Oklahoma governor orders statewide review of public-school spending ahead of Aug. 31 deadline
Gov. Kevin Stitt has directed a statewide review of transparency in public-school spending, with a completed report due to his office by Aug. 31, 2026.
Government Accountability
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South Dakota closes fiscal year with a $69 million surplus as $7.5 billion budget begins
South Dakota ended FY2026 with a $69 million surplus, but the money moved to reserves rather than automatic tax cuts or new ongoing spending.
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Indiana Inspector General Stops Publishing Individual Investigation Summaries
Indiana’s inspector general has ended publication of individual investigation summaries, narrowing public access to cases that do not lead to criminal charges or State Ethics Commission action.
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Illinois Auditor Finds Repeated Compliance Problems at Public Health and Guardianship Agencies
July 23 examinations found persistent control weaknesses involving Illinois public-health vehicles, overtime, personnel files and voucher processing. Both agencies agreed to recommendations, but follow-up remains pending.
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Colquitt County approves audit of Moultrie airport authority
Colquitt County reportedly approved an eight-year forensic audit of the Moultrie airport authority after questions about T-SPLOST spending and oversight.
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California Telework Bill Heads to Senate Hearing as Four-Day Office Rule Takes Effect
AB 1729 is scheduled for a Senate Appropriations hearing on August 3, but the pending proposal would not change California’s current four-day in-person default unless it passes and is signed into law.
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Vermont Directs State Agencies to Prioritize Local News in Advertising
Gov. Phil Scott’s July 23 executive order gives Vermont media preference in state advertising, affecting an estimated $4 million to $5 million annually while requiring better spending tracking and annual reports.
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Rhode Island Begins Search for Its First Inspector General Under New Budget Law
Rhode Island has begun implementing a new independent Office of Inspector General, with a three-candidate deadline expected by September 29 and $1.3 million appropriated for its first fiscal year.
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Utah Names Hannah Freeze Great Salt Lake Commissioner Amid Water-Use Debate
Utah’s new Great Salt Lake commissioner brings agricultural water-conservation experience to a statewide coordination role now drawing scrutiny over alfalfa and water use.
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Texas Requests Audit of Broadband Office After Questions Over Grant Terms
Texas legislative leaders requested a performance audit of the Broadband Development Office after lawmakers questioned grant transparency and payment terms for low-Earth-orbit satellite providers.
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Oregon Audit Warns Prison Facilities, Staffing and Technology Pose Safety Risks
A July state audit says Oregon’s prison system faces nearly $861 million in deferred-maintenance needs, staffing shortages and obsolete technology that could affect safety, services and future budget decisions.
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Ohio Medicaid Audit Flags Weak Oversight and Billions in Potentially Improper Payments
An Ohio Auditor of State review found gaps in Medicaid claims monitoring, reporting, deposits, rebates and system access. A separate audit projected up to $4.4 billion in potentially unallowable costs, but the figure is based on sampled transactions and is not a confirmed loss.
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More Than 100 Louisiana Governor’s Office Employees Signed Nondisclosure Agreements
Records reviewed by the Gulf States Newsroom and Type Investigations show that at least 121 employees signed broad confidentiality agreements that remain in effect after they leave state government, raising questions about public accountability and records access.
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Washington’s New Budget Panel Starts a Two-Year Review of State Finances
An 18-member bipartisan committee is reviewing Washington’s budget assumptions and cost pressures, with first recommendations due Dec. 15, ahead of the 2027-29 budget process.
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New Jersey Orders Removal of 6,600 Voter Registrations Linked to MVC Software Error
New Jersey has ordered the removal of roughly 6,600 voter registrations linked to an MVC software error and is investigating how the failure operated from June 2023 through June 2024.
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Missouri Treasurer’s Office Faces Questions After MOScholars Student Data Leak
Sunshine Law emails show the Treasurer’s Office knew in April that MOScholars spreadsheets exposed student-related information, while the office and its software contractor disputed responsibility.
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Oklahoma Medicaid fraud case widens as AG probes thousands of enrollments
Oklahoma’s Medicaid agency says thousands of residents may have been fraudulently enrolled as the attorney general examines oversight and fraud referrals.
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DOJ Watchdog Finds Fleet Oversight Gaps, Including Years-Old Vehicle Recalls and Overdue Maintenance
A DOJ inspector general audit found years-old safety recalls and overdue maintenance among sampled vehicles in a federal fleet program covering about 88 vehicles.
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Federal Judges Question DOJ Credibility in Trump Administration Cases
A ProPublica review and federal court records show judges demanding sworn, verified evidence from Justice Department lawyers in cases affecting executive power.
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Petaluma Council Approves Grand Jury Response Pending Edits
Petaluma’s council approved a response to a Sonoma County Grand Jury report pending edits, while outlining future animal-services oversight and reporting reforms.
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Cary audit puts public spending, oversight and council accountability under new scrutiny
Cary’s state audit found weak spending controls and referred some matters for investigation as officials face pressure to document corrective action.
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ICE Proposes $776 Million No-Bid Extension for Fort Bliss Detention Camp
ICE is proposing a $776 million no-bid extension for Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss, raising national questions about detention costs, oversight and care.