Featured Stories
Statement From Va. A.G. Jones on Spotsylvania Circuit Court Opinion Denying Preliminary Injunction Against Virginia's Assault Weapons Ban
RICHMOND, Virginia, June 19 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on June 18, 2026:
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Statement From Attorney General Jay Jones on Spotsylvania Circuit Court Opinion Denying Preliminary Injunction Against Virginia's Assault Weapons Ban
Attorney General Jay Jones released the following statement after the Spotsylvania Circuit Court denied the plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction in Curtis v. Katz, a challenge to the assault weapons ban passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Spanberger.
"The Court's decision today in Curtis
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RICHMOND, Virginia, June 19 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on June 18, 2026:
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Statement From Attorney General Jay Jones on Spotsylvania Circuit Court Opinion Denying Preliminary Injunction Against Virginia's Assault Weapons Ban
Attorney General Jay Jones released the following statement after the Spotsylvania Circuit Court denied the plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction in Curtis v. Katz, a challenge to the assault weapons ban passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Spanberger.
"The Court's decision today in Curtisv. Katz is an important step in ensuring that Virginia's assault weapons ban will go into effect on July 1.
The Commonwealth will defend against any appeal in this case and will continue to defend the assault weapons ban in every case to keep Virginians safe."
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Original text here: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/3047-statement-from-attorney-general-jay-jones-on-spotsylvania-circuit-court-opinion-denying-preliminary-injunction-against-virginias-assault-weapons-ban
S.D. Supreme Court Affirms Dismissal of Habeas Corpus Petition
PIERRE, South Dakota, June 19 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on June 18, 2026:
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SD Supreme Court Affirms Dismissal of Habeas Corpus Petition
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley commends the South Dakota Supreme Court for its dismissal of a habeas corpus petition filed by Theodore Guzman. He is serving three consecutive life sentences and an additional 15-year sentence following his convictions for multiple counts of rape of a minor and sexual contact with a child.
The Court, in a ruling issued Thursday, upheld a lower court ruling
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PIERRE, South Dakota, June 19 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on June 18, 2026:
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SD Supreme Court Affirms Dismissal of Habeas Corpus Petition
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley commends the South Dakota Supreme Court for its dismissal of a habeas corpus petition filed by Theodore Guzman. He is serving three consecutive life sentences and an additional 15-year sentence following his convictions for multiple counts of rape of a minor and sexual contact with a child.
The Court, in a ruling issued Thursday, upheld a lower court rulingthat dismissed Guzman's habeas application, which alleged ineffective assistance of counsel and actual innocence.
"This decision reinforces an important principle of our justice system; while every defendant is entitled to pursue post-conviction relief, habeas corpus claims must be supported by facts, not speculation," said Attorney General Jackley. "The South Dakota Supreme Court carefully examined the record and correctly concluded that the petitioner failed to establish a viable basis for relief."
The Court rejected Guzman's claim that his trial attorney was ineffective for failing to seek psychiatric evaluations of the victims. The Court concluded that the allegation was speculative and unsupported by facts showing such evaluations would have been warranted or would have changed the outcome of the trial.
Also rejected by the Court was Guzman's claim that his attorney was ineffective for failing to seek dismissal based on an alleged violation of his constitutional right to a speedy trial. Applying the factors established by the United States Supreme Court, the Court determined that most of the delays in the case were attributable to the defense and that Guzman failed to demonstrate prejudice resulting from the delay.
Although the Court had authorized review of additional claims relating to cross-examination of witnesses and actual innocence based on newly discovered evidence, it concluded those issues had been abandoned because they were not properly presented and argued in Guzman's appellate brief.
In addition to resolving Guzman's claims, the Court clarified the legal standard governing motions to dismiss habeas corpus petitions. The Court held that habeas applications, like other civil pleadings, must satisfy a threshold of plausibility and that conclusory, speculative, or unsupported allegations are insufficient to proceed.
The Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of Guzman's petition in its entirety. The ruling can be found here: https://ujs.sd.gov/media/xa4nouhp/31001.pdf
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Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3096
R.I. Gov. McKee Signs Bills Into Law on June 18, 2026
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, June 19 -- Gov. Daniel J. McKee, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release on June 18, 2026:
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Governor McKee Signs Bills Into Law
Governor Dan McKee has transmitted the following bills:
* Thursday, June 18, 2026, transmittals with signature (https://files.constantcontact.com/95de6620601/811b4191-5bca-4f56-a664-efa3759421fa.pdf)
Click to view a transmittal message for S2139 (https://files.constantcontact.com/95de6620601/5bcebcbd-3c97-47bf-b97b-8d48d22b5f66.pdf).
