A new full‑time judge has joined Salt Lake City’s immigration court, but TRAC data show about 49,000 pending cases and average waits near two years.

The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington endorsed Kenyan McDuffie over Janeese Lewis George, adding a business‑backed boost ahead of the June 16 primary.

Philadelphia’s DA activated an Election Day Task Force and opened a hotline so voters can report polling‑place problems ahead of the May 19 primary. The office says prosecutors will respond to interference and intimidation concerns.

Haverhill PD has begun a phased rollout of department‑issued body cameras; officials say footage will aid investigations while privacy protections apply.

The Northern District of Illinois adopted a May 4 rule requiring redacted grand‑jury “no bill” forms be placed on dockets in cases with pending complaints or informations.

A Trumbull County judge asked Ohio’s high court to preserve juvenile‑court power over judicial‑bypass petitions, but the attorney general and ACLU say he lacks standing.

Decatur's City Commission will present the FY 2026‑27 budget Monday and consider a tentative millage rate; public hearings are scheduled in June. Key capital items are also on the agenda.

The Supreme Court vacated and remanded two redistricting cases, leaving unresolved whether private parties can sue under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and creating uncertainty before the 2026 midterms.

California’s Black Legislative Caucus unveiled a state Voting Rights Act after the Supreme Court’s Callais decision, pitching a state-level fix to preserve representation for communities of color.

Ald. Jim Gardiner filed a Cook County suit seeking more than $1 million, saying watchdogs withheld evidence and an appeals officer later cleared him. The case names the city, the Board of Ethics and former IG Deborah Witzburg.

Oregon’s health regulators are using new transaction rules to review — and potentially block — major hospital and clinic deals. The Samaritan‑MultiCare affiliation is the first big test.

Demand for Pennsylvania’s tax-credit scholarships has surged: more than 100,000 awards last year, but tens of thousands of applicants remain unfunded. Lawmakers are weighing several fixes in Harrisburg.

The Supreme Court declined to hear drugmakers' appeals of Medicare's drug‑price negotiation program, leaving negotiated prices and start‑of‑year savings intact.