States, Cities and Counties
Here's a look at documents covering state government, cities and counties
Featured Stories
S.D. A.G. Jackley Announces Former SDSU Equestrian Coach Indicted for Using State Resources for Personal Use
PIERRE, South Dakota, Jan. 15 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jackley Announces Former SDSU Equestrian Coach Indicted for Using State Resources for Personal Use
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the former equestrian coach at South Dakota State University has been indicted on one felony count of Grand Theft for using SDSU and taxpayer resources for her personal use.
Kamerra Brown, 38, of Brookings was indicted Thursday by a Brookings County Grand Jury. The sentence carries a maximum sentence of
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PIERRE, South Dakota, Jan. 15 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jackley Announces Former SDSU Equestrian Coach Indicted for Using State Resources for Personal Use
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the former equestrian coach at South Dakota State University has been indicted on one felony count of Grand Theft for using SDSU and taxpayer resources for her personal use.
Kamerra Brown, 38, of Brookings was indicted Thursday by a Brookings County Grand Jury. The sentence carries a maximum sentence of10 years in prison if convicted.
Brown is alleged to have used SDSU resources to pay for her vet bills for her horses and to board her personal horses for about a year. Total value is estimated at between $5,000 and $100,000.
The case is being investigated and prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office's Public Integrity Unit.
The defendant is presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.
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Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=2988
Mo. Department of Natural Resources Awards $50,000 to Sparta
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Jan. 15 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Department of Natural Resources awards $50,000 to Sparta
City will evaluate wastewater system improvements
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The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $50,000 Clean Water Engineering Report Grant to the city of Sparta to evaluate the city's wastewater system.
Through its Clean Water Engineering Report Grant program, the department offers funding to qualified communities to help with evaluating public wastewater system improvements. Sparta
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JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Jan. 15 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Department of Natural Resources awards $50,000 to Sparta
City will evaluate wastewater system improvements
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The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $50,000 Clean Water Engineering Report Grant to the city of Sparta to evaluate the city's wastewater system.
Through its Clean Water Engineering Report Grant program, the department offers funding to qualified communities to help with evaluating public wastewater system improvements. Spartawill use its grant to identify wastewater system improvements needed to continue reliable service to the area, meet permit requirements and reduce stormwater infiltration into sewer collection pipes. The facility plan should be complete in June 2027.
Water and wastewater systems are essential infrastructure that support the health and economic vitality of a community. Through the grant, communities like Sparta can thoroughly assess their wastewater treatment systems and identify needed improvements for better efficiency, effectiveness and service. During the assessment, communities can determine what actions are needed to address current wastewater needs, as well as plan for future growth and development.
"While we often take it for granted, adequate water and wastewater infrastructure is critical to the quality of life of every Missourian, as well as the sustainability of communities and industries throughout the state," said Kurt Schaefer, director of the Department of Natural Resources.
The department is committed to assisting Missouri communities with water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects. Through its Financial Assistance Center, the department provides funding opportunities for qualified communities with water quality, wastewater and drinking water infrastructure needs. This project will be funded wholly or in part with monies received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
For more information on wastewater and drinking water funding opportunities, visit dnr.mo.gov/water/what-were-doing/state-revolving-fund-srf.
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Original text here: https://dnr.mo.gov/communications/news/department-natural-resources-awards-50000-sparta
Ind. Gov. Braun Accelerates Life Sciences Leadership With More Than 1,300 New High Wage Jobs Across the State
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, Jan. 15 -- Gov. Mike Braun, R-Indiana, issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Gov. Braun Accelerates Life Sciences Leadership with More Than 1,300 New High Wage Jobs Across the State
PRINCETON, IN - Indiana Gov. Mike Braun today highlighted the surge in Indiana's life sciences sector, with three major industry expansions that will create more than 1,300 new high wage Hoosier jobs. These expansions further cement Indiana's position as a national leader in advanced manufacturing, medical device production, and biopharmaceutical innovation.
