States, Cities and Counties
Here's a look at documents covering state government, cities and counties
Featured Stories
Tenn. Financial Institutions Commissioner Gonzales Announces Weekly Formula Rate June 2, 2026
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 3 -- Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions issued the following news:
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COMMISSIONER GONZALES ANNOUNCES WEEKLY FORMULA RATE JUNE 2, 2026
Commissioner of Financial Institutions Greg Gonzales announced today that the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum.
The rate is based on a ceiling of 4 percent over the weekly average prime loan rate of 6.75 percent as published by the Federal Reserve on June 1, 2026.
Commissioner Gonzales said the rate remains in effect until the average prime loan rate as announced by
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 3 -- Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions issued the following news:
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COMMISSIONER GONZALES ANNOUNCES WEEKLY FORMULA RATE JUNE 2, 2026
Commissioner of Financial Institutions Greg Gonzales announced today that the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum.
The rate is based on a ceiling of 4 percent over the weekly average prime loan rate of 6.75 percent as published by the Federal Reserve on June 1, 2026.
Commissioner Gonzales said the rate remains in effect until the average prime loan rate as announced bythe Federal Reserve Bank changes.
Chapter 464, Public Acts of 1983, the legislation regulating interest rates in Tennessee, requires that the commissioner of Financial Institutions make an announcement weekly of the formula rate of interest.
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Original text here: https://www.tn.gov/tdfi/news/2026/6/2/commissioner-gonzales-announces-weekly-formula-rate-june-2--2026.html
Pa. State Sen. Baker Bills to Strengthen Parole Board Operations Approved by Senate
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, June 3 -- The Pennsylvania Senate Republicans issued the following news release:
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Baker Bills to Strengthen Parole Board Operations Approved by Senate
Two measures sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) to improve the effectiveness and reliability of Pennsylvania's parole process were approved by the Senate today.
The legislation addresses two critical aspects of parole board operations: maintaining continuity in board membership and protecting the confidentiality of internal deliberations that inform parole decisions.
Senate Bill
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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, June 3 -- The Pennsylvania Senate Republicans issued the following news release:
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Baker Bills to Strengthen Parole Board Operations Approved by Senate
Two measures sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) to improve the effectiveness and reliability of Pennsylvania's parole process were approved by the Senate today.
The legislation addresses two critical aspects of parole board operations: maintaining continuity in board membership and protecting the confidentiality of internal deliberations that inform parole decisions.
Senate Bill1235 would extend the period a Pennsylvania Parole Board member may continue serving after the expiration of their term from 90 days to six months if a successor has not yet been confirmed. The change is intended to prevent vacancies that could disrupt the board's work and ensure experienced members remain in place during transitions.
"The Pennsylvania Parole Board plays a critical role in protecting our communities and ensuring parole decisions are made thoughtfully and responsibly," Baker said. "Senate Bill 1235 provides stability during periods of transition by allowing experienced board members to continue serving while the confirmation process moves forward. By preventing unnecessary vacancies, we can help ensure the board remains fully equipped to carry out its important public safety mission without interruption."
Senate Bill 1259 would establish that certain records and documents used by the parole board during its internal deliberations are confidential and privileged while strengthening the feedback the board provides to inmates when denying parole. The legislation was introduced in response to a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling invalidating existing board regulations governing the confidentiality of those records.
"Board members must be able to conduct candid and thorough deliberations without concern that their internal discussions will be made public," Baker said. "This legislation restores important protections for confidential parole board records while ensuring inmates receive meaningful feedback about parole decisions. We must preserve the integrity of the parole process and support the board's ability to make informed decisions that keep our communities safe."
Both bills now advance to the House of Representatives for consideration.
