South Carolina Senate Special Primary: Who Can Vote and What Comes Next
South Carolina voters face an August 11 special Republican Senate primary, with absentee, early-voting and runoff deadlines arriving quickly.
State News
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Rhode Island Co-Leads Lawsuit Challenging FEMA Grant Conditions
Rhode Island is challenging FEMA and DHS conditions that could put more than $4.3 million in annual homeland-security grants at risk if states do not adopt disputed election and immigration-enforcement requirements.
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Pennsylvania Missed Its Felony-Murder Sentencing Deadline. What Happens Next?
Pennsylvania lawmakers did not enact a replacement sentencing law before the state Supreme Court’s July 24 deadline, leaving county judges to make individualized decisions in pending and future second-degree murder cases.
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Oregon Gets Federal Aid for Three Fires as FEMA Denies Two Requests
Oregon secured federal Fire Management Assistance Grants for three wildfires, while FEMA denied requests for two others. The state has 30 days to appeal as the 2026 fire season strains firefighting resources and budgets.
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Oklahoma Voters Have Until July 31 to Register for the August Runoff
Oklahoma voters must register or update their information by Friday, July 31, for the August 25 runoff primary. Absentee requests are due August 10, and early voting runs August 20-22.
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Ohio Cyclospora Cases Top 2,600 as CDC Joins FDA Lettuce Investigation
Ohio has reported more than 2,600 cyclosporiasis cases as CDC investigators assist with interviews and data management. Recalled Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce was distributed to Ohio food-service customers from June 29 through July 16.
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North Carolina Election Board Adopts Rules That Could Make Some Ballot Rejections Easier
North Carolina election officials adopted separate photo-ID and absentee-ballot rules in July. The changes are not yet effective and still face administrative review before the November election.
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New York tells 12 agencies to unwind ICE 287(g) agreements by Aug. 25
The attorney general’s office gave 12 local agencies until Aug. 14 to report the status of their ICE agreements and steps toward termination before the agreements become void and unenforceable Aug. 25.
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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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New Hampshire Gets $1.8 Million PFAS Settlement for Public Water Systems
New Hampshire will place a $1.815 million BASF PFAS settlement payment into a state water fund for qualifying public systems and future mitigation.
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Nevada Leaves Clark County Judge Vacancy Open Until November Election
Nevada’s judicial-selection commission declined to advance the sole applicant for a Clark County Family Court vacancy, leaving the Department S seat open for the November 3 election while senior judges provide interim coverage.
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Nebraska Governor Orders 5% Aggregate Agency Allotment Reduction
Nebraska agencies must reduce aggregate monthly allotments, seek approval for most hires and submit fiscal-restraint plans by July 31 as the state confronts new budget pressure.
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Montana Medicaid Work Rules Are in Effect. What Enrollees Need to Do Before October
Montana Medicaid Expansion adults ages 19 to 64 generally must document 80 hours of monthly activity, but coverage denials or disenrollment for noncompliance are not scheduled until October 2026.
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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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Mississippi Public-Defense Plans Show Wide Differences Across 23 Court Districts
Mississippi’s 23 circuit-court districts now have public-defense plans, but the documents differ on when lawyers are appointed, attend early hearings and meet clients.
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Michigan’s FY 2026-27 Budget Is Law: What Changes for Roads, Schools and Medicaid
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Michigan’s FY 2026-27 budget on July 21. Most spending changes begin with the fiscal year on October 1, including money for roads, free school meals, tax provisions and Medicaid and SNAP administration.
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Maine Affordability Payment Checks Set to Begin Mailing by July 31
Maine’s one-time $300 affordability payments are scheduled to begin mailing by July 31, 2026. Eligibility depends on a 2025 Maine return, full-year residency, income and dependency rules.
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Louisiana AG Liz Murrill’s Criminal Charges Were Dismissed. What Happens Next?
All 16 felony charges against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill were dismissed July 22, but the dispute over New Orleans courts is not over.
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Beshear Plans to Use More Than $781 Million to Block Kentucky Medicaid Rate Cut
Gov. Andy Beshear says unexpected state revenue will prevent a scheduled 4% Medicaid provider-rate cut on August 1, fund additional Michelle P. waiver costs and address other state funding gaps.
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Kansas Mail-Ballot Grace Period Still Applies Before August Primary
A Kansas Court of Appeals ruling left a temporary three-day mail-ballot receipt window in place for the Aug. 4 primary, but voters are urged to return ballots by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
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Iowa Opens Rural Residency Funding Program With Up to $10.5 Million Available
Iowa HHS is seeking applications for up to 14 rural residency programs, with awards capped at $750,000 and applications due August 24.
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Indiana DNR wetlands program found out of compliance by federal district
Indiana’s DNR wetlands program collected at least $109 million, but the Army Corps’ Louisville District says restoration work has not kept pace with mitigation credits sold.