Click to view a transmittal message for H7163 (https://files.constantcontact.com/95de6620601/6e5eeac4-bf04-42a1-b8ea-bda95009ee95.pdf).
Click
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PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, June 19 -- Gov. Daniel J. McKee, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release on June 18, 2026:
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Governor McKee Signs Bills Into Law
Governor Dan McKee has transmitted the following bills:
* Thursday, June 18, 2026, transmittals with signature (https://files.constantcontact.com/95de6620601/811b4191-5bca-4f56-a664-efa3759421fa.pdf)
Click to view a transmittal message for S2139 (https://files.constantcontact.com/95de6620601/5bcebcbd-3c97-47bf-b97b-8d48d22b5f66.pdf).
Click to view a transmittal message for H7163 (https://files.constantcontact.com/95de6620601/6e5eeac4-bf04-42a1-b8ea-bda95009ee95.pdf).
Clickto view a transmittal message for S2787 (https://files.constantcontact.com/95de6620601/553927c4-76b9-4502-989a-23db22c5184d.pdf).
Click to view a transmittal message for H7415 (https://files.constantcontact.com/95de6620601/8ddd9116-fe5d-4b12-b8ff-f4e7e4904f8e.pdf).
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Original text here: https://governor.ri.gov/press-releases/governor-mckee-signs-bills-law-13
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Announces New Hires to Senior Leadership Team
LANHAM, Maryland, June 19 -- The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development issued the following news release:
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Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Announces New Hires to Senior Leadership Team
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development today announced it has made several key hires in leadership roles at the agency as it continues its mission to create a Maryland that is sheltered, affordable, just, lovable and connected.
"We are so proud that these individuals choose to bring their considerable experience and knowledge to the Department,
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LANHAM, Maryland, June 19 -- The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development issued the following news release:
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Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Announces New Hires to Senior Leadership Team
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development today announced it has made several key hires in leadership roles at the agency as it continues its mission to create a Maryland that is sheltered, affordable, just, lovable and connected.
"We are so proud that these individuals choose to bring their considerable experience and knowledge to the Department,and we're excited to see the work that they will do in their new roles," said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. "Jordan, Jamiece, Gina and Bert will make our team stronger as we continue our work to serve Maryland."
Jordan Gilmore is the Director of Policy within the Department's Division of Policy, Strategy, and Research. An attorney with experience in real estate, landlord/tenant, land use and zoning matters, Jordan had served as the Senior Policy Analyst in the Office of Policy Development since 2023.
In that role, he led the development and drafting of several key pieces of departmental legislation, and of Maryland's first statewide housing production targets.
Prior to joining DHCD, Gilmore practiced law on Maryland's Eastern Shore and taught classes in Salisbury University's Political Science Department. He holds a law degree from the University of Baltimore and a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Jamiece Sanders-Lambert is the Director of the Office of Research and Compliance in the Department's Division of Policy, Strategy, and Research.
Prior to joining DHCD, she served in leadership and program management roles in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she managed complex housing systems, compliance initiatives, and cross-functional modernization efforts supporting national multifamily housing programs.
Throughout her federal career, Sanders-Lambert has worked across multiple agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Air Force. Her experience includes leading high-visibility projects involving enterprise data management, systems modernization, privacy and regulatory compliance, operational governance, and performance improvement initiatives.
Sanders-Lambert holds a Master of Business Administration and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Law and Policy degree.
Gina Rendina serves as Deputy Director of the Department's Division of Homeless Solutions.
Rendina brings over two decades of wide-ranging experience in homeless services, renter relief programs, poverty mitigation programs, grant management and federal policy.
In addition to serving on the leadership team for the City of Philadelphia's Continuum of Care application and strategic planning, she served as outreach lead for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program in the U.S. Department of Treasury, which implemented $46 billion in emergency rental assistance across the country as part of pandemic response efforts. Other past roles included coordinating federal interagency efforts on housing and homelessness, developing and implementing local and federal strategic plans to prevent and end homelessness, and directly overseeing the implementation and operation of homeless service programs.
Rendina has a Master's in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Villanova University.
Albert "Bert" Bossar serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Department's Division of Business Development.
Bossar is an experienced international finance professional with a track record in program management, enterprise finance, and economic development. For the past 10 years, Bert worked in international economic development at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (USG), an innovative and independent U.S. foreign aid agency that helps lead the fight against global poverty, where he served as a Director of Finance and Investment. His portfolio focused on large infrastructure and project finance covering Africa, South Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central America.