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Original text here: https://www.pasenategop.com/news/baker-bills-to-strengthen-parole-board-operations-approved-by-senate/
New Jersey Sues Delaney Hall Operator After It Refuses Full Access to Health Inspectors
TRENTON, New Jersey, June 3 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on June 2, 2026:
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New Jersey Sues Delaney Hall Operator After It Refuses Full Access to Health Inspectors
AG Davenport, Department of Health File Complaint Against GEO Group After Inspectors Are Blocked From Conducting a Full Inspection in Violation of State Law
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Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today filed a lawsuit against The GEO Group, Inc., which operates the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark. The lawsuit requests that the court grant the New Jersey
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TRENTON, New Jersey, June 3 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on June 2, 2026:
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New Jersey Sues Delaney Hall Operator After It Refuses Full Access to Health Inspectors
AG Davenport, Department of Health File Complaint Against GEO Group After Inspectors Are Blocked From Conducting a Full Inspection in Violation of State Law
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Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today filed a lawsuit against The GEO Group, Inc., which operates the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark. The lawsuit requests that the court grant the New JerseyDepartment of Health (DOH) full access to the facility, which is the focus of well-documented concerns about inhumane and unsanitary conditions for detainees.
Over Memorial Day weekend, Governor Mikie Sherrill and elected officials went to Delaney Hall after some detainees began a hunger strike to protest their deplorable living conditions. As GEO Group refused to respond to demands by the Governor, elected officials, and protesters for full transparency into conditions at Delaney Hall, DOH began trying to gain access to the taxpayer-funded facility to conduct a full inspection.
"If the GEO Group -- with a $1 billion government contract -- has nothing to hide and the conditions inside Delaney Hall are as safe and as sanitary as this private corporation and the Trump Administration claim, then there is no legitimate reason why my health inspectors are being kept from full access throughout the building," said Governor Sherrill. "The people of New Jersey deserve transparency and accountability, and I will continue using all the power of this office to advocate for the detainees and their families."
"GEO Group must allow our state's health inspectors to conduct a full inspection of Delaney Hall. The reports of unsanitary and unsafe conditions inside Delaney Hall are extremely concerning, and GEO Group--like any other business and facility in New Jersey--must follow the law," said Attorney General Davenport. "I will continue working with Governor Sherrill and Commissioner Washington to ensure that people detained inside Delaney Hall are treated with dignity and humanity."
"Any facility housing people in New Jersey must meet basic standards under the law to prevent the spread of disease, keep food and water safe, and minimize health risks. That includes Delaney Hall," said Health Commissioner Raynard E. Washington. "The New Jersey Department of Health takes seriously its mission to safeguard the health and well-being of everyone in this state. Health inspections are not political -- they are essential public health tools that help ensure no one in New Jersey is housed in dangerous or unsanitary conditions."
On Thursday, May 28, 2026, DOH inspectors were allowed inside Delaney Hall for a limited inspection, but they were barred from inspecting crucial areas of the facility, including the medical unit, sleeping areas, and bathing and toileting areas. Following that visit, DOH inspectors have not been granted access to conduct a full inspection despite DOH's repeated requests for access.
The lawsuit filed today alleges that GEO Group has violated state law by refusing to allow DOH to conduct a full inspection of Delaney Hall. As part of the lawsuit, the State is also seeking an expedited injunction directing GEO Group to allow DOH inspectors access to inspect the entire facility.Today's Complaint and Order to Show Cause, filed in Superior Court in Essex County, asks the court to order GEO to allow DOH full access to Delaney Hall for the purposes of a complete inspection in accordance with State law.
An inspection would allow DOH to verify whether the protocols or practices inside Delaney Hall pose a serious risk of harm to detainees within the facility or to the public outside of it. Any unchecked spread of illness inside Delaney Hall poses a severe risk to detainees. It also poses a risk to employees and contractors working at the facility and to visitors, who can spread illness to the public at large.
On May 22, some detainees began a hunger strike to protest conditions at the facility, reportedly including spoiled or rotten food and no access to basic hygiene products such as toilet paper, menstruation products, or toothpaste. On May 23, U.S. Senator Andy Kim and Representative Rob Menendez went inside the facility to speak with detainees. Senator Kim met with a pregnant woman who said she is not receiving full obstetrics and gynecological care, and with a woman who had a miscarriage but received no care and was left to manage the miscarriage on her own.