"Indiana continues
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INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, Jan. 15 -- Gov. Mike Braun, R-Indiana, issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Gov. Braun Accelerates Life Sciences Leadership with More Than 1,300 New High Wage Jobs Across the State
PRINCETON, IN - Indiana Gov. Mike Braun today highlighted the surge in Indiana's life sciences sector, with three major industry expansions that will create more than 1,300 new high wage Hoosier jobs. These expansions further cement Indiana's position as a national leader in advanced manufacturing, medical device production, and biopharmaceutical innovation.
"Indiana continuesto prove that we are the top destination for companies looking to grow. These expansions show exactly what happens when you focus on jobs and wages. Companies invest, communities grow, and Hoosiers benefit." - Governor Mike Braun
Under Gov. Braun's direction, Indiana's economic development strategy has focused on two priorities: more jobs for Hoosiers and higher wages. The latest life sciences investments demonstrate the strength of that strategy, and Indiana's growing dominance in one of the world's most competitive industries.
INCOG BioPharma: $200M Expansion, Adding Hundreds of New Jobs in Fishers
INCOG BioPharma Services will be doubling its current Indiana workforce to nearly 1,000 employees by 2030. The $200 million expansion of its Fishers manufacturing campus will create hundreds of new high paying jobs, with an average wage 159% above the county average and expand the company's capacity to produce up to 480 million injectable drug units annually. The 21 acre campus will grow to approximately 300,000 square feet of purpose built space, positioning Indiana as a global hub for injectable biopharmaceuticals.
West Pharmaceutical Services: New Greenfield Operation, Up to 300 High Wage Jobs
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. is expanding into Indiana with a new manufacturing operation in Greenfield, creating up to 300 high wage jobs that pay an average wage 125% above the county average. The investment strengthens Indiana's role in the global pharmaceutical and medical device supply chain and underscores the state's ability to attract world class advanced manufacturing employers.
Autocam Medical: 300 New High Wage Jobs in Kosciusko County
Autocam Medical is expanding its operations in Warsaw, creating 300 new high wage jobs, with average wages 138% above the county average. The expansion reinforces Warsaw's title as the Orthopedic Capital of the World and showcases the Hoosier state's unmatched talent pipeline in precision engineering and advanced manufacturing.
"Our ability to attract, retain and develop a skilled workforce is a key differentiator. These investments strengthen Indiana's position as a national leader in life sciences and create hundreds of high quality jobs that will benefit Hoosier families for decades to come." - Secretary of Commerce David J. Adams
Indiana's life sciences sector is delivering results that matter with repeated wins, record investment, and high wage jobs in every corner of the state. With major expansions in Fishers, Greenfield, and Warsaw, Indiana is proving that a strategy centered on jobs and wages works. These projects strengthen the state's global leadership in biopharmaceuticals and medical device manufacturing while creating long term, high value opportunities for Hoosier workers and families.
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Original text here: https://events.in.gov/event/gov-braun-accelerates-life-sciences-leadership-with-more-than-1300-new-highwage-jobs-across-the-state?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=widget&utm_source=State+of+Indiana
Gov. Walz Remarks on the Federal Government's Ongoing Presence in Minnesota
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Jan. 15 -- Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Governor Walz Remarks on the Federal Government's Ongoing Presence in Minnesota
Governor Tim Walz today made the following remarks addressing the federal government's ongoing presence in Minnesota.
"My fellow Minnesotans:
"What's happening in Minnesota right now defies belief.
"News reports simply don't do justice to the level of chaos and disruption and trauma the federal government is raining down upon our communities.
"Two to three thousand armed agents of the federal
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ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Jan. 15 -- Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Governor Walz Remarks on the Federal Government's Ongoing Presence in Minnesota
Governor Tim Walz today made the following remarks addressing the federal government's ongoing presence in Minnesota.
