California lawmakers could soon ban the declawing of cats solely for the convenience of humans, advancing a bill on Thursday to halt what animal rights activists say is a painful procedure used primarily to prevent torn furniture and scratched skin.

Claws on cats grow from the bone, not skin. Removing them sometimes requires amputating bones, while other procedures sever tendons to prevent a cat from extending its claws.

Related video above: California woman mistakenly takes baby fox home thinking it was a kitten

Animal rights activists have long said declawing is inhumane when done solely for the benefit of humans, arguing the procedure is painful, leaves the animal defenseless and can cause other health problems.

The American Veterinary Medical Association “discourages declawing as an elective procedure," saying it is not medically necessary in most cases. But the association says it is sometimes necessary “when a cat's excessive or inappropriate scratching behavior causes an unacceptable risk of injury or remains destructive."

The bill that passed the state Assembly on Thursday would ban declawing except for a medically necessary purpose of addressing a recurring infection, disease, injury or abnormal condition that affects the cat's health. The bill specifically bans declawing “for a cosmetic or aesthetic purpose or to make the cat more convenient to keep or handle.”

The California Veterinary Medical Association says that ignores situations where cat owners are “taking blood thinners, receiving immunosuppression drugs, or other persons whose health would be endangered by a severe scratch.”

In a letter to lawmakers, the association wrote that the veterinary industry has “appropriately regulated itself regarding this procedure over the years, and continues to do so in a thoughtful and compassionate manner.”

The bill now heads to the state Senate.

New York was the first state to ban the procedure in 2019, followed by Maryland earlier this year. This is at least the fourth time California lawmakers have tried to ban declawing since 2018. All of the previous attempts failed.

Eight California cities — including Los Angeles and San Francisco — ban declawing. In 2008, California lawmakers passed a law that would have stopped local governments from banning declawing. But the bill never became law because then Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it.

Thursday, a majority of lawmakers in the California Assembly appeared eager to ban the procedure statewide. Democratic Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo, the author of the bill, quoted primatologist Jane Goodall in saying that “cruelty is the worst of human sins.”

Democratic Assemblymember Alex Lee talked about his cat, Soba, saying it would be “heartbreaking to know cats like her would be declawed.”

“If a cat has essentially their finger bones taken out, their only defense becomes their teeth,” Lee said. “And having had many loving bites from my cat, I would rather be scratched than bitten by my own cat.”

SANTA FE, N.M. —

Discussions of workplace safety are now front and center after the fatal 'Rust' movie set shooting at Bonanza Creek Ranch.

On Oct. 21, Santa Fe County deputies said Alec Baldwin, the actor and co-producer of the film, discharged a prop gun that misfired. The weapon fatally wounded cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.

Questions also remain, like how live rounds showed up on the set.

The lawyer for the film's armorer, 24-year-old Hannah Gutierrez, released a statement Friday.

Jason Bowles said Gutierrez had no idea where the live rounds came from and added that the guns were locked up every night.

The incident has been a big concern for many people, including Baldwin.

On Saturday, Baldwin briefly spoke with reporters in Vermont, where he and his family have been laying low since the shooting.

"An ongoing effort to limit the use of firearms on film sets is something I’m extremely interested in," Baldwin said.

The actor added safety measures are needed when it comes to guns on movie sets.

"We have to realize that when it does go wrong, and it’s this horrible, catastrophic thing, some new measures have to take place," Baldwin said. "Whatever other people decide is the best way to go in terms of protecting people’s safety on film sets."

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the state may take action to address those concerns.

Her office provided the following statement to sister station KOAT:

"Workplace safety in any and every industry in New Mexico is absolutely paramount. A workplace death is never acceptable and must compel an analysis of what can and should be done better. My full expectation is that the film and television industry will, at the conclusion of the investigation into this tragic incident and once all the facts are in hand, bring forward comprehensive new safety protocols to ensure this kind of incident never, ever happens again. If that sort of comprehensive new approach does not materialize, the state of New Mexico will take immediate action, throughout whatever means are available to us, to ensure the safety of all personnel on all film and television sets here in our state. This industry is important to us economically and to so many workers throughout New Mexico, and I look forward to a full accounting of how this could have possibly happened, and we will determine our next steps from there."