Detainees have also told relatives and advocacy groups that the water tasted metallic and undrinkable; that people were being denied medical care or necessary medications; and that diseases such as the flu or COVID-19 were spreading throughout the facility. In addition, in late May, the Department received a report about a detainee taken to University Hospital with tuberculosis, a highly infectious disease.
By statute, the DOH Commissioner is allowed to enter and inspect public and private detention centers as well as to have "full access" to any premises if there is any reason to believe a violation may be occurring. DOH is responsible for protecting the health of the people of New Jersey, including identifying any practices that would allow for the unchecked spread of communicable illnesses, including but not limited to unsafe food preparation or storage, inadequate ventilation, and other unhygienic conditions.
GEO Group has thus far continued to refuse entry to Delaney Hall for a full inspection, placing its detainees, its workforce, and the entire New Jersey public at risk.
View Complaint (http://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-0602_Verified-Complaint.pdf) | View Brief (http://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-0602_Brief-ISO-of-OTSC.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/new-jersey-sues-delaney-hall-operator-after-it-refuses-full-access-to-health-inspectors/
N.H. Education Dept.: Winnisquam Career Center Finishes Extensive Addition and Renovation Project
CONCORD, New Hampshire, June 3 -- The New Hampshire Department of Education issued the following news release:
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Winnisquam Career Center finishes extensive addition and renovation project
Offering applied learning and career-focused education
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Representatives from the New Hampshire Department of Education (NHED) recently visited the newly renovated Winnisquam Career Center in Tilton, completing the Department's final walk-through of the two-year project.
Attached to Winnisquam Regional High School, the Winnisquam Career Center (WiCC) on West Main Street in Tilton recently finished
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CONCORD, New Hampshire, June 3 -- The New Hampshire Department of Education issued the following news release:
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Winnisquam Career Center finishes extensive addition and renovation project
Offering applied learning and career-focused education
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Representatives from the New Hampshire Department of Education (NHED) recently visited the newly renovated Winnisquam Career Center in Tilton, completing the Department's final walk-through of the two-year project.
Attached to Winnisquam Regional High School, the Winnisquam Career Center (WiCC) on West Main Street in Tilton recently finishedan $11.2 million construction project designed to expand and strengthen its career and technical education programs. The upgraded facility enhances the integration of rigorous academic instruction with engaging technical training and employability skill development.
"With eight schools sending students to the Winnisquam Career Center, it's clear that today's learners want hands-on experiences that go far beyond a classroom setting," said Commissioner Caitlin D. Davis of NHED. "This renovated facility opens doors for students to explore real career pathways while earning industry and postsecondary credentials. It gives them a true jump-start on their futures and helps build a stronger, more skilled workforce for New Hampshire."
The Winnisquam Career Center offers five career and technical education programs through a two-year program, which include:
* Animal Care and Management provides students with pet training, grooming, pet first aid and CPR, animal diagnostics, basic livestock care, and more.
* Cosmetology teaches hair cutting, styling and coloring, as well as skin and nail care, makeup application, and more.
* Design, Create and Fabricate provides students with shop and machine safety, blueprint reading, proper use of industry-grade equipment and tools, welding, advanced manufacturing, and more.
* Outdoor Resources and Recreation teaches trail building and maintenance, forest management, chainsaw use, bike and ski tuning, landscape construction, and more.
* Plant Science and Agriculture provides lessons on soil science, plant breeding, floral design, greenhouse operation and production, apiculture, maple sugaring, hydroponics, and more.
"The WiCC is an incredible asset to our community. It provides students with opportunities to explore career pathways, develop practical skills, and build confidence in themselves and their future," said Principal Andrea Wujcik. "One of the best parts of the WiCC is seeing students fully engaged in learning without even realizing how much they are growing academically, professionally, and personally."
Enrollment is expected to be about 184 students in the fall of 2026, according to Wujcik, which is up from the current enrollment of 120.
"This renovation project really changes what is possible for students. The updated labs and new equipment make the space feel like a real workplace, not just a classroom. It also provides students with engaging technology they'll actually use in their careers," said Jeffry Beard, State Career & Technical Education Director.
