Via Stateline: New research suggests the country is missing its biggest opportunity to prevent youth homelessness — by intervening well before a young person reaches a shelter and years before they are chronically homeless. https://ow.ly/l42c50XNJ8f

As expected, litigation is now underway to block Missouri's gerrymandered congressional map from taking effect ahead of an anticipated statewide referendum vote. I touched on the situation in Missouri in my story on Monday: stateline.org/2025/12/22/a...

Nationwide, state judges are poised to play a pivotal role in adjudicating legal challenges to redistricting maps, which have been drafted to maximize partisan advantage for either Republicans or Democrats, depending on the state. By @jonshorman.bsky.social @stateline.org

The number of measles cases is continuing to grow, threatening to undo next year the United States’ status as a nation that has eradicated the disease, according to a report released Dec. 17 by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From @timhenderson.bsky.social with @stateline.org

As more cities impose bans, fines or jail time for adults living on the streets, young people who have been homeless say they face unique problems that could have been addressed earlier. https://stateline.org/2025/12/23/homeless-youth-say-they-need-more-from-schools-social-services/

State courts may play a key role in deciding the fate of a wave of gerrymandered congressional maps, as the Supreme Court pulls back. My latest for @stateline.org stateline.org/2025/12/22/a...

Via Jonathan Shorman and Stateline: Nationwide, state judges are poised to play a pivotal role in adjudicating legal challenges to congressional maps, as the U.S. Supreme Court has all but taken federal courts out of the business of reviewing redrawn maps this year. https://ow.ly/WlIT50XNeae

You might not like it, but this is an objectively perfect headline.

As some states engage in an extraordinary redraw of congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, state courts are poised to play a pivotal role. https://stateline.org/2025/12/22/as-supreme-court-pulls-back-on-gerrymandering-state-courts-may-decide-fate-of-maps/

While the question of eliminating the penny revolves around only a few cents per transaction, it does raise important consumer protection and legal questions for states to consider, including protecting the most vulnerable consumers who rely on cash for everyday purchases. From @stateline.org

Via Jonathan Shorman and Stateline: A confidential agreement between DOJ and more than a dozen states would hand the federal government a major role in election administration, a responsibility that belongs to the states under the U.S. Constitution. https://ow.ly/4ue950XMwS6

From @jonshorman.bsky.social: The U.S. Department of Justice has sent a confidential draft agreement to more than a dozen states that would require election officials to remove any alleged ineligible voters identified during a federal review of their voter rolls. stateline.org/2025/12/18/t...

A new group of bipartisan state legislative leaders — including from Utah — issued a declaration at their first meeting calling for a renewed focus on states’ rights and an end to federal intrusion into state laws. Read more from @stateline.org

The U.S. Department of Justice has sent a confidential draft agreement to more than a dozen states — including Utah — that would require election officials to remove any alleged ineligible voters identified during a federal review of their voter rolls. Read more from @stateline.org

Via @stateline.org: As pennies vanish from the American landscape, many businesses are clamoring for federal guidance on how to handle cash transactions in a penniless world.

Measles cases are continuing to grow, reaching 1,958 confirmed cases in 43 states through Dec. 16, according to a new report released by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://stateline.org/2025/12/17/measles-cases-rise-amid-holiday-travel/

As pennies vanish from the American landscape, states are beginning to weigh in on how retailers should respond. via @stateline.org

In a world without pennies, businesses must round cash purchases up or down — creating winners and losers in each transaction. https://stateline.org/2025/12/18/without-pennies-should-retailers-round-up-or-down-states-offer-their-2-cents/

Measles case are continuing to grow, reaching 1,958 confirmed cases in 43 states through Dec. 16 and threatening to undo the United States’ status as a nation that has eradicated the disease, according to a report by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From @stateline.org

Nationwide, many people in jails and prisons don’t have access to sufficient period products. via @stateline.org

A new group of bipartisan state legislative leaders issued a declaration calling for a renewed focus on states’ rights and an end to federal intrusion into state laws. https://stateline.org/2025/12/16/respect-states-rights-new-bipartisan-group-of-legislative-leaders-tells-feds/

Republicans could gain nearly 200 state legislative seats across the South if the U.S. Supreme Court guts a key provision of the federal Voting Rights Acts, a new analysis finds. via @stateline.org

An ever-larger share of ICE’s arrested immigrants have no criminal record @timhenderson.bsky.social @stateline.org kentuckylantern.com/2025/12/16/r...

Lawmakers in some states, including New York, are taking steps to curb aggressive driving. via @stateline.org

Via Madyson Fitzgerald and Stateline: State lawmakers of both parties said they plan to keep passing laws regulating artificial intelligence despite President Donald Trump’s efforts to stop them. https://ow.ly/b19f50XKm6Q

Not enough tampons. Not enough pads. Incarcerated women often don’t have enough period products. Some states are doing something about it. Important reporting from @amandavhernan.bsky.social and @stateline.org stateline.org/2025/12/17/i...

