From the States
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Texas House passes largest budget in state history
The House passed a $336.1 billion 2026-2027 budget on Thursday, the largest in state history. It passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 118-26.
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Maine won't sign feds' Title IX compliance; DOJ moves to prosecute state
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it was referring its Title IX investigation of the Maine Department of Education to the Department of Justice for further enforcement action.
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US senators from Arizona condemn proposed Medicaid cuts, despite Trump promises not to
Sen. Mark Kelly said this is not just some budget line item, it is people and livelihoods. The Trump administration has repeatedly said it is not cutting Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits.
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Illinois quick hits: Minority-only scholarship programs suspended
The universities named in a DOJ press release are Northwestern University, Loyola University of Chicago and the University of Chicago.
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California Democrats pass on funding Prop. 36 as Newsom celebrates rights of crime victims
Republican legislators proposed $400 million in funding this year for treatment relating to treatment-mandated felonies, with the vote failing largely along party lines.
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Measure seeks to expose family ties in Illinois government to prevent conflicts
Senate Bill 211 would require public officials to disclose the names of their close family members working in the same local government, aiming to shine a light on potential conflicts of interest.
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Small Business Administration beefs up citizenship verification for loan applicants
The new rules also require date of birth verification to ensure loans do not go to applicants using the identities of children or the deceased.
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Colorado plans $34 million in tax credits for Sundance Film Festival
Gov. Jared Polis this week signed House Bill 25-1005, Tax Incentive for Film Festivals. The law provides $34 million in tax credits to a film festival that sell a minimum of 100,000 in-person tickets and has more than 10,000 out-of-state and international attendees.
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Reluctant Republican budget hawks warn Johnson to stand by promises: 'Non-negotiable'
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who had dubbed the current policy baseline “a joke” but eventually folded, called the Senate’s promise a “non-negotiable deal-breaker” that he expects to see in the final product.
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Michigan AG Nessel sues to recover federal money for schools
Nessel, along with 14 other attorneys general across the country, said rescinding an extended deadline is illegal.
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U.S. 'very close' to recession according to BlackRock CEO Larry Fink
"I think you’re going to see, across the board, just a slowdown until there's more certainty," Fink said. "And we now have a 90-day pause on the reciprocal tariffs.
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Another Ohio public school placed under fiscal emergency
Trimble Local School District in southeast Ohio asked the state for help in early January when it projected a $1.6 million operating deficit. An analysis from the Auditor of State’s Local Government Services Section put the deficit at $2.99 million.
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China stands firm after putting 125% tariffs on U.S. imports
China's Commerce Ministry called the U.S. approach "unilateral bullying."
