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First Round Of Rural Health Transformation Funds Now Available - West Virginia Public Broadcasting
The state’s nearly $200 million award from the federal government for 2026 aims to strengthen rural health systems statewide.
Race list for May 26 Texas primary runoff
Early voting for the Texas primary runoff runs May 18-22. See the federal, state and county runoffs on ballots in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant.
Federal 340B drug program accused of health care abuse
FOX Business' Gerri Willis reports on health care abuse accusations against the federal 340B drug program and the impact of costs on 'Varney & Co.'
Navy Federal Business Loans Review 2026
Navy Federal Credit Union offers business loans and credit lines to small-business owners with a military connection. Some products are competitive.
West Ridge business accused of bilking millions from unsuspecting customers in nationwide scam
The Federal Trade Commission and the state of Illinois filed a lawsuit against Premium Home Service and founder Yosef Banath for violating consumer protection laws.
Mayor Johnson expands alternate response effort for mental health emergencies
For now, Mayor Brandon Johnson is using $5.2 million from the final chunk of federal stimulus funding delivered to Chicago during the pandemic to check another key item off his progressive to-do list.
Praise to the chief: A week of homage to Trump
Since returning to office, Trump hasn’t just solidified his grip on Republican politics and asserted his executive authority deep into the federal government. He has inspired, encouraged, and, at times, outright demanded to be showered with homage.
U.S. businesses edge toward another $25 billion tariff refund
Federal courts questioning Trump-era tariffs, raising the possibility that U.S. importers could see a second round of refunds
Chartbook 449: Voldemort on Threadneedle street. The Bank of England and the "haunted house" of English politics.
Imagine the scene: In some Harry Potter version of 21st-century London, a group of deathless UK Treasury officials gathered from across the last century huddle over warm pints and glasses of Chardonnay. Around the table there are officials from the 1920s, the 1930s, the 1970s, 2022 and today. Inevitably, in May 2026, the subject of conversation is the disintegration of the current Labour government. Despite its huge majority in parliament, it has been reduced to tatters by catastrophic local election result. These exposed the fact that rather than having a government with a clear popular majority, the UK is like most other modern societies divided into 5 segments each of which commands between 26 and 16 percent of the vote. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the leadership at Nos 10 and 11 Downing Street - where the Prime Minister and the Chancellor (Treasury Secretary) work - seem paralyzed. They are caught between mounting discontent over unfairness and the cost of living, and tough fiscal strictures that push them into making unpopular spending decisions. In the London pub, the Treasury officials from across the ages, can barely hide their satisfaction at the latest display of democratic politics caught in the vice-grip of financial logic. “Remember the mur d’argent and the banker’s ramp?” “Just like yesterday!” There are smirks around the table. Then the representative of 2026 pipes up: “One thing you have to say about the current lot (referring to the latest hapless Labour government), you don’t have to teach them about the bond market!” There is a murmur of ascent from the Treasury Mandarins. The trauma of the fiscal crisis of September-October 2022 sits deep. Back then, in the final stages of Tory decay, a ‘mini budget’ that challenged fiscal orthodoxy led to a brief but fierce panic in one of the oldest government bond markets in the world (aka gilt market). Now all you have to do is to mention the “bond market” to hush debate. [ Paul Mason@paulmasonnews In the name of public service, and as ex-economics editor of BBC Newsnight, I offer to do a zoom call, tonight, with any Labour MP who wants to understand why bond markets do not "fall into line" with governments. 1/ 3:57 PM · May 12, 2026 · 466K Views 224 Replies · 674 Reposts · 3.93K Likes ](https://x.com/paulmasonnews/status/2054229532404519082?s=20) “And the funny thing is”, the young man in the huddle continues, “they don’t even want to talk about … ”. There is a sudden hush. Significant looks are exchanged around the table. About? One of the senior figures puts down his glass with a decisive “clink”. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has entered their thoughts. Meanwhile, a few miles away in a grubby pub in Bloomsbury, two conspirators from the camp of Critical Macrofinance huddle over cans of low-alcohol IPA. They look at each other and blurt out loud: “The Bank!” “Everyone in the bloody Labour party is talking about the bond market. But why aren’t they even mentioning … the Bank of England!?” “Why is no one talking about Voldemort?” In Paul Mason’s blogpost, after much chest-thumping about basic fiscal logic, the basic point about the Bank of England is buried in the fine print at #3 in his list of suggestions as to what a radical Labour government might actually be able to do! [ Conflict & Democracy Down with the bond market! Down with gravity! It may seem unfair to focus on Labour MP Paula Barker for her off-the-cuff assertion that the bond market would have to “fall in line” with Andy Burnham, should he replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. But Burnham himself told the New Statesman that Labour had to “get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets… Read more 2 days ago · 100 likes · 3 comments · Paul Mason ](https://htsf.substack.com/p/down-with-the-bond-market-down-with?