Maryland will expand energy‑assistance benefits starting July 1, boosting some grants up to 32% and issuing $48 million in supplemental electric aid.

Sen. Pat Fahy and colleagues proposed a three‑bill package — a dashboard, local review teams and a LEAP‑NY pilot — to tackle high chronic absenteeism after last summer’s Albany violence.

State board advanced a new dropout‑recovery charter for north Houston; critics say the private‑equity‑backed operator could siphon taxpayer dollars and duplicate local programs.

Ohio education officials opened a probe after Columbus City Schools flagged testing anomalies at Walnut Ridge and Independence; scores were invalidated district‑wide pending review.

Two renewal millages on the Aug. 4 primary ballot would fund Pontiac's senior centers and youth recreation programs, with first-year estimates topping $2.7 million combined.

DHS confirmed a cyber incident in a legacy information‑sharing environment and says it has isolated systems and launched forensics. Lawmakers are pressing for answers.

FEMA approved another round of recovery grants for Georgia after Hurricane Helene, directing millions toward debris removal, utilities and mitigation projects across multiple counties.

Schumer urged a two‑year pause to SNAP cuts he says would shove millions onto county budgets and strain food pantries across Western New York.

HHS abruptly canceled Wisconsin’s $1.16M-a-year teen pregnancy prevention grant, pausing programs that had reached nearly 1,000 young people and prompting talks of legal action.

Gov. Maura Healey signed a home rule petition letting Worcester certify police recruits up to age 39. City officials say the change will widen the applicant pool amid staffing gaps.

Newsom signed a budget that adds roughly $40 million to speed California's vote counting, but advocates say the amount is only a partial fix compared with the roughly $90 million they had requested.

A UH Mānoa pilot to test lower‑cost wastewater systems has been paused after a fund‑release mix‑up, putting more than $500,000 of state money at risk.

A federal civil‑rights complaint says USC and LMU materially supported a Hispanic‑only Youth Leadership Institute; federal agencies were asked to investigate.