“ ... a fatal blow to Black representation in the South.” - Fair Fight Action CEO Lauren Groh-Wargo @jonshorman.bsky.social @stateline.org kentuckylantern.com/2025/12/17/r...

A new report from the Prison Policy Initiative says that menstruation is still regularly treated as a disciplinary matter — through contraband rules, work violations and sanitation write-ups — even in prisons and jails that provide free products. From @stateline.org

A shutdown-delayed jobs report released Dec. 16 showed an increase of 64,000 jobs in November, rebounding from a large loss of 105,000 jobs in October. Unemployment ticked higher to 4.6%, the highest since September 2021. By @timhenderson.bsky.social @stateline.org

From Amanda Watford: Periods behind bars remain a challenge: Limited products, strict rules and low-quality supplies sometimes put incarcerated people at risk. https://stateline.org/2025/12/17/incarcerated-women-often-dont-have-enough-period-products/

September unemployment rates rose in 25 states and fell in 21 compared with last year, the government reported Dec. 11 in a shutdown-delayed analysis. https://stateline.org/2025/12/11/unemployment-rose-in-half-the-states-in-september/

Immigration arrests under the Trump administration continued to increase through mid-October, reaching rates of more than 30,000 a month. https://stateline.org/2025/12/12/an-ever-larger-share-of-ices-arrested-immigrants-have-no-criminal-record/

BREAKING: US Senate hits stalemate on solution to spiraling health insurance costs -- @jennifershutt.bsky.social for @statesnewsroom.com DC www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-s...

As West Virginia education officials signed off on another round of school consolidations Wednesday, Board of Education President Paul Hardesty repeated a call to lawmakers that they “fix” the school aid formula he said is to blame for the closures, reports @lorikerseywv.bsky.social.

The 13-state electric grid operator that serves Ohio is holding its second capacity auction of the year — setting a baseline electricity cost that will get baked into consumers’ bills in June 2027. via @ohiocapitaljournal.com

Republicans in Congress want to give states more authority to remove ineligible voters — including noncitizens and people who have moved or died — from voter rolls, seeking to reinforce the Trump administration’s own push to scrub the lists. From @stateline.org

Republicans in Congress want to give states more authority to remove ineligible voters — including noncitizens and people who have moved or died — from voter rolls. https://stateline.org/2025/12/10/republicans-in-congress-eye-more-power-for-states-to-remove-voters/

Voting by mail faces uncertain moment ahead of midterm elections, reports Jonathon Shorman for @stateline.org via @alaskabeacon.com

Rising utility prices are increasingly drawing scrutiny from state regulators and lawmakers nationwide. Given the public outcry, many state leaders are considering rate freezes, additional energy assistance funds or new rates targeting large energy users such as data centers. From @stateline.org

State lawmakers and regulators are increasingly scrutinizing rising electricity prices as more households struggle with affording the basics. https://stateline.org/2025/12/10/rising-electricity-bills-lead-to-state-scrutiny-but-little-relief-for-residents/

Via Jonathan Shorman and Stateline: Some states are reevaluating their mail-in voting laws, including shortening or ending grace periods that now require election officials to count mailed ballots that arrive after Election Day. https://ow.ly/Aemw50XGrwL

Popular program allowing Medicare patients to get hospital care at home would be extended until 2030 under a bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and awaiting consideration by the Senate. Via @stateline.org rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/09/r...

A popular program allowing Medicare patients to get hospital care at home would be extended until 2030 under a bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and awaiting consideration by the Senate. michiganadvance.com/2025/12/08/r... From @stateline.org

Trump promises to lead a movement against mail ballots and the Supreme Court agrees to take a case that could end ballot arrival grace periods nationwide. My look for @stateline.org at the uncertain moment mail voting faces ahead of the 2026 midterms stateline.org/2025/12/09/v...

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take a case that could require mail ballots to arrive by the close of polls on Election Day. via @stateline.org

New student loan rule could dissuade people from advanced nursing degrees | via @Stateline.org mainemorningstar.com/2025/12/09/r...

From Jonathan Shorman: Across the United States, voting by mail faces a moment of uncertainty ahead of the midterm elections next year. https://stateline.org/2025/12/09/voting-by-mail-faces-uncertain-moment-ahead-of-midterm-elections/

A popular program allowing Medicare patients to get hospital care at home would be extended until 2030 under a bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. https://stateline.org/2025/12/08/hospital-at-home-program-extended-by-us-house-awaits-senate-consideration/

"Under new rules announced last month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will place new restrictions on $3 billion in homelessness aid, allowing no more than 30% of federal grants to be used for permanent housing." From Robbie Sequeira via @stateline.org

The trickle-down effect here could mean fewer primary care health providers, especially in America's rural communities. from @nhassanein.bsky.social and @stateline.org stateline.org/2025/12/08/n...