The investigation is still ongoing and no charges have been filed.

Production on the movie 'Rust' has since halted.

CINCINNATI —

Efforts to protect and care for the most vulnerable during the pandemic expand Monday.

CVS Health will start COVID-19 vaccination efforts at long-term care facilities in 36 more states, as vaccinations have already been underway in Ohio and Kentucky.

At the same time, a man from Hamilton is pushing state lawmakers to allow family members to be essential caregivers in those facilities.

He said it has been an emotional journey he never expected, but one he said many families are faced with right now.

"It was a year this past Christmas that my mother, you know, was able to, to be in my home," Scott Reynolds said.

It was a tough holiday after an emotional year for Reynolds.

He saw his mother, Francene, 75, through the glass at Berkeley Square in Hamilton.

Reynolds said isolation due to COVID-19 restrictions caused his mother to deteriorate in the dementia wing, and that has limited her speech and what she will eat.

He said she recently beat COVID-19, but it has had a lasting impact and hospice care is now by her side.

Reynolds spoke directly to lawmakers in Columbus this month about allowing essential caregivers, such as family members, in long-term care facilities.

"Have you ever had to stand outside watching your mother cry for you and see a total stranger try to hug and console your mother? It was heart-wrenching. This is why House Bill 770 is so important," Reynolds said during a speech at the statehouse.

Reynolds has been granted a few compassionate care visits to see his mother in declining health.

He said she will be getting the COVID-19 vaccine CVS Health is administering in nursing homes.

As those health care workers try to protect residents, Reynolds continues to push for more support.

"It's probably not going to help my situation but I just, you know, I have to look ahead where it could help somebody else's mother," he said.

Reynolds said he will not be finished if House Bill 770 passes.

He said he wants to take on reforming the laws when it comes to elderly care to make those laws better, safer and to make sure everyone is more prepared in case of another pandemic.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky lawmakers grabbed the quarterback role to direct the response to COVID-19, but when it came time to lead, the GOP-led legislature “punted” the decision on mask-wearing in schools to local boards, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said Friday.

A day after a special legislative session ended, Beshear gave a blistering response to the legislature’s decision to halt statewide mask mandates to combat Kentucky’s worst surge of the coronavirus pandemic. He declared that the legislature “owns this pandemic moving forward.”

The legislature passed bills Thursday that scrapped a statewide mask mandate for public schools and imposed a ban on any statewide mask rules until June 2023. Beshear vetoed the mask-related language, but Republican lawmakers overrode him before ending their three-day session.

Beshear used the football analogy to slam the legislature’s actions, especially in nullifying the state school board’s requirement that anyone in public K-12 schools wear a mask. The Republican-backed measure shifted masking decisions to local school boards.

“The masking decision the General Assembly made was wrong. And it was also a punt,” Beshear told reporters. “I’ve been willing to make the calls, to take the hits, to make the plays. And the legislature asked to go in ... at QB. And what did they do? They punted on first down. When you’re in charge, it means you’ve got to make the decision. This one was to push the decision to others.”

The governor said he would have ordered mask-wearing in indoor public places if he still had the authority to do so. The special session marked a power shift in the state’s response to the virus.

Republican lawmakers asserted their new dominance in setting Kentucky’s pandemic policies — the result of a state Supreme Court ruling last month. The court cleared the way for GOP-backed laws to take effect, limiting the governor’s emergency powers to impose virus restrictions. The governor responded by calling the legislature into session.

Before the court ruling, Beshear acted unilaterally in setting statewide virus policies, saying his actions saved lives. Republicans branded his actions as overly broad and stringent.

Supporters of ending the statewide school mask requirement said those decisions are best left to local school boards, to reflect the will of their communities. They said they have confidence in the ability of local school leaders to set those rules.