"My fellow Minnesotans:
"What's happening in Minnesota right now defies belief.
"News reports simply don't do justice to the level of chaos and disruption and trauma the federal government is raining down upon our communities.
"Two to three thousand armed agents of the federalgovernment have been deployed to Minnesota.
"Armed, masked, undertrained ICE agents are going door to door, ordering people to point out where their neighbors of color live.
"They're pulling over people indiscriminately, including U.S. citizens, and demanding to see their papers.
"And at grocery stores, at bus stops, even at schools, they're breaking windows, dragging pregnant women down the street, just plain grabbing Minnesotans and shoving them into unmarked vans, kidnapping innocent people with no warning and no due process.
"Let's be very, very clear: This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement.
"Instead, it is a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government.
"Last week, that campaign claimed the life of Renee Nicole Good.
"We've all watched the video.
"We all have seen what happened.
"And yet, instead of conducting an impartial investigation so we can hold accountable the officer responsible for Renee's death, the Trump administration is devoting the full power of the federal government to finding an excuse to attack the victim and her family.
"Just yesterday, six federal prosecutors - including the longtime career prosecutor leading the charge to investigate and eliminate fraud in our state's programs - quit their jobs rather than go along with this assault on the United States Constitution.
"But as bad as it's been, Donald Trump intends for it to get worse.
"This week, he went online to promise that, quote, "the day of retribution and reckoning is coming."
"That is a direct threat against the people of this state, who dared to vote against him three times, and who continue to stand up for freedom with courage and empathy and profound grace.
"All across Minnesota, people are stepping up to help neighbors who are being unjustly, and unlawfully, targeted.
"They're distributing care packages and walking kids to school and raising their voices in peaceful protest even though doing so has made many of our fellow Minnesotans targets for violent retribution.
"Folks, I know this is scary.
"And I know it's absurd that we all have to be defending law and order, justice, and humanity while also caring for our families and doing our jobs.
"So, tonight, let me say, once again, to Donald Trump and Kristi Noem: End this occupation.
"You've done enough.
"Let me say four critical things to the people of Minnesota - four things I need you to hear as you watch the news and look out for your neighbors.
"First: Donald Trump wants chaos.
"He wants confusion.
"And, yes, he wants more violence on our streets.
"We cannot give him what he wants.
"We can - we must - protest: loudly, urgently, but also peacefully.
"Indeed, as hard as we will fight in the courts and at the ballot box, we cannot, and will not, let violence prevail.
"You're angry.
"I'm angry.
"Angry might not be strong enough of a word.
"But we must remain peaceful.
"Second: You are not powerless.
"You are not helpless.
"And you are not alone.
"All across Minnesota, people are learning about opportunities not just to resist, but to help people who are in danger.
"Thousands upon thousands of Minnesotans are going to be relying on mutual aid in the days and weeks to come, and they need our support.
"Tonight, I want to share another way you can help: Witness.
"Help us establish a record of exactly what's happening in our communities.
"You have an absolute right to peacefully film ICE agents as they conduct their activities.
"So carry your phone with you at all times.
"And if you see ICE in your neighborhood, take out that phone and hit record.
"Help us create a database of the atrocities against Minnesotans - not just to establish a record for posterity, but to bank evidence for future prosecution.
"That's the third thing I want to tell you tonight: We will not have to live like this forever.
"Accountability is coming, at the voting booth and in court.
"We will reclaim our communities from Donald Trump.
"We will re-establish a sense of safety for our neighbors.
"We will bring an end to this moment of chaos and confusion.
"We will find a way to move forward - together.
"And we will not be alone.
"Every day, we are working with business leaders, faith leaders, legal experts, and elected officials from all across the country.
"They have seen what Donald Trump is trying to do to our state.
"They know their states could be next.
"And that brings me to the fourth thing I want to tell you tonight. Minnesota, I'm so proud of the way we've risen to meet this unbearable moment.
