JUST IN: Federal judge orders release of hundreds of people arrested in Trump's immigration crackdown in Illinois, according to CNN affiliate WLS. https://cnn.it/3LzqUPL

From @amandavhernan.bsky.social: Families of Black homicide victims in the United States are more likely than any other group to seek financial assistance through state victim compensation programs — and they are the most likely to be denied, according to a new study. stateline.org/2025/11/12/b...

As petitioners gather signatures for a possible referendum on Missouri's gerrymandered congressional map, attorneys battled over the meaning of words that govern the redistricting process. One big dispute was over how to interpret words that are not in the Missouri Constitution. #moleg #mogov

Breaking News: House Democrats released emails in which Jeffrey Epstein alleged that Donald Trump knew of the convicted sex offender's conduct and “spent hours at my house” with a victim.

Breaking: Marion County agrees to pay out $3M for newspaper raid, express regret kansasreflector.com/2025/11/11/m...

Marion County agrees to pay out $3M for newspaper raid, expresses regret. Editor says court cases against city continue #ksleg

With a new federal fund, states are seeking money to bolster emergency services, address chronic diseases and recruit more staff, Nada Hassanein reports. https://stateline.org/2025/11/11/states-hope-to-use-rural-health-money-to-keep-doctors-combat-chronic-disease/

If you score remap shifts between safe/competitive seats as +/-0.5, here's how the count looks today, to my eye: CA: Dem +4.5 MO: GOP +1 NC: GOP +0.5 OH: GOP +0.5 TX: GOP +4 UT: Dem +1 That leaves Republicans ahead by half a seat, w/ FL, IN & VA the biggest remaining variables.

Shocking story. How a Gap in Tennessee’s Probation System Leaves Domestic Violence Victims in Danger, by @paigepfleger.bsky.social @wpln.bsky.social @mariamelba.bsky.social

Trump pardon of 2020 election allies does not erase Fulton County election interference charges georgiarecorder.com/2025/11/10/t...

Re-upping for the evening crew… There’s a lot of fighting and maneuvering over 2026 ballot measure elections happening *right now* that will go a long way to shaping what ends up before voters next year I dive into it here>>>

There is a mysterious effort underway to prevent signature gathering against redistricting measures in Missouri. Here's the latest from @kacen.bsky.social www.kansascity.com/news/politic...

Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, battles are already underway across the country over state ballot measure campaigns. via @stateline.org

The United States Supreme Court has declined to revisit the 2015 landmark ruling that gave same-sex couples marriage equality, a failure for former Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis. From @sarahelizabethladd.bsky.social: kentuckylantern.com/2025/11/10/k...

NEW: Supreme Court takes up major new election case on whether states can count ballots that are received after Election Day: www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...

BREAKING: The Supreme Court rejects a call to overturn its decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.

NEW: The First Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the Trump admin's efforts to stop the release of full funding for November's SNAP benefits payments as ordered by a lower court judge. The Supreme Court's administrative stay will now expire 48 hours after the 1st Circuit's ruling.

NEW - A year out from the midterms, intense battles that will shape what state-level ballot measures go before voters — and how they’re described — are already underway in courtrooms and statehouses across the country My latest for @stateline.org stateline.org/2025/11/10/t...

As part of the ruling, Immergut finds that the deployment of California and Texas Guard to Oregon violated Oregon’s sovereignty This is an issue I recently explored in-depth for @stateline.org stateline.org/2025/10/22/t...

BREAKING: Federal judge permanently blocks Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops to Portland. buff.ly/ow0lMO6 by @alexbaumhardt.bsky.social

This is a big deal, although a lot will depend on what #SCOTUS does in the Illinois case (in which we don’t expect a ruling until the week of November 17 at the earliest).

BREAKING: Full November SNAP benefits to be issued by Trump administration despite shutdown. @statesnewsroom.com story:

Interesting details on failed GOP push for a gerrymander special session in Kansas. State House Republicans were 6 votes shy of supermajority needed to call session, with 10 Republicans overall — including several committee chairs — refusing to back a session. They've now lost their gavels.

We’re live! Tune into our new weekly podcast, Stories From The States. In our first episode, host @fitzsimon.bsky.social talks about federal cuts that are jeopardizing Medicaid coverage. www.newsfromthestates.com/podcast/stor... #FairFearlessFree #LocalJournalism

Breaking News: Cornell University reached an agreement with the Trump administration that would restore hundreds of millions in funding to the university. It's expected to pay a $30 million fine to the government and to invest $30 million in agriculture and farming programs.

