A Los Angeles carpenters union has switched from Karen Bass to Nithya Raman, exposing a new crack in the mayor’s labor coalition.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has cleared the Mayor’s Fund’s business-heavy advisory board, removing executives from Blackstone, Citigroup and major real estate groups.

Louisiana more than doubled its inspector general budget, with $3 million set aside for consultants hunting government waste. The bigger question is whether the administration will show taxpayers exactly what those savings produce.

Gov. Maura Healey’s new Massachusetts plan puts primary care, nursing recruitment and surprise billing under the cost-cutting microscope.

Ald. Byron Sigcho-López is suing after Illinois officials removed him from the 4th District ballot over challenged petition signatures. The case takes aim at the state’s independent-candidate rules.

Maura Healey agrees to two debates, including WCVB’s election-cycle finale, as Republicans continue fighting over their own matchup.

The State Department plans to close five overseas missions spanning Canada, Japan, Indonesia, Cameroon and Grenada. The move would shrink America’s diplomatic footprint as the administration pushes a broader government downsizing.

Orange County is skipping automatic paper sample ballots for the August primary, sending voters to QR codes, online tools or a phone request instead.

San Anselmo voted to leave Marin County’s flood district, but homeowners are still paying the fee. Now advocates want refunds for money collected since the exit.

A new county plan would test whether Los Angeles can keep emergency systems running after a major earthquake.

Toddrick Barnette will leave Minneapolis’ top public safety post by year’s end after months of council rejection, mayoral vetoes and uncertainty.

Imperial Valley cities are pausing or banning data centers as officials weigh economic hopes against demands on power, water and land.

Fulton County is asking a judge to let it collect 2026 property taxes before the digest is finalized. The fix could keep schools and local governments solvent — but may mean adjusted bills later.