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) Back in Bloomsbury they shake their heads and ask: “Didn’t we learn anything from the Eurozone crisis?” Meanwhile, as if summoned to the conversation by some higher force, the “pink pages” announce: “The days of ultra-cheap government borrowing have come to an end” and Martin “Whizzard” Wolf publishes the graph of the season Look at the UK in 2026, perilously positioned on the upper edge of the pack. No wonder no one in London needs any lessons about the “bond market”. But, look again. Imagine how they feel in Rome. What is London’s nightmare in 2026? The nightmare is that you end up like Italy in the early 2010s during the Eurozone crisis. Once comfortably situated in the middle of the pack, watching with horror as your ten-year yields explode to 7 percent and “spreads” become a national nightmare. One of the largest economies in Europe, a founding member of the euro, stigmatized. But the message of the Italian experience is ambiguous. After all, the stigma didn’t last. In 2026, Italy borrows at rates lower not only than the UK but the US. The US, which, as everyone knows, enjoys the “exorbitant privilege” of being the issuer of reserve, safe asets. What kind of magic is this? How did Italy, in the space of fifteen years, go from being good, to bad and back again? Which brings us back to our dissident friends in their Bloombury boozer and their memories of the Eurozone crisis. Italy never was Britain - with its ongoing fiscal deficits. Without interest payments, on primary balance, from 2000 to 2020 Italy ran a tight fiscal ship. Even in 2008 it barely went into deficit and when it was being put on the rack in the early 20210s its primary surplus matched that of austere Germany. So, what happened? How did it end up stigmatized? Of course Italian politics didn’t help. Berlusconi was at the helm and he had legal issues. But amongst friends in the Bloomsbury pub, Berlusconi is a sideshow, the name we whisper to each other is “Trichet”. From 2004 to 2011 the ECB was headed by Jean-Claude Trichet, ex of the French Treasury, more German than the Germans. After 2009 as the news of the Greek fiscal disaster broke, the European bond markets wento into panic mode and Trichet began a brutal game of cat and mouse. Between 2009 and 2011, Trichet intervened in the bond market to help, only when he thought he had compliance with austerity. When he thought they were uncooperative, he withdrew. In the summer of 2011, he even made direct suggestions to his Italian counterparts in Rome, as to how Italy should be governed. It was this cat and mouse game that drove the bond markets crazy and exposed Italy to a violent squeeze. When Mario Draghi took over the ECB at the end of 2011 and declared “whatever it takes”, the pressure on Italy, gradually eased. It is that starring role that has made Draghi into the towering figure in European politics that he remains today. So now you see why voices in London hush when it comes to the Bank of England. “The bond market” isn’t an irresistible objective force like the weather or an avalanche. It can appear like that. But that depends on the way it is being handled, or not handled by the central bank. Which is why the silence about the Bank of England in London right now is so significant. If you think this all sounds a bit fishy, coming from a left-liberal Keynesian like myself, well, let me introduce you to Robin Brooks, who, to put it mildly, plays on a different quidditch team to me. Here, from the position of a fiscal hawk is Robin’s celebratory account of the Bank of England’s role since 2022; In October 2022, at the height of the bond market blow-up in the UK, something incredible happened. Governor Andrew Bailey told British pension funds the Bank of England would end its support program for the country’s fragile gilt market, drawing a line under how much help the central bank was willing to give to exposed pension funds and - implicitly - the government. By the end of that week, Kwasi Kwarteng - the finance minister - had resigned. Prime Minister Liz Truss would soon follow. This episode is so incredible because it contrasts with what happened in the Euro zone earlier that year. Bond markets in Spain and Italy were under pressure amid high inflation and rising interest rates. In the middle of this, Mario Draghi - Italy’s Prime Minister - resigned, compounding pressure on bond markets of high-debt countries on the Euro periphery. Unlike the Bank of England, the ECB caved. It bought Italian and Spanish government bonds in an effort to cap yields and introduced a new tool that signaled to markets it might do such caps more frequently going forward. Faced with pressure on bond markets, the ECB capitulated to political pressure from high-debt countries like Italy and Spain. The Bank of England stood its ground and toppled the Truss government. This kind of thing has long-lasting consequences. It means markets price a higher probability of yield caps in the Euro zone, which keeps Italian and Spanish yields artificially low, while markets feel free to push up UK yields without fear of central bank intervention. As I flagged in yesterday’s post, this means you really can’t compare UK yields to those of other high-debt countries. The UK looks worse, but only because its central bank isn’t interfering with markets. There’s more to this than just that 2022 episode. The Bank of England has also been much more aggressive in its quantitative tightening (QT) than other central banks. If one motivation for quantitative easing (QE) is to lower bond yields - especially longer-dated ones - then it stands to reason QT pushes yields up. The left chart above shows a four-quarter moving average of UK government debt issuance (black line) in percent of GDP and which sectors absorb this issuance, including the Bank of England (blue bars). The right chart above compares the Bank of England’s accumulation or run-off of government bonds (blue line) with that of other central banks, where this blue line is the same as the blue bars in the left chart. The Bank of England was quicker and more aggressive than other central banks in downsizing its bond holdings, so UK yields will have risen more than elsewhere also for this reason, not just because of Governor Andrew Bailey’s remarks in October 2022. Back in October 2025, after a conversation in New York with friends in British politics, my sense of dysphoria was such that I raised the issue of the Bank of England openly in the FT Since 