maine voters to make $5 contributions to the state's Clean Elections fund. Hayes receives matching funds when she submits enough qualifying contributions.

San Diego, CA.- District 2 Councilmember Lorie Zapf is on the ballot this November.

First elected to office in November 2010, Zapf served District 6, but switched districts in 2014 due to redistricting.

She has defeated Democrats Howard Wayne and Sarah Boot and is facing Dr. Jen Campbell in November.

On Beyond The Headlines, Zapf discusses the SDSU West and SoccerCity initiatives.

Zapf chairs the Audit Committee, and shares how that role is taking on critical importance with the departure of longtime Chief Auditor Eduardo Luna.

The success of Maine as the first state to use ranked choice voting statewide has brought newfound national attention to ranked choice voting. There’s much to like in this replacement to our fractious, problematic, and outdated plurality voting method. Voters can vote for their top choice without fear of splitting the vote. More candidates and parties can compete without the label of “spoiler.” Campaigns become more civil and less prone to negative attacks. The winner is the consensus, majority choice.

Mental health is a growing problem in the U.S. workforce. As many as one out of every 5 adults will be diagnosed with or experience a mental illness every single year.

Social media is killing thoughtful citizenship. I see it and feel it every time I’m online. You do too.

I get it. I really do. It’s so easy to get sucked into the vacuum of short bursts of Twitter snark, epic and ridiculous Facebook comment threads or the blissful ignorance of a filtered Instagram feed that takes you to some other, beautiful place where there is no politics — only iced coffee on vintage wood tables and sun-kissed, smiling people.

The Republican Party's approval rating is the highest its been in seven years. According to Gallup’s September ‘Government’ poll, the GOP scored the favorable opinion of 45% of Americans. This a nine-point jump from last September’s 36 percent result.

There are many who would argue that the political and media circus around the Kavanaugh controversy has gotten out of hand. It is not about the facts. It is not even about respect for the claims of his accusers or his repeated denials. It is about the spectacle.

Editor's Note: This article was co-authored by Kammi Foote and Donald Wilson Bush, president of the Woodrow Wilson Legacy Foundation.

In 2016, for the fifth time in the history of the United States, it appears that the President of the United State won the Electoral College vote, but lost the popular vote. As a result, many are calling for a reform of the Electoral College in favor of a national popular election; and this debate has added a new level of division and emotional discord to the polarization already infecting our civic discourse on Main Street.