The WiCC's career and technical education construction and renovation project was funded in large part thanks to state funding in the 2024-2025 state capital budget. The WiCC received $7.6 million in state funds for these renovations, which represents approximately 70% of the full project cost, pursuant to RSA 188:E-10. The state pays up to 75 percent of renovation and construction costs for CTE projects, with local municipalities covering the rest. Included in the 2028-2029 Biennium Capital Budget Requests are two proposed CTE projects - additions and renovations at the Milford Applied Technology Center and the Region 14 (ConVal) Applied Technology Center.
For more information about the facility, visit www.WiCC-ED.org, or email info@WiCC-Ed.org. Students attending or living in the region associated with the following high schools are eligible to apply: Belmont; Franklin; Gilford; Inter-Lakes; Laconia; Merrimack Valley; Newfound Regional; Winnisquam Regional; and area charter, nonpublic, and home education students.
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Original text here: https://www.education.nh.gov/news-and-media/winnisquam-career-center-finishes-extensive-addition-and-renovation-project
Md. A.G. Brown Joins Letter to Federal Judicial Center Strongly Opposing Removal of Climate Science From Judicial Manual
BALTIMORE, Maryland, June 3 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on June 2, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Joins Letter to Federal Judicial Center Strongly Opposing Removal of Climate Science from Judicial Manual
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in a letter to the Federal Judicial Center ("FJC") strongly opposing its decision to strike the chapter titled, Reference Guide on Climate Science, from the Fourth Edition of its Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence (Manual). The nonpartisan, peer-reviewed
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, June 3 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on June 2, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Joins Letter to Federal Judicial Center Strongly Opposing Removal of Climate Science from Judicial Manual
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in a letter to the Federal Judicial Center ("FJC") strongly opposing its decision to strike the chapter titled, Reference Guide on Climate Science, from the Fourth Edition of its Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence (Manual). The nonpartisan, peer-reviewedprimer on climate science was removed in response to unfounded partisan pressure.
The FJC has published the Manual since 1994 as a critical resource to assist judges in considering scientific evidence. It has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and thousands of other federal and state judges over its three decades in circulation.
Prior to publication, each chapter of the Manual undergoes extensive peer-review over many months by both the scientific community and the judiciary. The Reference Guide on Climate Science was treated no differently than any other chapter and was subjected to the same deliberate and thorough review. That process was thrown aside when the FJC decided, without any explanation or public comment, to remove the chapter on climate science in response to partisan pressure.
As the letter states, "Such a guide is sorely needed as litigation involving climate science only grows in prevalence and urgency in our courts. Furthermore, the chapter's removal does not change the scientific reality of climate change. As the U.S. Supreme Court acknowledged nearly twenty years ago, '[a] well-documented rise in global temperatures has coincided with a significant increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,' a causal connection between manmade greenhouse gases and global warming exists, and 'the harms associated with climate change are serious and well recognized.'"
The coalition urges the FJC to reinstate the Reference Guidance on Climate Science chapter to the Manual.
In sending today's letter, Attorney General Brown joined the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the Corporation Counsel for the City of New York, the City of Chicago, and Harris County, Texas.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Joins-Letter-to-Federal-Judicial-Center-Strongly-Opposing-Removal-of-Climate-Science-from-Judicial-M.aspx
Md. A.G. Brown Announces Charges Against MV Realty
BALTIMORE, Maryland, June 3 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on May 29, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Announces Charges Against MV Realty
Charged with Unfair, Abusive, and Deceptive Trade Practices and Making Illegal and Usurious Loans to Maryland Homeowners Through Predatory "Homeowner Benefit Agreements"
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Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has filed charges against MV Realty PBC, LLC; MV Realty of Maryland LLC; MV Brokerage of Maryland LLC; and their corporate officers, Antony Mitchell
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, June 3 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on May 29, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Announces Charges Against MV Realty
Charged with Unfair, Abusive, and Deceptive Trade Practices and Making Illegal and Usurious Loans to Maryland Homeowners Through Predatory "Homeowner Benefit Agreements"
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Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has filed charges against MV Realty PBC, LLC; MV Realty of Maryland LLC; MV Brokerage of Maryland LLC; and their corporate officers, Antony Mitchell(CEO), David L. Manchester (COO), and Amanda J. Zachman, known collectively as "MV Realty." According to the charges, MV Realty engaged in illegal consumer lending when it entered into "Homeowner Benefit Agreements" (HBAs) with Maryland consumers, advancing them a small sum that they would have to repay with exorbitant interest.
