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State Legislative Chambers Could Flip in the Midterms. Here's Where
The race to control Congress in the 2026 midterm elections has dominated the public’s attention. But in many cases, state legislatures may have an even greater impact on Americans’ lives – and there’s a lot of ferment in this year’s contests. With partisan gridlock often hampering lawmaking in ...
Washington Taxed Its Millionaires. Now the Rich Want It Repealed.
Washington State voters will get a chance to accept or reject the 9.9 percent income tax on millionaires approved by the Legislature, which broke the state’s taboo against levying income taxes.
Change or continuity? Benson and James battle down stretch run for governor’s office
The successor to term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer could chart a new course on education, economic development and a range of other issues, though much will depend on which party controls the Legislature.
Arizona Republican consultant thinks Democrats will 'end up disappointed'
A Republican political consultant and former Arizona lawmaker believes reports of the GOP’s demise are greatly exaggerated.
Pritzker says something will get done in veto session to keep Bears
The Illinois Legislature is scheduled to hold a veto session in the weeks before and after Thanksgiving.
New Hampshire voters pick nominees as Sen. Shaheen’s exit sparks a scramble for key seats
New Hampshire primary voters are choosing candidates for Congress, governor and the state Legislature, with the retirement of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen creating the most competitive races | WWL
Personnel note: Alex Barrera joins Ballard Partners’ Miami, Tallahassee offices
' … few people understand as well as he does how priorities move through the Legislature and how state and local government works.'
August 2026 Michigan legislative roundup: Money out of politics, prison safety and primary care
Each month, The Michigan Daily publishes a compilation of some of the most relevant bills in the Michigan Legislature for students.
Doctors, insurers sue Newsom over health insurance premium increases
Doctors and health insurers have filed suit alleging Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature violated the law when they approved a healthcare tax that could substantially increase insurance premiums.
Voters decide key ballot measures on abortion rights, congressional redistricting and voter ID laws
2026 ELECTION COVERAGE: Watch Live | Poll Closing Times | All Live Results | Live Updates | Live Fact Check WASHINGTON (AP) — A battle over abortion rights is playing out in several states Tuesday as voters decide 145 proposed laws and constitutional amendments, including some that could affect voting for future elections. The ballot measures provide a political undercard for a high-profile midterm election that will determine which party controls Congress, state legislatures and
As Democrats gain power in Pa., some business leaders wonder about moderation
A GOP Senate forced moderation in Pennsylvania's legislature, according to some — so what will Democrats do now?
Election 2026: Political newcomer Pierrette Farber running unopposed in Ulster County Legislature District 17
When New Paltz voters head to the polls, they will elect a political newcomer to represent them on the Ulster County Legislature.
Chamber offers business-focused voter guide for 2026 general election
Business owners wanting to know where candidates for Congress, the state Legislature and Richland City Council stand on economic issues can review the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce’s online voting guide.
What divided government could look like if Gina Hinojosa wins
Even if a Democrat were in the Governor’s Mansion, Republicans would likely control the Legislature. Divided government could mean limited political control.
What could MS Legislature, politicians do to lower gas prices?
The days of the $20 tank are so far in the rearview mirror that the memories have grown fuzzy.
Democrats take full control of Legislature, Michigan government. What to expect
Gov.-elect Jocelyn Benson can expect smooth sailing for her agenda, as Democrats win the state House, grow their Senate majority and maintain control of the Supreme Court, attorney general and secretary of state.
Grand jury indicted ex-Idaho health official on felony misuse of funds. A judge dropped the case.
The first criminal charges, now dismissed, emerged from a yearslong investigation launched by Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador.
Oregon OSHA’s New Healthcare Workplace Violence Prevention Rules Take Effect January 1, 2027
In response to the Oregon Legislature’s enactment of Senate Bill 537, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (Oregon OSHA) has now finalized its new workplace violence prevention rules for healthcare employers.