"But I'm not surprised.
"Because this - this is who we are.
"Minnesotans believe in the rule of law.
"And Minnesotans believe in the dignity of all people.
"We're a place where there's room for everybody, no matter who you are or who you love or where you came from.
"A place where we feed our kids, take care of our neighbors, and look out for those in the shadows of life.
"We're an island of decency in a country being driven towards cruelty.
"We will remain an island of decency, of justice, of community, of peace.
"And, tonight, I come before you simply to ask: Do not let anyone take that away from us.
"Thank you.
"Protect each other
"And God bless the people of Minnesota."
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Original text here: https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/#/detail/appId/1/id/719765
Ga. Gov. Kemp Announces Affordability, Infrastructure & Workforce Priorities at Eggs and Issues
ATLANTA, Georgia, Jan. 15 -- Gov. Brian P. Kemp, R-Georgia, issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Gov. Kemp Announces Affordability, Infrastructure & Workforce Priorities at Eggs and Issues
Governor Brian P. Kemp today delivered the closing address at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's annual Eggs and Issues legislative event, announcing a number of his top legislative and budgetary priorities for the 2026 session of the General Assembly.
Among other proposals, the governor announced historic investments in affordability, transportation and energy infrastructure, and education
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, Jan. 15 -- Gov. Brian P. Kemp, R-Georgia, issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Gov. Kemp Announces Affordability, Infrastructure & Workforce Priorities at Eggs and Issues
Governor Brian P. Kemp today delivered the closing address at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's annual Eggs and Issues legislative event, announcing a number of his top legislative and budgetary priorities for the 2026 session of the General Assembly.
Among other proposals, the governor announced historic investments in affordability, transportation and energy infrastructure, and educationand workforce development.
Below are Governor Kemp's prepared remarks:
Good morning and thank you for that introduction.
The best First Lady in the country, Marty Kemp, is here with me this morning! And we're both grateful for that look back at the years now behind us, for your partnership in overcoming the challenges those years brought to our state, and for the successes we achieved by working together.
Here at the start of another legislative session - the eighth my family and I have experienced in the Governor's Office, we're glad to be here
with Lt. Governor Jones, Speaker Burns, my fellow constitutional officers, members of the General Assembly, Mayor Dickens, and so many elected and community leaders from across Georgia. I also want to thank Chris Clark and the Georgia Chamber for again putting in the work to make Georgia's largest-known breakfast possible.
Together over these past seven years since I took office, we've brought historic jobs and opportunity to our state... and invested in rural Georgia in an unprecedented way.
We've led the nation in the Great Recovery and built the strongest state economy Georgia has ever seen. We've maintained our coveted ranking as the No. 1 state for business and celebrated more Georgians working than ever before. We've returned billions and billions of taxpayer dollars back to hardworking families and businesses. And we've broken new records for trade and movement of goods through our ports - the fastest growing on the east coast. All while positioning Georgia as the Top State for Talent.
But we didn't get here by allowing ourselves to be distracted. We didn't break records and achieve new heights by letting pundits and political noise drive the conversation, nor did we veer off track by looking in the rearview mirror. We did what all elected officials should do: we listened to the people and put them first!
Whether it's an election year or not, that should always remain our focus. And the people have spoken. They have told us clearly and loudly that they
want us to focus on the future, and on making it easier for their children and grandchildren to achieve the American Dream.
While many politicians are all of a sudden talking about affordability, here in Georgia, we've actually been doing something about it, long before it became a useful talking point! We've repeatedly cut taxes, provided both a homestead tax exemption and multiple tax rebates, and suspended the state gas tax in times of inflation or disaster. All told, we've returned over 9.7 billion dollars to taxpayers!
And, as you'll hear in my State of the State address tomorrow, making everyday life more affordable for hardworking Georgians will continue to be my top priority this legislative session. Because Georgians know better than politicians how to spend their money!
