FL: Shortages grip coastal Florida after storm
Many people on the Southwest Florida coast, the areas most ravaged by Hurricane Ian, are growing weary, frustrated and angry as they wait for electricity, gas, water, food and other basic needs.
NY: New York’s digital divide poses barriers
For some New Yorkers, technology is out of reach. More than a quarter of some of New York’s lowest-income households report no internet subscriptions.
CA: Mixed fate for criminal justice bills in California
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered a mixed verdict on more than three dozen criminal justice laws, approving measures to seal criminal records and free dying inmates but denying bids to restrict solitary confinement and boost inmates’ wages.
NC: North Carolina braces for aggressive poll watchers
North Carolina’s rules review board, appointed by the Republican-controlled legislature, blocked new poll watcher regulations in late September, leaving election officials without additional tools to control behavior on Election Day, Nov. 8.
AL: Striking Alabama inmate workers’ demands ‘unreasonable,’ governor says
The demands of Alabama inmates on strike from their prison jobs are “unreasonable,” Republican Gov. Kay Ivey said. Prisoners’ demands include a call for better conditions in prisons and for changes in sentencing laws and parole board policies.
WA: Election conspiracies cast a shadow over Washington midterms
One-third of Republicans in Washington state said they believed there was major fraud in the 2020 election and that Donald Trump definitely won. Some Republican leaders say the constant talk of election conspiracies is backfiring on the party.
OK: Oklahoma nursing homes shuttering as need for care soars
At least five Oklahoma nursing residences have closed in 2022, and experts and insiders say other closures could follow soon. More patients would be displaced and possibly relocated farther from their family and community.
GA: More Georgians redeeming $350 payments after rough rollout
The state is working to pay out a one-time $350 aid to some of Georgia’s poorest residents, after a bumpy rollout left some recipients struggling to redeem the payments.
NM: New Mexico lawmakers focus on prescribed burns after disastrous wildfire season
Planned burns are under intense scrutiny this year after two U.S. Forest Service burns escaped to become the largest wildfire in New Mexico history.
DE: End of Delaware pandemic shelter program spurs demand for homeless services
Delaware’s pandemic emergency shelter program, which housed thousands in motels over the past two years, is ending. Service providers expect a surge in demand for shelter beds.
WI: Wisconsin governor’s race becomes most expensive in the country
Wisconsin’s governor’s race has become the most expensive general election in the country, with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ side outspending Republican businessman Tim Michels and his GOP allies by better than a 2-to-1 ratio. Overall, the two sides have spent $55 million since the August primary.
LA: State program placed Louisiana’s riskiest policies with untested insurers; many then failed
Over the past decade and a half, more than 129,000 policyholders in Louisiana have been offloaded from the state-run insurer of last resort. Through a program known as depopulation, some of the riskiest policies were placed with untested private insurers as the agency tried to reduce its exposure to future hurricane losses.
NE: Heart disease resurgent in Nebraska, US
After decades of declining numbers of heart disease-related deaths, rates have risen in recent years in both Nebraska and the United States. Rates are up 4% in Nebraska and 10% nationally.
MA: Massachusetts governor leaving post with no appetite for national office
Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, 65, will leave office showing no appetite for national politics or federal office, where his socially moderate Republican brand may have little draw.
WV: West Virginia lacks attorneys for foster children
West Virginia has a shortage of attorneys to represent foster children in court. Last year, West Virginia had about 5,800 new abuse and neglect cases, but there are fewer than 300 attorneys to work as neutral legal guardians.
MT: Montana judge declares new voter laws unconstitutional and permanently enjoins them
A district court judge in Billings, Montana, permanently struck down three election administration laws in the state, declaring that eliminating Election Day voter registration, implementing new voter identification requirements and barring paid ballot collection are unconstitutional.
IA: Most Iowa hospitals fail to comply with price transparency rule, report says
A recent report shows most Iowa hospitals aren’t following a federal rule to show their costs, but hospitals say it’s more complicated than that.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website. AP and Getty images may not be republished. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of any other photos and graphics.