Maryland lending laws require consumer lenders to (a) be licensed, (b) disclose loan terms to consumers, and (c) abide by interest rate limits. In addition, these laws generally forbid lenders from filing liens against real property to secure loans of less than $4,000. According to the Division's charges, the HBAs that MV Realty advertised as a "loan alternative" were secured loans that illegally encumbered consumers' homes and required the payment of excessive interest if the home transferred ownership without the use of MV Realty.
The Division alleges that MV Realty misrepresented or failed to disclose important information to consumers, including that each HBA lasts 40 years and binds heirs and successors. According to the charges, MV Realty recorded HBAs in land records, where they act as a lien that requires consumers to pay MV Realty at least 3.0% of the home value when they sell or transfer their home. The Division also alleges that MV Realty charged consumers an undisclosed "administrative fee" of $500 for using MV Realty to sell their home.
"A person's home is often the most valuable asset they will pass down to their loved ones. MV Realty trapped over one thousand Maryland homeowners and their heirs in costly and unlawful 40-year agreements that threatened that dream," said Attorney General Brown. "Our Office will not allow predatory lenders to take advantage of Marylanders in moments of financial need and burden their families for generations to come."
The Attorney General's action seeks an order that compels MV Realty to cease and desist from violating Maryland's lending, debt collection, and consumer protection laws, terminates all HBAs and related liens against consumers' homes, and provides for the restitution of money unlawfully taken from consumers. The action also seeks statutory civil penalties and costs. The case is scheduled for a hearing at the Office of Administrative Hearings beginning on September 8, 2026.
Any consumers with complaints against MV Realty should call the Consumer Protection Division at 410-528-8662, file a complaint online at oag.maryland.gov, or write to the Consumer Protection Division at 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Announces-Charges-Against-MV-Realty--Charged-with-Unfair,-Abusive,-and-Deceptive-Trade-Practices-and.aspx
MassDEP Penalizes Holyoke Mall Company for Solid Waste Violations
BOSTON, Massachusetts, June 3 -- The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued the following news release:
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MassDEP Penalizes Holyoke Mall Company for Solid Waste Violations
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has issued a $13,645 penalty to Holyoke Mall Limited Partnership (LP) for failing to comply with landfill monitoring, reporting, and maintenance requirements. The violations are related to a former landfill located beneath a portion of the mall property, near the former Sears store in Holyoke.
Massachusetts solid waste regulations
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, June 3 -- The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued the following news release:
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MassDEP Penalizes Holyoke Mall Company for Solid Waste Violations
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has issued a $13,645 penalty to Holyoke Mall Limited Partnership (LP) for failing to comply with landfill monitoring, reporting, and maintenance requirements. The violations are related to a former landfill located beneath a portion of the mall property, near the former Sears store in Holyoke.
Massachusetts solid waste regulationsand permit requirements are intended to ensure former landfill sites are properly maintained to protect public health and safety. MassDEP found that Holyoke Mall LP failed to submit required landfill gas monitoring reports in a timely manner and did not complete certain maintenance and repair work within required deadlines.
"When former landfill sites remain open to the public, proper monitoring and maintenance are essential," said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP's Western Regional Office in Springfield. "MassDEP expects property owners to meet these responsibilities and will take enforcement action when they do not."
Under the terms of MassDEP's Consent Order, the company has agreed to pay $10,000 of the penalty. The remaining $3,645 balance will be suspended pending compliance with the order. The company has also agreed to complete ongoing monitoring, maintenance, inspections, repairs, and reporting in accordance with applicable permits and state regulations.
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Original text here: https://www.mass.gov/news/massdep-penalizes-holyoke-mall-company-for-solid-waste-violations