On top of those relief measures included in our prior budgets, I believe it's important to look back at the progress we've made since the passage of the largest, most comprehensive tort reform legislation in our state's history.
I again want to thank the members of the General Assembly who were with us on those tough votes, and we are now seeing the benefits of these new laws coming to fruition.
In just the last few months, Commissioner John King has announced three auto insurers are lowering their rates in 2026. Those are real, monthly savings for families across our state. And I believe we are in the beginning stages of creating a more stable marketplace for insurers to provide vital services to thousands of small businesses and families in Georgia.
I, again, want to thank Commissioner King and his team, the members of the General Assembly, the Georgia Chamber and other local chambers throughout the state, and other coalition partners who made this possible, who stuck with us on those tough votes, and for their continued work in bringing down costs for hardworking Georgians. But we also know that one victory does not guarantee future results, and I challenge all of our state's job creators to ensure our success on tort reform in 2025 does not die a death by a thousand cuts in the legislative sessions to come.
It's important to support the right candidates and continue advocating for sound policies that put the people of our state first in the years ahead. But our efforts to keep Georgia the best place to live, work, and raise a family extend outside of the Gold Dome as well.
As we continue to attract record jobs, help existing Georgia businesses, and bring historic investments to all parts of our state, Georgia has taken a different path than some of our neighbors and other states across the country when it comes to reliable, affordable energy. While other states are bracing for significant rate increases, our Public Service Commission approved a three-year rate freeze for Georgia Power customers, and just recently paved the way for additional savings on customers' monthly bills - all while making our state a national leader in renewable, reliable energy. They're doing it by encouraging smart, locally driven growth and investment, and ensuring large load customers pay more.
If we want to continue our run as the top state for business, that goal cannot be accomplished without smart, long-term investments in our energy grid, because every job creator, family, and hardworking Georgian needs to know when they flip on that light switch, it will work, and it won't break the bank. And through our state's partnership with Georgia Power, our EMCs, and other utility providers, that is exactly what we are delivering here in the Peach State.
One final important point on this issue, now that the Atlanta paper has gone digital-only, maybe they'll have more resources to tell both sides of this story, not just the propaganda of special interest groups sponsoring their articles.
We're also keeping an eye on future and growing needs throughout Georgia, especially as more and more businesses and people move to our state. As I said before, there are now more Georgians working than ever before. And if you've driven on any of Georgia's major highways on your way to work - especially in metro Atlanta - you've seen it firsthand in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Road congestion doesn't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat behind the wheel, only that you're running late to work or an appointment. It costs commuters time with their loved ones and money, it costs businesses valuable production output, and it costs the entire state potential economic development projects.
The most recent report from the major roadway analytics firm INRIX, out just last month, named Atlanta the seventh worst city in the country for road congestion. By their calculations, hours lost to traffic in metro Atlanta increased by 23 percent in the past two years, alone, the third highest increase in the country.
By their estimates, commuters into and out of our capital city lost at least 75 hours to traffic, at a cost of over 1,400 dollars per person!
These issues are also undermining our economic development prospects, with business leaders questioning whether their workers will want to live and commute in that environment. When it comes to traffic congestion, we can't let our competitors have the upper hand, and I believe we must double down on previous, historic investments my administration and the General Assembly have made in order to ensure Georgia doesn't fall behind.
So, today I'm announcing that my budget proposal will invest an additional 1.8 billion dollars to increase roadway capacity in one of Georgia's most congested corridors: I-75 south in Henry County.
With these funds, we will construct dedicated express lanes for both the North and South-bound directions. Nearly 200,000 vehicles a day travel this major artery that connects Georgians with key business hubs in much of our state. A quarter of those vehicles are trucks hauling goods - more than most major highways. That's a sign of a strong and active economy... but without enough roadway capacity, it creates bottlenecks and slowdowns. Currently, 45 to 60 percent of commuters can't get in the Express Lanes when they need them the most.
