Colorado forecast warns of shrinking labor force and weakening housing market
A June forecast from Colorado’s Legislative Council reports a 1.5% year-over-year decline in the labor force and a more than 7% drop in average single-family home prices.
State News
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Alaska expands 2026 spring-flood disaster declaration as recovery assistance continues
Alaska expanded Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s May 11 disaster declaration on May 21 to cover additional areas affected by spring flooding. The state has opened individual-assistance registration and published recovery information, but the current list of added areas and registration deadline were not available in the approved records.
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Wyoming drought and wildfire season intensify pressure on the state’s water strategy
A near-record dry winter and the state’s driest spring in decades have left most of Wyoming in extreme or severe drought, putting agricultural water demand at the center of a worsening wildfire season.
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Arkansas Medicaid expansion renewal faces federal rejection, putting coverage for roughly 200,000 residents at risk
Federal officials have rejected or indicated they will not approve Arkansas’ request to extend the waiver supporting its Medicaid expansion, creating uncertainty for roughly 200,000 low-income residents.
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California water board sets Aug. 19 vote on statewide utility wildfire rules
The California State Water Resources Control Board has posted a proposed statewide order governing electric-utility wildfire and related activities that could affect water quality. The board is scheduled to consider adoption on Aug. 19, 2026.
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Colorado Wildfire Response and Recovery Costs Projected at $266 Million
State officials presented an early 90-day projection that response, suppression and recovery for Colorado’s four largest summer wildfires could cost about $266 million.
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California leads multistate lawsuit challenging federal pressure over election-security funding
California announced a multistate lawsuit challenging federal conditions on public-safety funding, arguing that grants are being used to pressure states over election administration.
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Delaware launches statewide office to help small businesses navigate government
The Office of Small Business Access will give Delaware entrepreneurs a single point of contact for regulatory, licensing and permitting challenges, along with connections to state resources.
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Indiana Medicaid Work Requirements Set to Begin Jan. 1 as State Releases Implementation Details
Indiana has released implementation details for Healthy Indiana Plan work requirements scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2027. The rules will affect new applicants and existing HIP members, with a public Medicaid advisory meeting set for Aug. 11.
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NASA research-security certification begins for covered GW award applicants
A new NASA research-security certification requirement took effect Aug. 5 for covered individuals on financial-assistance awards, according to George Washington University.
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Georgia’s amended statewide water-management plan takes effect after unanimous Senate vote
Georgia’s General Assembly has enacted amendments to the state’s comprehensive statewide water-management plan, with the legislation taking effect July 1, 2026.
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Wisconsin regulators defend data-center financial safeguards as Oracle court fight advances
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission is defending financial and credit requirements for very large electricity users as Oracle challenges rules tied to its proposed Port Washington-area data-center campus.
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Alabama employment reaches record high as June unemployment rises to 3.2%
Alabama’s wage-and-salary employment reached a record 2,224,200 jobs in June, while the preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 3.0% in May to 3.2%.
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Wyoming secretary of state defends primary system ahead of August election
Secretary of State Chuck Gray issued a June 12 defense of Wyoming’s primary system as voters, candidates and parties prepare for the Aug. 18 primary.
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Delaware election-transparency fight produces court victory for Attorney General Jennings
Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced a victory defending Delaware’s disclosure requirements for third-party election spending, though the exact ruling and any appeal status remain unclear.
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Arkansas School Employee Health Fund Could Be Depleted Within Three Years, Consultant Warns
A consultant told Arkansas officials that the state’s roughly $510 million public-school employee health-insurance fund could be depleted in about three years without changes to costs, contributions or benefits.
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Idaho closes fiscal 2026 with revenue above forecast and keeps its AAA credit rating
Idaho’s General Fund collections finished fiscal year 2026 above both the state financial management office’s revised forecast and the Legislature’s forecast, according to a July 17 announcement from Gov. Brad Little’s office.
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Wisconsin offers up to $60,000 in grants for community environmental-health projects
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is seeking applications from local public-health agencies and federally recognized Tribal nations for one-year projects using Wisconsin Tracking environmental-health data.
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Arkansas announces more than $3.4 million for water and wastewater projects
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced more than $3.4 million in grants for water and wastewater infrastructure and statewide operator training.
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Georgia Begins Rural Health Grant Rollout After $218.9 Million Federal Approval
Georgia has posted its first FY2026 rural-hospital support award as the state begins implementing a federally approved $218.86 million Rural Health Transformation program.
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Illinois Sets Aug. 26 Deadline for First Statewide Utility-Scale Battery-Storage Procurement
The Illinois Power Agency will seek bids for 1,038 megawatts of standalone energy storage in the first competitive procurement under the state’s new grid and affordability law.
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Blue Origin plans $600 million Florida manufacturing expansion with 500 aerospace jobs
Blue Origin plans to invest $600 million in a Florida manufacturing expansion expected to support 500 aerospace jobs, with an average salary above $98,000.