Editorial: Another dozen reasons to vote ‘no’ on Amendment 3
If you’re still still considering whether to vote for Amendment 3 (which would eliminate non-school property taxes for almost every homesteaded property in the state, and give the Legislature far
Rally to pass the New York Health Act
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Dozens of community members are expected to gather on Saturday morning to call on the State Legislature to pass the New York Health Act. New Yorkers will stand together wit…
Iowa Legislature expands MEGA program, creating path for steel plant incentive
During a special session on Friday, the Iowa Legislature expanded the Major Economic Growth Attraction (MEGA) program, paving the way for a tax incentive for Mesabi Metallics to construct a steel plant in Lee County. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the bill into law on Friday. The MEGA program, administered through the Iowa Economic Development Authority,…
In this vast stretch of northern Minnesota, shifting politics make every vote count
A state Senate rematch and a closely watched House race has a once-reliable DFL stronghold in northeastern Minnesota at the center of the fight for control of the Legislature.
Tech billionaires are spending millions to reshape California’s Legislature
Tech billionaires funding PACs have enjoyed recent growth in personal and corporate wealth and are spending it to handpick the Legislature.
New report shines a light on bipartisanship in Minnesota politics
A new report is shining a light on the bipartisan work that's continuing to be done in the Minnesota legislature.
Senfronia Thompson says she has votes to be Texas House speaker
The 87-year-old Houston Democrat, known as Ms. T, has served in the Legislature since 1973. On Tuesday, her party won control of the Texas House for the first time since 2003.
The last Democratic legislator in Rutland County is leaving office. What could that mean for the county’s political future?
Historically a Republican stronghold, Rutland County sent Republicans to fill a large majority of its seats in the Legislature last session. This election cycle, the Democratic Party couldn't find anyone to run for Senate and several House seats in Rutland.
‘Clarity and consistency’: Idaho senators, college leaders back sports reform bill
The school presidents at Idaho’s three most prominent public universities are beating the drum for the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act.
As Democrats gain power in Pa., some business leaders wonder about moderation
A GOP Senate forced moderation in Pennsylvania's legislature, according to some — so what will Democrats do now?
The Politics of Heat, Homes, and Lobster Boats.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Bank. MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION—The candidates’ forum focusing on House District 15 and incumbent Holly Eaton and Clifford Noyes last week spent a lot of time on the candidates’ thought of heating, communication with constituents, property taxes, education costs, and other issues. It also was a time for the community to ask their own questions and see two candidates up close and personal at the Southwest Harbor Fire Department firehouse. Jim Vallette organized the hour-long event, which was moderated by Carrie Jones of the Bar Harbor Story. Ken Rozsahegyi provided technical support for the congenial event. House District 15 serves Brooklin, Deer Isle, Eagle Island Township, Frenchboro, Isle au Haut, Marshall Island, Southwest Harbor, Stonington, Swan's Island, Tremont, and Vinalhaven. Jones advised as she began the question and answer part of the event, ”Treat everyone here like they are going to be the ones who might give you a ride in a rainstorm, pull your pet out of a burning building, or be the one grading your kids’ papers at school, okay?” She continued. “That’s it. Tonight isn’t meant to be a gotcha debate. The goal is to give people in the district a chance to get to know both candidates, hear what they care about, and understand what they’d actually try to accomplish in Augusta.” The questions and discussion throughout were kind. Eaton currently serves in the position. She’s a Democrat from Deer Isle, raised in a fishing family and has worked in nonprofits and volunteered for her school board. Noyes is unenrolled (politically) and from Southwest Harbor and currently a school board member, self employed as a mason. He focused on fiscal issues throughout the forum. Eventually, at Jones’ prompting, the candidates played “Rock, Paper, Scissors” for who would go first for their closing statements. Noyes used the opportunity to urge others to head to the ballot. “Whether you vote for me or Holly, it’s important that people vote,” Noyes said. He hoped the voter turnout in the district would be over 35 percent because that would mean people were truly engaged. Eaton stressed that she’s a Democrat, but in Augusta, her role isn’t about party. “I am a Democrat, but when I go to Augusta, I am there to represent the people of District 15. I want people to feel as though I’m accessible, that I’m responsive, and that I show up for the district,” Eaton said. Being there for others was vital, she explained. “When something comes before me in Augusta, I try to look at it through the lens of the people and the communities that I represent. How will this affect the people who live here? Does it make it easier or harder to raise a family here, to operate a small business, to work on the water, to afford a home, to keep our schools open, or provide the essential services our communities depend on?” Eaton said. Noyes spoke about fiscal responsibility and about the state being more responsive to communities and the ideas that come from them. “I feel that we desperately need to restore some fiscal sanity, a little bit. So when