This funding will enable GDOT and SRTA to address those issues head on. Our initial estimates indicate that once these express lanes are completed, as much as 70 percent more vehicles will be able to pass through that corridor during rush hours! That's a great return on investment for our state.
Today, I'm also announcing an additional 200-million-dollar investment to continue the improvements already under way along Gorgia 316, commonly known as University Parkway.
With incredible growth all along this state route, from Gwinnett County to Athens, we know how great the need is to turn this state route into a true and safe expressway. It shouldn't take you a full afternoon to get from Athens to Atlanta, or vice versa. That's why this funding will go toward the ongoing upgrades of intersections to interchanges, over passes, and other, safer connections.
We aren't just taking into account our interstates and major highways, though. This year we will again make historic investments in community-level road projects through the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant program. In the prior two years, we put a total of 515 million dollars into those grants - doubling our initial investment and putting more money toward local projects than ever before in state history.
This year, we're going to do it again with an additional 250 million dollars in funding for local road projects!
And just as before, there will be no match required by those local governments. Rural communities deserve every bit as much attention as our big cities, and this third round of LMIG funding will fulfill that promise to treat all of our local communities fairly.
On top of all this, we will add another 100 million dollars to strengthen and improve bridges across the state in rural communities. Making sure those bridges are safe and reliable is both the right thing to do for those who live in those rural areas, and will further support our economy.
All of this additional funding for transportation projects is certainly needed, but it also has the added benefit of keeping Georgians working in the years to come.
That's the type of long-term and strategic approach we've taken when it comes to generational infrastructure investments like this.
And those projects are possible as a direct result of our conservative approach to budgeting. We've been able to make good use of one-time funds by growing and strengthening our infrastructure without adding liabilities that our children and grandchildren will have to pay for. We're going to do the same thing this year with energy infrastructure, further meeting an undeniable need at a critical time.
My amended budget proposal will include 35 million dollars in one-time money to create a natural gas infrastructure improvement fund within the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, following the passage of Senate Bill 13 last year. These funds will particularly benefit rural Georgia communities, improving the quality of life for those Georgians and growing their ability to attract and meet the needs of economic development projects.
All told since I took office, with this latest funding... we will have invested roughly 6 billion dollars in transportation, water, and energy infrastructure projects across the state that actually move the needle on pressing issues facing every Georgian, both in large and small communities.
Here again, while some politicians across the country are suddenly talking about affordability and quality of life, in Georgia, we're actually doing something about it!
The same can be said of our investments in education and workforce training. We've coupled transformational funding with meaningful policies that put working Georgians first.
From the nation-leading Georgia MATCH program, to the Top State for Talent package we passed in 2024, to the measures we secured in prior years. All of this was made possible because we stopped operating behind walls and silos. We brought primary, secondary, and postsecondary education policymakers together with business and innovation leaders to collaborate on the future of education and workforce development in our state. At no other time in Georgia history have those stakeholders worked so closely, developing a first-of-its-kind uniform plan on these issues.
Building on those successes, in the coming days my administration will propose the Education and Workforce Strategy Act. It will ensure the unprecedented collaboration between the University and Technical College
Systems, the Georgia Department of Education, and others lives on, long after many of us here today are no longer in the positions we occupy.
A great example of that partnership is the ongoing effort around articulation agreements between the University and Technical College systems. Last year, we announced the first such compact in the critical field of nursing, directly addressing a major workforce need in our state. Today, I'm thankful to be able to announce three new articulation agreements between our higher-ed systems in the fields of teacher preparation, cybersecurity, and accounting.
These types of compacts are not easy, requiring lots of planning and adjustments to create seamless paths for Georgia students, so I want to thank Chancellor Perdue, Commissioner Dozier, and both of their teams for working so hard to turn the promise we made at last year's Workforce Summit to deliver on more agreements into a promise kept.
