North Carolina budget could raise pay and school rules for Magnolia
Magnolia NC – The ratified state budget would raise teacher and state-worker pay, but it still needs Gov. Josh Stein’s signature before it takes effect.
Law
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EPA proposes to streamline minor-air permits, issues offset guidance
EPA proposed to streamline minor-air permit reviews and issued new offset-timing guidance for some nonattainment projects, while saying emissions standards stay in place.
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Kansas privacy case adds DOJ to Education Department enforcement
United States Education and Civil Rights Policy – The Education Department is pairing with DOJ in a Kansas student privacy case, sharpening the federal stakes for schools nationwide.
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Washington, IL seniors 79 to 86 no longer need road tests
Illinois changed senior renewal rules July 1: Washington, IL drivers 79 to 86 no longer need a road test, but in-person renewal and vision checks stay.
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Fremont charter-city debate heads to a July 7 hearing, July 28 vote
Fremont CA – Council review continues July 7, with a July 28 decision on whether to place a charter proposal on the November 2026 ballot. The draft could affect term limits, staffing, and city authority.
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Scottsdale adds event-center rule to short-term rental code
Scottsdale approved Ordinance 4719 to define “event center” and curb short-term rentals used for commercial parties before the July 4 weekend.
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EAC launches free federal training certification for election officials
United States Fast Follow on Elections and Democracy – The EAC launched a free online certificate and training library for state and local election officials.
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Richmond judge blocks Virginia mask-and-ID limits for federal officers
A Richmond judge issued a July 1 preliminary injunction blocking Virginia from enforcing its new mask-and-ID limits on federal officers while the case moves.
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DOJ and FTC release FY2025 Hart-Scott-Rodino merger report
United States Fresh Federal Documents and Draft Reports – The agencies say merger filings stayed active in FY2025, while the updated HSR form remains tied up in court.
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FISA fight leaves Section 702 in limbo
Congress missed the June 12 deadline on Section 702, but the lapse does not necessarily shut off the government’s surveillance tools immediately. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/066052a8521d68215497c1162f3dbd6c?utm_source=openai))
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Supreme Court blocks personal-damages claims in Rastafarian prison hair case
United States Religion Government and Civil Rights – The Court said RLUIPA does not let inmates collect money damages from individual prison officers who never consented to that liability.
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New Orleans could clear path for lead-pipe replacement as state law and November vote line up
New Orleans LA – Louisiana’s new law and a Nov. 3 ballot question could let SWBNO use public money to replace lead lines on private property.
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D.C. Circuit pauses Trump’s CFPB layoff push
United States Courts and Legal Accountability – The D.C. Circuit sent the CFPB staffing fight back to the district court while keeping the appeal alive.
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House appropriators advance FY2027 defense bill with $1.072 trillion allocation
United States Congress and Budget Watch – Committee approval sends the defense bill to the full House, but it is not final law.
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States, universities push for more time on OMB grant rewrite before July 13
States, universities and Senate Democrats are pressing OMB over a proposed federal grants rewrite ahead of the July 13 comment deadline. ([govinfo.gov](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-05-29/pdf/2026-10817.pdf))
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EU migration pact takes effect as return-rule deal adds pressure on asylum systems
The EU’s migration and asylum pact entered into application on June 12, but rollout is uneven and a separate returns deal remains provisional.
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Judge pushes LAHSA, HUD to keep funding in place
A federal judge wants Los Angeles homelessness funding kept in place for now while LAHSA and HUD work toward a July 16 status-quo proposal and an Aug. 6 hearing.
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Family files claim after Santa Ana police shooting death of 15-year-old
Santa Ana, CA – Jaden Michaca’s family filed a legal claim against the city after the June 14 police shooting, a step that usually comes before a lawsuit.
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Cape Coral says HB 803 covers only a narrow set of home projects
Florida’s HB 803 took effect July 1, but Cape Coral says it applies only to small single-family projects outside flood zones and away from trade work.
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Croton sets Jan. 1, 2027 deadline in animal-code rewrite
Croton trustees advanced an animal-code rewrite July 1, setting a Jan. 1, 2027 compliance date and reopening leaf-blower enforcement questions.
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FCC tightens telecom supply-chain rules on older covered gear ahead of July 22 vote
The FCC has already barred some previously authorized covered communications gear from continued import and marketing, while a broader component-based crackdown is still only a draft. ([docs.fcc.gov](https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-635A1.pdf))
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ATF ends phone-tracking pilot after bipartisan scrutiny
United States National Accountability Fast Follow – ATF ended its Webloc pilot after bipartisan scrutiny over warrantless access to commercial location data.