the legislature meets again,” Noyes said, “it could be critical for Maine residents that we don’t keep digging this hole that we’re in financially and keep raising our taxes so the struggling families struggle even more.” The two answered a series of questions from Jones, then answered questions from the audience and participants via Zoom. Jones asked what they heard the most from people about what was making their lives hard and what can the legislature in Augusta do it about those issues. Both spoke to concerns about heating oil costs. Noyes spoke to the three H’s: health, home, and heat. Eaton and Noyes spoke to the burdens of families with lower incomes, with Eaton mentioning LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program). They both were in favor of free community college and trade programs. They both supported the working waterfront. Both said that data centers—such as the one proposed in Eastport, which is out of the district—should be a local decision, but neither were in favor of it. The working waterfront was supported by both. Eaton’s served on the Maine Marine Resource Committee in the legislature. She advocated a diversity of fishing resources and less of a reliance on lobstering. Shrimp, she hoped, would make a comeback. Noyes worried about out-of-state pressure on the lobstering industry, also spoke of shrimp harvesting timings, and said he supported the lobstering industry. QUICK NOTE Carrie Jones is, obviously, the co-founder of the Bar Harbor Story, which made us have a bit of a hard time putting out this story and thinking it through and how to present it. We ended up with this article. The debate in its entirety is below, many thanks to Ken and Jim for making it publicly available. UPCOMING AND PAST EVENTS The following events are or were organized by the League of Women Voters Downeast. DISTRICT 7 DISTRICT ATTORNEY DISTRICT 13 Thursday, Oct 15, 2026 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM Candidate Forum: House District 13 125 State St , Ellsworth Featuring candidates Michael Cunningham (D) and Russell White (R), moderated by Cyndi Wood, managing editor of the Ellsworth American. DEMOCRACY FORUM Friday, Oct 16, 2026 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Democracy Forum — Election 2026: What’s on Your Ballot RECENT PRESS RELEASES AND BRIEFS To see all the press releases, click here. To see our news, click here. For the full archive, click here. All of these are on our dedicated website. [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/feeling-stressed-kids-corner-invites) [ Feeling Stressed? Kids’ Corner Invites Parents, Educators, and Caregivers to Rediscover the Joy with National Speaker Raelene Ostberg Oct 14 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/feeling-stressed-kids-corner-invites) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/feeling-stressed-kids-corner-invites) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/mainely-meats-pink-party-for-breast) [ Mainely Meat’s Pink Party for Breast Cancer Awareness is October 18! Oct 14 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/mainely-meats-pink-party-for-breast) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/mainely-meats-pink-party-for-breast) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/conners-emerson-school-announces) [ Conners Emerson School Announces Public Surplus Property Sale Oct 14 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/conners-emerson-school-announces) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/conners-emerson-school-announces) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/planting-the-writers-garden) [ Planting the Writer’s Garden 12:15 AM ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/planting-the-writers-garden) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/planting-the-writers-garden) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/artist-maria-de-los-angeles-explores) [ Artist Maria de los Angeles explores migration and belonging in COA public lecture 12:19 AM ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/artist-maria-de-los-angeles-explores) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/artist-maria-de-los-angeles-explores) HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other. We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going. If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship. It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light. Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now. Thank you so much for being here. Founding member information can be found here. Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you. Subscribe Share Bar Harbor Story Share Leave a comment
Hendrickson: Taxpayer protections vital for Iowa’s business climate
This November, Iowans will be asked to vote on a simple constitutional amendment that would make it more difficult for the legislature to increase income taxes. Specifically, the amendment would
Six decades of politics (but little government)