Building on this good work - and the great success we're seeing with the Georgia MATCH program - this year, we will also establish a cutting-edge Career Navigator application.
Designed to connect students, job seekers, and employers, it will help ensure Georgia workers can fill the opportunities already open or on their way to communities across the state, further clearing the path to economic mobility.
These measures are all designed with the same mindset my administration has brought to every discussion on education and workforce development: Georgians should have the opportunity to succeed no matter their zip code.
That's a commitment shared by Labor Commissioner Barbara Rivera Holmes, and I want to thank her and her team for what they're doing to connect Georgians in every part of the state - including our rural areas - with the jobs coming to their communities.
That same commitment to empowering Georgians with opportunity - no matter where they live - is also why I am announcing for the first time publicly the creation of a new program designed to tackle homelessness right here in our capital city and in other urban areas across the state. Known as the Homelessness Response Grant, the state will make a one-time investment of 50 million dollars that will be coupled with other funds from public, private, and non-profit partners to launch this initiative. Through very targeted use of funds, this grant will act as a force multiplier to complement the good work already underway by Mayor Dickens and other champions on this challenging subject. Awards will go to local governments and nonprofit organizations addressing street-level homelessness in Georgia, and it will ensure that every stakeholder has equal skin in the game.
The Rural Workforce Housing Grant similarly requires a match from partners, and we have seen great success in tackling workforce housing affordability through that program.
And just like the other initiatives we've launched over the years, the Homelessness Response Grant isn't a handout program with limited impact and no mechanism for improving someone's conditions. It is carefully designed to help those experiencing homelessness move to greater stability and economic mobility. Resources will go to emergency shelter and transitional housing, street outreach and engagement teams, and wraparound services, like mental healthcare, drug rehabilitation, and other needs.
As I said, we've seen great leadership from Mayor Dickens and others on this issue, and when people from around the world visit our capital city in the coming months for the FIFA World Cup, they will not only see a state with a thriving economy, but also one that cares about its people and helps those willing and able to work for it access those opportunities.
This summer, Georgia will host just as many people, if not more, than we did during the 1996 Olympics. And like any good southerner, we will work to put our best foot forward for our guests.
We were elected to stay focused on the issues that actually matter to those we serve. For those who can think of nothing else but the upcoming election, let me share a word of advice - if you fail to listen to the people, you will fail to earn their vote. So, let's stay focused on a future where anyone who wants to work for a better life can achieve it here in the best state for opportunity, and let's keep choppin' to make sure we stay the best state to live, work, and raise a family.
Thank you, and God Bless
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Original text here: https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-01-14/gov-kemp-announces-affordability-infrastructure-workforce-priorities-eggs
Arizona State Senate Republicans: Senator Werner Previews Next Oversight Hearing as AHCCCS Accountability Gaps Persist
PHOENIX, Arizona, Jan. 15 -- The Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Senator Werner Previews Next Oversight Hearing as AHCCCS Accountability Gaps Persist
Senator Carine Werner, Chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee, is renewing her call for accountability within the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System ahead of the committee's next oversight hearing on Thursday, January 29, immediately following floor proceedings.
Months of hearings, document requests, and sworn testimony have revealed ongoing failures within
... Show Full Article
PHOENIX, Arizona, Jan. 15 -- The Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Senator Werner Previews Next Oversight Hearing as AHCCCS Accountability Gaps Persist
Senator Carine Werner, Chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee, is renewing her call for accountability within the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System ahead of the committee's next oversight hearing on Thursday, January 29, immediately following floor proceedings.
Months of hearings, document requests, and sworn testimony have revealed ongoing failures withinAHCCCS that continue to disrupt Arizona's provider network and deny vulnerable patients access to care. Providers remain locked out of the system, services are still limited, and families in crisis are struggling to receive timely treatment.