Beshear said Friday the ban on blanket masking requirements comes at a dangerous time, as the delta variant puts record numbers of virus patients in Kentucky hospitals and intensive care units.

Asked what his message would be to school districts, the governor made the case for local masking requirements. It’s the “best way” to keep children learning in classrooms, he said.

“There is only one decision, one right answer, where you don’t endanger children and your entire community,” he said. “This thing is burning through Kentucky like nothing that we have ever seen.”

Many lawmakers weren’t wearing masks when they voted to block statewide masking rules — which the governor noted at his news conference Friday.

“You can’t say you’re pro-mask while refusing to wear one in a crowded room,” he said.

Beshear praised other actions taken during the special session, including the extension of the pandemic-related state of emergency. That continues a number of actions taken by the governor to combat COVID-19. Examples include waiving licensing requirements for out-of-state medical providers and preventing price gouging.

The legislature also passed a measure to appropriate more than $69 million in federal funds for pandemic-related efforts. The funds are aimed at increasing COVID-19 testing for health care providers, schools, health departments and correctional facilities.

And lawmakers voted to tap into budget reserves to offer lucrative incentives to try to land economic development projects topping $2 billion. Beshear, who requested the measure, has said the state is pursuing at least five projects of that magnitude.

FRANKFORT, Ky. —

Still under a state of emergency.

Day one of the Kentucky special session and a big item is already decided.

Lawmakers voted to extend the state of emergency into January of next year.

The resolution will now go to Gov. Andy Beshear's desk while lawmakers continue debate on other bills.

Beshear called back Kentucky legislators to clarify his executive powers.

"Now we find ourselves having to reevaluate those executive orders and if you'll notice, on these executive orders extending them until Jan. 15, 2022. That is to give us time should there be a need to come back in when we come in January for regular session," said KY Speaker of the House Rep. David Osborne.

That first order of business did not see much resistance.

The topic of schools was much different.

"Every county in Kentucky, as of today, is in the red. More importantly, in our schools right now we have 32 school districts who are closed," said Sen. Reginald Thomas, (D) Lexington.

A proposed Senate bill would eliminate the mask mandate handed down by the Kentucky Board of Education.

"To say now that we are not going to require masks in our public schools, where our children are going to school, is completely irresponsible of us and it's bad policy," said Thomas.

"If a local school district wants to come up with their own policy and procedure moving forward that's up to local control," Sen. Max Wise, (R) Campbellsville.

Beshear does not currently have the power to mandate masks.

But he said in a news conference Monday afternoon that is the difference between in-person and virtual classrooms this year.

"I think universal masking is absolutely necessary if we want our kids in school," he said.

The House is scheduled to reconvene Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Dolly Parton is saying thanks, but no thanks, to Tennessee lawmakers who want to build a statue in her honor at the capitol in Nashville.

In a statement posted to Twitter Thursday morning, Parton said she was “honored and humbled by their intention but I have asked the leaders of the state legislature to remove the bill from any and all consideration.”

“Given all that is going on in the world, I don’t think putting me on a pedestal is appropriate at this time,” her statement reads.

A state representative proposed the idea last month to recognize all Parton has contributed to the state. The statue would have been paid for with a mix of monetary gifts and donations.

Parton has used her fame and fortune for several large philanthropic causes. In 1995, she started the Imagination Library to promote children’s literacy, which has grown into an international organization. Every month, the organization sends out more than one million books to children under age 5.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Dollywood Foundation has focused on Mountain Tough, which offers resources to those impacted by COVID-19, including counseling access and shopping assistance.

And notably, last year she donated a million dollars to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help develop the Moderna coronavirus vaccine.

Parton’s statement Thursday left the door open to the possibility of a statue in the future.

“I hope, though, that somewhere down the road several years from now or perhaps after I’m gone if you still feel I deserve it, then I’m certain I will stand proud in our great State Capitol as a grateful Tennessean,” Parton’s statement reads.

“In the meantime, I’ll continue to try to do good work to make this great state proud.”