The first aired episode of “Star Trek,” entitled “The Man Trap,” premiered on September 8, 1966 — 60 years ago today. I’m actually editing a political science fiction issue of The Forum right now, and it’s prompted to me think a lot about the ways that Trek deals with politics and government and what it’s offered us as commentary. The @smotus report is a reader-supported publication. To support this work, please become a paid subscriber. Subscribe The original TV series ran from 1966 to 1969. It had a loyal but modest following, but the audience grew substantially with the series in syndication for years after that. The franchise developed its first motion picture in 1979, followed by five sequels, and then a whole other series of films built around the “Next Generation” series that first aired in 1987. In recent decades, several more TV series have built up around it, including the current “Strange New Worlds,” now in its fourth season. Throughout the past six decades, the franchise has offered us a good many insights into US politics and international relations, although often disguised as science fiction yarns. The original series was largely a Cold War fable, with the United Federation of Planets (a stand-in for the US) perpetually at odds with the Klingon Empire (a stand-in for the USSR). The “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” episode (1969) posited a planet divided into two races, largely indistinguishable to outsiders, but nonetheless constituting a brutal racial hierarchy. “Patterns of Force” (1968) showed a struggling planet where the leader had attempted to construct a benevolent dictatorship — literally Nazism without bigotry — and found that authoritarianism could not exist apart from hierarchy and oppression. (Relatedly, I’d put “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country,” high on a list of dad films about the end of the Cold War, near “The Hunt for Red October.”) Get 20% off for 1 year Indeed, the original series itself was something of a political statement, with a multi-racial crew running the Enterprise, a diverse and largely peaceful Federation mostly free from want and oppression, and protected by Starfleet, an armed force whose scientific mission was at least as important as its military one. Famously, when Nichelle Nichols wanted to walk away from the role of Uhura on the original series, none other than Martin Luther King, Jr. met with her and urged her to remain on the show, discussing the importance of viewers seeing an intelligent Black woman as part of the command team three centuries hence. Later series in the Trek franchise offered a good deal of political commentary on their own, but probably none as explicitly and incisively as “Deep Space Nine,” which ran from 1993 to 1999. The episodes surrounding the Dominion War, especially the “In The Pale Moonlight” (1998), showed the compromises, sacrifices, and moral rot associated with winning even a just war — probably better than any series would until “Andor” (2022-25). In “Far Beyond The Stars” (1998), Captain Benjamin Sisko is somehow transplanted to the role of a science fiction writer in 1950s New York. The writer is frequently sidelined and his ideas stolen because publishers don’t want to credit a Black writer. Several series have depicted the secretive Section 31 — an unacknowledged black ops security force operating within Starfleet. These episodes often end up using Section 31 as a foil to show the dangers of a lawless group within a lawful society, even (especially) when that group posits itself as essential for everyone else’s freedom to continue. The current “Strange New Worlds” has played with a few political themes. I found the first two seasons of this show among the best that the Trek franchise has produced in decades, but this season and the last have really been struggling for ideas. Yet one interesting thread is the idea that the diplomatic and enlightened leadership style of Captain Christopher Pike will not work in all situations. “A Quality of Mercy” (2022), which I wrote about here, puts Pike in the middle of a battle with a Romulan vessel in an alternate timeline, and finds that Pike’s conciliatory style would actually make a lengthy and deadly war more likely, while a quick and more violent approach might have prevented the war. This season’s opener, “Valles Marineris,” shows a pre-lightspeed civilization locked in a war to the death with a neighboring planet. The idea of an alliance or a federation hasn’t even occurred to them — their ship’s commander is curious but doesn’t see it as an option. For a franchise as political as “Star Trek,” one thing we almost never see is the government. We get occasional glimpses of Starfleet’s council — mostly uniformed people at a rectangular table — but almost no sense of how the Federation is governed. Are there elections? Who is in the legislature? How much power does the president have? What kind of factional divisions do they wrestle with and how? The shows and films are pretty silent on this. We’ve seen a few military tribunals within Starfleet, but little about how civilians deal with crime and injustice. With recent years seeing some of the franchise’s more interesting plot lines and casts, it seems clear that Star Trek is still full of energy and ideas. Given the erosion of American democracy and the reshuffling of the international order, there’s no shortage of material for future shows to comment on. I’m not sure we should toast to 60 more years, but cheers to a show that continues to teach us about ourselves. Share
A record number of women are running for state legislatures this year
A record number of women are running for state legislative seats this November, more than two-thirds of whom are Democrats. Across the 46 states with legislative seats on the ballot, a total of 3,824 women are running — up from 2022’s previous record of 3,621 women candidates, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.
Lawmakers seek AG probe after audit finds problems with North Dakota business financing program
BISMARCK (North Dakota Monitor) - A legislative audit committee voted Tuesday to urge the full Legislature to ...
Doctors, insurers sue Newsom over health insurance premium increases
Doctors and health insurers have filed suit alleging Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature violated the law when they approved a healthcare tax that could substantially increase insurance premiums
How Governments Worldwide Are Shaping What AI Can Say About Politics
California and Hawai‘i, for example, are two states that have banned sharing deceptive AI content about candidates in the months around an election.
