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Cooler states now forced to grapple with extreme heat fueled by climate change
NEW YORK — As temperatures soared into the 90s, the heat and humidity hit the concrete in Astoria, Queens, and bounced into the air. People moved along the scorched sidewalk slowly, their clothes drenched with sweat. Elianne Alvarado, 44, who was raised in New York City and has lived...
After an abortion for fetal anomalies, she hoped IVF would build her family. Now that’s in doubt.
Editor’s note: This is the fifth installment of an occasional States Newsroom series called When and Where: Abortion Access in America, profiling individuals who have needed abortion care in the U.S. before and after Dobbs. The first installment can be found here, the second installment is here, the third is here, and the fourth is […] The post After an abortion for fetal anomalies, she hoped IVF would build her family. Now that’s in doubt. appeared first on Stateline.
A red state pioneers paying for roof upgrades as storms boost insurance costs
When Hurricane Sally struck coastal Alabama in 2020, many residents saw the roofs torn from their homes or damaged by the high winds. But not Matt Fetner. “Every house around had blue tarps on it, except for mine,” said the resident of Orange Beach, a small city on the Gulf Coast. Just a few years […] The post A red state pioneers paying for roof upgrades as storms boost insurance costs appeared first on Stateline.
Racist slurs and death threats: The dangerous life of a Georgia elections official
Editor’s note: This story contains profanities and racist slurs. DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — When Milton Kidd leaves work at the end of the day, he slips out the back door of the domed Douglas County Courthouse, avoiding the public entrance where people might berate him or demand his home address. He never takes the same route home […] The post Racist slurs and death threats: The dangerous life of a Georgia elections official appeared first on Stateline.
US Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court Friday upheld a federal law that bars people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from owning a firearm. In an 8-1 decision on United States v. Rahimi, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion that “our Nation’s firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm […] The post US Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns appeared first on Stateline.
Despite GOP headwinds, citizen-led abortion measures could be on the ballot in 9 states
For abortion rights supporters in Florida, it was a tumultuous day of highs and lows. On April 1, the Florida Supreme Court paved the way for the state to ban nearly all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. But it also OK’d a ballot measure that would allow Florida voters to overturn the ban this November.
The number of job openings has declined sharply in every state
The number of job openings has declined sharply in every state since 2022, better aligning the numbers of unfilled jobs and people seeking work. Nationally, for the first time since before the pandemic, the number of job openings and unemployed people is roughly in balance: a little more than one opening per person looking for work, according to a Stateline analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. At the height of the labor shortage in 2022, there were two job openings per job seeker. As of April, the ratio was down to 1.2 openings per person.
States struggle with unreliable federal funding for making sure elections are secure
WASHINGTON — The federal government has sought to bolster election security for years through a popular grant program, but the wildly fluctuating funding levels have made it difficult for state officials to plan their budgets and their projects. Rising misinformation and disinformation about elections, often fueled by conspiracy theories,...
Swing-state legislatures diverge on election-year gun measures
Read more Stateline coverage of the 2024 election. States continued to diverge on gun policy this year, with especially intense debate in the swing states that will decide November’s election. In Michigan, legislators are considering at least half a dozen gun bills that would create storage requirements and establish gun-free zones. In Pennsylvania, lawmakers are still debating […] The post Swing-state legislatures diverge on election-year gun measures appeared first on Stateline.
For child care workers, state aid for their own kids’ care is ‘life-changing’
SMITHFIELD, R.I. — Child care worker Marci Then, 32, looked over at two 4-year-olds in her care who were tussling over a toy plate in a model kitchen set. “Are we sharing?” she gently asked them. They both let go. Then works at Little Learners Academy child...
Backlash against DEI spreads to more states
SALT LAKE CITY — Shortly after taking office in 2023, Republican state Rep. Katy Hall heard from constituents complaining about how their adult children were required to write diversity, equity and inclusion statements while applying for medical and dental schools and other graduate programs in Utah. “It doesn’t seem right,” Hall said. “It doesn’t seem […] The post Backlash against DEI spreads to more states appeared first on Stateline.
