SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " gov " 9,938 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Josh Shapiro, in his own words, on political violence and antisemitism
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is opening up about his Jewish faith at a pivotal moment in his political rise
As antisemitism rises and strife over Israel continues, Josh Shapiro turns toward his Jewish faith
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro may be the nation’s most prominent Jewish politician as antisemitism surges across America
As antisemitism rises and strife over Israel continues, Josh Shapiro turns toward his Jewish faith
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro may be the nation’s most prominent Jewish politician as antisemitism surges across America.
PRET for impact: Advancing pandemic preparedness in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
IN THE SPOTLIGHT PRET for impact: Advancing pandemic preparedness in the Democratic People’s Republic of KoreaThe Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPR Korea) is making significant progress in strengthening pandemic preparedness, with dedicated support from the WHO South‑East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contribution (PC).Aligned with the WHO Global Influenza Strategy and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework Partnership Contribution High‑Level Implementation Plan III (2024–2030), the country is strengthening its capacity to prepare for and respond to influenza and other respiratory threats. In early 2025, a core team from the Ministry of Public Health of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) participated in a two‑day virtual workshop, which included a mini‑simulation exercise. The workshop was organized by WHO SEARO in collaboration with the Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) Secretariat at WHO headquarters and the WHO Country Office for the DPRK. Read more A REGIONAL CONSULTATION GUIDES WHO SEARO IN DEVELOPING A ROADMAP FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PREPPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE FOR EMERGING THREATS (PRET) INITIATIVE BASED RESPIRATORY PATHOGEN PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESSInfluenza and other respiratory pathogens with pandemic potential continue to pose major public health risks globally. To strengthen regional preparedness and response, Member States of the WHO South‑East Asia Region (SEAR) convened in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to review and provide input on the draft Roadmap and Action Framework for Broad Respiratory Pathogen Pandemic Planning (2026–2031). Supported through the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contribution (PC) funds, the proposed roadmap aims to advance robust, integrated preparedness and response capacities for influenza and other respiratory threats across SEAR. This work is aligned with the Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative and the SEAR Strategic Roadmap on Health Security and Health System Resilience for Emergencies Read moreSRI LANKA’S USE OF ANTIVIRALS TO REDUCE THE SEASONAL INFLUENZA BURDEN Sri Lanka is strengthening its influenza response by placing greater emphasis on rapid testing, timely treatment, and integration with maternal health services. With support from WHO, the country is building a stronger evidence base on the burden of influenza and the value of vaccination, advancing a holistic approach to protect vulnerable populations and enhance pandemic preparedness. To reduce hospitalizations and deaths from seasonal influenza, Sri Lanka is taking proactive steps to expand access to rapid diagnostic testing and ensure prompt initiation of treatment. National clinical guidelines recommend the use of oseltamivir for individuals at high risk of complications, helping prevent severe illness and shorten the duration of infection. This strategy not only saves lives but also supports local pharmaceutical production, contributing to a reliable supply of antivirals for both seasonal outbreaks and future pandemics.Read moreBHUTAN BOOSTS PANDEMIC INFLUENZA READINESS WITH PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS FRAMEWORK PARTNERSHIP CONTRIBUTION SUPPORTED TRAINING AND SIMULATIONSOriginally developed in 2012, the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan (NIPPRP) has long served as Bhutan’s central framework for managing influenza threats. In 2024, the plan underwent a comprehensive update to reflect evolving global and regional guidance, lessons learned from the COVID‑19 pandemic, and new capacities developed under the PIP Framework. The revised NIPPRP is now more clearly aligned with Bhutan’s broader emergency and disaster risk management structures, ensuring a coordinated, whole‑of‑government approach to pandemic response. As part of efforts to strengthen national pandemic preparedness, Bhutan conducted three national‑level training sessions followed by simulation exercises on influenza pandemic preparedness and response at five sentinel hospitals between April and May 2025, with support from the PIP Partnership Contribution (PC). These activities brought together more than 140 health professionals and key partners from across the country, with a focus on operationalizing the updated NIPPRP and enhancing readiness at key frontline facilities. Read moreSTRENGTHENING INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE: WHO BRINGS TOGETHER INFLUENZA EXPERTS FROM SOUTH-EAST ASIA AND WESTERN PACIFIC REGIONSThe World Health Organization (WHO) convened the 18th Bi‑regional Meeting of National Influenza Centres (NICs) and Influenza Surveillance for the WHO South‑East Asia and Western Pacific Regions from 9–11 September 2025. Hosted by the WHO South‑East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), the meeting brought together representatives from Member States, Territories, and Areas across both regions, alongside experts from the WHO Collaborating Centres for Reference and Research on Influenza in Australia and Japan, the WHO Collaborating Centre for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals in the United States, quadripartite partners (WOAH and FAO), and other technical counterparts. The consultation provided a platform to review progress, share experiences, and outline priorities for strengthening influenza and respiratory pathogen surveillance across the two WHO regions.Read moreNETWORKS AND TECHNICAL PARTNERSHIPSSTRENGTHENING PANDEMIC READINES: SOUTH-EAST ASIA ADVANCES UNITY STUDIES UNDER THE PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS INITIATIVEThe WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) Investigations & Studies initiative, also known as Unity Studies, provides a standardized, globally coordinated framework to support these efforts. Originally developed for influenza and adapted during COVID-19, Unity Studies enable countries to conduct rapid, nationally led investigations and studies to assess