Politics and government news

What government is actually doing — laws and executive action, budgets and taxes, housing, schools, health, courts, public safety, transport, energy, voting and campaigns — across Washington, the states and city hall. Filter below or page through the full archive.

923 stories · page 25 of 31

News · ME

House passes Pingree bill targeting diesel pollution

Energy and environment

The House approved Chellie Pingree’s measure aimed at reducing diesel pollution and protecting Maine families.

The Ballot Maine DeskSep 17, 2026

News · SC

House passes Russia sanctions bill named for Lindsey Graham

Foreign policy

The measure would target Russian energy and defense interests while giving President Trump authority to impose tariffs on countries buying Russian fuel.

The Ballot South Carolina DeskSep 17, 2026

News · DE

Delaware enacts Farm to Community Program

Elections and voting

The Farm to Community Program has been signed into Delaware law, moving the policy from a proposal to an enacted state program.

The Ballot Delaware News DeskSep 17, 2026

News · KY

Kentucky appeals court orders Matt Bevin released from jail

Elections and voting

The Kentucky Court of Appeals ordered former Gov. Matt Bevin released from jail, a development not directly tied to an election or candidate race.

The Ballot Kentucky Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

News · FL

Uthmeier announces abuse charges, details AI investigations

Public safety

Florida’s attorney general announced five charges against a 34-year-old man and described the state’s use of AI in child predator investigations.

The Ballot Florida News DeskSep 17, 2026

News · TX

Family says Texas abortion ban caused pregnant woman’s death

Health care

The family sued Attorney General Ken Paxton and the doctors who treated the woman after she died from a pregnancy-related condition.

The Ballot Texas Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

News · CO

Bennet votes no on 2026 Farm Bill, calls it unfit

Foreign policy

Colorado Sen. Bennet opposed the 2026 Farm Bill and said the measure did not meet farmers’ needs.

The Ballot Colorado DeskSep 17, 2026

News · AZ

Supreme Court leaves Arizona mail voting rules unchanged

Elections and voting

Mail voting will continue under existing procedures in Arizona, where three in four voters used it in the 2024 general election.

The Ballot Arizona DeskSep 17, 2026

News · KY

Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin released from jail early

Elections and voting

The former governor’s release concerns his custody status and is not directly tied to a Kentucky election or candidate race.

The Ballot Kentucky News DeskSep 17, 2026

News · FL

Florida case links child exploitation claims in two counties

Public safety

Rafiq Osborne McDonald, 34, faces state charges tied to allegations involving Polk and Orange counties.

The Ballot Florida Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

News · TX

Tierra Walker’s family sues Paxton over abortion ban

Health care

The family says Texas law blocked lifesaving medical care for Walker before she died of preeclampsia while 20 weeks pregnant.

The Ballot Texas News DeskSep 17, 2026

News · CA

Lawmakers vote to block California ship emissions rules

Energy and environment

The vote challenges California’s attempt to regulate emissions from ships, with further procedural steps determining the rules’ status.

The Ballot California News DeskSep 17, 2026

News · NV

Nevada senators oppose crypto bill amid ethics dispute

Housing

Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen joined other senators in rejecting a crypto bill that did not restrict President Trump’s transactions.

The Ballot Nevada DeskSep 17, 2026

News · IA

Zach Lahn calls for cutting Iowa’s gas tax in half

Economy and jobs

Lahn says a 50% reduction in Iowa’s gas tax would ease fuel costs, with key implementation and budget details still to be set.

The Ballot Iowa Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

News · UT

Audit finds no significant fraud in Utah primary

Elections and voting

The review flagged possible deceased voters on Utah’s rolls and one person who voted twice, while finding no significant fraud.

The Ballot Utah News DeskSep 17, 2026

News · WI

Tax group says Tom Tiffany signed tax increase pledge

Economy and jobs

Americans for Tax Reform says Tom Tiffany promised to oppose and veto state tax increases if elected Wisconsin governor.

The Ballot Wisconsin Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

News · KY

Former Gov. Matt Bevin ordered released from Louisville jail

Elections and voting

The order directs that former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin be released from a Louisville jail.

The Ballot Kentucky DeskSep 17, 2026

News · KY

Six indicted in Kentucky Medicaid fraud case

Health care

Six people face criminal allegations involving Medicaid fraud, with the case now moving through the court process.

The Ballot Kentucky Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

News · MS

Mississippi rural health providers awarded $3.75 million

Foreign policy

Twenty Mississippi hospitals and health providers will share federal funding through a rural hospital assistance program.

The Ballot Mississippi DeskSep 17, 2026

News · OH

Ohio expands school access to allergy emergency treatments

Education

House Bill 462 lets Ohio students, schools and camps use FDA-approved epinephrine devices beyond auto-injectors.

The Ballot Ohio DeskSep 17, 2026

News · IA

Turek, Hinson outline different responses to fuel costs

Energy and environment

With Iowa diesel above a gallon, Josh Turek is proposing federal tax and reserve steps while Ashley Hinson emphasizes biofuels and U.S. production.

The Ballot Iowa News DeskSep 17, 2026

News · CA

Newsom signs phased smog exemption for collector cars

Elections and voting

Senate Bill 1392 will gradually exempt qualifying collector vehicles from California smog certification requirements beginning in 2028.

The Ballot California DeskSep 17, 2026

News · CA

Newsom signs AI ad disclosure and performer protection law

Economy and jobs

SB 1050 requires video and audio ads to identify AI-generated performers and bars continued use of ads found to violate the law.

The Ballot California Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

News · MD

Andy Harris proposes temporary pause in federal fuel taxes

Economy and jobs

The Maryland congressman’s proposal would suspend federal gasoline and diesel taxes through the end of the year.

The Ballot Maryland Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

News · KS

Kansas judge lets Edgerton data center petition proceed

Elections and voting

A Johnson County judge struck the city’s claims against two petition organizers and classified the proposed ordinance as legislative.

The Ballot Kansas News DeskSep 17, 2026

News · WA

House to leave early, delaying Hegseth vote past midterms

Elections and voting

Republican leaders canceled the House’s final scheduled voting session before November, postponing a possible impeachment vote on Pete Hegseth.

The Ballot Washington Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

News · NH

N.H. Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald resigns

Elections and voting

MacDonald stepped down after a judicial conduct panel found he favored a longtime ally in hiring and violated the state ethics code.

The Ballot New Hampshire DeskSep 17, 2026

News · UT

Rubicon sues Utah AG’s office over allegedly lost evidence

Immigration

The complaint concerns records Rubicon says may matter to its pending billion civil-rights case against former state officials.

The Ballot Utah DeskSep 17, 2026

News · MI

Court keeps block on USPS mail-ballot plan

Elections and voting

A federal court has left an injunction against proposed USPS mail-ballot lists and related rules in place.

The Ballot Michigan DeskSep 17, 2026

News · IA

Iowa City council narrowly approves downtown police unit

Public safety

A closely divided Iowa City council approved a new police unit focused on downtown public safety.

The Ballot Iowa DeskSep 17, 2026