Sean Scully

Bike and walking trails lose hundreds of millions under Trump • Oregon Capital Chronicle Cities and states are filing lawsuits and scrambling for alternative sources of money as the Trump administration seeks to shut off the federal funding spigot for biking and walking trails.

Cities and states are filing lawsuits and scrambling for alternative sources of money as the Trump administration seeks to shut off the federal funding spigot for biking and walking trails, reports @stateline.org via @oregoncapitalchronicle.com and @statesnwsroom.com

In bid for voter data, Trump’s DOJ lays groundwork to undermine confidence in midterms • Nevada Current The U.S. Department of Justice has begun connecting its push to obtain sensitive personal data on millions of voters to whether the upcoming midterm elections will be fair and secure, laying the…

Courts have rejected multiple DOJ efforts to get states' voter rolls. Now the Trump administration says it may not recognize results in the 2026 midterms if it doesn't get its way, reports @statesnewsroom.com via @nevadacurrent.com

Idaho House to consider bills amending 2024 ‘harmful to minors’ library law  • Idaho Capital Sun Amid two lawsuits challenging Idaho's 2024 library restrictions law, a House committee advanced two bills amending the law.

two pending bills would remove some vague language Idaho's restrictive library materials law and create different standards for private and public school libraries, report @idahocapitalsun.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Rural Arizonans fight bill that would let a hedge fund sell their water to Phoenix An Arizona bill would let a hedge fund, Water Asset Management, pump water from a stressed rural aquifer and sell it to Phoenix-area suburbs

Over the vehement objection of locals, a New York City-based hedge fund wants to pump water from an aquifer in a rural Arizona county to sell it to Phoenix, report @azmirror.com and @statesnewsroom.com

A Utah lawmaker says 2 cases show how adults isolate kids to hide abuse. Her effort to fix it failed • Utah News Dispatch A Utah lawmaker says it's too easy for adults to hide abuse by isolating children. Her effort to change that failed at the Legislature.

A legislative effort to provide extra protection for abused children in Utah ran into concerns about infringing parental rights, report @utahnewsdispatch.com and @statesnewsroom.com

WA legislative session ends with budgets passed and a dash of drama • Washington State Standard The Washington Legislature concluded its 2026 session Thursday evening after passing a batch of budgets and navigating late-breaking drama over the elimination of a data center tax break that…

“The big objectives were to protect the state of Washington and our people against a hostile, malevolent federal administration,” said Washington's senate majority leader of the end of the legislative session, report @washingtonstatestandard.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Anchorage police chief defends handling of serial killer case featured in MMIP docuseries | Alaska Beacon The Anchorage Police Department is featured prominently in the national investigative documentary series “Lost Women of Alaska,” which examines the case of serial killer Brian Steven Smith, who was…

The Anchorage police chief is defending his agency against allegations in an HBO documentary saying officers botched an investigation of a serial killer who preyed on Alaska Native women, report @alaskabeacon,com and @statesnewsroom.com

These Oregon state parks will have parking fees by the end of the month • Oregon Capital Chronicle On March 30, the department will add parking fees at an additional 22 day-use parks to help pay for park maintenance and operations.

Visitors will have to pay parking fees at 22 more Oregon state parks by the end of the month, report @oregoncapitalchronicle.com and @statesnewsroom.com

State needs to protect, not punish, human trafficking survivors, legislative panel told • Nevada Current Katheryn Hickman, a public defender with the Washoe County Public Defender’s Office, recalled just a few years ago representing two teenagers forced into sex trafficking who faced an uphill battle in…

Advocates say Nevada is too quick to punish human trafficking victims who commit crimes while under the coercive power of their perpetrators, report @nevadacurrent.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Following impassioned debate, Idaho Senate kills budget with health and welfare cuts • Idaho Capital Sun Sen. Jim Guthrie, who has served in the Idaho Legislature since the Great Recession, debated against a bill to cut health funding.