transmissibility, severity, susceptibility, and intervention effectiveness. To better prepare for future influenza pandemics, WHO has recently launched a network of sites which will be ready to conduct these investigations and studies rapidly in the event of a pandemic, or epidemic of an emerging or re-emerging respiratory pathogen. The WHO South-East Asia Region now hosts six sites of WHO GISRS Unity Studies across the five countries including Sri Lanka, strengthening regional capacity for early pandemic investigations. From 13–16 July 2025 in Colombo, the Global Public Health Summit offered an opportunity to advance this agenda. Read moreSTRENGTHENING PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS THROUGH UNITY STUDIES: REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS FROM INDIA IN WHO’S SOUTH-EAST ASIA REGION As countries continue to strengthen their pandemic preparedness through investments in resilient health systems during the interpandemic period, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) Investigations & Studies Global Initiative, Global Initiative, commonly known as Unity Studies, remains a vital framework for respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness. These standardized epidemiological protocols enable countries to rapidly generate high‑quality data on transmissibility, infection severity, population immunity, and the effectiveness of public health interventions. To highlight how Unity Studies protocols are being adapted and applied in national settings, WHO Headquarters, together with WHO Regional Offices, including the WHO South‑East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), hosted a global webinar. The session showcased case studies from India and the United Kingdom (UK), demonstrating innovative approaches to respiratory virus surveillance and pandemic readiness. Read moreSTRENGTHENING REGIONAL INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE AND PREPAREDNESS: WHO SEARO HOSTS HIGH-LEVEL WEBINAR AMID RISING H5 THREATS In response to the increasing detection of avian influenza A(H5) cases in humans globally and within the WHO South‑East Asia Region, the WHO Regional Office for South‑East Asia (SEARO) convened a regional webinar on 25 July 2025 to review preparedness mechanisms, strengthen surveillance pathways, and promote timely reporting of unusual respiratory events. The virtual session brought together more than 50 participants from Ministries of Health, National Influenza Centres (NICs), National IHR Focal Points (NFPs), WHO Headquarters, WHO Country Offices across the Region, and WHO Collaborating Centres (CCs) for influenza. The webinar provided an opportunity to share situational updates, discuss surveillance gaps, and reinforce coordination mechanisms critical for early detection and rapid response to avian influenza threats. Read moreOther Key PIP Updates (July-December 2025)MEMBER STATES:Bangladesh drafted and conducted a series of Core Group Meetings in 2025 to review and update the National Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan for Respiratory Pathogens. In addition, the country carried out Rapid Response Team (RRT) trainings on seasonal and avian influenza and other re‑emerging infectious diseases. Bangladesh also updated its epidemiological data‑training programme for physicians at sentinel surveillance sites, using a revised epidemiological data‑collection tool.Bhutan revised and updated its National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan (NIPPRP) in 2025 and developed a national Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for influenza outbreak management. DPR Korea conducted a nationwide simulation exercise in July 2025 to support the update of its National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (2019). This followed a PRET‑based virtual orientation and mini‑simulation exercise held in May 2025 by SEARO and the WHO PRET Secretariat. The comprehensive exercise, conducted across central and provincial levels, assessed strengths and gaps in pandemic influenza preparedness and response. The feedback gathered has been incorporated into the revised draft plan to address identified weaknesses and strengthen overall readiness.India conducted a targeted nationwide online re‑orientation training on review and updates to the influenza portal for all State Surveillance Officers (SSOs) and relevant officials using the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP). The training emphasized correct marking and reporting of influenza samples as “unsubtypable” or “not subtyped” where applicable, to ensure accurate national surveillance.Maldives conducted simulation exercises in three atolls based on its existing National Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan (NPPRP). The country plans to conduct similar exercises in three additional atolls after updating the NPPRP in 2026. In addition, Maldives conducted training on FluID and FluMart as part of a broader data‑management training package for Ministry of Health and Health Protection Agency officials, aimed at improving routine reporting to WHO platforms and the DHIS2 system.In Myanmar, technical support was provided to the National Influenza Centre (NIC) through dedicated human‑resource support (January–December 2025) to sustain data management and laboratory detection capacity for influenza and other emerging and re‑emerging respiratory viruses. This support also included strengthening genomic sequencing capacity.Nepal conducted a consultative workshop on the National Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan (NPPRP) in July 2025. The workshop engaged key stakeholders from multiple sectors to review lessons from past pandemic responses, assess current mechanisms, and gather critical inputs for strengthening national preparedness. Key recommendations included revising the 2019 NPPRP and developing an updated Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan aligned with emerging risks, national priorities, and relevant international frameworks. Nepal also held a two day workshop dedicated to advancing the National Action Plan for Genomic Surveillance, aimed at reinforcing the country’s capacities for early detection and monitoring of emerging respiratory pathogens.Sri Lanka received the final report from WHO on the feasibility assessment for conducting an Influenza Burden of Disease (BoD) study in the country. The assessment, conducted from 28 April to 9 May 2025, included a desk review of existing data sources, document review, visits to sentinel surveillance sites, and key informant interviews. The study identified critical data sources required for a future BoD assessment, as well as their availability and quality. Officials from the Epidemiology Unit, the National Influenza Centre (NIC), and SARI/ILI sentinel hospitals across the country participated in the assessment.Timor Leste conducted on‑the‑job training and monitoring activities at two sentinel surveillance sites to strengthen surveillance and laboratory capacity for the