Re-upping my story this week. After big fears this summer of plunging international enrollment, I wanted to dig into what happened now that we’re deep into the fall semester

From Amanda Hernández: States are moving in sharply different directions on the death penalty, with some looking to broaden when and how executions occur while others try to scale them back. https://stateline.org/2025/11/06/states-death-penalty-policies-are-heading-in-sharply-different-directions/

Exclusive: The parents of a man who killed himself are suing the company that created ChatGPT, claiming the product encouraged him to commit suicide.

Meet the former Kansas lawmaker fighting for Trump admin to keep SNAP aid frozen. A story via @bymatthewkelly.bsky.social www.kansascity.com/news/politic...

The mayor of a Kansas town has been charged with voter fraud — AG Kris Kobach says he’s not a U.S. citizen From @crazeywriter.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/kans...

Kansas mayor charged with alleged voter fraud; state leader says ‘hundreds’ more cases expected | via @crazeywriter.bsky.social #ksleg

BREAKING: The U.S. Department of Transportation announces it will reduce scheduled airspace capacity by 10% starting Friday morning if the government shutdown has not ended, citing "growing pressure" in the NAS as controllers and other personnel continue to go unpaid. Developing story.

The scenes from protest activity outside a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facilities in south Portland have led Portland’s city attorney and the city’s police bureau to allege federal agents used excessive force.  buff.ly/JTRbOzl

Mainers reject voter ID proposal, maintaining state voting laws mainemorningstar.com/2025/11/04/m...

TODAY'S BIG DEAL: Our @ashleymurray.bsky.social has a seat at the Supreme Court & we will have a story later today on the arguments over the Trump tariffs (Trump won't be there but Bessent will). Here is her excellent preview for @statesnewsroom.com DC www.newsfromthestates.com/article/its-...

NEW - As Trump tightens student visa process, international enrollment falls at some public universities I spent the past couple weeks exploring how Trump has changed the international student landscape within public higher ed. I found disruption & major uncertainty stateline.org/2025/11/05/s...

McClatchy, the 168-year-old newspaper chain, has gutted its national news operation—another reminder of how once-towering newspaper giants are struggling to survive. Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/mcclatchy-...

NEW - As Trump tightens student visa process, international enrollment falls at some public universities I spent the past couple weeks exploring how Trump has changed the international student landscape within public higher ed. I found disruption & major uncertainty stateline.org/2025/11/05/s...

BREAKING: California voters approve a new House map designed to help Democrats net 5 seats next year, NBC News projects, countering Republican redistricting in other states.

BREAKING: Texas voters approve a constitutional amendment affirming parents are the primary decision makers for their children. Follow AP for live updates.

BREAKING: Colorado voters approved a ballot measure that would raise state income taxes on higher-earning households to fund free meals for all public school students. Follow AP for live updates.

Breaking: NBC News projects: Pennsylvania voters retain three state Supreme Court justices — preserving Democrats' 5-2 majority.

Some very early results show Maine’s Question 1, a Republican measure to restrict mail voting and require voter ID, running well behind Trump in 2024, when he lost Maine by 7. For example… Newry was Harris +11, but opposed Q1 +30. Dixmont was Trump +28, but supported Q1 only +7.

We've been pointing out problems with Heppner's business dealings for years now, while lawmakers ignored a cacophony of alarms #ksleg kansasreflector.com/2022/04/24/k...

apnews.com/article/redi... Republicans drop push to enter nation's widening redistricting battle

NBC News exit polls VIRGINIA GOV 2021 Economy is the #1 issue Economy voters prefer Youngkin+11 over McAuliffe VIRGINIA GOV 2025 Economy is the #1 issue Economy voters prefer Spanberger+20 over Earle-Sears Sea change. TBD if it replicates elsewhere.

KCUR and WIRED recently published an investigation about a major breach of the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department, which revealed a list of alleged officer misconduct including dishonesty, sexual harassment, excessive force, and false arrest.

I was lucky enough work alongside several McClatchy DC reporters over the years. The bureau did great work. Local and regionally-focused coverage of Washington is incredibly important and all too rare — and crucial to holding individual members of Congress accountable bsky.app/profile/just...

Despite President Donald Trump’s claim that deadly military strikes on alleged drug boats are necessary to save American lives, overdoses and the deaths they cause were trending down this year. https://stateline.org/2025/11/03/the-hard-slow-work-of-reducing-overdose-deaths-is-having-an-effect/