An impassioned speech by an Idaho lawmaker moved his colleagues to change their minds on planned funding cuts to social services, scrambling the budget plans of legislative leaders, report @idahocapitalsun.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Hospital administrators push back on bills to protect doctors, nurses from radiation exposure | Arizona Mirror Arizona bills requiring hospitals to install radiation shields for cardiac specialists face pushback from hospital administrators

Arizona lawmakers want added radiation protection for medical workers but hospital administrators say the extra equipment is too expensive, report @azmirror.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Salt Lake City mayor ‘encouraged’ by lawmakers’ approach to homeless funding this year • Utah News Dispatch Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said the city is encouraged by new recurring and one-time homeless funding from the Legislature.

“I can say without a doubt, this is one of the most productive legislative sessions that we’ve had as far as our relationship goes with state legislators,” Salt Lake City's mayor says of the just-concluded session, report @utahnewsdispatch.com and @statesnewsroom.com

New targeted tax in WA aims to keep coal power plant shut down • Washington State Standard But if the coal tax and a related climate pollution fee work as the Legislature intended, the state treasury will never collect a dime under the new law. That is because the idled Centralia…

Tax legislation Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Wednesday targets the last coal-fired power plant in the Pacific Northwest, report @washingtonstatestandard.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Alaska National Guard says planned deployment to Washington DC pushed to May | Alaska Beacon Officials with the Alaska National Guard said plans to deploy a trained rapid response force this month to support federal authorities in Washington D.C. has been pushed back to May.

Officials with the Alaska National Guard said plans to deploy a trained rapid response force this month to support federal authorities in Washington D.C. has been pushed back to May, report @alaskabeacon.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Seeing masked agents on Oregon streets? Legislature would let residents respond • Oregon Capital Chronicle Legislative Democrats stressed that they took great pains to ensure the legal viability of a bill to regulate law enforcement using masks.

“Fascism isn’t knocking at our doors anymore; it is knocking down our doors without warrants and we must respond accordingly,” an Oregon lawmaker says of a bill trying to limit federal immigration agents, report @oregoncapitalchronicle.com and @statesnewsroom.com

New solar installations in Nevada fell dramatically in 2025 • Nevada Current New solar power installations declined significantly in Nevada last year, as the Trump administration prioritized boosting fossil fuels and implemented policies limiting the growth of renewable…

New solar power installations declined significantly in Nevada last year, as the Trump administration prioritized boosting fossil fuels and implemented policies limiting the growth of renewable energy, report @nevadacurrent.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Idaho House passes $22M in Medicaid disability budget cuts • Idaho Capital Sun The Idaho House passed on a party-line vote a bill that calls for nearly $22 million in budget cuts to Medicaid disability services.

Without debate, the Idaho House passed on a party-line vote Thursday a bill that calls for nearly $22 million in budget cuts to Medicaid disability services, report @idahocapitalsun.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Arizona GOP moves to defund teachers union after it targeted school voucher program Arizona Republicans put an anti-union measure on the ballot after the teachers union launched a push to reform the school voucher program

Arizona Republican lawmakers want to hobble the state's teacher union, which generally supports Democratic candidates and issues, report @azmirror.com and @statesnewsroom.com

New Reno shelter under construction amid rising reports of domestic violence • Nevada Current Reported incidents of domestic violence have been on the rise in Washoe County over the past three years, underscoring the need to expand the availability of temporary housing for victims. To address…

Reported incidents of domestic violence have been on the rise in Nevada's second most populous county over the past three years, underscoring the need to expand the availability of temporary housing for victims, report @nevadacurrent.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Lawmakers restore funding for domestic violence strangulation exams • Utah News Dispatch Utah lawmakers restarted funding to help cover the cost of forensic exams for victims of domestic violence choking assaults.