detection of SARI, ILI, ARI, and other respiratory infections. REGIONAL OFFICE:SEARO conducted a Member States Consultation on the first draft of the Regional Roadmap and Strategic Action Framework for implementing WHO’s PRET‑based broad respiratory pathogen pandemic planning for 2026–2031. The consultation took place on 29–30 October 2025 during the final two days of the Regional PIP PC Annual Review and PRET Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Participants included representatives from Member States, WHO Country Offices, WHO SEARO, WHO Headquarters, partner agencies, and invited multidisciplinary technical experts. They reviewed the draft and provided detailed feedback, which has since been incorporated into a revised version. The consultation helped shape a shared regional vision for robust, PRET‑aligned pandemic preparedness, building on country‑level progress, addressing existing gaps and challenges, and aligning with global and regional health security frameworks. The publication is planned for release during the SEAR regional committee in 2026.SEARO documented the evolution of the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Planning process in the Region, tracing its development from its origins as a planning tool for responding to avian influenza outbreaks in 2006, through the experiences of the 2009 and 2019 pandemics, to the current status. The document outlines the way forward for respiratory pathogen pandemic planning across all 10 SEAR countries, aligning future national plans with WHO’s PRET Framework for broad respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness.The Infectious Hazard Management (IHM) Unit has drafted the WHO South‑East Asia Regional Guidance on Influenza Prevention and Control, aligned with the Global Influenza Strategy and other regional initiatives. The draft is currently under review. Although this technical product was developed in response to a request from the Ministry of Public Health of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (MoPH‑DPRK), SEARO is finalizing it for use not only in DPRK but also across all Member States in the Region.The Immunization and Vaccine Development (IVD) Unit, in collaboration with WHE/SEARO, completed a regional landscape analysis on key barriers, challenges, and opportunities for the introduction of seasonal influenza vaccination in WHO South‑East Asia Regional (SEAR) countries.Additionally, the Immunization and Vaccine Development (IVD) Unit has completed a regional landscape analysis of influenza vaccine procurement systems across the WHO South‑East Asia Region (SEAR).KEY MEETINGS AND PUBLICATIONSMEETINGS:Six-month progress review of the implementation of the PIP-PC workplans in SEAR, focusing on Outputs 1 and 2 for the period January to June 2025, and held virtually across three sessions on 4, 8, and 10 July 2025. Read moreAnnual Regional Meeting (Hybrid) on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contribution (PC) and WHO’s Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) Implementation in SEAR in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 27 to 30 October 2025. Read more18th Bi-regional Meeting (Virtual) of National Influenza Centres (NICs) and influenza surveillance in WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions from 9 to 11 September 2025. Read morePUBLICATIONSImplications of influenza A virus surveillance in Southeast Asian Region countries: a scoping review of approaches for the surveillance of swine influenza viruses at human-swine interfaces. Read moreAnnual South-East Asia regional meeting on operational planning for implementation of global influenza strategy and preparedness for respiratory viruses in 2025 Report on annual review meeting of implementation of pandemic influenza preparedness (PIP) partnership Contribution (PC) Fund in South-East Asia Region and the simulation exercise on PRET Status of influenza in who south-East Asia Region
US tourists in Mexico's Puerto Vallarta told to 'shelter in place'
Violence erupted in Puerto Vallarta and other parts of Mexico after the government killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Gavin Newsom discusses a potential 2028 matchup with Kamala Harris and why his son doesn’t want him to run
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, launching a book tour widely seen as a prelude to a presidential run, discussed the possibility of running against former Vice President Kamala Harris, another longtime figure in California politics.
More advanced maths students needed for tech sector: Hong Kong committee head
Government will review admission score calculation for some universities’ science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics programmes.
Supreme Court wades into US-Cuba business disputes, with billions at stake
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to explore legal questions arising from the fraught history of U.S.-Cuban relations when it considers the scope of a 1996 law that lets U.S. nationals seek compensation for property confiscated by the communist-led Cuban government.
Josh Shapiro to neighbors: Get off my lawn
The Pennsylvania governor and Democratic star is embroiled in a dispute with his neighbor that has escalated into an unlikely political saga.
‘GRWM’ to meet the governor: How Mass. politicians are turning to friendly influencers to spread their messages
Massachusetts politicians are increasingly embracing online creators to expand their reach beyond traditional press, including offering them one-on-one interviews or inviting them to events.
Commentary: Eight candidates, four minutes to run for California governor. Ready, go!
Appearing before the Democratic faithful at the state party convention in San Francisco, hopefuls offered the whys and wherefores of their candidacies. There was a great deal of Trump bashing.
Who could drop out of the California governor's race?
(Inside California Politics) — This week on Inside California Politics, two political insiders break down an exclusive poll of the governor’s race. Plus, host Nikki Laurenzo sits down with new Sena…
Vermont’s Republican governor has been campaigning on ‘affordability’ for years. Now other politicians are catching up.
Governor Phil Scott was early to the cost of living crisis. As other politicians catch up, his experience shows the benefits and limits of preaching "affordability."
Global Leaders and Businesses Pore Over Fallout of More US Tariff Swoons
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean trade officials scrambled Saturday to assess the impact of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling to invalidate some Trump administration tariffs, as business and governments around the world pored over the possible fallout from moves in Washington on the global economy.
Epstein files: Truth, accountability and a million new conspiracy theories
The Epstein files were supposed to be an exercise in government transparency, but they have also spawned their own opaque subgenre of conspiracy theories.
