Up-and-down progress of voting rights in America has been shaped by these 10 key moments

Published: October 1, 2026 By Gibbs Knotts, Coastal Carolina University and Christopher A. Cooper, Western Carolina University, The Conversation As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the U.S. Supreme Court has been busy with voting rights cases. In mid-September, the court barred the Trump administration from carrying out its

Western Kentucky utility projects keeping its existing fossil fuel-fired power plants beyond 2050

By Liam Niemeyer (Kentucky Lantern) Published: October 1, 2026 An electric utility serving Western Kentucky counties is telling the state regulator it anticipates keeping its existing coal-fired and natural gas-fired power plants open beyond 2050, a projection amid state and federal efforts seeking to boost fossil fuel-fired

District attorney elections linked to more prison admissions during ‘tough on crime’ era

Western NC's recovery continues two years after Helene, however childcare centers in the region have yet to receive federal funding; Meet Chicago’s First Street Psychiatrist

Federal judge denies request to block TN Highway Patrol traffic stops conducted in tandem with ICE

By Anita Wadhwani (Tennessee Lookout) Published: September 23, 2026 A federal judge on Wednesday denied a request for a preliminary injunction that would prevent the Tennessee Highway Patrol from conducting pretextual traffic stops in tandem with federal immigration agents. U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger ruled the Tennessee Immigrant &

Morrisey declares state of emergency for Boone, Lincoln counties after flooding

By Lori Kersey (West Virginia Watch) Published: September 24, 2026 West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey has issued a state of emergency for two counties in Southern West Virginia after heavy rains this week caused flash flooding. Boone and Lincoln counties are included in the state of emergency, which will be

Alabama State Employees’ Insurance Board approves first premium increase in 11 years

By Andrea Tinker (Alabama Reflector) Published: September 24, 2026 The State Employees Insurance Board Wednesday voted to increase premiums for state employees and dependents, citing rising healthcare costs and concerns over the stability of the program. Premium rates will go up by $15 effective Jan. 1, the first across the

NJ allowing data center generators to run, NC town headed for dissolution

Native American tribes no longer want to join the Chesapeake Bay partnership; Nearby well owners still skeptical about NC Chemours deal while state leaders call it historic; Questions remain in Nolan Wells case in Mississippi

OPINION: Loss of towns means a loss of services and representation

I started my newspaper career in small, rural towns. Like anything, there were both positive and negative experiences. This part of journalism is more about giving readers and community members a record of what’s happening in their community. It normally doesn’t lead to large investigations and nationally-recognized

Fewer students, too many schools: Communities confront closures and consolidations

By Robbie Sequeira (Stateline) Published: September 15, 2026 Declining birth rates mean fewer students. And that means more districts grappling with whether to close or merge schools. “The big shrink” is how Marguerite Roza, director of Georgetown University’s Edunomics Lab, described what is happening nationally. “When there are fewer

Developers say housing regulations drive up costs that price Marylanders out of homeownership

Developers say that having to navigate the “complex web” of federal, state and local regulations contributes to the rising cost of housing and rent, which winds up pricing more and more Marylanders out of housing options. And state officials largely agree.

Somali men in ICE custody say a ‘refueling’ stop became weeks at Guantánamo Bay

It's Friday September 18, 2026 and in this morning's issue we're covering: Somali men in ICE custody say a ‘refueling’ stop became weeks at Guantánamo Bay, Effectiveness of NC certificate-of-need law meant as healthcare guardrail in doubt, Less work, fewer tips for

Pennsylvania’s aging levees are under pressure from scarce funding and severe weather

Many levees built in the mid-1900s do not offer enough protection for today’s storms, and small rural communities in particular struggle to afford needed upgrades.