Interim Report: Joint Committee on Health
The Joint Committee on Health met this evening. The Committee first heard from the Reason Foundation, a nonprofit think tank interested in the benefits of psilocybin. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring compound found in some mushrooms that can enhance mood, thinking, and perception. It has a low potential for abuse…
Doctors, insurers sue Newsom over health insurance premium increases
Doctors and health insurers have filed suit alleging Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature violated the law when they approved a healthcare tax that could substantially increase insurance premiums.
Blakeman wants to end HALT through governor's leverage
It's conventional wisdom that he would face a Democrat led legislature if elected.
Report shows $1B Maine budget gap
The report comes as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of the Legislature and governor’s mansion.
Politics Unplugged Podcast: Marcus Dell’Artino on the November election
Republican strategist Marcus Dell’Artino returns to talk about polling for the election races and whether Democrats may gain control of the Legislature. Dell’Artino says affordability—covering inflation, housing and gas prices—continues to dominate voter concerns. They also examine whether low Republican energy, Democratic turnout efforts and negative campaigning could reshape the governor’s race. Water security and Colorado River cuts are rising on voters’ priority lists as Arizona’s growth continues. The discussion also looks at whether Trump fatigue and a possible Democratic wave could affect control of the Legislature.
Joint Finance Committee receives updates on tax collections, Rural Health Transformation
CHARLESTON – Members of the West Virginia Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Finance were updated Tuesday on the latest regarding general revenue fund tax collections and federal Rural Health Transformation grants on the last day of interim meetings. Department of Revenue Cabinet Secretary Eric Nelson and Deputy Secretary Pete Shirley said gains in the collections […]
Politics Friday: Will the election loosen a historically knotted Minnesota Legislature?
Friday at noon, four Minnesota legislative leaders discuss the 2026 playing field and the issues they say are motivating voters with all 201 seats on the ballot.
Explaining N.C.'s proposed constitutional amendments: Voter ID requirements
A constitutional amendment the state legislature proposed would require photo ID for all voters, regardless of the method.
California Seeks to Implement AI Guardrails for Mental Health Treatment
A bill has been unanimously passed by the California Senate that seeks to establish common-sense guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI) use in mental A bill has been passed by the California legislature that sets common sense guardrails for Artificial intelligence in mental health treatment. The bill now awaits the signature of the state governor.
Calls to sign infant formula testing bill into law in New York
The measure passed the state Legislature this past session. It’s now up to Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign into law.
5 takeaways from Iowa lawmakers passing historic $1.4B tax breaks
Five key takeaways from the Iowa Legislature passing historic tax incentives for a $15 billion proposed steel mill.
Sen. Mitzi Epstein won't run again, but politics is in her blood
Sen. Mitzi Epstein, who served 10 years in the Legislature, might not run again, but she said she plans to stay in politics.
Pritzker pushing for data center legislation in fall veto session
Gov. JB Pritzker expects the state Legislature will take up the issue of data-center regulation during the veto session session later this year.
Task force ditches Wyoming-run health insurance plan idea, mulls unorthodox service models
Legislature-assigned panel studying healthcare affordability in Wyoming examines several alternative pricing structures. The task force hopes to continue work next year.
Health Act Rally in Rochester
New Yorkers will rally on October 17 in a coordinated day of action calling on the State Legislature to pass the New York Health Act and guarantee healthcare for every New Yorker. Across hundreds of miles, New Yorkers will stand together on the same day, under the same banner, with one unified message for Albany: New York is facing a healthcare crisis.
Democrats sweep Pulaski County House, Senate races
With one exception, Democrats won legislative seats across Pulaski County adding two House seats and one Senate position to their column in the Arkansas legislature. Democrats held onto four of...
Democratic group substantially increases fundraising to seize state legislatures
The States Project, an organization focused on electing Democrats to state legislatures, has raised more than $100 million this cycle.
Oregon was once a Republican stronghold. This politician started shifting the balance in 1954
For much of the first half of the 20th century, Oregon was effectively a one-party Republican state. Democrats had not won a U.S. Senate seat in 40 years, had not won a U.S. House seat in 18 years, and had controlled the state legislature for only four of 74 years since 1880. Into this landscape emerged Richard Neuberger, a Portland-born journalist of Jewish heritage whose prolific writing career, progressive convictions and remarkable personal drive would reshape Oregon politics.