Business groups seek quick tariff refunds after Supreme Court ruling
(The Center Square) – The U.S. businesses that paid billions in tariffs to the federal government want their money back.
Wellspring Launches Treasury Management Platform for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses
The solution integrates liquidity management, payments infrastructure, and yield across banking and stablecoin rails within a governed treasury framework.Los Angeles, CA, Feb. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wellspring today announced the launch of Wellspring Institutional, a Treasury Management platform designed for small and mid-sized businesses. The solution provides finance teams with centralized cash visibility, integrated domestic and cross-border payments, and the ability to generate yield o
Minnesota Political Landscape Upended by Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
A fraud scandal had Democrats on the defensive and led Gov. Tim Walz to end his re-election bid. But the ICE surge upended the political landscape.
Venezuela grants amnesty to 379 political prisoners
The move is in line with a new law, giving hope to throngs of others imprisoned over alleged plots to oust the government.
Governor Gianforte Mentors Great Falls Students on Careers in Technology and Business
GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte recently visited Great Falls High School to address students and discuss the pathways to careers in technology, business, and entrepreneurship. The Career Exploration class at Great Falls High School is being offered this semester to give students the opportunity to hear directly from Montanans in different career fields.
Colorado GOP officers set competing meetings to hold ‘no-confidence’ votes on state chair Brita Horn
Once again, members of the Colorado Republican Party’s central committee have scheduled separate, competing meetings to consider whether the state GOP’s governing body supports its chair, but this time neither meeting will be held under a bridge. State GOP Chair Brita Horn on Feb. 14 issued a formal call for an online meeting on March […]
War Department Announces Realignment of Anomalous Health Incidents Cro
The War Department recently announced the realignment of the Anomalous Health Incidents Cross‑Functional Team to the Office of the Undersecretary of War for Research and Engineering.
Pappas Holds Discussion with NH Health Care Leaders on Protecting and Expanding Telehealth Access
Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) held a roundtable conversation with local health advocates from organizations and hospitals, including New Futures, Speare Memorial Hospital, Home Care, Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance of NH, HealthFirst, to highlight the importance of telehealth for Granite Staters and his recently introduced bipartisan legislation to protect and expand access to telehealth.
'Everyone here is irate': White House scrambles after tariff loss as Trump unloads on Supreme Court
Trump was speaking to governors at the White House when the Supreme Court decision came down. An aide handed him a note, and Trump told the group it was a "disgrace."
What new plan says Oregon can do to retain behavioral health workers
Oregon needs to improve recruitment, credentialing and training of behavioral health workers, a report from a council formed by Gov. Tina Kotek said.
NASA Is Helping Bring Giant Tortoises Back to the Galápagos
Giant tortoises are returning to Floreana Island after more than 150 years, guided by NASA data that shows suitable areas for release.
Where do Cam Newton, Tua Tagovailoa, other in-state stars rank on ESPN’s top college football QBs of 2000s?
ESPN’s Bill Connelly released updated Top 100 on Friday
Trump administration plan could indefinity restrict work permits for asylum seekers
A government agency says that, under the plan, new work permit applications for asylum seekers “would be paused for an extended period, possibly many years.”
3L Ediz Kalkan Builds Practice-Ready Skills through UC Law SF’s Business Law Concentration - UC Law San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings)
3L student Ediz Kalkan combined rigorous coursework, mentorship, and hands-on client experience to emerge ready for corporate practice. 3L student Ediz Kalkan shares how UC Law SF’s Business Law Concentration helped him gain the practical skills, doctrinal knowledge, and professional confidence to pursue a career advising corporate clients. It’s one of 12 concentrations that allow JD students to gain specialized expertise in a focused area of legal practice. 3L Ediz Kalkan built a strong foundation in corporate law through specialized coursework and mentorship from faculty and industry leaders. He gained hands-on client experience advising startups through the Startup Legal Garage and through roles in-house and at a law firm. He emerged prepared to handle sophisticated legal matters and interact confidently with clients. 3L Ediz Kalkan: I always gravitated toward business law courses at UC Law SF, so it made sense to memorialize that interest by completing the concentration — especially since I already planned to take most of the required coursework. I have taken many practical- and doctrinal-focused courses, including practical-oriented courses such as Mergers and Acquisitions, Venture Capital and Start Ups, Startup Business Lawyering, Private Equity and Hedge Funds, Corporate Governance, Corporate Finance and a few others. On the doctrinal side, I have taken Business Associations and am currently enrolled in Bankruptcy and Securities Regulation. These courses and professors equipped me with a strong foundation in universal corporate legal principals, fluency in the jargon, and insight into how corporate law intersects with markets, public and private companies, and government agencies. I also gained invaluable mentorship and lessons from industry leaders — both from the faculty and the dozens of guest speakers invited to the classroom. At UC Law SF, I participated in the Corporate Module of the Startup Legal Garage, where I observed practicing attorneys and helped real clients with real startup-related legal needs. I learned substantive law, business strategy — and most importantly — was socialized to the practice of law and the etiquette and expectations of being a junior attorney. I spent my 1L summer at AXOS Bank, a commercial bank in San Diego, where I gained experience with securities regulation, enterprise banking, and in-house work at a public company. From January of my 2L year to now, I have worked as a law clerk at Bartko Pavia LLP, gaining experience in a traditional law firm setting. I have had the privilege of working with startups all the way to public companies, as well as international clients. The experience has strengthened my confidence in tackling complex legal issues and interacting with clients. Through these experiences, I’ve learned that effectively advising clients takes more than subject-matter expertise. This work, and my time in the UC Law SF business concentration, have inspired me to pursue an MBA after law school to become a more well-rounded professional. My career plans remain focused on corporate practice and enhancing my value as a business advisor. I would happily recommend UC Law SF and this concentration because of its robust course catalog, highly successful professors and adjuncts, and extensive resources. Not to mention, UC Law SF is uniquely situated just minutes away from many of the world’s most innovative companies, all of which have legal needs — creating meaningful opportunities for students. My peers and I have been incredibly fortunate to have access to this network of industry leaders and legal professionals. Ultimately, business lawyers can take many paths, but all require the strong foundation that the business law concentration and the incredible people at UC Law SF provide. The Evidence of Success series highlights UC Law SF students as they share how the college’s opportunities equip them with the experience, skills, and confidence to excel in the legal profession.