2008, the UK has slid into a deep economic and political predicament. Growth has stagnated to a degree far worse even than in the 1970s. The Tory leadership’s wager on the Brexit referendum spectacularly backfired, leaving the UK isolated from Europe and at the mercy of its special relationship with the US, many of whose political class regard the UK as a basket case. After years of austerity, the Labour party lurched to the left and then back to the centre. The Tory party has been eclipsed by the populist nationalism of Reform. Any British government should be worrying first and foremost about how to restart growth. Instead, Keir Starmer is beset by shades of the gilt market panic triggered by the Liz Truss government in 2022. The debt level is higher than in recent years, but there is no cause for panic. UK debt is at far from critical levels and of long duration. Whether you want to “take back control” or launch progressive economic policy, a democracy dogged by fear of bond market vigilantes is unhealthy. In a country that is a monetary sovereign, this climate points to one thing: a disconnect between the government and the central bank. Since 1997, the independence of the Bank of England has become a sacred cow. But independence is what you make of it. And in the wake of the gilt market crisis of September 2022, relations between the Bank of England and the UK government need a reset. In normal times, there is no doubt that an inflation-targeting independent central bank can serve a country well. But since 2008, the UK and other advanced economies have not had the luxury of such simple problems. To their credit, central bankers around the world have not stood on orthodoxy. After 2008, the US Federal Reserve rescued the global banking system and, through quantitative easing, it stabilised the Treasury market in the face of huge deficits. In Europe, things were trickier. Both the Bank of England under Mervyn King and Jean-Claude Trichet’s European Central Bank played cat and mouse with national governments. This was a high stakes wager that between 2010 and 2012 escalated bond market tension and triggered a disastrous turn to austerity. Shaken by the impact of those shocks, their successors, Mark Carney and Mario Draghi adopted a more protective stance (assuming you were not the government of Greece). Recall that Draghi’s legendary slogan, “Whatever it takes”, was uttered to face down the City of London’s bond vigilantes. In 2015, Draghi launched QE — financial repression by another name. In 2016, Carney used the authority of the Bank of England to stabilise markets following the vote for Brexit, an exemplary demonstration of how central banks can underpin democratic choice, even when those choices are wrong headed. All these were independent central bankers steeped in the best practice of the 1990s, who recognised that historic crises demanded radical action. It was the price surge of 2021-2023 that poisoned the atmosphere. Though the shock came mainly from the supply side, central banks ended up in the dock. Nowhere more so than in the UK. The Bank of England reacted with aggressive normalisation. Faced with a cost of living crisis, the governor called for workers to accept real wage cuts. In early 2022, as gas prices were at record levels and Russia’s army was poised to invade Ukraine, the Bank adopted a stringent programme of quantitative tightening, elevating interest rates. When the Truss government got itself in trouble, the Bank took almost a week to come to the rescue. Rather than enacting a charade of normality, it is time to recognise that in 2025 the UK faces a period of historic transition. To meet this challenge, what is needed is a new concordat with the Bank. This should not ignore inflationary pressures or the long-run trajectory of debt, but should affirm the priority of reviving investment-led growth. One could follow Donald Trump in demanding interest rate cuts. The Bank could shadow the ECB in its commitment to capping Eurozone yields. But the top priority should be to lay the ghost of September 2022. The Bank’s slowing of QT last month was a concession. An immediate and complete end would send the right signal. Such a concordat will not by itself restore sanity to politics, solve the housing problem or rebuild the NHS. But it would help to lift the fear of bond market crisis, which is paralysing the effort by democratic politicians to answer the fundamental questions facing the nation. Now, that call for a new concordat between government and Bank of Englands seems more urgent than ever. The problem is that in October 2025, Starmer still had some authority. Today the government is in tatters. And when you are the “under the harrow” - to echo a phrase of Montagu Norman’s from the 1920s - it is the worst possible time to consider institutional change. To make general arguments at a time of crisis can only seem like special pleading rather than a general argument for long-term change. The same, unfortunately, is also true for the other basic institutional reform that Britain urgently needs i.e. the abolition of the out-dated first past the post electoral system and its replacement by a moderated form of proportional representation. And thirdly - whilst we are saying the quiet parts out loud - Britain needs to reopen the question of EU membership. What the local election results of 2026 show is that this remains a key issue. And what they also show is that there is a clear majority that would favor a return. Until these basic features of Britain’s political economy are addressed the country will carry on its politics as though in a haunted house, governed by governments that lack actual majorities, conjuring up false constraints whilst ignoring the real ones. This one is for DG and MI. I love writing the newsletter. If you enjoy it too and fancy buying me a coffee once a month, you know what to do. Click below! Subscribe
New Hawaii law targets corporate influence in politics after Citizens United ruling
Hawaii's Democratic governor has signed a bill to curb corporate and "dark money" influence in politics. This move comes after the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election...