A ‘bloodbath.’ Georgia Democrats sweep statewide offices in historic political upheaval
A Democratic wave ended decades of GOP dominance in Georgia and threatened the GOP's grip on the state Legislature.
State Question 845: What Oklahoma voters need to know before November 3
The Legislature is asking Oklahoma voters to consider changing the state Constitution to restructure the Judicial Nominating Commission.
Capitol View: Political roundtable, economist Mervin Jebaraj
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – How are the races in the state legislature shaping up? Capitol View host Roby Brock met with Democratic strategist Michael Cook and Republican strategist Grant Hodges to talk about...
New Hampshire voters pick midterm nominees as Sen. Shaheen's exit sparks scramble for key seats
New Hampshire primary voters are choosing candidates for Congress, governor and the 424-seat state Legislature on Tuesday, and incumbents aren’t the only familiar names on the ballot.
Texas health agency asks lawmakers for additional funding to address growing Medicaid, SNAP backlogs
Texas Health and Human Services is asking the state Legislature for the funding to make more than 600 temporary eligibility worker positions into permanent jobs. The ask comes as Texas' backlog of Medicaid and Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, applications continues to grow.
Tom Tiffany's conservative record dates back years in state and federal politics
As he runs for governor, Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany has introduced himself to voters as a get-along kind of conservative, but his lengthy record in the state Legislature and Congress tells a different story.
Interim Report: Joint Committee on Finance
The Joint Finance Committee met this morning. First, the committee heard from the Department of Revenue. The general revenue fund is $34.8 million over the estimate. The personal income tax revenue and sales tax revenue are both up. Severance is under the estimate. The state road fund is $27.2 million…
“The Politics of Abuse”: Survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse Shares How State Court Impacts Those Seeking Justice
Through the statewide tour, Trout and local advocates continued conversations about the barriers survivors face and the role North Carolina's legislature and courts play in addressing them.
Iowa State Association of Counties brings on new government relations director
Emily Schwickerath has joined the Iowa State Association of Counties as the director of government relations. She comes to the team after working with U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, who represents Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District. She has also worked in the Iowa Legislature and hopes to bring her governmental experience to ISAC to strengthen relationships between…
Former Rep. Mark Wright talks Legislature, ports and politics
Mark Wright reflects on his legislative career, tax reforms, and the challenges and opportunities for the state's ports.
Politics Unplugged Podcast: Marcus Dell’Artino on the November election
Republican strategist Marcus Dell’Artino returns to talk about polling for the election races and whether Democrats may gain control of the Legislature. Dell’Artino says affordability—covering inflation, housing and gas prices—continues to dominate voter concerns. They also examine whether low Republican energy, Democratic turnout efforts and negative campaigning could reshape the governor’s race. Water security and Colorado River cuts are rising on voters’ priority lists as Arizona’s growth continues. The discussion also looks at whether Trump fatigue and a possible Democratic wave could affect control of the Legislature.
A Blue Wave Swept Congress. It Also Upended State Politics
The big headlines from Election Day 2026 had to do with the Democratic takeovers of the U.S. House and Senate. Those wins were noteworthy – but a development at least as striking was the Democratic gains in the state legislatures. Democrats flipped both chambers in New Hampshire and Wisconsin, and ...
Top insurance official recommends task force for studying Idaho's most critical healthcare issues
The Idaho Legislature continues to study the state’s health insurance system before reconvening for the 2027 legislative session.
A high-stakes fight for state political power heats up, with Trump's agenda on the line
Political power in state legislatures and governors’ offices is at stake in the November elections in more than one-third of the states.
From ‘feel-good’ to urgent: NC lawmakers move to act on gas taxes
If the legislature suspends the state gas tax, it would save North Carolinians 41 cents per gallon.
Governor’s advisory council discusses Youth Risk Behavior Survey ahead of final policy recommendations
Gov. Stein's advisory council is finalizing recommendations on youth well-being before the legislature decides how to use Meta settlement funds.
Arizona Democrats celebrate, Republicans mourn power shift in state politics
Democrats point toward affordability, education and water as key priorities if the Arizona Legislature goes blue. Some key statehouse race results are still pending.