Business of Healthcare Summit welcomes another packed house
Shevaun Harris spoke for a moment not as a top state government official but as a patient and consumer. “I just got fussed at by my doctor because I
Trump kicks reporters out of White House governors meeting. 'You can leave.'
Trump kicked reporters out of his breakfast meeting with governors so the officials could have a 'candid' conversation.
All Politics Is Local
UD's Summer City Management Fellows Program paves the way for students to carve a path to a career in local government.
Science Democrats Concerned Over Reports of Problematic NIST Policy for Foreign Researchers
The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Connect with GSA at the CT Business Matchmaker in Hartford on March 5
February 20, 2026Connect with GSA at the CT Business Matchmaker on March 5 in HartfordHARTFORD, Conn. –Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that GSA’s Office of Small Disadv
A third patient has died after Idaho cut a Medicaid mental health service
Idaho Medicaid contractor Magellan cut the service after provider pay cuts stemming from Gov. Brad Little's executive order.
Alabama sets limits on science used for regulations
The measure, which Gov. Kay Ivey agreed to Thursday, takes it cues from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
Analysis | Congress out while DHS stays closed
The Washington Post’s essential guide to power and influence in D.C. It’s been a very quiet partial government shutdown.
Trump-governors meeting sets up another White House vs. states clash
An annual bipartisan meeting of governors has become, in the words of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, "a lot of drama."
‘We’ve been abandoned’: Some Md. business owners say Gov. Wes Moore left them behind
When Wes Moore first ran for governor, he framed his candidacy around a simple promise: Maryland would “leave no one behind.” But some small business owners say they feel abandoned.
When It Comes to Health Insurance, Federal Dollars Support More Than ACA Plans
Questions of fairness came up in last year’s congressional debate about extending Obamacare’s enhanced subsidies. Critics wondered why the federal government should underwrite coverage costs for people with ACA coverage. In truth, though, almost all health insurance in the U.S. comes with some federal help.
NY scraps proposal to legalize driverless robotaxis in blow to Waymo
New York's governor dropped a proposal to allow unmanned robotaxis, days after Waymo raised $16 billion to fund its expansion to more cities in the US.
'We’ve been abandoned’: Some Md. business owners say Gov. Wes Moore left them behind
When Wes Moore first ran for governor, he framed his candidacy around a simple promise: Maryland would "leave no one behind."
Venezuela approves amnesty bill, paving way for release of hundreds of political detainees
Venezuela’s legislature on Thursday approved an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of politicians, activists, lawyers and many others, effectively acknowledging that the government has held hundreds of people in prison for political motivations.
Why Venezuela passed a law to free hundreds of political prisoners after the US ousted Maduro
Venezuela has passed an amnesty law to free hundreds of political prisoners, in what the government calls a step toward reconciliation after the US ousted President Nicolás Maduro.
Beshear shares vision for Democrats' path forward
Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., is promoting a new book, and amid speculation he is eyeing a run for president.
Governors group skips White House meeting after Trump refused to invite two Democrats
The National Governors Association is pulling out of an annual meeting at the White House after President Donald Trump declined to invite two Democratic governors, undercutting one of Washington's few remaining bipartisan gatherings.
Florida Department of Health Celebrates the Florida 50 Finale - Florida Department of Health
“The Florida 50 underscores the fact that lasting health is built through daily choices,” said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo.
Red-state auditor's report flags Democratic gov's 'concerning' spending on 'luxury' expenditures
Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear is facing heat from the state's Republican auditor, who released a report outlining questionable spending from the executive branch.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger Will Deliver Democratic Response to Trump’s State of the Union
In selecting the Virginia governor, Democrats turned to a centrist former congresswoman whose winning campaign last year showed how their party’s candidates can succeed in the Trump era.
Federal agencies under Trump have been using white nationalist messages : The NPR Politics Podcast
Federal government agencies have repeatedly invoked white nationalist language and images in the year since President Trump returned to the White House for his second term. We discuss the intended target of those messages and what effects they have. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, domestic extremism correspondent Odette Yousef, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
Wisconsin GOP leader Robin Vos, who clashed with Trump, leaving office after reshaping the state
The longest-serving Assembly speaker in Wisconsin history, who acted as a block on the battleground state’s Democratic governor and also drew the ire of President Donald Trump, isn't running again.
A month after the pipe burst, Potomac sewage spills onto the national stage with political finger-pointing
The spill received more attention this week after Trump posted on social media about it — blaming local Democratic politicians, particularly Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
GOP, Dem governors address affordability, voting concerns in bipartisan conversation
State Infrastructure Can Strengthen Suicide Prevention in Health Systems
State governments that establish suicide prevention infrastructure foster the advancement of sustainable, evidence-based practices within their states’ hospitals and health systems. Recent examples of effective infrastructure include the authorization of comprehensive prevention policies and programs, dedicated funding streams, coordinated leadership, and robust data systems with suicide statistics.