Utah lawmakers restarted funding this year to help cover the cost of forensic exams for victims of domestic violence choking assaults, report @utahnewsdispatch.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Businesses can’t require microchip implants for workers under new WA law • Washington State Standard Washington workers don’t need to worry about their employers forcing them to get a microchip implant under a bill signed Wednesday.

So far there have been no reports of companies requiring employees in Washington to implant subcutaneous microchips. But the legislature decided to ban the practice anyway, report @washingtonstatestadard.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Alaska Senate approves fast-track budget bill to cover disasters, transportation projects | Alaska Beacon The state House is scheduled to take up the bill at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, and approval would mean big spending from state savings.

The Alaska Senate unanimously approved a bill that would spend $373.5 million from the Constitutional Budget Reserve to pay for a variety of expenses and fill a deficit in the current budget year, report @alaskabeacon.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Judge rules gas tax question can go on May ballot, lawmakers did not violate Oregon constitution • Oregon Capital Chronicle Marion County Circuit Court Senior Judge David Leith said a recently passed law moving the referendum date from November to May would survive other legal challenges.

An Oregon judge says the legislature was within its rights to move a referendum on a planned gas tax from November to May, report @oregoncapitalchronicle.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Rather than consolidating, Idaho budget committee eliminates all funding for two state agencies • Idaho Capital Sun Rather than consolidate, JFAC eliminated all funding for the Office of Species Conservation and Office of Energy and Mineral Resources.

An Idaho law required the legislature to combine two environment-oriented state agencies. Instead, lawmakers effectively abolished them after a dispute over staffing, report @idahocapitalsun.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Arizona Republicans advance bill that would make it easier for politicians to sue critics Arizona Republicans advance a defamation bill critics say guts First Amendment protections and lets politicians sue their critics

Far-right Arizona Sen. Wendy Rogers has been the target of plenty of online scorn over her career. Now she wants to make it easier for elected officials to sue people who criticize them, report @azmirror.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Special session for Amendment D 2.0? Lawmakers still eyeing their power over ballot initiatives • Utah News Dispatch The Utah Legislature didn't tackle a so-called Amendment D 2.0 to reassert power over ballot initiatives. A special session may be coming.

Despite heated rhetoric, legislative Republicans this year did not propose a promised constitutional amendment that would make clear lawmakers can change voter-approved laws enacted by ballot initiative, report @utahnewsdispatch.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Republican in WA House draws GOP challenger • Washington State Standard An incumbent Republican state lawmaker is facing a Republican challenger in a battle for legislative district in central Washington.

An incumbent Washington Republican state lawmaker is facing an intraparty challenge from an associate pastor of a Wenatchee church who’s raised close to $300,000, report @washingtonstatestandard.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Alaska DOT plans new subsidy program to boost cargo flights at Fairbanks airport | Alaska Beacon Airlines could have their landing fees waived for a year if they offer three months of weekly cargo flights from Fairbanks to a new city.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is planning to relax the requirements for a subsidy program intended to attract cargo airlines to Fairbanks International Airport, report @alaskabeacon.com and @statesnewsroom.com

From farm store rules to Moda Center renovations, these Oregon bills got bipartisan support • Oregon Capital Chronicle Both parties passed funding to renovate the Moda Center, to keep a rural hospital from closing and to fund statewide wildlife conservation.

Despite partisan wrangling in Oregon's Democratic-run legislature, nearly 90% of bills — or 128 of 143 — that passed both chambers this year received at least one Republican vote, report @oregoncapitalchronicle.com and @statesnewsroom.com

NV Energy asks PUC to delay peak demand charge start date • Nevada Current NV Energy wants permission from the Public Utilities Commission to push back implementation of its controversial peak demand charge until Oct. 1. The legality of the demand charge is being challenged…

Facing public anger and legal challenges, NV Energy now wants permission from the Public Utilities Commission to push back implementation of its controversial peak demand charge until Oct. 1, report @nevadacurrent.com and @statesnewsroom.com