Bossar has nine years active duty military service holding progressively higher leadership positions ranging from peacekeeping assignments in Bosnia-Herzegovina to full scale operations in Iraq. He also served as a Department of Defense federal civilian deploying to Afghanistan.
Additionally, he served as a Congressional Fellow for Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. and as a Project Analyst at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, now the U.S. Development Finance Corporation.
He holds an MBA and MSBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, a Master's in international economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
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Original text here: https://news.maryland.gov/dhcd/2026/06/18/maryland-department-of-housing-and-community-development-announces-new-hires-to-senior-leadership-team/
Maine Gov. Mills Radio Address: Millions in Critical Investments Are Coming to Rural Communities in Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine, June 19 -- Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, issued the following radio address:
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Millions in Critical Investments are Coming to Rural Communities in Maine
Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.
You know, rural Maine is my home. And I know firsthand that our rural communities have the people, the work ethic, and the ideas to build a stronger future. What they haven't always had is the investment that's necessary to turn that potential into real progress.
Well, this week I was proud to announce that 17 rural communities and organizations across Maine
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AUGUSTA, Maine, June 19 -- Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, issued the following radio address:
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Millions in Critical Investments are Coming to Rural Communities in Maine
Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.
You know, rural Maine is my home. And I know firsthand that our rural communities have the people, the work ethic, and the ideas to build a stronger future. What they haven't always had is the investment that's necessary to turn that potential into real progress.
Well, this week I was proud to announce that 17 rural communities and organizations across Mainehave been awarded nearly $16 million in federal grants from the Northern Border Regional Commission for some important economic development projects. The Northern Border Regional Commission, along with the state of Maine, provides targeted federal investment for economic and community development projects in counties that are in states along the northern border.
Since the Commission was formed through legislation sponsored by then-Congressman Michael Michaud in 2008, Maine has received more than $100 million for hundreds of projects in rural communities. The projects that will receive funding through these latest awards will enhance economic development and build workforce housing, expand childcare, and fund infrastructure improvements. For example:
* Brooksville will use its grant to build the town's first all-tide public pier landing and boat ramp at Betsy's Cove.
* Tree Street Youth in Lewiston will build a new neighborhood center with childcare, a community meeting space, and youth workforce training.
* Farmington will benefit from a grant to build a multi-use pedestrian and snowmobile bridge over the Sandy River, extending the Whistle Stop Trail to downtown.
* And the Northern Maine Development Commission will create "Aroostook Rising," a two-year project to recruit talented workers.
I recommended these projects for federal funding after a competitive review conducted by my Department of Economic and Community Development. And recently, the Commission--the Northern Border Regional Commission--also announced awards in Maine through its Forest Economy and Timber for Transit programs.
* Main Street Skowhegan will put that grant towards the construction of a riverfront boardwalk that connects downtown businesses and neighborhoods to the Kennebec River and the Skowhegan River Park.
* The City of Rockland will use its grant to rebuild the public landing pier and redesign the harbormaster building to resist future severe storms and flooding.
* And the Southern Aroostook Development Corporation will use its award to develop a modern forest products manufacturing facility in the Houlton Industrial Park.
Communities across rural Maine have the people and the potential to build a strong future. Now, they also have the resources to create good jobs, strengthen local businesses, build workforce housing, improve critical infrastructure, and expand industries that are so vital to our state.
This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening. And to all those who are celebrating this weekend, all fathers and father figures, Happy Father's Day.
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Original text here: https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/node/3889
Governor Phil Scott Announces Kristin McClure to Serve as Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources
MONTPELIER, Vermont, June 19 -- Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, issued the following news release:
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Governor Phil Scott Announces Kristin McClure to Serve as Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources
Governor Phil Scott today announced Kristin McClure will take over as Department of Human Resources (DHR) Commissioner as Beth Fastiggi steps down on June 27. McClure has served as deputy secretary of the Agency of Human Services (AHS) since July 2024.
"Throughout her time with the State, Kristin has proven an effective leader and always takes a thoughtful, practical, data-backed approach
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MONTPELIER, Vermont, June 19 -- Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, issued the following news release:
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Governor Phil Scott Announces Kristin McClure to Serve as Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources
Governor Phil Scott today announced Kristin McClure will take over as Department of Human Resources (DHR) Commissioner as Beth Fastiggi steps down on June 27. McClure has served as deputy secretary of the Agency of Human Services (AHS) since July 2024.