Capital Programs Office releases Business Supports RFP to strengthen small and local construction and design firms
Capital Programs Office releases Business Supports RFP to strengthen small and local construction and design firms
Accelerating Science with Digital Twins
Researchers at Berkeley Lab are building digital twins that link physical systems with AI-informed models to accelerate discovery.
Spanish Business Lobby Urges More Strategic Migration Policy
Spain needs to create a “true migration policy,” even as a government plan to legalize about half a million migrants “makes sense,” one of the country’s most influential business groups said in a report.
Political stink: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore calls Trump’s sewage spill blame ‘absurd'
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore pushes back against Trump after the president blamed the Democratic governor for the Potomac River sewage spill on federal land.
Inside Iowa Politics: Feenstra faces critics at MAGA Nation Iowa event
U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, faced some party activists who have criticized him for not appearing with other candidates for governor at various events.
Inside Iowa Politics: Feenstra faces critics at MAGA Nation Iowa event
U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, faced some party activists who have criticized him for not appearing with other candidates for governor at various events.
How the lightning strikes of nuclear science will fill foundational radiation research gaps
One path to becoming a successful researcher is to find an under explored scientific niche and add knowledge where it didn’t exist before.
Map the Earth’s Magnetic Shield with the Space Umbrella Project
Use data from NASA’s Magnetosphere Multiscale Mission to shed light on solar storms. For anyone with a laptop or cell.
Data Science for Social Good Fellowship comes to Johns Hopkins
The Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence will host graduate students from across the country to deploy data science for social impact
Small But Mighty Microplate Reader Could Transform NASA Research
A compact microplate reader heading to the International Space Station could deliver space science results more quickly.
2 Health Care Organizations Will Receive 2025 Baldrige National Quality Awards
The award highlights organizations that focus on resilience.
Gov. Tim Walz faces tough political reality as he seeks to assert himself in final year in office
Republicans in the tied Minnesota House are already signaling opposition to the governor’s policy agenda, setting up early clashes as lawmakers returned to St. Paul this week.
He drew a line with Trump. Now Oklahoma’s governor is drawing the president‘s ire
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt arrived in Washington this week with invitations to two White House meetings and an angry President Donald Trump.
Federal proposal limiting foreign scientists at Boulder lab disrupts Colorado’s quantum industry
A proposed update to a federal security policy on government-funded research could shut out non-US associates from the federal lab after March
Commentary: The missing quality that defines the flaws in our business and government leadership
We used to expect our business and government leaders to have strength of character. Today that's been replaced by a moral vacuum
Ohio’s Covid Czar Hopes to Be the State’s Democratic Governor
Amy Acton’s service to retiring Gov. Mike DeWine gives her bipartisan credibility in a Republican state, but that service, leading Ohio’s pandemic response, also stirs charged emotions.
Don't be fooled: Land use is politics
Florida is a classic case of captured government —government of, by and for the developer.
Metro district legislation provides pragmatic, meaningful solution
By Sam Nizam Colorado needs more transparency and accountability in government… at all levels. And during the 2025 legislative session, one such bill made it through the process, improving transparency at the closest local level: metro districts. House Bill 25-1219, sponsored by Reps. Jacque Phillips and Carlos Barron and Sens. Kyle Mullica and Lisa Frizell, […]
United States and Madagascar to Implement $175 Million Five-Year Health MOU - U.S. Embassy in Madagascar
United States and Madagascar to Implement $175 Million Five-Year Health MOU U.S. and Malagasy health officials are convening in Antananarivo for a two-day joint review process, marking the first major step in implementing the strategic health cooperation framework established in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries in December 2025. The MoU outlines the structure and terms of U.S. support to Madagascar’s health sector from 2026 through 2030, with a total commitment of $134,305,000 from the U.S. Government and $41,216,252 from the Government of Madagascar working jointly to address malaria, maternal and child health, polio and global health security issues. This approach reflects the America First Global Health Strategy by prioritizing effective, results-driven cooperation that advances mutual health security and supports Madagascar’s progress toward self-reliance and independence from foreign assistance. The events bring together U.S. Government health experts and Madagascar’s Ministry of Public Health leadership to conduct a comprehensive review of seven major health programs currently supported by United States funding, discussing current activities, and developing recommendations for programs to align with the signed Memorandum of Understanding, which advances both the America First Global Health Strategy and the Government of Madagascar’s goals. “This memorandum sets the course for U.S. strategic cooperation and support to Madagascar’s health sector over the next five years,” said Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Arnold at the workshop’s opening. This review will help determine how to maximize the effectiveness and impact of these programs, ensuring resources provided by U.S. taxpayer dollars are used wisely,” she added. “By working together to address global health challenges, we demonstrate America’s leadership and commitment to a safer, healthier world, making both the United States and Madagascar healthier and stronger.” Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States is implementing a Global Health Strategy for foreign assistance that emphasizes increased host country ownership, resilient health systems and human resource capacity to reduce dependency, maintaining frontline support to reduce infectious disease threats, and strong performance monitoring systems for accountability and service delivery. “Diseases do not respect borders, and when we support Madagascar’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to infectious disease threats, we are contributing to global health security that benefits communities both here and in the United States,” Arnold emphasized, noting that “The MoU represents a commitment to transparency, accountability, and results.” The United States recognizes the commitment of Malagasy leadership in prioritizing investment of time and significant resources on the healthcare of their own citizens. With recent changes in leadership, Madagascar has an opportunity to strengthen governance, improve performance, and move forward toward greater self-reliance, particularly in the healthcare sector. Through strategic focus and thoughtful collaboration under this MoU, U.S. health programs in Madagascar will deliver meaningful results that advance both countries’ interests while supporting Madagascar’s journey toward greater self-reliance and a healthy future.
