Rep. Greg Steube introduced the LEASH Act to build a national registry of felony animal‑cruelty offenders, a federal follow‑up to Florida’s new Dexter’s Law. Supporters say it will help shelters and police spot repeat abusers.

Cabarrus County is set to vote June 1 on a plan to dissolve Squad 410, a supplemental fire unit, a move that would cut full‑time and part‑time firefighter positions. County officials say the change aims to reduce duplication and they will offer job help for affected staff.

Anne Brensley says a paid signature gatherer delivered suspect sheets, leaving her short of the ballot threshold as the campaign weighs legal action.

A two‑member GOP panel picked state Delegate Nino Mangione to fill Wade Kach’s vacant Baltimore County Council seat, boosting his profile ahead of the June primary.

Public records show UC campuses allowed campus license‑plate data to be accessed by federal agencies including CBP, prompting legal and privacy questions under California law.

Seventeen officers were sworn Friday — two small academy classes have added 31 this year, but Oakland's force still falls short of funded staffing as it rebuilds.

At the Shangri‑La Dialogue, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of China’s rapid military buildup and pressed Asian allies to boost spending. His remarks carry direct implications for Hawaii's military posture.

SFERS quietly redirected $110M into Asia‑focused lending and Bay Area venture funds, including $40M PAG allocations and new Eclipse commitments.

Staff proposals would hike or add dozens of city fees — from permit surcharges to park rentals — to close a projected $1.1M gap in Sonoma's 2026‑27 budget.

A new CCSD efficiency study pegs potential central‑office savings at $34M in year one and up to $79M annually within five years, with trustees set to review recommendations next week.

A 400-plus-page OMB proposal would put senior political appointees in charge of reviewing and, in some cases, canceling federal grants — researchers and counties warn of wide effects.

An appeals court affirmed that a controversial Black Lives Matter street mural outside Palo Alto City Hall did not amount to workplace harassment, ending a multi-year legal fight. The decision upholds a lower-court dismissal.

Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire has been named to the Pentagon’s new tech advisory board, reigniting criticism over anti‑Muslim posts and political donations.