MU's Radioisotope Science Center aims for global impact with medical, nuclear innovation
Local, state and federal leaders gathered in Columbia Thursday morning to celebrate state-of-the-art technology in cancer treatment.
Powell receives an 'A' grade for handling politics as Fed chair, says Jefferies' Richard Fisher
Richard Fisher, former Dallas Fed president and Jefferies senior advisor, joins 'Closing Bell' to discuss Fed Chair Jerome Powell's tenure, the Federal Reserve going forward and much more.
Senate passes John Kennedy resolution to halt senators’ pay during government shutdowns
The resolution follows several lengthy shutdown that left federal workers without pay for weeks.
Contributor: Despite being overrun by businessmen, D.C. is anything but business as usual
If a massive federal government cannot efficiently regulate industries, it cannot efficiently invest in them. Somewhere between Wall Street and Washington, this insight got lost.
Mizzou breaks ground on Radioisotope Science Center to strengthen nation’s supply of critical isotopes
May 14, 2026Contact: Christopher Ave, Christopher.Ave@missouri.edu University of Missouri leaders, federal partners and state officials […]
Bessent credits Dem senator with putting 'country before political ideology' in Fed chair confirmation vote
Kevin Warsh Federal Reserve chair nomination confirmed in a 54-45 Senate vote, with Sen. John Fetterman as the only Democrat to cross party lines and vote for confirmation.
Senators vote to withhold their own pay during future government shutdowns
The bipartisan support for the measure comes at a time when federal closures have become longer and more frequent, frustrating lawmakers who say there should be punishment when Congress fails at its most basic legislative duty.
Senators agree to go without pay during shutdowns after historic closures left workers unpaid
Senators unanimously voted to withhold their own pay during future government shutdowns after federal workers went unpaid in two historic closures.
Hawaii vs. Citizens United
State lawmakers want to change the terms of personhood for corporations.
Howard Community College Featured in 'State of Business' Address
In his Business Outlook Luncheon remarks at Turf Valley Resort last week, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball outlined how Howard County “stands on business” through five pillars: managing crises, investing in people, backing businesses, making strategic investments, and preparing for the future. Howard Community College appears by name in the pillar that anchors the others: investing in people. Dr. Ball highlighted the $11 million county investment in HCC’s Cathy and Danny Bell Workforce and Trades Center, which will open this fall. He described the facility as a world-class center with state-of-the-art training in key industries, championed by HCC President Dr. Daria J. Willis, and positioned to help Howard County compete with institutions worldwide. He also recognized HCC’s Complete4Success program, supported by a $3.5 million county investment in 2022, as a continuing driver of certifications and degrees that prepare students to enter Howard County’s workforce ready to contribute on day one. Dr. Ball connected HCC’s work to the broader economic moment in the county, including more than 1,580 apprentices now training across Howard County businesses, up from roughly 1,100 in 2018, and the SPARK program that bridges classroom learning to high-demand industries. Each of these efforts depends on the kind of workforce pipeline HCC is built to deliver. Educational Services is one of the top three employment sectors for county residents, alongside Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services and Health Care & Social Assistance. HCC will award 1,263 degrees next week at its annual commencement ceremony, and every year, that output feeds directly into the industries the County Executive named as drivers of Howard County’s growth. The full picture also includes the families who are not yet there. The 2024 ALICE update from United Way of Central Maryland found that 35,346 households in Howard County, 29% of the total, fell below the ALICE Threshold in 2022, meaning they earned more than the Federal Poverty Level but less than the basic cost of living in the county. The Household Survival Budget for a Howard County family of two adults, an infant, and a preschooler reached $118,608 annually, requiring an hourly wage of $59.30 to cover housing, child care, food, transportation, and other essentials. Affluence and economic strain coexist within the same county lines. That gap is the reason higher education and economic development are inseparable. Every certification, associate degree, and apprenticeship credential issued at HCC represents a household closer to crossing the ALICE Threshold and into long-term financial stability. The Bell Center, Complete4Success, Howard P.R.I.D.E., Parent Scholars, and the institution’s transfer-rate gains are significant components of Howard County’s economic mobility infrastructure. HCC is grateful to Dr. Ball for his sustained partnership over nearly eight years of service and for recognizing that this college plays a central role in the economic story Howard County is telling. Standing on business in Howard County means standing alongside the flagship institution that prepares its workforce.