Governors arrive in Washington eager to push past Trump's partisan grip
Governors are arriving in Washington for an annual gathering that has traditionally been a show of bipartisanship
Governor Bob Ferguson
Under my proposal for a Millionaires' Tax, 170,000 small businesses would pay nothing in B&O taxes. Zero. Another 30,000 businesses would have their B&O tax reduced. Small businesses are going...
Political blame game pushes DC-area sewage spill onto national stage
A sewage spill near the nation's capital is turning into a national political story, with President Trump and Maryland's governor trading insults and blame.
Davids Hosts Johnson County Small Business Roundtable to Discuss Growth, Challenges
OVERLAND PARK, KS – Today, Representative Sharice Davids hosted a roundtable discussion with Johnson County small business owners and economic development leaders to talk about the successes and challenges facing local businesses and to highlight new data on the region’s growing small business ecosystem. She has hosted similar discussions in each of the other counties across Kansas’ Third District to ensure local perspectives are shaping her work in Congress.
Bring out the shy people: The case for politics without politicians
In a new book, political theorist Hélène Landemore argues that electoral politics is irredeemably broken but that democracy can be repaired by empowering ordinary people to govern.
What is the 'equal time' rule that Colbert says led CBS to pull his Talarico interview?
Stephen Colbert's comments that network executives pulled his interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico over fears it would violate regulatory guidance from the Trump administration has prompted a conversation about the rules governing how media outlets treat political coverage.
CSDA Program Announces Eight New Data Agreements
NASA’s Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program announced eight new agreements with seven of its commercial partners to give users more access to near‑global multispectral and synthetic aperture radar data.
Trump says his administration should pay him billions of dollars : The NPR Politics Podcast
President Trump has filed legal claims against the U.S. government and says he should be paid billions of dollars in damages. We discuss the significance of these claims and how Trump uses lawsuits as political tools. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
New Expedition 74 Foursome Kicks off Science, Gets Used to Space
Vein scans and pharmaceutical research topped the science schedule aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday. The Expedition 74 crew rounded out the day with Dragon cargo transfers, lab familiarization activities, and life support maintenance duties.
South Sudan Appoints Dead Man to Election Panel, as Political Crisis Grows
The government of President Salva Kiir has been accused of gross incompetence, as fighting between rebels and security forces pushes toward the capital.
Kathy Hochul's health care push runs into GOP wall
The Democratic governor has been trying to enlist the help of House Republicans to ensure people with low incomes and noncitizens can keep coverage.
Trump would like the government he leads to pay him billions
President Trump is asking the federal government for billions of dollars in damages, putting his own Justice Department on the spot and creating an unprecedented ethical morass.
Five Berkeley Lab Scientists Receive DOE Early Career Research Awards
Five scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have received Early Career Research Program (ECRP) awards from the Department of Energy. The ECRP program, now in its 16th year, was established to bolster the nation’s scientific workforce by supporting exceptional researchers at the outset of their careers, when many scientists do their most formative work. Recipients use the funding to pursue projects that have the potential to solve scientific challenges and advance the country’s STEM capabilities. To be eligible for the program, a researcher must be an untenured, tenure-track assistant or associate professor at a U.S. academic institution, or a full-time employee at a DOE national laboratory or Office of Science user facility, who is within 10 years of having earned their doctorate. Awards to an institution of higher education will be approximately $875,000 over five years, and awards to a DOE national laboratory or Office of Science user facility will be approximately $2,750,000 over five years. This year’s Berkeley Lab awardees and their projects are listed below: Timon Heim: Better detectors for more powerful particle colliders Timon Heim is a staff scientist in the Physics Division. His ECRP project will develop a new type of detector that can track the particles generated by collisions in particle colliders with high spatial and temporal resolution. Current detectors in use at high-energy colliders, like the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, can track the trajectory and measure momentum of particles, but they can’t track a particle’s time of arrival with sufficient precision to discern from which of the many particle interactions they originate. Heim’s proposed technology — called a 4D tracking detector, because it captures data about particles’ positions in space and time — aims to solve this challenge, allowing researchers to glean more precise data from collision experiments to uncover new insights into fundamental forces and potentially discover new particles. The enhanced capabilities of 4D detectors will be a necessity for experiments at future colliders, such as the Muon Collider or Future Circular Collider. The project will develop custom microelectronics that process the signal of a pixelated silicon sensor that can register charged particles passing through it in an extreme radiation environment that these colliders produce during operation. The goal is to measure individual particles’ position with 50-micro-meter spatial and 50 pico-second (one trillionth of a second) temporal precision, for an incoming flux of around 1 billion particles per second per square centimeter. Harrison Lisabeth: Studying underground processes to unleash abundant energy Harrison Lisabeth is a research scientist in the Energy Geoscience Division focused on combining real-world experiments and AI to guide development of geothermal energy systems. His project will explore how deep underground rock formations – where geothermal wells are dug – are stressed by chemical reactions of the minerals and mechanical strain from movements in the Earth. A better understanding of subsurface stresses is essential to engineer safe and reliable geothermal wells that access the heat