Iowa’s 2026 races put political identity to the test
For the past decade, Iowa has consistently leaned republican, with the GOP holding majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. But as the 2026 midterms approach, the state’s top races for governor and U.S. Senate are becoming more competitive. According to reporting by Cook Politics Report, a nonpartisan political analyst, the governor’s race “leans...
Pritzker pushing for data center legislation in fall veto session
Gov. JB Pritzker expects the state Legislature will take up the issue of data-center regulation during the veto session session later this year.
Column: The price of price controls in Oregon healthcare
Oregonians want their politicians to do something about healthcare costs. The politicians have tried. One response from the state Legislature: Price controls. Limit prices and Oregonians may pay less. But […]
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?
Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.
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Clinton Policy Institute outlines maternal health solutions for states
Health Care Clinton Policy Institute outlines maternal health solutions for states It’s the first major report from the project, which launched in July to foster nonpartisan policies to improve the wellbeing of children and families. Stephanie Akin 10:00 AM, Oct 15, 2026 Dr. Jacob Lenz performs an ultrasound at the Oklahoma State University obstetrics and gynecology clinic in Tulsa, Okla., on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon) The Clinton Policy Institute is calling on states to lead efforts to curb maternal mortality, releasing a 61-page playbook Thursday highlighting successful policies that could be adopted nationwide. The playbook is the first major report from the Clinton Foundation’s project, which launched in July to foster nonpartisan state and local policies to improve the wellbeing of children and families. “Eighty percent of maternal deaths are preventable, and we know what works,” CPI Chair Jennifer Klein said. “The solutions are well established and evidence-based.” CPI’s mission is to convene political leaders from both parties, policy experts, state officials and other stakeholders to explore solutions to longstanding problems. “What we aim to do is bring together people who are deeply engaged, but may not be meeting together in the same room,” Klein said, noting that state policymakers might not always be aware of what their peers are doing in other states. In May, CPI brought together lawmakers from Virginia and Pennsylvania, two of the 14 states that have passed bipartisan maternal health “Momnibus” packages modeled after a comprehensive federal proposal that has repeatedly stalled, called the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. Other participants included Dr. Mona Hanna, founder of Rx Kids, a Michigan program that provides direct cash allowances to pregnant women and infants. Pennsylvania Rep. Morgan Cephas, who was part of the group, said she learned about funding opportunities she hadn’t come across during her decade in the Legislature. “As legislators we can issue grants, we can pass legislation, we can move policy, but we want to ensure that funding opportunities and programs that are tackling this issue are sustainable,” Cephas said. The playbook outlines broad areas where state policy can make a difference, such as allowing Medicaid to pay for doulas and remote patient monitoring, and using federal and private grant funding to pay for home visits to pregnant and postpartum women. For each category, it highlights innovative programs that can serve as models, with examples of specific actions state lawmakers and governors’ offices can take. Those include the Rx Kids model, which gets funding from the Michigan state budget; Pennsylvania’s Healthy Moms Vibrant Futures strategic action plan, emphasizing equity-centered maternal care, regional collaboration, Medicaid innovation, and workforce development that was launched this year with more than 160 stakeholders; and Kansas’s Bridging Plan, which reserves three slots and provides at least $26,000 in loan forgiveness for obstetric residents who commit to practicing in rural or underserved communities for 36 months. CPI emphasizes that its work is nonpartisan. Klein, the director of the White House Gender Policy Council under former President Joe Biden, acknowledged that CPI also takes positions on abortion, Medicaid funding, and the need to address the economic and social drivers of poor health, which might rankle some conservatives. “We don’t shy away from talking about those things that we think are part and parcel of the maternal health crisis in this country,” Klein said. “That said, there are so many policies that are both evidence-based and have been tried successfully in both red and blue states, and people can see that they can have real impact.” She pointed to the federal option to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months that was made available during the Biden administration and has since been adopted by every state but Arkansas. Other initiatives embraced across party lines include Medicaid coverage for midwives and doulas, as well as “bundled” payments for prenatal and postpartum care. That alternative payment model, pioneered in states such as Arkansas, Colorado and Tennessee, incentivizes fixed fees to cover all healthcare services associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Advocates say it promotes more coordination among caregivers, discourages unnecessary interventions, and expands postpartum support. In addition to maternal health, the initiative is also focused on addressing family economic security, children’s well-being, and democracy and civic resilience.