St. Petersburg Councilmember Brandi Gabbard filed to run for mayor, setting up a challenge to incumbent Ken Welch as the Gas Plant redevelopment fight intensifies. Her campaign centers on housing, flood resilience and a planning‑first approach.

Washington placed Afghanistan on a new wrongful-detention blacklist, accusing the Taliban of "hostage diplomacy" and pushing for the release of detained Americans.

A Democratic bill to force immigration agents to show name-and-badge identification stalled in Tallahassee as the 2026 session wound down, leaving advocates disappointed.

Renters and advocates rallied at Lawyers' Mall in Annapolis urging passage of bills to let local governments limit no‑cause evictions.

Borough council voted to remove the local volunteer fire company from emergency response, immediately shifting coverage to Connellsville Township and prompting alarm among neighbors.

A local bill would ask Hillsborough voters in 2026 whether to elect the county's schools chief, shifting the post from an appointed job to a partisan, four‑year office starting in 2028.

Mamdani campaigned on openness, but City Hall is delaying release of contracts and robocall audio tied to Adams’ AI projects while it combs through a FOIL backlog. Watchdogs say routine records shouldn’t be held.

Councilmembers asked the City Attorney for a staffing plan to reduce reliance on outside counsel after surging legal bills and judgments. The move aims to shift work in‑house and save taxpayer dollars.

A proposed ordinance would require most dogs in San Francisco to be sterilized, create an unaltered-dog permit and impose escalating penalties; the Public Safety committee hears it Thursday.

Scott Wiener rolled out a trillion‑dollar federal housing plan that would build millions of homes and pay cities for every unit they produce. The pitch anchors his congressional run.

Steve Witkoff told CNBC he “probably” will travel to Israel next week to coordinate on Iran war plans, a move that could shape military and diplomatic alignment.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani paused the city’s private tax lien sale and opened a six‑month review, a win advocates say could steer New York toward a land bank model.

Arizona lawmakers advanced a bill to lift the 55‑bed cap on Maricopa residents at the Arizona State Hospital. Supporters call it a fix; officials say staffing and money will make it real.