1 in 3 Minnesota childcare providers can’t pay themselves, survey finds
A new survey from First Children’s Finance and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis shows that 2024 improvements in enrollment and business sustainability in the Minnesota childcare business sector have stopped or regressed.
Rep. Crane Applauds Release of Federal Funding for Arizona Health Care and Tribal Infrastructure
Congressman Eli Crane
Former Newsom, Becerra aide may plead guilty in corruption case
Lawyers for Dana Williamson said a court hearing on federal corruption charges could be the venue for a plea deal
Trump and Kennedy seek to relax safeguards for AI healthcare tools
AI-powered medical scribes are booming in hospitals as critics warn proposed federal rule changes could weaken safeguards for patients.
Netflix co-CEO clarifies streaming giant’s live sports strategy amid NFL lineup expansion, federal scrutiny
Streaming giant Netflix’s push into live sports has ranged from the WWE and Formula 1 to select MLB and NFL games. While the initiative has drawn some criticism, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said the strategy is not aimed at securing full-season rights packages for any sports league.
Netflix co-CEO clarifies streaming giant’s live sports strategy amid NFL lineup expansion, federal scrutiny
Streaming giant Netflix’s push into live sports has ranged from the WWE and Formula 1 to select MLB and NFL games. While the initiative has drawn some criticism, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said the strategy is not aimed at securing full-season rights packages for any sports league.
Senate confirms Trump pick Warsh as chairman of the Federal Reserve, following Powell
The Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, bringing new leadership to the world's most powerful central bank at a fraught moment for the global economy.
Bill on firearm barrel sales withdrawn after veto threat from Colorado governor
A bill that would require firearm barrels to be sold in person by a federally licensed firearms dealer was pulled by its sponsors, who say they were all but told the measure would be vetoed by Gov. Jared Polis. Sponsored by Sen. Tom Sullivan, D‑Centennial, and Reps. Kyle Brown, D‑Louisville, and Meg Froelich, D‑Englewood, Senate […]
Bill on firearm barrel sales withdrawn after veto threat from Colorado governor’s office
A bill that would require firearm barrels to be sold in person by a federally licensed firearms dealer was pulled by its sponsors, who say they were all but told the measure would be vetoed by Gov. Jared Polis. Sponsored by Sen. Tom Sullivan, D‑Centennial, and Reps. Kyle Brown, D‑Louisville, and Meg Froelich, D‑Englewood, Senate […]
Oakland approves police contract with Israeli company that does business with ICE
Did city leaders ignore a law prohibiting contracts with vendors that work with federal immigration agencies?
When the Supreme Court Said Sports Betting Could Be Legalized, It Left the Issue to the States, Not the CFTC
Introduction Eight years ago today, the Supreme Court invalidated a federal ban on states legalizing sports gambling. This decision led some states to legalize betting on sports, which precipitated a nationwide epidemic of sports gambling addiction. Now, the rise of sports betting on prediction market platforms is poised to cause sports betting addiction in the
Trump administration freezes new Medicare enrollments for hospice, home health agencies
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Wednesday pursued new efforts in a sweeping initiative to root out fraud in federal health programs, including ...
Trump administration freezes new Medicare enrollments for hospice and home health agencies
NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump administration said Wednesday it is expanding its sweeping fraud-busting initiative in federal health programs with a nationwide six-month freeze on any new Medicare enrollments by hospice and home health agencies.
Trump administration freezes new Medicare enrollments for hospice and home health agencies
The Trump administration is expanding its fraud-busting initiative in federal health programs.
Trump administration freezes new Medicare enrollments for hospice and home health agencies
The Trump administration is expanding its fraud-busting initiative in federal health programs. On Wednesday, it announced a nationwide six-month freeze on new Medicare enrollments by hospice and home health agencies. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says the moratorium will help prevent fraud and protect vulnerable patients. The initiative was spurred by Vice President JD Vance's anti-fraud task force. Several alleged fraud schemes have been prosecuted in the hospice and home health care categories, and states have acknowledged it's a legitimate concern. But some have pushed back on the administration’s aggressive tactics and raised concerns about punishing law-abiding providers that are trying to serve patients.
Vance to States: Address Fraud or Lose Federal Medicaid Funding
The Trump administration is set to launch audits of state watchdogs responsible for ferreting out wrongdoing.
How the National Debt Crisis Impacts Health Care for Older Adults
PARC Retreat Explores How Aging, Workforce Strains, and Federal Debt Are Reshaping U.S. Health Care
Waymo recalls massive autonomous fleet after incident flags major safety issue
Federal regulators say a software defect may prevent Waymo vehicles from fully stopping in flooded road conditions, increasing the risk of a crash or injury
New York leaders for and against federal gas tax holiday
President Trump says he’s considering a federal gas tax holiday which would shave off 18 cents per gallon, but he’ll need approval from Congress to do it.