"Throughout her time with the State, Kristin has proven an effective leader and always takes a thoughtful, practical, data-backed approachto her work," said Governor Scott. "Her experience and perspective will benefit the state and our employees as she takes the helm at DHR."
Fastiggi has served as commissioner since 2017, supporting critical initiatives, including the Governor's voluntary paid family leave program which covers all state employees and is open to the private sector, the State's management of the COVID-19 pandemic from a State human resources perspective, and more.
"I appreciate Beth's service to Vermont and her work over nearly a decade on my team," said Governor Scott. "She and her team helped us support state employees through unprecedented circumstances, and I wish her the best in her next endeavor."
While deputy secretary at AHS, the State's largest agency with over 4,000 employees, McClure oversaw key workforce initiatives. She led agency wide personnel and professional development efforts, collaborating with community partners on employee related issues, and helping implement organizational change. Additionally, she directed complex cross agency and community-based initiatives, including the development and operation of the State's family shelter program and expansion of shelter capacity statewide.
McClure joined the State in 2020, serving as the chief data officer at the Agency of Digital Services before moving to AHS. Prior to that, she worked at global technology companies, including IBM, for over 15 years.
"Kristin's background in data and technology will be a tremendous asset as we move forward on major IT projects at DHR and for state employees. We are thrilled to have her join the team," said Agency of Administration Secretary Sarah Clark. "I also want to thank Commissioner Fastiggi for her years of service and her dedication to state employees."
McClure resides in South Burlington. Her appointment is effective June 28, 2026.
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Original text here: https://governor.vermont.gov/press-release/governor-phil-scott-announces-kristin-mcclure-serve-commissioner-department-human
Gov. Braun Highlights Jobs, Public Safety, and Indiana History in Visits Across Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, June 19 -- Gov. Mike Braun, R-Indiana, issued the following news release:
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Gov. Braun Highlights Jobs, Public Safety, and Indiana History in Visits Across Indiana
Governor Mike Braun traveled across Indiana last week to highlight high-wage job growth, regional economic development, public safety, emergency response, and Indiana's founding history.
"We're making Indiana the best state in the nation to find a great job, grow your wages, start a business, and raise your family in a safe community. Last week in my travels around Indiana, I saw companies choosing our
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INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, June 19 -- Gov. Mike Braun, R-Indiana, issued the following news release:
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Gov. Braun Highlights Jobs, Public Safety, and Indiana History in Visits Across Indiana
Governor Mike Braun traveled across Indiana last week to highlight high-wage job growth, regional economic development, public safety, emergency response, and Indiana's founding history.
"We're making Indiana the best state in the nation to find a great job, grow your wages, start a business, and raise your family in a safe community. Last week in my travels around Indiana, I saw companies choosing ourstate to create great jobs, law enforcement delivering incredible results on public safety, first responders bravely serving Hoosiers, and I joined Hoosiers in honoring the history that made Indiana what it is today." - Governor Mike Braun
During his travels, Governor Braun joined executives from TaylorMade Golf Co. in Vanderburgh County to break ground on the company's new North American Distribution Center in Evansville. The expansion will create up to 50 new high-wage jobs and strengthen southwest Indiana's role in supporting major national and international brands.
Governor Braun also spoke at the Innovate Southwest Indiana / IBJ Event at the University of Evansville, where he discussed job growth, workforce development, business expansion, entrepreneurship, and the importance of making every region of Indiana a place where Hoosiers can build businesses, grow careers, and raise families. For a video from that event, showcasing how Gov. Braun's vision for regional growth is flourishing in southwest Indiana, click here.
Governor Braun also joined the Indiana State Police at the Sellersburg Post to announce major public safety wins across southern Indiana in the first six months of the year, including 84 arrests, more than 48 pounds of methamphetamine seized, more than two dozen illegal firearms taken away from criminals, more than $50,000 in illicit cash recovered, and major disruptions to drug pipelines bringing narcotics into Indiana from Louisville, Cincinnati, and Phoenix.
Governor Braun traveled to Lanesville to meet with local leaders and first responders and assess damage caused by flash flooding. The Governor was debriefed by members of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. After the briefing, he saw the damage and thanked first responders for their work protecting Hoosiers, assisting residents, and responding to dangerous conditions caused by the flooding.
Governor Braun also visited the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site to commemorate the anniversary of Indiana's first constitution with a special display of the original 1816 Constitution. The visit honored Corydon's central role in Indiana's path to statehood and the enduring importance of the constitutional principles that shaped Indiana's founding.
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Original text here: https://events.in.gov/event/gov-braun-highlights-jobs-public-safety-and-indiana-history-in-visits-across-indiana-5591