US Supreme Court rejects attempt to limit access to abortion pill
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a much-anticipated decision Thursday that mifepristone, one of two pharmaceuticals used in medication abortion, can remain available under current prescribing guidelines. The high court unanimously rejected attempts by anti-abortion groups to roll back access to what was in place more than eight years ago, writing that they […] The post US Supreme Court rejects attempt to limit access to abortion pill appeared first on Stateline.
‘Time for a reckoning.’ Kansas farmers brace for water cuts to save Ogallala Aquifer.
This story, the second in an occasional series about water challenges facing the American heartland, is a partnership between Stateline and the Kansas Reflector. Read the first story here. JETMORE, Kan. — An inch or two of corn peeks out of the dirt, just enough to reveal long rows forming over the horizon. Sprinkler engines […] The post ‘Time for a reckoning.’ Kansas farmers brace for water cuts to save Ogallala Aquifer. appeared first on Stateline.
States struggle to help patients navigate insurance hurdle known as ‘step therapy’
Cassidy Yermal, 32, began experiencing debilitating migraines when she was 17 years old. As a teenager growing up in northeastern Pennsylvania, she saw numerous neurologists and tried a variety of medications before finding one that provided relief. In 2022, her new insurer asked her to prove it. Yermal now lives...
3 more states could see marijuana legalization on November ballots
Nebraskan Crista Eggers is running up against a July 3 deadline. If she can get at least 87,000 names onto each of two petitions before then, she can put an initiative on the state’s November ballot that would legalize pot for medicinal purposes. The petition effort is personal. Her 9-year-old son, Colton, has epilepsy and […] The post 3 more states could see marijuana legalization on November ballots appeared first on Stateline.
Highway humor is over some drivers’ heads
States have had their fun with highway safety messages, posting everything from Taylor Swift lyrics to discourage texting in Mississippi, to a “vibe check” — winking at Gen Z — to encourage seat belt use in Arizona. Such messages are shown intermittently on thousands of highway signs, known as variable messaging signs, when the billboards aren’t lit up […] The post Highway humor is over some drivers’ heads appeared first on Stateline.
New voter registration rules threaten hefty fines, criminal penalties for groups
ORLANDO, Fla. — On a sticky Sunday afternoon in late May, Mark Wendell ambled through Loch Haven Park, a mossy, oak-covered green space wedged between a trio of lakes and the Orlando Science Center. Among the two dozen food and vendor tents lining the sidewalks at the Orlando Fringe theater and arts festival was People […] The post New voter registration rules threaten hefty fines, criminal penalties for groups appeared first on Stateline.
For some rural communities, a stripped-down hospital is better than none at all
On many days, some small hospitals in rural Mississippi admit just one patient — or none at all. The hospitals are drowning in debt. The small, tight-knit communities they’ve anchored for decades can do little but watch as the hospitals shed services and staff just to stay afloat. The federal government recently offered a lifeline: […] The post For some rural communities, a stripped-down hospital is better than none at all appeared first on Stateline.
States beg insurers not to drop climate-threatened homes
In the coming years, climate change could force Americans from their homes, not just by raising sea levels, worsening wildfires and causing floods — but also by putting insurance coverage out of reach. In places including California, Florida and Louisiana, some homeowners are finding it nearly impossible to find an insurance company that will cover […] The post States beg insurers not to drop climate-threatened homes appeared first on Stateline.
As mpox cases rise, experts urge complete, 2-part vaccinations
The number of U.S. mpox cases has more than doubled compared with last year, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been urging clinicians across states to encourage vaccinations for those at risk. As of May 25, the nation had seen a roughly 150% increase in cases of the disease formerly known […] The post As mpox cases rise, experts urge complete, 2-part vaccinations appeared first on Stateline.
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Stateline provides daily reporting and analysis on trends in state policy. Since its founding in 1998, Stateline has maintained a commitment to the highest standards of nonpartisanship, objectivity and integrity. Its team of journalists combines original reporting with a roundup of the latest news from sources around the country. In 2023, Stateline transitioned from its longtime home at The Pew Charitable Trusts to States Newsroom.
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