"This is no longer just a policy failure. It's a public health and safety crisis," said Senator Werner. "Decisions made inside AHCCCS dismantled parts of our provider network and robbed Arizonans of the care they desperately need. Leadership appearing before the committee has repeatedly failed to provide clear, complete answers regarding enforcement decisions, provider terminations, and the internal actions taken after billions of dollars in Medicaid fraud were uncovered."
Senator Werner has introduced multiple bills this session to strengthen oversight, enforce accountability, and ensure AHCCCS and the Arizona Department of Health Services meet their responsibility to protect patients, providers, and taxpayers.
"The committee remains cautiously optimistic that newly appointed Director Ginny Rountree can begin stabilizing the agency, but the oversight record makes clear that leadership changes alone will not resolve the systemic breakdown exposed through the investigation," said Senator Werner. "The Senate Health & Human Services Committee will continue its work until access to care is restored, trust is rebuilt, and meaningful accountability is achieved within Arizona's Medicaid system."
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Original text here: https://www.azsenaterepublicans.gov/press-releases/senator-werner-previews-next-oversight-hearing
Ariz. State Rep. Kupper Introduces Bill to Block Wall Street Investors From Crowding Arizona Families Out of Homeownership
PHOENIX, Arizona, Jan. 15 -- The Arizona House Republicans issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Rep. Kupper Introduces Bill to Block Wall Street Investors from Crowding Arizona Families Out of Homeownership
State Representative Nick Kupper today introduced HB 2325, the Own Something and Be Happy Act, legislation aimed at preventing large institutional investors from dominating Arizona's single-family housing market and pushing home prices beyond the reach of working families.
HB 2325 caps corporate ownership of single-family homes, prohibits bulk purchases, and bars institutional
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PHOENIX, Arizona, Jan. 15 -- The Arizona House Republicans issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Rep. Kupper Introduces Bill to Block Wall Street Investors from Crowding Arizona Families Out of Homeownership
State Representative Nick Kupper today introduced HB 2325, the Own Something and Be Happy Act, legislation aimed at preventing large institutional investors from dominating Arizona's single-family housing market and pushing home prices beyond the reach of working families.
HB 2325 caps corporate ownership of single-family homes, prohibits bulk purchases, and bars institutionalinvestors from bidding on homes during the first 60 days they are listed for sale. The measure is intended to give Arizona residents a fair opportunity to compete for homes in their own communities.
Representative Kupper's proposal aligns with national policy priorities advanced by President Trump, who has publicly called for banning large institutional investors from buying additional single-family homes and urged Congress to codify protections for American homebuyers.
"President Trump is right to call this out," Representative Kupper said. "Homeownership has long been central to the American Dream and the reward for hard work. When large investment firms buy up neighborhoods, families lose and prices climb. HB 2325 puts Arizona on the side of working people who want to own a home, raise a family, and stay rooted where they live."
The bill limits institutional investors to owning no more than 50 single-family homes statewide, blocks bulk acquisitions, and imposes a waiting period before corporate buyers may compete against families for newly listed homes. Investors already above the cap could not acquire additional homes unless they voluntarily reduce their holdings.
HB 2325 exempts nonprofit affordable housing providers, government housing agencies, community land trusts, small property owners, and modest-sized pension or fiduciary funds. The legislation also requires annual reporting through the Arizona Department of Housing and authorizes enforcement by the Attorney General, with local prosecutors empowered to act if the state declines enforcement.
"Housing costs have climbed nationwide as institutional investors expanded their residential footprint, while homeownership rates for younger Americans have stalled," Kupper said. "In Arizona, population growth and limited housing supply have intensified the squeeze on first-time buyers. This bill draws a clear line. Arizona homes should be owned by Arizona families, not treated like financial instruments by distant corporations."
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Nick Kupper is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 25 which includes portions of Maricopa, Yuma, and La Paz Counties. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee. Follow him on X at @realnickkupper.
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Original text here: https://www.azleg.gov/press/house/57LEG/2R/260114KUPPERHB2325.pdf