SC GOP announces plans to file a federal lawsuit to close primaries
The South Carolina Republican Party is planning on filing a federal lawsuit to require partisan voter registration and close state primary elections.
Federal Grand Jury Subpoenas NYU Langone Over Youth Trans Care
The action, initiated by the U.S. attorney’s office in North Texas, could set up a showdown between NYU Langone and the Justice Department.
ICE ‘materially violated’ order on warrantless arrests, Colorado judge says
A federal judge ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday to immediately train its Colorado employees about how to lawfully perform warrantless arrests, after the evidence showed officers had little understanding of the requirements. U.S. District Court Senior Judge R. Brooke Jackson wrote that ICE had “materially violated” his prior order that directed immigration […]
Marijuana rescheduling is a political shortcut
Current federal marijuana policy is not based on scientific evidence and risks bypassing the scientific and regulatory processes designed to protect public health, as seen in the rise of illegal ma…
FDA commissioner Makary is resigning, sources say
U.S. Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary plans to resign on Tuesday, according to two sources familiar with the situation, the latest leadership change at the federal health department which comes after weeks of public speculation and a mounting pressure campaign.
PayPal Agrees to Settle US Probe of DEI Business Initiative
PayPal Holdings Inc. has agreed to resolve a US Justice Department probe into allegations the company had violated federal civil rights laws when it started an initiative to support minority-owned businesses.
Here’s How Washington Could Suspend the Federal Gasoline Tax | WSJ Politics Newsletter for May 12
Plus, Justice Department targets media organizations over leaks, and stalemate emerges in the Middle East as the cease-fire enters its second month
Rural Ohio hospitals feel brunt of noncompete clauses as legislators eye ban
Noncompete clauses are older than the U.S. itself, but there are little federal or state guidelines.
The Apprentice: Boafo fills coffers with support from Hoyer’s political network
It’s no secret that Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th), the dean of Maryland’s federal delegation, is working hard to elect Del. Adrian Boafo (D-Prince George’s) to succeed him. But the full extent of Hoyer’s investment in Boafo’s campaign is only now coming into focus.
Sponsors kill two bills to roll back $450 million in business tax breaks | The Sum and Substance
The bills sought to pare down two notable business tax breaks and to decouple state policy from federal tax laws speeding up depreciation.
What to know about states' efforts to limit corporate donations in politics
HONOLULU (AP) — Two states could try a new way to reduce the influence of corporations and hard-to-track “dark money” groups that have been able to spend unlimited amounts on politics since the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling.
Kari Lake, Who Led Effort to Shutter Voice of America, Is Named Ambassador to Jamaica
Ms. Lake tried and failed to fire hundreds of Voice of America journalists and to cut funding for other federally funded news groups like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Polis meets with Mesa County business leaders on economic development
Governor discusses federal opportunity zone program during Grand Junction visit
Trump picks Daniel Domenico for 10th Circuit vacancy
President Donald Trump announced on Monday that U.S. District Court Chief Judge Daniel D. Domenico is his choice to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Denver-based federal appeals court. Domenico, who is 54 this year, is Trump’s only appointee to Colorado’s federal trial court. He became its chief judge in March, after seven years on […]
What The Abortion Pill Case Could Mean For The Workforce And Healthcare
A federal appeals court said providers could no longer mail mifepristone anywhere in the country. SCOTUS temporarily restored access for mailing the drug until May 14th.
Native American businesses have diversified beyond casinos to become a rural economic force. Trump is cutting off a lifeline that goes beyond tribes
Tribal enterprises are a lifeline for rural America, but a crackdown on federal contracting initiatives might upend their business model.
Trump seeks to pause federal gas tax as prices soar amid Iran conflict
Congress would have to approve the proposal, and passing the savings on to drivers, rather than oil companies, would be difficult to enforce.
Farm Bill aims to help Wisconsin mink farmers
It would give them access to federal dollars they’ve been excluded from for three decades.
Trump Endorses Feeble Way to Lower Gas Prices
President Trump has endorsed suspending the federal gas tax, which won’t do much to solve the problem he created when he started the Iran war.
Lawsuit filed to stop Trump’s blue repainting of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
A nonprofit dedicated to “promoting informed stewardship” of historic landscapes asked a federal judge on Monday to halt the Trump administration’s painting of the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool, which has long featured a gray basin, blue.
Health Officials Say "Country is Prepared" to Deal with Hantavirus
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Oz tells reporters in the Oval Office that the country is prepared to deal with the Hantavirus outbreak and treat the disease, despite cuts to federal agencies. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy also says the CDC has been on it from day one and has been in contact with officials in Nebraska dealing with people exposed to the virus. "We have this under control, and we're not worried about it," Kennedy says. The secretary also disputes that it took four days after the World Health Organization issued an alert for the U.S. to follow suit. "It's just not true," he says.
