News bites: States mull drone regulations

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision not to recommend civil charges against the hedge fund Magnetar Capital shows that its hunt for bad actors in the 2008 economic crisis may be losing steam, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan is giving eight California school districts a reprieve from No Child Left Behind rules, for the first time setting up a direct relationship between local schools and the federal government, according to The Washington Post. 

The latest from RegWatch:

President Obama unveiled a housing plan that includes an initiative to streamline regulations on mortgage lending.

The construction industry pushed back on hiring rules for veterans and the disabled.

The Federal Trade Commission settled with Neiman Marcus and other retailers over allegations there was real fur in products they marketed as fake.

Former White House regulations chief Cass Sunstein threw his support behind Larry Summers in the Federal Reserve chairmanship sweepstakes.

Send all of your comments, complaints and regulatory news tips to RegWatch via bgoad@digital-release.thehill.com or jhattem@digital-release.thehill.com.