of deep rocks to produce electricity. It is estimated that the U.S. could generate ten times the amount of energy needed to power the grid using geothermal sources. Lisabeth plans to simulate how minerals grow, dissolve, and influence the behavior of surrounding rock in geothermal reservoirs by tracking chemical changes in rock samples under pressure in the lab. The project will also develop machine learning models to predict geologic strain based on field measurements and refine existing models that describe how common rock types deform under stress. Combining these approaches, Lisabeth hopes to develop a framework to predict stress to improve stability and longevity of geothermal wells. Daniel Carney: Pushing the quantum boundaries of particle measurement Daniel Carney is a staff scientist in the Physics Division who uses quantum information science to study particle physics and gravity. At very small scales, “quantum noise” — random fluctuations from the act of measurement — can drown out faint signals from rare processes. Carney’s ECRP project, “Fundamental Physics at the Quantum Limits of Measurement,” aims to build a new mechanical quantum sensor that can measure extremely small particle interactions below the limits of that quantum noise. The approach uses lasers to hold a tiny bead containing radioactive atoms; when one decays, the system measures the bead’s motion and the energy of any particles emitted. The experiment’s initial goal is to search for heavy sterile neutrinos, hypothetical particles predicted by some extensions of the Standard Model. The system could also help measure the mass of the neutrino, study the way particles interact through the electromagnetic and weak forces, and hunt for low-mass dark matter — all unsolved mysteries in particle physics. Callum Wilkinson: Using machine learning to demystify neutrinos Callum Wilkinson is a staff scientist in the Physics Division and part of the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) hosted by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. DUNE will create an intense beam of neutrinos that interact in detectors in Illinois and, after an 800-mile journey through the earth, in massive detectors in South Dakota. By precisely measuring neutrinos and how they change, researchers will get a better understanding of their fundamental properties and whether they are responsible for why there is so much more matter than antimatter in our universe. Wilkinson’s ECRP project will apply two machine learning techniques to improve the analysis of DUNE’s data and enhance the experiment’s precision. One approach will look for hidden patterns in how neutrinos interact and produce low-energy particles, while the other will help correct for distortions in what the detectors record. The methods will be tested on one of DUNE’s prototype detectors and could be used in other neutrino experiments, improving their measurements and helping scientists build better models. Aditi Krishnapriyan: Machine learning methods that scale as datasets grow Aditi Krishnapriyan is a faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Applied Mathematics and Computational Research Division (AMCR) and assistant professor at UC Berkeley. Her project, awarded through UC Berkeley, will develop machine learning methods that scale with dataset size for modeling complex, multi-scale phenomena. The resulting tools can be applied in a wide range of research, including the study of new electrolytes for batteries or the examination of molecular interactions. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
NASA’s Hubble Identifies One of Darkest Known Galaxies
Hubble identified a rare dark galaxy — a low-surface-brightness galaxy dominated by dark matter and containing only a sparse scattering of faint stars.
Every breath you take: Breathe Philly helps you breathe easier
Breathe Philly is a new air monitoring project that increases Philadelphia’s air monitoring capabilities and improves access to data.
GCU students put their passion into politics at statehouse
It can be tough working in government and politics with the polarization and rancor around it these days. But Kady Binsbacher sees it as a […]
Armstrong to attend NGA Winter Meeting, White House business session, panel on permitting reform | North Dakota Office of the Governor
Gov. Kelly Armstrong and First Lady Kjersti Armstrong will attend the National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.
GUEST COMMENTARY: When rhetoric replaces reality — the decline of American politics
Since 2015, our nation has drifted further apart. Friends, families and neighbors often stop communicating because of politics. What was once an afterthought for many Americans — especially younger ones — now dominates everyday life. The actions of elected and unelected officials at every level of government are constantly at the center of public attention.
Checkup Time! How Measurement Science Keeps You Healthy
From blood transfusions to broken bones, accurate measurements are a vital part of health care.
Healey, Driscoll's Campaign Stop Talks Housing, Health and ICE
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Gov. Maura Healey acknowledged challenges and touted successes on Tuesday to a packed room at the former Johnson School on Tuesday. Healey, standing with...
Portuguese PM slammed over €20K TV sports contract
Luís Montenegro has ordered his team to renegotiate the price paid to stream football matches in his official residence and government offices.
Colorado lawmakers must stem our health care cost crisis
By Ali Rakestraw I’m a family physician and lifelong Coloradan, and I’m watching a health care crisis unfold in real time. Every day, I see patients struggling to afford the care they desperately need — and it’s about to get much worse. The federal government has slashed Medicaid funding, let Affordable-Care-Act enhanced subsidies expire, and […]
Brain drain is undermining America’s scientific edge
Policy decisions grounded in Maga talking points are helping to fuel a PhD exodus from government
Gov. Beshear teases Wednesday announcement in social media posts
There is much speculation on social media about what the announcement could be.
RFK Jr. pledged more transparency. Here's what the public doesn't know anymore
Health experts say the federal government now shares less public health data, even after Robert F Kennedy Jr. promised “radical transparency.”
Some states push back on Trump recruiting local officers to aid immigration enforcement
Ten states — all led by Democrats — now have statewide policies prohibiting law enforcement officers from cooperating in one of the primary programs Trump is using to carry out his agenda of mass deportations.