Nonprofit sues to stop Trump’s changes to Reflecting Pool, a historic site
President Donald Trump wants to resurface the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool by July 4. A D.C.-area foundation claims he failed to get federal reviews.
DEA Announces New Marijuana Registration Forms For Manufacturing, Distribution And Testing Businesses
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced it will soon be rolling out new forms for additional types of state-licensed medical marijuana businesses beyond dispensaries that want to take advantage of federal protections in line with the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling process. Last month, DEA launched a registration form for medical marijuana dispensaries only, […]
Hantavirus outbreak: 2 Georgia residents exposed arrive at Emory University Hospital for evaluation
Two Georgia residents believed to have been exposed to hantavirus arrived in Atlanta on Monday and were taken to Emory University Hospital after being transported through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, federal health officials confirmed.
The missing cybersecurity leader in small business
With the average cyberattack costing SMBs over $250,000, Georgianna Shea and Cason Smith argue that virtual and fractional CISOs are no longer optional. Discover why federal support for high-level security leadership is critical to protecting the backbone of the American economy.
Trump orders federal agencies to prioritize American-made goods and curb waiver use
President Trump says federal agencies must prioritize American-made products, pledging to close waiver loopholes and boost domestic manufacturing enforcement.
Man who fled to Hawaii nabbed by authorities for large financial fraud in Orlando
'This case exemplifies the reach of our Statewide Prosecutors, who partner with state, local, and federal law enforcement to bring criminals back to Florida.'
AOC-backed $25 minimum wage could squeeze small businesses in red states
A $25 minimum wage sounds appealing but experts and economists warn it could squeeze small businesses and hit lower-wage states hardest.
Chicago Teachers Union wants $8.5 million dues hike to fund politics
“Has your brand become toxic?” This was a pointed question from WGN Political Editor Tahman Bradley, posed to Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates in a recent interview. Her immediate response: “I don’t understand the question.” When pressed, Gates added, “The Chicago Teachers Union is not a political party, it is a labor union.” But internal union documents show CTU leadership is trying to skim $8.5 million more from teacher paychecks explicitly for politics, while trying to silence union members critical of Gates’ leadership. Under the proposed dues hike, Chicago teachers would see up to $800 more per year flow from their paychecks to union coffers. The union already takes in more than $40 million a year, mostly from dues. And it spends less than 18 cents of every dollar on teacher representation. The No. 1 reason for the proposed dues hike? Politics. “We must win a majority of the first 21 person fully elected school board in November,” reads the first point in CTU’s member FAQ document.1 This directly contradicts CTU’s promise to members about how leadership uses dues money. The official CTU handbook tells members that the union does not use dues money for politics, so if they are interested in funding political activity, they should consider voluntary donations to CTU’s political action committee. “Our dues are not used for political purposes,” according to the handbook. “So our PAC relies on extra contributions from our members to support progressive candidates and to impact elected officials at the city, county and state levels.” This kind of double-speak is one reason members are concerned about another constitutional change slipped into the dues hike vote, which will take place on May 20-21: an attempt to stop members from holding the union accountable. A proposed amendment to the union constitution tries to place limits on when members may bring a lawsuit against the union for violating members’ rights.2 This provision is clearly a response to members’ lawsuit against union leadership regarding Gates’ years-long refusal to publish audited financial statements. The judge in that case has repeatedly denied the union’s attempts to dismiss it. Teachers opposed to these changes have been circulating this flier, urging members to vote no. What will CTU members get in return for millions of dollars in additional dues? If the 2024 school board elections are any indication—not much. CTU leadership’s record on school board races may not inspire confidence among members. A Chicago Policy Center analysis of a dozen affiliated PACs found CTU spent nearly $2.9 million on school board races in 2024. Of that spending, more than $2.1 million (75%) went to losing candidates. And while CTU-backed candidates lost six of the nine competitive seats overall, they fared worse in their biggest-spending races, losing five of six contests in which the union and its affiliates put up more than $250,000 for their candidate. The Chicago school board elections take place Nov. 3.3 Is another $8.5 million enough to clean up a toxic reputation? Not likely. Update on federal tax credit scholarship: Last week, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she plans to opt into the federal tax credit scholarship program. If Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker follows suit, Illinois could unlock $1 billion in donor money statewide for both public- and private-school students. If Illinois does not opt in, that money will flow to other states. The Last Ward reported in February on how Illinois Democrats could unlock at least $100 million in new resources for Chicago public-school students by opting in. Update on the investigation into how Chicagoans learned about a meeting to hike their property taxes: The Last Ward reported in January on an absurd, taxpayer-funded investigation into how local media learned of a planned Chicago school board meeting to hike the district’s property tax levy. That investigation is now complete. Lawyers interviewed two dozen witnesses, and found nothing. Update on Illinois’ muni debt crisis: My colleague Joe Tabor last week published a must-read piece in Crain’s Chicago Business about how Illinois recently rejected south suburban Harvey’s request to be designated a “distressed city.” The saga shows why the state must implement a better structure to assist insolvent local governments, including allowing for the option to pursue debt relief via Chapter 9 bankruptcy. The Last Ward reported in October on how Harvey is tipping the first domino in Illinois’ municipal debt crisis. Mincing Rascals: I joined the Mincing Rascals podcast to discuss the SAFE-T Act, the millionaires tax, and more. My “green light” recommendation: Force Majeure (2014). 1 Notably, the No. 2 reason cited is “resources to fund a state-wide millionaires tax campaign in order to fully fund the state’s school funding formula.” The constitutional amendment necessary to implement a progressive income tax in Illinois recently died in the Illinois House, meaning this question would not appear on the ballot until 2028 at the earliest. 2 There is seemingly no single-subject rule for CTU constitutional amendments. So members only get one vote on the full package. One cannot vote “yes” on the dues hike and “no” on the restriction of members’ rights, for example. 3 Illinois law grants far too much power over local government to unelected officials like Gates. State lawmakers should fix that.
