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.

38 stories · page 1 of 2

News · OR

Oregon governor seeks delay of new Medicaid rules

Health care

Oregon’s governor is acting with four other states to ask that new Medicaid rules not take effect on the current schedule.

The Ballot Oregon DeskOct 3, 2026

News · OR

Grand jury flags major problems at Oregon State Hospital

Health care

Court demands, too few beds and leadership instability are severely impairing Oregon State Hospital, a grand jury found.

The Ballot Oregon News DeskOct 2, 2026

News · MD

4,500 Maryland immigrants lose Medicaid coverage

Health care

A separate January rule puts Medicaid coverage for thousands of low-income Maryland adults at risk.

The Ballot Maryland News DeskOct 2, 2026

News · PA

Ryan’s Law clears Pennsylvania Senate committee

Health care

The proposal would let terminally ill patients use medical marijuana in health care facilities.

The Ballot Pennsylvania Policy DeskOct 2, 2026

News · WV

West Virginia plans AI voice technology for rural hospitals

Health care

Gov. Patrick Morrisey said state funding will soon bring AI voice recording technology to rural West Virginia hospitals.

The Ballot West Virginia DeskOct 1, 2026

News · SD

Kristi Noem seeks divorce after 34 years of marriage

Health care

The former South Dakota governor and homeland security secretary filed court papers seeking to end her marriage to Bryon Noem.

The Ballot South Dakota Policy DeskOct 1, 2026

News · VT

Welch secures $2 million for rural Vermont health care

Health care

The federal money will support new Caledonia County pharmacies and safety upgrades within the UVM Health Network.

The Ballot Vermont Policy DeskOct 1, 2026

News · MO

Missouri Amendment 3 puts abortion rights back before voters

Health care

The November measure would repeal voter-approved reproductive health care protections and restrict gender-transition procedures for minors.

The Ballot Missouri Policy DeskSep 30, 2026

News · NV

Rosen votes to overturn Trump health care rule

Health care

Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen opposed a Trump administration rule that she said would end Affordable Care Act care for two million Americans.

The Ballot Nevada News DeskSep 30, 2026

News · CO

Evans’ Medicaid Vote Conflicts With His Denial

Health care

Evans said he did not vote to cut Medicaid, but Nutter points to his legislative vote as evidence that the denial is false.

The Ballot Colorado Policy DeskSep 29, 2026

News · US

Senate Democrats question Kennedy over vaccine lawsuit

Health care

Senate Democrats are examining whether HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pursued a workaround to an ethics agreement.

The Ballot National DeskSep 28, 2026

News · AR

Arkansas Medicaid fraud unit arrests seven

Health care

The Arkansas attorney general announced seven arrests by the state’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in a health-care enforcement action.

The Ballot Arkansas DeskSep 27, 2026

News · OH

Ohio attorney general accuses 18 providers of Medicaid fraud

Health care

Newly filed indictments accuse 18 providers of Medicaid fraud, moving the allegations into the criminal court process.

The Ballot Ohio News DeskSep 27, 2026

News · OH

Ohio AG indicts 18 providers over alleged Medicaid fraud

Health care

New indictments accuse 18 health-care providers of defrauding Medicaid, beginning a criminal court process in Ohio.

The Ballot Ohio DeskSep 27, 2026

News · US

Health care costs sharpen debate ahead of midterms

Health care

Falling ACA marketplace enrollment and plans to cancel coverage for nearly 760,000 people are bringing cost and eligibility questions into focus.

The Ballot National DeskSep 26, 2026

News · OH

7 Northeast Ohio people indicted in Medicaid fraud case

Health care

Seven people from Northeast Ohio face Medicaid fraud allegations in a case not directly connected to an election or candidate.

The Ballot Ohio Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · AR

Arkansas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit arrests seven

Health care

The Arkansas attorney general announced seven arrests by the state unit responsible for Medicaid fraud enforcement.

The Ballot Arkansas Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · NV

Nevada AG’s office proposes expanding Medicaid fraud unit

Health care

The proposal would enlarge an existing attorney general’s office function focused on Medicaid fraud.

The Ballot Nevada Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · LA

Silver Alert for Longview man who may head to Louisiana

Public safety

Police are looking for Ricky Hughes, 69, who has a cognitive impairment and was last seen at a Longview hospital.

The Ballot Louisiana News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · VA

Virginia joins opposition to proposed Medicaid rule

Health care

Attorney General Jay Jones has aligned Virginia with other states opposing a proposed federal rule involving Medicaid.

The Ballot Virginia News DeskSep 24, 2026

News · VA

Jay Jones joins states opposing federal Medicaid proposal

Health care

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has joined other states opposing a proposed federal rule involving Medicaid.

The Ballot Virginia DeskSep 23, 2026

News · SD

Jackley, lawmakers split on Medicaid ballot measure

Health care

Amendment I’s ballot language says expanded Medicaid would end if federal support falls below 90%, but its sponsors dispute that reading.

The Ballot South Dakota Policy DeskSep 21, 2026

News · US

Trump says all 50 states will join Medicaid drug model

Health care

The administration says the GENEROUS model will cut Medicaid prescription drug costs, but the pricing agreements remain private.

The Ballot National DeskSep 20, 2026

News · SD

Jackley says Medicaid measure would trigger repeal

Health care

Attorney General Marty Jackley’s ballot wording conflicts with lawmakers who say Amendment I would only give the Legislature authority to reconsider expansion.

The Ballot South Dakota DeskSep 20, 2026

News · MA

Massachusetts governor calls for postpartum care changes

Health care

The governor proposed improving postpartum health care following the Lindsay Clancy trial and told affected residents, “I see you.”

The Ballot Massachusetts DeskSep 19, 2026

News · AK

Anchorage Fire Department adds support at overdose scenes

Health care

The Anchorage Fire Department is combining its opioid overdose response with support delivered during the on-scene encounter.

The Ballot Alaska Policy DeskSep 18, 2026

News · US

Susie Wiles says she is cancer-free after procedure

Economy and jobs

The White House chief of staff underwent a procedure related to her breast cancer diagnosis and returned to work soon afterward.

The Ballot National (US) Policy 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 · US

Susie Wiles announces she is cancer free

Elections and voting

The White House chief of staff said Mayo Clinic pathology results came back clear six months after her early-stage breast cancer diagnosis.

The Ballot National (US) News 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