From the States
Image
Florida effort to combat Medicaid fraud projected to save nearly $1B
DeSantis said Florida’s transition of ABA services into managed care along with efforts to combat fraud have led to a nearly $1 billion decrease in projected annual ABA expenditures.
Image
Trump’s new healthcare accountability and transparency rule praised by patient advocate groups
The final rule’s “added requirement of executive attestation that published prices and other information are true, accurate, and complete as of the date in the machine-readable file is a breakthrough for compliance,” Fisher said.
Image
Homeland Security spends close to $1B for more California properties for ICE detention
They were purchased from the private prison corporation GEO Group for $950 million.
Image
US Taxpayers have lost about $3T to fraud since 2003, currently losing about $500B annually: Report
Much of the fraud is funneled through federal programs like Medicaid, food stamps, Medicare, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and a “pandemic grant for concert venues,” Crocker explained.
Image
Pennsylvania reports 1,000-plus measles cases, largest state outbreak in three decades
The nearly 3,900 cases that have been reported so far this year in the U.S. is the most since 1991, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Image
Congress is behind schedule and facing tight government funding deadline upon November return
While the House would normally be in session this week, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., released his chamber two weeks early — despite protests from members who wanted to tackle AI safety legislation and advance a second Epstein files discharge petition.
Image
Pennsylvania House passes bill to tax and regulate natural kratom, and ban synthetic kratom
A legislative analysis of the bill estimated that in the first full year of implementation the new 12% tax on the sale of kratom products would generate $4.4 million, and the state would collect an additional $241,000 in sales tax.
Image
California AG Rob Bonta contends 'mail-in voting is safe'
Hans von Spakovsky dismissed Bonta's claims regarding security. "Bonta's claim that mail voting in California is 'safe and secure' when the state has no ID requirement, refuses to verify the citizenship of registered voters and has one of the most inaccurate, mistake-ridden voter registration lists in the country is laughable,"
Image
NJ Governor Sherrill pressured to opt state into federal education tax credit program
New Jersey Republicans want Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill to opt into the new federal school choice tax credit, warning that the state could lose out on more than $900 million in scholarship funds if it doesn't act by a January deadline.
Image
Illinois pumpkin production rises ahead of weather-challenged harvest
The USDA’s Economic Research Service said Illinois produced about 533 million pounds last year, up from 485 million in 2024 and far more than any other state.
Image
Head of Tennessee prison system resigns after failed execution of Christa Pike
A former US attorney, Ed Stanton, was appointed to lead an independent review of the situation.
Image
Democrat governor who sued ExxonMobil asks Trump admin to fast-track natural gas pipeline expansion
She requested that “sufficient staff and resources are dedicated to completing the required reviews in time to preserve the project’s planned 2028 in-service date,” one report said.
Image
Illinois school districts shifted funds, planned for higher fuel costs for buses
Ellerson Ng said impacts were seen especially last school year after the conflict between the U.S. and Iran began in late February.