Group tied to Democratic leadership in US House is funding attempt to redraw Colorado’s congressional map
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Chicago health department leaves millions of federal COVID dollars on the table
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Politics: Grassley calls on DOJ to follow rule of law in release of Epstein files
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Piedmont University receives federal funds for Forensic Science Program
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MICC highlights renewed small business innovation authority
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — The reauthorization of two federal small business innovation programs is expected to strengthen how the...
MICC highlights renewed small business innovation authority
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How Disneyland Remade American Politics
America is turning 250, and The Free Press is marking the occasion with a yearlong series of events, conversations, and stories celebrating our country’s history. Today, we’re taking a journey with historian Beverly Gage to Southern California. Beverly traded the archives for the open road for her new book, This Land is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History. We’re proud to publish an excerpt, on the theme park that shaped American politics—and the presidents who loved it. —The Editors On July 17, 1955, Ronald Reagan stood near a mocked-up wood-plank town in Anaheim, California, where a 13-star flag flew incongruously over an “Old West” landscape, and introduced the world to Disneyland. He had been invited by Walt Disney himself to co-host the park’s live ABC broadcast, alongside Art Linkletter and Bob Cummings—three Hollywood actors who seemed to embody a wholesome, all-American ethos. From the imagined past of Frontierland, the show leaped ahead to Tomorrowland, set in the far-off year of 1986, emphasizing the technical marvels yet to come: nuclear energy harnessed for civilian purposes, human beings riding rocket ships into space. Disney foretold great things for a 1980s in which the United States would serve as “a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” But even he could not predict the most important political fact of the age: that his genial co-host would become president. Southern California was a strange place to build a park about the past, because the region at the time was all about newness and abundance and growth. For a lot of its history, Orange County had been Southern California’s version of flyover country: a vast agricultural expanse between two desirable places, Los Angeles and San Diego. But Disneyland was changing that. Before long, 50 miles south of deep-blue Hollywood, Orange County would become a region famed for its right-wing politics—but also for its mythmaking skills. Those two things, it turned out, went naturally together. ADVERTISEMENT The two presidents Southern California gave America both understood this instinctively. Richard Nixon and Reagan each built a national career on invoking a version of the American past in which the specificities of historical context mattered less than the big picture. For Nixon, progress meant proclaiming a “New American Revolution” on the eve of America’s bicentennial while dismantling the federal programs that had built the postwar middle class. For Reagan, it meant recapturing a lost optimism and an old-fashioned faith in America as an exceptional nation. Both men were less interested in history as it actually happened than in history as it felt—and Orange County, a place that had built itself almost entirely from scratch, turned out to be exactly where the myth of America’s future was getting made. I’m a historian—and historians tend to be myth-busters. With the country’s 250th birthday on the horizon, I figured it was a good time to step out of the ivory tower and check in with the past as it exists here and now, at the museums and monuments and roadside attractions where Americans go to learn about their history. After all my travels—to Davy Crockett’s Tennessee and Texas, to the real Erie Canal, to the birthplace of the American automobile and the actual Old West—I couldn’t miss out on Disneyland, the single most influential historic attraction in U.S. history.
Hantavirus - Statement from the Virginia Department of Health - Virginia Department of Health
As of May 7, 2026, please see the Virginia Department of Health’s statement: The Virginia Department of Health is monitoring this situation closely and has been in active communication with our federal partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To date, one Virginia traveler who was on the MV Hondius disembarked the ship and has […]
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) - Statement from the Virginia Department of Health - Virginia Department of Health
As of May 7, 2026, please see the Virginia Department of Health’s statement below: The Virginia Department of Health is monitoring this situation closely and has been in active communication with our federal partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To date, one Virginia traveler who was on the MV Hondius disembarked the ship […]
Abortion Pill Politics
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Scoop: Atar Capital selling behavioral health provider Clarvida
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